Christmas 2022 Opening & Shipping Times


The festive season is almost upon us! With that in mind, we wanted to share more details about our opening and shipping times over Christmas and the New Year. During this period, we will continue to ship orders via APC.

Opening Times

Day Opening Hours
Friday 23rd December 9:00-13:00
Monday 26th December Closed
Tuesday 27th December Closed
Wednesday 28th December 10:00-16:00
Thursday 29th December 10:00-16:00
Friday 30th December 10:00-16:00
Monday 2nd January Closed
Tuesday 3rd Jan Open as Usual

Please be aware, we will be running with a reduced number of staff between Christmas and New Year which may increase wait times.

Delivery Times

Avoid delays; orders placed on 23rd December will not be collected until 28th December. If it’s important for you to receive your orders before Christmas please make sure they are placed by the 22nd December at the latest.

Order APC Cut off APC Expected Delivery
23rd December No collection 29th December
28th December 14:00 29th December
29th December 14:00 30th December
30th December 14:00 3rd January*
3rd January 14:00 4th January

*Delivery can be arranged for New Years Eve on a specfied Saturday delivery. This will need to be arranged at the point of placing your order. Please note; no deliveries will be made to addresses in Scotland on 4th January due to a public bank holiday.

Please note: Christmas is a busy time of year for our couriers and therefore may lead to delays. If it is important that your orders are delivered on a specific day, we would recommend considering selecting a pre 12:00 service with APC – please contact a member of our team to discuss your requirements.

How does Air Quality affect our Health?

Air quality can affect a number of parameters in everyday life. From crop yield to water quality and buildings. It has a profound effect on our lives. But how does air quality affect our health? Find out more in our short blog.

There are many reasons to make air quality monitoring a top priority. Research has shown that poor air quality can have a significant effect on our health. It’s been reported by the WHO that nine out of ten people now breathe polluted air, this contributes to the death of around 7 million people each year1.

These alarming figures illustrate the seriousness of the situation and the stark reality that poor air quality is hard to escape.

How does outdoor air quality affect our health?

Outdoor air quality is closely linked to climate change and the effects of our use of fossil fuels.

Cancer Research recently published their findings on how air pollution can cause lung cancer in people who have never smoked2. As part of the TRACERx Lung Study. The programme found that exposure to air pollution promotes the growth of cells carrying cancer-causing mutations in the Lungs. Particulate Matter, particularly PM2.5 (tiny pollutant particles) have been identified as causing inflammation to the lungs which can lead to cancer.

This isn’t the only potential health implication which can arise as a result of outdoor air pollution. Other conditions that can be caused by this include; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), heart disease and Dementia.

While there are lots of contributing factors to outdoor air quality, many of which are outside an individual’s control, monitoring PM levels with low cost LPWAN sensors can be a good place to start assessing outdoor air quality. Through careful monitoring, information recorded by deployed sensors can be used to identify trends and build up data to allow you to make more informed decisions as to how you can improve outdoor air quality. In order to maximise your project’s effectiveness, it is essential for data to be monitored before and after measures are put in place.

How does indoor air quality affect our health?

Indoor air quality on the other hand is more within our own control. We’ve outlined some potential implications which can come as a result of poor indoor air quality.

Mould & Dampness

Not only is mould unsightly, it can also cause harm to your health. Following the tragic news of the death of 2 year old Awaab Ishak, the implications of mould exposure are sadly very real.

The increased cost of energy is likely to increase the risk of mould inside buildings too. With cold weather comes condensation. Ordinarily putting the heating on would help to dry out the air indoors, but with significant rises to the cost of energy, more and more people are turning their backs on their thermostat.

The most common causes of mould are:

  • Humidity
  • Condensation
  • Rising damp
  • Poor ventilation

Caused by excess moisture, moulds emit spores which can cause a variety of health issues. For babies, young children and those with underlying health conditions including allergies or respiratory conditions such as asthma, these spores can be even more harmful. Monitoring indoor air quality is a simple, yet effective way to alert Landlords, Housing Associations and homeowners of high moisture/humidity levels which can be used to identify the dew point and the need for ventilation.

How does air quality affect our health in the office and schools?

The WELL building standard has helped to transform health and wellbeing in buildings. It’s estimated we spend around 90% of our time in enclosed spaces. During this time, we inhale pollutants which can be detrimental to our health and wellbeing. Elements such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide and Nitrogen Dioxide can all contribute to the overall indoor air quality.

