How to Send Your First Off-Grid Message Using Allo
Choose a contact or group, compose a short message, send it over the radio mesh, and learn how to read the delivery status indicators in the app.
Once your Allo app is installed, your account is set up, and your client device is paired and connected over Bluetooth, you are ready to send your first message. Allo supports two types of conversations: private messages to a single contact, and group messages to everyone in a shared group. Both work the same way under the hood — your phone sends the message to your Allo device over Bluetooth, and the device transmits it across the radio mesh to reach its destination.
Make sure your Allo client device is powered on and connected to the app before you try to send a message. If the Bluetooth connection icon in the app shows disconnected, return to Connect Your Device and re-pair.
Send a message
Choose who to message: a contact or a group
Open the Allo app. You will see two main sections in the navigation:
- Contacts — a list of individual people in your organisation. Use this for private, one-to-one messages when you want to reach a specific person, such as a team leader or coordinator.
- Groups — a list of group conversations your account has access to. Use a group when multiple people need to receive the same information — for example, a status update from a location to all teams, or a coordination message from a command post.
Tap the name of the contact or group you want to message. If you are running a first test, choose a group that includes a colleague who is also on-site and connected.
You can only see contacts and groups that your administrator has assigned to your account. If someone you expect to see is missing, contact your Allo administrator.
Compose your message
Tap the text field at the bottom of the conversation screen and type your message.
Keep messages short and clear — the radio mesh is optimised for concise operational text. A good message includes your location or team name, the current status, and any action required. For example:
CP to all teams: confirm status and number of people present.
Photos, files, and voice messages are not supported in the current version of Allo. Stick to short text.
Send the message
Tap the send button (the arrow icon to the right of the text field). The app hands the message to your Allo client device over Bluetooth. The device then transmits it over the radio mesh toward its destination.
The message appears in the conversation thread immediately, with a status indicator showing the current delivery state.
Check the delivery status
Each sent message shows a status indicator. The meaning of each state is:
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Sending | The app is passing the message to your Allo device over Bluetooth. If this status persists, check that your device is still connected. |
| Sent | Your Allo device has accepted the message and is transmitting it over the radio mesh. The recipient may not have received it yet. |
| Delivered | The recipient's Allo device has acknowledged the message, and your device received that confirmation. |
| Not delivered | The message could not reach the recipient. This typically means the recipient is out of radio range, their device is off, or there is no viable path through the mesh. |
For group messages, delivery works differently from private messages. A group message may be received by some members and not yet by others. If a delivery confirmation is important, ask recipients to reply explicitly.
Confirm receipt with a reply (recommended for tests)
For your first test, ask the colleague you messaged to send a short reply — for example, Received. — so you can also confirm that incoming messages appear correctly on your device. When their reply arrives, your phone receives it through the radio mesh via your Allo device and the app displays it in the conversation thread.
If you do not receive a reply and the message shows Not delivered, see Message Not Delivered for troubleshooting steps.
Tips for effective messaging on the radio mesh
The radio mesh works best when messages are short, structured, and purposeful. The tips below help you get the most out of Allo in the field.
Keep messages short
The Allo radio mesh is designed for operational text, not long-form messages. Short, structured messages travel more reliably and are easier to act on under pressure. Aim to include: who is sending, what the situation is, and what action (if any) is needed.
Use groups for broadcast updates
When the same information needs to reach multiple people — such as a status check from a command post — use a group rather than sending individual private messages to each person. This reduces radio traffic and ensures everyone receives the update at the same time.
Use private messages for targeted communication
When you need to reach a specific person without broadcasting to the whole group — for example, to ask a coordinator a question that is not relevant to the team — use a private message via the Contacts list.
Ask for confirmation on critical messages
Because delivery over a radio mesh can be affected by range, obstacles, and device battery, always ask for an explicit reply when a message is operationally important. Do not assume a message was acted on just because it shows Sent.