Provision Allo Devices and Repeaters in the Dashboard
Provision new Allo client devices and repeaters, assign them to users or locations, monitor their status, and decommission hardware.
Before a user can send messages over the Allo radio network, their client device must be registered — or "provisioned" — to your organisation in the dashboard. Provisioning tells the network which devices belong to your organisation and makes it possible to assign devices to specific users, track their status, and revoke access when a device is returned or lost. This page covers client devices and repeaters; both are managed from the same section of the dashboard.
Client devices vs. repeaters
| Client device | Repeater | |
|---|---|---|
| Carried by a user? | Yes | No — fixed or semi-fixed position |
| Paired to a phone? | Yes, via Bluetooth | No |
| Assigned to a person? | Yes | Typically a location |
| Extends mesh range? | Partially | Yes, primary purpose |
Client devices are the handheld hardware your field users carry and pair with the Allo app. Repeaters are placed at fixed positions — rooftops, vehicles, buildings — to relay traffic and extend the reach of the mesh. You provision both types in the dashboard, but only client devices are assigned to individual users.
Provision a new device
Provisioning registers a device to your organisation so it can join your radio mesh and be assigned to a user or location.
Open Devices & Repeaters
Log in to the dashboard and navigate to Devices & Repeaters in the sidebar. You will see a list of all hardware currently registered to your organisation.
Select Add device or Add repeater
Click Add device for a client device, or Add repeater for a repeater unit. An entry form opens.
Enter the device identifier
Every Allo device has a unique identifier printed on its label and displayed on its screen when powered on — for example, F48CDB8F. Enter this identifier in the Device ID field. This links the physical hardware to your organisation's account.
Give the device a descriptive name
Enter a human-readable name. For client devices, you might use the intended user's name (e.g. Jan de Vries) or a unit number. For repeaters, use the deployment location (e.g. Rooftop — Stadskantoor or Vehicle 3). This name is visible to users in the app.
Save the device
Confirm and save. The device now appears in your device list with a Registered status. It is ready to be assigned.
A device must be provisioned before a user can pair it with the Allo app. If a user tries to pair an unprovisioned device, the app will not recognise it as belonging to their organisation.
Assign a client device to a user
Once a device is provisioned, assign it to the user who will carry it. This links the device to that user's account so that their groups, contacts, and settings are pushed to the device when they pair it with the app.
- Open the device's detail page by clicking its name in the device list.
- Select Assign to user.
- Search for and select the user from your organisation's user list.
- Save the assignment.
The user can now pair the device to their phone by following the steps in Connect Your Device.
For repeaters, instead of assigning to a user, enter a location name (for example, Brandweerkazerne Noord). This makes it easy to identify in device status views and logs.
View device status
The device list shows a status indicator for each registered device:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Registered | Provisioned but not yet paired or active. |
| Active | Device is paired to a user's phone and has been seen on the network recently. |
| Inactive | Device has not been seen on the network for an extended period. Check that it is charged and powered on. |
| Unassigned | Provisioned but not assigned to a user or location. |
Live device status via cloud sync is an upcoming feature. In the current version, status reflects the last known state recorded in the dashboard. For real-time checks during an exercise, use the logs view or ask users to confirm their connection in the app.
Reassign a device
If a device needs to move from one user to another — for example, after a shift change or when a team member leaves — open the device's detail page, select Reassign, and choose the new user. The previous assignment is cleared automatically.
Decommission a device
When a device is lost, damaged, or permanently retired, decommission it to prevent it from being used by anyone outside your organisation.
Find the device
In the Devices & Repeaters list, locate the device by name or ID.
Open the device detail page
Click the device name to open its full record.
Decommission
Select Decommission device. Confirm the action when prompted. The device is removed from your active inventory and can no longer join your organisation's mesh.
Decommissioning is permanent. If the device is recovered later, you will need to provision it again from scratch. If you are unsure, consider unassigning the device instead — this removes it from the active user but keeps it in your inventory.
Frequently asked questions
Can one device be assigned to more than one user?
No. A client device can be assigned to only one user at a time. Only one phone can be connected to a device via Bluetooth at any moment. To reassign, remove the existing assignment first.
What happens if a device is lost in the field?
Decommission it from the dashboard as soon as possible. This prevents anyone who finds the device from using it to access your organisation's radio mesh. Report the loss to your Allo contact for further guidance.
Do repeaters need to be assigned to a user?
No. Repeaters relay messages automatically and do not require a paired phone or user assignment. Assign a descriptive location name instead so you can identify them easily in logs.
How many devices can an organisation register?
There is no fixed limit in the dashboard. In practice, the size of your effective mesh depends on the number of devices deployed and how they are positioned. See Placement and Range for guidance on maximising coverage.