Diagnosing and Fixing Poor Range on Your Allo Network
Diagnose and fix short radio range on Allo — common causes like obstacles and antenna issues, practical checks, and when to add a repeater.
Allo uses LoRa radio technology to carry messages across the mesh network without any internet or cellular infrastructure. In open terrain, a single device-to-device link can cover a considerable distance. In practice, buildings, terrain, and equipment all reduce that range — sometimes significantly. This page explains the most common causes of poor range, practical checks you can do in the field, and when adding a repeater is the right solution.
What affects radio range
Radio signals between Allo devices are affected by several factors. Understanding them helps you quickly identify the likely cause when range falls short of expectations.
Physical obstacles
The biggest enemy of radio range is material between the transmitting and receiving antenna. Different materials reduce the signal by different amounts:
- Open air / line of sight — best possible range.
- Glass and light partition walls — minor reduction.
- Brick and wood walls — moderate reduction; a few walls significantly cut range.
- Reinforced concrete and steel — severe reduction; a single thick concrete wall can cut range to a fraction of its open-air value.
- Underground spaces, car parks, and basements — very poor; often no connectivity without a repeater placed at the entrance.
- Metal structures, vehicles, and machinery — can reflect and absorb signals unpredictably.
If you are inside a building, moving to a window, stepping outside, or moving to a higher floor will all improve range.
Antenna orientation and fit
The antenna on your Allo device is designed to radiate horizontally in all directions when it is held upright. If the antenna is tilted, horizontal, or only partially screwed on, the effective range can drop significantly.
Always keep the antenna vertical. Make sure it is screwed on firmly by hand — not finger-tight, but snug. If the antenna is missing or the connector is visibly damaged, do not use the device and report it to your administrator.
Height and line of sight
Radio waves travel in roughly straight lines. A higher antenna — even a few metres higher — can see over obstacles that would otherwise block the signal. This is why repeaters are most effective when placed on rooftops, masts, hilltops, or upper floors of buildings.
If you are in a flat area with good line of sight to nearby devices or repeaters, range will be significantly better than in a built-up urban environment.
Distance from the nearest repeater
Your device communicates with the mesh by reaching the nearest repeater (or another device). If you are far from any repeater, messages may not reach the wider network. Check with your administrator where repeaters are placed, and make sure your operational area is within reach of at least one repeater.
Interference from other radio equipment
In environments with dense radio traffic — such as emergency operations centres, crowded events, or industrial sites — interference from Wi-Fi, other LoRa systems, or radio equipment can reduce effective range. If you suspect interference, try a different physical location.
Practical checks
Work through these checks when range is worse than expected.
Straighten and tighten the antenna
Hold the device upright and confirm the antenna is vertical. Gently tighten it by hand if it feels loose. Even a small angle away from vertical reduces signal in the horizontal plane, where the mesh devices are.
Move to a higher or more open location
Go outside, step away from metal structures, or move to an upper floor. Even moving from the centre of a room to near a window can noticeably improve range. In the field, positioning the device on a vehicle roof, a windowsill, or a raised platform will extend coverage.
Create line of sight to a repeater
If you know where the nearest repeater is, try to position yourself so there are no large obstacles directly between you and it. A clear line of sight — even at ground level — is far better than an indirect path through walls.
Keep the device away from metal
Metal reflects and absorbs radio waves. Avoid placing or carrying the Allo device directly against metal surfaces such as vehicle doors, machinery, or metal shelving. A few centimetres of separation makes a meaningful difference.
Test with another user at a known location
Ask a colleague at a known fixed point — such as a repeater location or a building entrance — to exchange test messages with you. Walk toward their location and note where messages start delivering reliably. This helps you map the actual coverage boundary rather than guessing at it.
Check that the device is not obstructed in a bag or pocket
Carrying the Allo device deep inside a bag, under a jacket, or next to a large metal object (keys, tools, a radio) reduces the effective antenna height and introduces local shielding. Carry the device in an outer pocket, attached to a belt clip, or on a bag strap where the antenna can radiate freely.
During pre-deployment planning, walk the operational area with a device and a colleague and test message delivery at key positions — building corners, stairwells, underground spaces, and the perimeter. Note where coverage drops out and use that information to decide where repeaters should go.
When to add a repeater
A repeater is a fixed Allo device that passively relays all messages it hears, extending the reach of the mesh. Consider adding one when:
- A specific area (a basement, building wing, or remote location) consistently cannot exchange messages with the rest of the network.
- The distance between two operational positions exceeds reliable direct device-to-device range.
- You are planning an exercise or deployment in a building with thick concrete floors or walls, where each floor may need its own coverage.
- Users in a fixed location (a command post, a staging area) report poor or intermittent delivery.
Repeater placement is a planning activity — it should be done before an exercise or deployment, not during one. If you identify coverage gaps while reading this guide, raise them with your administrator so a repeater can be provisioned and positioned in advance. The dashboard includes tools to help plan mesh coverage.
Tips for placing a repeater
- Height matters most. A repeater placed on a rooftop or high on a mast will cover a much larger area than one at ground level.
- Avoid enclosures. Do not place a repeater inside a metal cabinet, a dense concrete room, or a space with no radio path to the surrounding area.
- Overlap coverage areas. Each repeater should be able to hear at least one other device in the mesh. Isolated repeaters that cannot reach the mesh provide no benefit.
- Power supply. Repeaters need a stable power source. Some variants support solar power for outdoor or semi-permanent deployments — check with your administrator which type you have.
If range problems persist after repositioning or adding a repeater, contact your administrator. They can review signal diagnostics in the dashboard and recommend further action.