We recently completed a project installing CO2 sensors throughout schools in Scotland. There have been numerous studies over the years about the effect CO2 levels has on our cognitivie performance. Read more about how using LoRaWAN® technology has helped to transform the overall performance and wellbeing in the classroom.

Why use IoT to monitor air quality?

LPWAN devices are ideal for monitoring air quality. With a long battery life of 5+ years, once deployed you can access recorded data from wherever you may be. Devices can be configured to your parameters. If readings fall outside of your set parameters an automated alert will be triggered from your software platform to notify you that an action needs to be taken i.e. open a window to improve ventilation. Data recorded by deployed devices can also be used as evidence of regulation compliance.

How can Alliot help?

While the impact of air quality can be serious for our health, IoT devices can be used to minimise the long-term effects and empower us with more intelligent data to make better decisions. Alliot offer a wide variety of indoor and outdoor air quality sensors and associated software. Whatever parameters you are looking to monitor, we can help you deliver projects of all sizes and locations. Whether you’re looking to monitor indoor air quality conditions in Social Housing across the country or optimise your office environments to improve staff wellbeing and productivity, our expert team are here to help. Contact us today to discuss your air quality monitoring requirements.

1 World Health Organisation 2018, How air pollution is detroying our health, accessed 30th November 2022, <https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/how-air-pollution-is-destroying-our-health>

2 Cancer Research UK 2022, Scientists reveal how air pollution can cause lung cancer in people who have never smoked, accessed 30th November 2022, <https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2022/09/10/scientists-reveal-how-air-pollution-can-cause-lung-cancer-in-people-who-have-never-smoked/>

NB-IoT Explained: The Basics

NB-IoT is really starting to gain momentum, but what actually is it and what are its benefits? Find out more about about this increasingly popular IoT technology and what it can bring to your IoT solutions in our short guide; NB-IoT explained.

What is NB-IoT?

NB-IoT is a form of cellular IoT technology. Like LoRaWAN®, it sits under the LPWAN umbrella. Unlike LoRaWAN®, however, NB-IoT solutions do not require a gateway.

Instead, NB-IoT uses existing cellular (GSM) networks. These cellular networks were set out to extend beyond what existing cellular technologies offer. It utilises low bandwidth signals, making it a great enabler for a broad range of applications, such as:

  • Asset Tracking
  • Smart Cities
  • Monitoring Utilities
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Industry 4.0
  • Wearable Technologies
  • Connected Healthcare
  • Waste Management
  • Transport and Logistics

NB-IoT technology is well suited to low power devices which record and transmit small packets of data over long distances.

Designed to reach locations which aren’t easily covered by traditional cellular technologies. NB-IoT devices will typically have a long battery life of up to 10 years; The list of available devices is growing all the time!

NB-IoT Explained: Who is it good for?

NB-IoT can pose a number of benefits to users, enabling you to:

  • Configure devices yourself to send data to your preferred platform
  • Record data from across multiple locations and assets on the move
  • Hassle free connectivity – leave the network management to the mobile provider
  • Quickly begin to visualise data by connecting your sensors to your dashboard via an IP address
  • Long battery life of up to 10 years
  • Utilises dedicated radio space making it less susceptible to interference

Things to Consider

There’s a couple of factors which are important to take into consideration when selecting which IoT technology is best for your use case.

  • Coverage: As cellular LPWAN networks are maintained by mobile network providers, coverage may not be available in all areas. Our team can help you to establish this prior to getting started.
  • Cost: With cellular LPWAN, each sensor will require its own SIM card. Depending on the size of your project and the number of end points, this could result in higher costs.
  • Sensor Locations: If you need to deploy sensors across multiple locations or monitor moving objects, NB-IoT is likely to be a good option for you.

NB-IoT Explained: What do I need to get started?

There are three key components required to get started with NB-IoT:

  • SIM card – This is your key to getting connected. In the UK, Vodafone is the only NB-IoT provider.
  • Sensors – We provide a wide range of NB-IoT sensors. Whether you’re looking to monitor air quality, energy efficiency, waste levels or track your assets, we’ve got you covered!
  • Dashboard – This is the piece which will bring your solution together. Recorded data is pushed to your chosen dashboard ready to visualise and act upon.

Getting Started with NB-IoT

Whatever your requirements, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Contact us today to begin your NB-IoT journey.

Smart Buildings Show 2022 – What to Expect from Alliot

Alliot Technologies at the Smart Buildings Show 2022

With just a week to go until the Smart Buildings Show, we wanted to give you an insight of what to expect from us at this year’s show.

