topic Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone in Streaming

Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

SimonDune — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 00:11:51 GMT

It doesn't matter which app, Spotify, Bandcamp, CBC LIsten, etc, they all act the same: if I choose a speaker group to cast to, only one speaker works - even though either can work on its own. A clue is the one that works when I choose a group is the last one that played alone. Another odd thing is it works as it should if I stream form Chrome on my laptop. It's worked great for years now it's broken.

I tried restarting my router, and rebooting all the Chromecast Audios and reconnecting them in Home, No luck.

Any ideas?

Thanks for reading!

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

MplsCustomer — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 02:09:42 GMT

@SimonDune

We don't have speaker groups, but perhaps this posting by Google Nest in this forum addresses your situation:

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Blog/Upcoming-Speaker-Group-changes/ba-p/77811

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

SimonDune — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 02:24:05 GMT

Thanks!

That seems related to my issue, except that is about volume changes in speaker groups being affected, but for me it's that only one speaker in a group at a time can play at all.

But that thread might lead me to some answers.

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

Jeran — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 16:27:23 GMT

Hey there,

Did you have any more questions or need any additional help?

Thank you,
Jeran

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

SimonDune — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 16:35:36 GMT

Yes, the problem went away but is back. Seems to come and go but most times only one speaker in a group will work. I've rebooted and reconnected everything several times and no luck. Any ideas?

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

Jeran — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 16:48:57 GMT

Hey there SimonDune,

I'd be happy to look into this issue to see where the problem lies, since I know speaker groups have been acting differently since the recent changes. I'll just need to ask you questions about your set-up:

What devices do you have in your speaker groups?
Are you able to check the cast firmware version of your speakers?
Is your Google Home app up-to-date?

Speaker groups containing non-Google speakers or Cast-based devices may not work properly in speaker groups if they don’t receive a software update. Customers may notice that those devices don’t play audio in a speaker group. Third-party Cast devices like soundbars with Chromecast built-in will need to be updated to Cast firmware 1.52.272222 and above.

Note: Not all device models will receive software updates. As a result, they may no longer work in speaker groups and will need the Device Utility app to complete each setup.

I look forward to your response, and if you had any other questions, please let me know.

Best regards,

Jeran

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

SimonDune — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 17:09:05 GMT

Hi Jeran,

-What devices do you have in your speaker groups? Two Chromecast Audios, firmware up to date - streaming from a Pixel 3 or Chrome on a Macbook Pro - everything up to date.
-Are you able to check the cast firmware version of your speakers? Both Chromecast Audios are up to date in terms of firmware
-Is your Google Home app up-to-date? I do believe so, as I went to the Play Store and there is no newer version. If you tell me how to check, I can.

Are Chromecast Audios still supported? Is that the issue?

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

SimonDune — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 01:11:30 GMT

You wrote you look forward to my response but then you disappeared. If you don't know how to help me, at least saying that would've been cool. Oh well. I guess some corporations get too big for their lowly customers. Won't be buying anymore Google devices.

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

Jeran — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 16:35:45 GMT

Hey there SimonDune,

I'm sorry about the delayed response, there is a mighty backlog of threads that I need to get through. When it comes to the Chromecast Audio, they are still supported. Google Nest speaker, display, and Chromecast devices should receive an over-the-air update to allow those devices to continue to function in speaker groups.

Refer to the Cast firmware versions below for the minimum versions:

Nest Mini, Nest Audio, Nest Wifi Point > 1.56x
Chromecast Audio, Chromecast (2018), Chromecast Ultra, Nest Hub (1st gen), Nest Hub (2nd gen), Nest Hub Max, Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Home Max > 1.54x

Are you able to give me the firmware number of your Chromecast Audio? Also, are you able to confirm that the speakers still function properly outside the speaker group?

Thank you for your patience.

Best regards,

Jeran

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

Jeran — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 19:49:38 GMT

Hey there,

Did you have any more questions or need any additional help?

Thank you,
Jeran

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

SimonDune — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 20:15:06 GMT

The firmware on my Chromecast Audios is 1.56.281627.

