turns out that is the mac address. i apparently have a 2.4ghz wifi problem instead

Usually, the MAC address (and you probably want to obfuscate yours) is the serial number minus what is the colon, and stuff after it.

What is your 2.4Ghz issue? 

So im trying to connect the beam to quite a strict wifi network. Hence why i needed to submit the mac address. The device is not joining the network and im running out of reasons. Going through my works I.T team is very slow so i dont know if the beam is showing up on the network and it doesnt have permission or whether its having issues connecting to a 2.4ghz network as it says the manual that it needs 2.4ghz and most waps here are 5 ghz. Ive conducted a test of 2.4ghz netwprk and i can get strong signal. But the device still wont connect

Are you trying to set up the Beam in a non-consumer environment?

Yeah. I work at a college 

That is usually (client isolation) impossible, or (everyone can control your Sonos) worse a very bad idea.

Have your IT folks add a travel router to your network, if they will, then connect your Sonos and Controllers to to the travel router.

​@Stanley_4 thanks for chyming in but man that is not happening. No idea how you came to that conclusion.

​@Stanley_4 ‘s conclusion does not seem very wrong to me. Sonos speakers are controlled by the app on your phone. For this the phone and the speaker need to be able to “see” each other on the network. On non-consumer (business or hotel, or college) networks the network is configured so devices cannot see each other- for privacy and security reasons. Setting up a Sonos speaker on such a network wil be impossible unless you can be given freedoms others can’t. So you need to be on a travel router that takes care of the connection to the outside, while your phone and speaker will be able to see each other on the private network.

​@106rallye and the reason why someone would join the IoT network in order to control 1 speaker? Like what are you even talking about. 

​@106rallye not helpful

Comes on a user’s forum to ask for help.   Users offer help.  Proceeds to berate all those trying to help. 

So tell me, why would you expect anyone else to chime in?

​@jgatie wow dude. Are you ok ?

I work for a university with very strict network policies.  The one and only time I was “disciplined” was when I attempted to connect a Play:5 to the university network.  Not only would it not work at all, the IT department called my department head within 10 minutes of the attempt.  A travel router is definitely the way to go to set up your own personal network for speaker control.  

I ageee with both statements here.

Few IT departments (if any) would allow a travel router even though it is likely the least bad option. 

Yes, it is apparent you have no understanding of how the Sonos system uses the local network.

​@Alex1989 Can you please explain what your expectations were when you asked your question? All ​@Stanley_4 a myself have been trying to do is to explain why Sonos does not work on non-consumer networks, which (at least to us) could be a reason you ran in to trouble setting up the Beam.  Why would this not be helpful?