Why Visit Alliot at the Smart Buildings Show?

We know that traditional Building Management Systems have helped to transform the Smart Building industry, but what if you could take this to another level? This is where IoT comes in. We work with many partners to create bespoke wireless solutions which are simple to install, cost effective and cause minimal disruption to your existing infrastructure.

What to Expect?

Joining us on stand C2 will be MultiTech who will be demonstrating their brand new gateway with BACnet capability. Visit us to meet with MultiTech representatives who will be on hand to discuss the latest innovation and how it can be used to seamlessly integrate LoRaWAN® with your existing BMS systems. On the stand, we will also have a range of MultiTech’s LoRaWAN® gateway solutions which are designed to support LoRaWAN® solutions of all shapes, sizes and applications.

As our main sensor partner at this year’s show, Milesight will be showcasing a range of their latest devices including the new iBox CoWork kit, specially designed to enable you to quickly demonstrate a smart solution out-of-the-box. Visit us on stand C2 to see the latest indoor environmental and condition monitoring devices.

Join us next week to discover how you too can benefit from retrofit IoT solutions, designed to seamlessly integrate with new or existing building management. Whatever your requirements, our expert team are on hand to help you every step of the way.

Queen Elizabeth II – A Message to Our Customers

Like many throughout the UK and the world, we are saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. As a mark of respect our offices will be closed on Monday 19th September 2022, in line with the State Funeral.

Our couriers have also announced a suspended service on this date meaning no UK deliveries will take place. Any orders shipped on Friday, unless specifically booked on a Saturday service will be delivered Tuesday 20th September.

On behalf of the Alliot Team, thank you Ma’am.

Counting Down to The Things Conference Amsterdam 2022

The countdown has begun to The Things Conference Amsterdam. As silver sponsors at this year’s event, we have lots of exciting plans for the show. Here’s a sneak peek at what to expect from the show itself and our plans.

What is The Things Conference?

Organised by The Things Network, The Things Conference is the LoRaWAN® flagship event. Uniting over 2,000 IoT professionals, the show is one of the biggest LoRaWAN® events of the year.

What to expect from The Things Conference 2022

Learn all about the latest developments in the IoT industry and gain valuable insights to scale your IoT solutions.

On our stand, we will be joined by Kerlink and Robeau who will be on hand to discuss their products.

We will also be exhibiting a selection of sensors from our vast portfolio. Our Team members can’t wait to discuss how our services and support can help bring your solutions to life.

In addition to this, Kerlink and Robeau will also be showcasing their products on the LoRaWAN® Wall of Fame. Where you can touch, feel and interact with hundreds of LoRaWAN® enabled devices and gateways.

The Show Agenda

Visitors of The Things Conference Amsterdam can enjoy a jam-packed agenda with lots of keynote and workshops available to attend.

We’re delighted to be joined by David Green, Head of Innovation at Blenheim Palace to deliver a keynote speech around LoRaWAN® and its Impact on Cultural Heritage. We’ve been working with Blenheim Palace to deliver some really exciting projects which we can’t wait to share with you at the show!

Join us from anywhere!

While the physical event may be in Amsterdam, you can join from anywhere! With both the physical and virtual event running side-by-side, the choice is yours.

Save 20% on your ticket price with our exclusive discount code: FRIENDS-ALLIOT

We hope to see you there!

LoRaWAN World Expo 2022 – Everything you need to know

Alliot Technologies at the LoRaWAN World Expo 2022

With just a week to go until the LoRaWAN® World Expo, we’ve compiled a short guide on what to expect from the largest LoRaWAN® ecosystem and how to make the most of your time at the show.

When & Where?

The LoRaWAN® World Expo will be taking place over two days at Le Palais des Congres de Paris on 6th & 7th July 2022.

What to Expect?

LoRaWAN® is enabling digital transformation around the world. It’s regarded to be one of the only LPWAN technologies ready to scale. Organised by the LoRa Alliance, the LoRaWAN® World Expo is the official Global LoRaWAN® event.

With a jam-packed agenda, the conference aims to join industry leaders from around the world.

Attendees are set to include: enterprises, device makers, system integrators, distributors, developers, solution providers, educational institutions, IoT alliances, influencers and more!

What’s on the agenda?

The 2-day event is set to provide a varied range of content from 92 speakers.

