Multiple Homes

[buzz]

PaulS,

Yes, I constantly shout the "Don't factory reset ..." and it is good advice for anyone in a panic problem fix mode. Moving a unit to another household is the only exception to this rule that I can think of.

By the way, it is very important that you factory reset any units that move between systems -- before allowing the moved units to connect to the target system. Each ZonePlayer stores a copy of the music library index, music service registrations, favorite Internet Radio stations, and SONOS playlists. Obviously, only one set should survive, but which set? SONOS does not publish which set will survive. You can expect that Murphy's law will guarantee the wrong result -- been there, done that, got burned.

[PaulS]

Originally Posted by buzz

Yes, I constantly shout the "Don't factory reset ..." and it is good advice for anyone in a panic problem fix mode. Moving a unit to another household is the only exception to this rule that I can think of.

By the way, it is very important that you factory reset any units that move between systems -- before allowing the moved units to connect to the target system. Each ZonePlayer stores a copy of the music library index, music service registrations, favorite Internet Radio stations, and SONOS playlists. Obviously, only one set should survive, but which set? SONOS does not publish which set will survive. You can expect that Murphy's law will guarantee the wrong result -- been there, done that, got burned.

buzz & ratty, many thanks for your advice - especially that underlined part - and happy christmas listening to one and all.

[PaulS]

Originally Posted by buzz

... it is very important that you factory reset any units that move between systems -- before allowing the moved units to connect to the target system.

For any readers...

Although Controllers can be FactoryReset from Settings / ControllerSettings / AdvancedSettings / FactoryReset,
for some reason there isn't any similar option for ZPs under the Settings / ZonePlayerSettings menu...

For those who do need this, the standard way of resetting ZPs (and S5s) seems to be...

1. Disconnect Power
2. Press and hold Mute
3. Reconnect Power
4. Wait until Mute light flashes amber
5. Release Mute

[jmesberg]

Hi, I would also like to use Sonos in multiple homes, but I only need to use Spotify as my music source. Do I still need to follow Buzz's instructions above? digital0721 seems to suggest that s/he didn't need to do this to get this scenario to work well.

John

[buzz]

jmesberg,

If you do not yet have any SONOS components, you do not need the Factory Reset -- provided that you first register the new units (as you purchase them) in the first house. Once registered in the first house, the SONOS units can be dispersed to the other houses.

Essentially, this creates a large system that will span multiple locations. While this separation will not fluster the SONOS system, it may create some issues for music services that do not allow multiple simultaneous streams. For example, if you are playing a service in Home #1, someone starting the same service in Home #2 may be blocked or Home #1 might be dumped. Each service has its own rules.

Another issue that you will face is chaining accounts or passwords on the music services. Even though the various homes will be part of one large system, the SONOS units in the homes will not communicate with each other. For example, if you change the password on service 'A' in Home #1, you will need to manually make these changes in Home #2 and Home #3.

---

By the way, the most significant benefit of this distributed system approach is the ability to move controllers between systems without any further action. Otherwise, you'll need to reset the controllers as you move them between systems. This would require a few seconds of action on your part for each controller every time that you move the controller.

Moving ZonePlayers between homes must be done more carefully unless your music libraries, playlists, and music service settings are identical.

[jmesberg]

that isn't exactly the scenario I have. I actually already have a pretty extensive Sonos config in my primary home (1 ZP 120, 4 ZP 90s). What I'm trying to do is set up Sonos in an apartment I'm renting in another city (long story :-). I want to buy one Play:3 and use it with my Sonos client on my iPad or iPhone. I don't care about access to my current home library, just want to use Spotify in the new apartment, just like I use it in my primary home. Thoughts?

[buzz]

jmesberg,

I suggest that you purchase and test the new unit in your current home, then ship or carry it to New York.

I don't think that there will be any Spotify issues unless there is an attempt to simultaneously use the account in both locations.

[jmesberg]

...I wish the new place was in NY though, its actually in Columbus, Ohio of all places!

[buzz]

jmesberg,

Sorry about the New York, maybe I picked up an unwritten signal from you.

[CJepson]

Buzz, this is a decent workaround in some cases, but its not really a solution - I think a software update to accommodate this scenario would be well-received! See my post: http://forums.sonos.com/showpost.php...96&postcount=3

Thanks for considering!