ZenWifi XT8 (1-19-21) Firmware Update Causes Sonos System to Stop Working

  • 24 January 2021
  • 40 replies
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The most recent Zenwifi firmware update caused all my Sonos products (except MOVE) to stop working.  I had to roll back to previous firmware.  Once I rolled back, everything is working fine.


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40 replies

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Minimos it looks like you were able to roll back.  But in case others need help.  Go to https://www.asus.com/us/Networking/ZenWiFi-AX-XT8/HelpDesk_BIOS/ then download the “25790” driver and save it on you computer.  After that: 1) login into your router; 2) go to administration 3) go to the firmware upgrade tab 4) for your router click “upload”, and 5) upload the driver you saved.  If you are rolling back a node, a separate sign in tab may open; log in (like you did your router) and then follow upload prompts.

This is my 1st time giving instructions like this and I’m no computer expert, but this should work if you have had the SONOS issues I did after the last firmware update (i.e. 26044). FYI, its a little frustrating that this issue developed and I’m a bit surprise at ASUS as I have used their routers for the last 10 years without issue(s). I was very frustrated (and a bit worried) trying to troubleshoot the issue.

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FYI, I’m had the same issues with the 2-1-21 update (i.e. 41793) and had to roll back again.  I hope they fix this soon because I really like some of the new features of this update (e.g. device binding).

I downgraded my Firmware to 25790, my ZenWiFi Ax connects to the internet but all the wireless devices connect to the ZenWiFi but no internet connection. Can somebody help me?

This was originally confirmed in another post about the XT8 and Qos, but it’s relevant to share here as well.  Firmware version 3.0.0.4.386_41793 does work after you perform a factory reset.  See below.

“I can confirm what @Naveed.Ahmad originally posted that firmware version 3.0.0.4.386_41793 does work with my Sonos system after performing a factory reset as outlined HERE. This includes all streaming services and speakers.  I’m WiFi-only and have everything from amps to subs, playbase, beam, move, play 5,3,1’s.  

Thanks, @Naveed.Ahmad for going through the factory reset!”

Just upgraded to 41973 and sonos is working . Having issues with an older play 1 but 6 other speakers all working ok..Sonos network has always been a bit hit or miss no matter what router or mesh I have used 

This was originally confirmed in another post about the XT8 and Qos, but it’s relevant to share here as well.  Firmware version 3.0.0.4.386_41793 does work after you perform a factory reset.  See below.

“I can confirm what @Naveed.Ahmad originally posted that firmware version 3.0.0.4.386_41793 does work with my Sonos system after performing a factory reset as outlined HERE. This includes all streaming services and speakers.  I’m WiFi-only and have everything from amps to subs, playbase, beam, move, play 5,3,1’s.  

Thanks, @Naveed.Ahmad for going through the factory reset!”

 

I’ve got similar problem. Just wanted to make sure: do you mean factory reseting the router or the Sonos system?

Hi all

Has anyone else noticed that since upgrading to firmware Version 3.0.0.4.386.41793 that the SSID “ASUS_C0“ remains available and open for anyone to connect to and use - no password required.

Is this normal? I have tried various factory resets and used both the webGUI and the app to set the network up.

I hit the same problem this week after upgrading. I did not have time to factory reset the router (I have a three XT8 Mesh) as the internet is critical nowadays for WFH. I rolled back to firmware 25790 for now as the rollback process is quick and painless. Sonos is working fine now.

I will either wait for a fix or for a “maintenance window” where I have the 2hrs or so I’d need to get everything setup again after a factory reset.  

I don’t see that on mine...

I’m waiting for a positive sign before updating the system. 

As an update to this (I’m in a ‘me too’ situation), I updated to the latest firmware (2nd February release) version 3.0.0.4.386.41793 and this issue is not resolved. The last known good firmware appears to be 41793. I’m running a 3 node mesh.

 

.26044 messed up my Sonos too.  Rolled back to .25790 and everything is back to normal again.  Like others, waiting for something positive about current or future build (.41793?) before touching anything.

As an update to this (I’m in a ‘me too’ situation), I updated to the latest firmware (2nd February release) version 3.0.0.4.386.41793 and this issue is not resolved. The last known good firmware appears to be 41793. I’m running a 3 node mesh.

 

do you mean, 25790 seems to be the last known good firmware?

25790… I clearly can’t cut and paste! Yes, this is the last known good release. Thanks for the correction.

