How to build your own single-purpose Sonos controller
by Volker Weber
Our kids used to run to us parents all the time in order to choose the music or audio books for them in their room. So we figured out they needed their own Sonos controller. For obvious reasons, we didn't want to give them a full smartphone to do this.
Hanno (@hzulla) has built a controller from an old Android phone by installing CyanogenMod and MobiLock
Comments
Other options for the kids could include an used Soviet iPod CR-100 from eBay (occasions from appr. 70) or an iPod touch 4th generation (with iOS6, around 30)
I tried to buy used Soviet controllers. Hard to find, not affordable when it good condition, not supported by Sonos anymore. The solution above is cheaper, has a better UI and the app will be supported for a long time.
Well, mine is still running extremely well. Just replaced the battery because this was dying. Other than that no reason to complain, new services get added from the desktop app. YMMV.
Besides using their own Smartphones a 1st generation iPad with SonoPad (https://appsto.re/de/VUDKI.i) installed does the job.
@Hanno: I still have two old comntrollers, willing to pass them on. let me know if u need them.
Thanks. I'm happy with my current setup now.
And for even smaller children, you can copy the concept from Tonies (https://tonies.de/) to Sonos:
Rasberry Pi + RFID Reader + a few rfid tags with labels (2d or 3d) printed on them.
Code a playlist name onto each tag and trigger this playlist in the (hard coded) zone using node sonos http api (http://jishi.github.io/node-sonos-http-api/).
For play/pause and volume alone, they can simply use the player directly.
@chris: maybe Volker can connect us - I'd be interested in a Controller if we can agree on a reasonable price :-)