And yes they work individually, but if I select a speaker group, only one will play at a time, usually the one that was last used individually.

If no solution is found in a timely manner, is compensation being discussed? How long are we expected to continue to be patient?

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

SimonDune — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 20:15:32 GMT

Please see my reply to your previous reply above.

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

elfstones65 — Sat, 05 Mar 2022 03:28:12 GMT

Hi @SimonDune so glad someone else is having this issue. The symptom is the same, casting from either my iphone (spotify) or my android phone (Apple Music or spotify) in all cases only 1 device plays in the group.

Apple music even does a drop down presumably so you can control the speaker volumes and it only shows one speaker and at least gives me the 'hint' of which device it is playing on. I took a screen shot but says I don't have permision to upload.

Ps I made my own post about his too

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Speakers-and-Displays/Speaker-groups-only-play-to-one-random-device/m-p/116326#M21489

@Jeran

The house has 5 Chromecast audios, all with versions 1.56.281627.

I've done the below steps multiple times.

Deleted and recreated groups.

Restarted all the chromecast devices

deleted the chromecasts and re-adding them (including factory resets)

rebooted the wifi obviously

I even tried adding them at one point to the 2.4ghz wifi.

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

elfstones65 — Sat, 05 Mar 2022 04:36:17 GMT

@SimonDunesorry you're experiencing the same problem but I'm glad someone else is and I'm not crazy.

I have the exact same issue., Using both ios spotify/mac (spotify connect)/ android (spotify and apple music) in all cases when casting the speaker group only plays on one 'random' device.

Apple music even dispays like this drop down which I assume is meant to show all the speakers individual volumes but it only shows one. I have a screen shot but seems I don't have permission to upload photos?

@Jeranmy setup is 5 chromecast audios all using 1.56.281627. cast firmware.

Stuff I've done to attempt to resolve include mutlipe attempts of:

restarting the wifi
deleting and creating the speaker groups
removing the chormecasts from my account and setting them back up
factory reset on all devices and setup again
tried adding them to the 2.4 ghz wifi network

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

SimonDune — Sat, 05 Mar 2022 16:36:34 GMT

Yeah, we're not crazy but it seems Google wants us to think we are.

Anyway I'm being patient and have decided to believe Community Specialist Jeran when they said "Chromecast devices should receive an over-the-air update to allow those devices to continue to function in speaker groups."

We'll see.

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

elfstones65 — Sat, 05 Mar 2022 19:04:41 GMT

@SimonDune @Jeran hopefully we don't have to wait too long.. I just bought a belkin soundform connnect (**bleep** expensive though) does the same as the chromecast audios but provides airplay 2 to test it. Same price as a homepod mini but will see. Also started me thinking on selling my 1 year old Audio Pro c10 and getting the Mk2 version of it, which upgrades airplay 1 to airplay 2 and adds chromecast too.. . Multiroom when it works is beautifal thing 🙂

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

elfstones65 — Sat, 05 Mar 2022 22:00:41 GMT

@Jeranany idea of when the firmware update will drop or the version number to monitor for?

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

elfstones65 — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 20:32:00 GMT

@Jeran @SimonDune I have no idea why but my speaker group just magically started to work again today.

No google home app updates or chrome cast audio firmware updates... not sure if something server side. I added another speaker to the group a day ago and retested but it was still broken...

Would love to know how its working suddenly

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

elfstones65 — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 16:25:09 GMT

@Jeran @SimonDune and sorry to say two days later not working again 😞

Re: Speaker groups no longer working from smartphone

Jeran — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 18:49:06 GMT

Hey there,

Just wanted to give an update since I have been in contact with a higher tier of support about this issue. Here are some steps they recommended trying for now:

Go ahead and factory reset the affected Chromecast Audio devices.
Check for any updated firmware.
Submit Feedback via the Google Home app with Logs Enabled, for the description, go ahead and put "CCT3 Chromecast Audio Speaker Group".

This looks like an issue that our engineering team is aware of. To be transparent, they have not given me a time-frame for a fix, but it is something they are actively working on.

Best regards,

Jeran