I downgraded to 25790 and while Sonos worked perfectly, I started having all sorts of issues with other devices like my Android TV projector as soon as I turned on QoS, which I need due to my 5G network bufferbloat issues.

 

This seems to have fixed it for me with QoS on:

 

Upgrade all three XT8’s to the latest firmware

Go to Asus admin page, Wireless → Professional

Make sure Airtime Fairness is off

Keep Roaming Assistant on, but drop the -70db to -80.

 

This has worked for me, Sonos no longer disconnects. If I turned off Roaming Assistant entirely, everything was fine with Sonos, but as my phone moved around the house it would stay connected to APs with a poor connection rather than reconnecting to the nearby ones.

 

At -70 Sonos kept having issues. At -80 for me, everything is fine.

I would start with unplugging your modem and nodes, and letting them cycle back up in order.  Plug the modem back in first, after it is up and running, start up the XT8 nodes and give them time to cycle up.  

Thanks, I will try it.

Userlevel 1

Allan371, the 41793 update does work with my Sonos system.  Thank you @Naveed for the instructions (see above).  After a downloading the driver and installing it on my router and 2 nodes, I was able to get it to work.  The key is you have to do a factory reset of your router and nodes AFTER you download the driver.

HOWEVER, having to do a factory reset was a BIG pain in the *%$ for me.  I have a smart home with approximately 50 devices on my system (excluding my Sonos System).  Once I did my factory reset I had to redo all my settings and rename all my devices.  This took about 2 hours.  The also is a small problem now with the web router login/interface (but it doesn’t effect anything and the app works fine).  I know ASUS allows you to save your setting, but I was worried importing my saved settings would cause the same issues with my SONOS, so I started from scratch.  I love the coverage of my ZenWifi AX xt8 system so I figure this is what I’ll have to live with for some updates.

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Anyone, just set up the ZenFi xt8 last night and issues and I understand the firmware issue.

Is it also necessary to have a separate 2.4 only band to connect Sonos to?  I set up a single SmartConnect blended 2.4/5 and I am half convinced instability lies there as much as with the firmware iteration. (My Move latched onto a 5 band, and most of even my S2 system can’t roll with 5.)

I would love feedback on how to use this router with Sonos stability — before I redo it again soon.

Anyone had a successful outcome on this one, other than using firmware 25790? I have tried all the ones since and no luck, some of my speakers show up and some don’t.

Did not have this issue with my previous router setup, AX88U with Lyra mesh, all on the latest firmware.

I don’t know this particular router, but it sounds like SmartConnect is basically band steering.  Having a single SSID for the two bands is different fro having band steering.  Can you disable the band steering element without separating the SSIDs?  If not, it would be a good idea to try separating the SSIDs.

A better idea in most cases is to get Sonos off your WiFi by wiring a single Sonos device to your router and shifting all the Sonos traffic off WiFi and onto SonosNet.  (Note: the Move cannot join SonosNet, but that doesn’t change the advice.)

Hi,

 

This also worked for me. I am using two xt8 in ap mode, and my sonos speakers could get ip, but they were still not reachable by other network clients (although they were reachable from the xt8 node itself).

 

Factory resetting and reconfiguring network from scratch solved everything.

After the latest firmware update _43181 I lost connection with my Sonos system in the S2 app. Tried to follow the built-in wizard to reconnect, but it kept failing when trying to connect to the “Sonos” network. 
 

Same conclusion as Naveed. After connecting one of my speakers (Playbase) to an Ethernet cable from the ASUS router the system reappeared in the S2 app. 
 

Seems to be an issue with the temporary “Sonos” network being rejected by the router. 

Have a friend with XT8 and older Sonos equipment.   He upgraded to .41793 and all was working.  I tried the upgrade to .41793 last night and Sonos once again disappeared.  Rolled back (again) to .25790 and Sonos came back immediately.  Waiting on Asus I guess…

Thanks for the response. Here is what I found…

I have a mix of Sonos, Ikea, Ones and Arc/Sub. The Ones are a mix of gen 1 and gen 2. The only way I could get the whole system to come online was using 41793 and wiring one of the gen 1 speakers. As soon as I did this the other gen 1 and gen 2 were online.

I tried upgrading to the latest XT8 firmware but if just says ‘speakers need configuring’ in the Sonos app so reverted back to 41793.

It’s a step in the right direction and points to a Sonos issue IMO. I’ll leave my firmware as it is now as it works!!!

BTW, has anyone tried fixing the issue using a Sonos Boost and latest XT8 firmware?

Hope this helps someone.