Visitors of the LoRaWAN World Expo can expect to hear about:

  • Environmental factors including climate change, biodiversity, agriculture, natural disasters, natural resources and more.
  • Social elements such as health and safety, cities, utilities, buildings, quality of life and more.
  • Governance i.e. ethics, employee protection, privacy, regulatory, UN SDGs and more.
  • LoRaWAN® Technical Features and IoT Ecosystem such as multi-RAN, roaming, satellites, security, regional developments, edge, complimentary technologies and more.
  • Workshops and interactive sessions on topics such as: security, implementation, business/market training, solving problems, FUOTA, private networks, developer focused and more.

On top of this, there will also be an exhibition with over 80 companies exhibiting, including us!

Alliot at the LoRaWAN World Expo 2022

Joining us on stand 68 at the LoRaWAN® World Expo will be our partner, Novacene. As specialist developers of intelligent IoT dashboards, we will be demoing Novacene’s one-stop building health platform at the show. Designed to make managing buildings smarter for those in the public and private sectors, Novacene have played a pivotal role in some of our largest projects including reducing CO2 emissions in schools.

On the stand, we will also have a selection of gateways and sensors from our manufacturer partners. Visit us see some of the latest and greatest LoRaWAN® devices available.

Visit us on stand 68 to find out more and speak with the Alliot & Novacene team. We can’t wait to see you in Paris!

Our experts are on hand to help you every step of the way
Lets talk

Alliot to Supply Milesight LoRaWAN Range


We are delighted to announce our new partnership with Milesight! With a brand new range of LoRaWAN® Gateways, Sensors and software now available.

Designed to optimise environmental conditions, enhance efficiencies and leverage the top trending tech, discover Milesight’s LoRaWAN® offering today with Alliot.

LIVE WEBINAR – 13th JULY

Milesight is a fast-growing AIoT solution provider committed to offering value-added services and cutting-edge technologies. Join us on Wednesday 13th July at 10 am when our Sales Director, Craig Herrett will be joined by Ana Huang from Milesight to take a look at their value proposition in the IoT and communications industries and how the Internet of Things and artificial intellgence have become a core part of the business.

Register now to get to grips with the range and discover a new host of possibilities in our next live webinar.


Whatever vertical you operate in, there’s something for everyone in the Milesight range. Get in touch today to discuss your IoT requirements. Our expert team are n hand to help you every step of the way.

[VIRTUAL EVENT] Alliot Joins The Things Conference Devices

The Virtual Things Conference 2022

Join us online on Thursday 24th March to discover innovative LoRaWAN® deployments and explore the most advanced smart solutions at The Things Conference Devices virtual event.

Boost your IoT skillset, and learn how to get started with the best devices for your use cases while networking with leading global LoRaWAN® experts. This is the greatest way to learn the latest advice and techniques to accelerate your IoT projects.

Register today to learn the ins and outs of working with top-notch LoRa devices and implementing LoRaWAN® to your applications.

You don’t want to miss it!

IoT Connectivity: What are the options?

IoT Connectivity: What are the Options?

When it comes to selecting your preferred IoT connectivity there are a number of things you may want to consider. To help simplify this process, we’ve compiled a short guide to outline the options available and our top tips to think about when selecting the best option for your solutions.

There are numerous ways to connect your IoT devices, some will require a SIM card whereas others will require a gateway, or even connect to a satellite! The type of IoT connectivity you select is critical to the success of your IoT project and each option comes with its own range of benefits. The key here is to really understand what your requirements are and if your chosen connectivity will support your objectives.

What options are out there?

Here at Alliot we specialise in two key technologies: LoRaWAN® and NB-IoT/LTE-M (cellular IoT connectivity). But there are other options out there, these include:

Wired Connections

Wired connections were among the first methods of connectivity used in the early days of IoT. This tends to work well for items that will remain in a fixed position, but there’s little flexibility and there are much more efficient options now available.

WiFi

We’ve all become well accustomed to connecting our devices via WiFi and it often works well for simple home applications. WiFi however is notorious for its limitations with regards to range. Using WiFi for your IoT connectivity would require lots of access points to ensure its reach and it will also eat up a lot of battery power. Battery life is incredibly important when it comes to IoT sensors, especially if you’re installing solutions across multiple sites – replacing all those batteries would prove very time consuming!

Satellite

If you’re looking to monitor parameters in the middle of the ocean, satellite connectivity is the best option. There are geostationary satellites in orbit connecting devices around the world. It’s also reported that low earth orbit satellites are on the cards for companies such as SpaceX.

What options do Alliot Offer when it comes to IoT Connectivity?

LPWAN

Now this is our bread and butter! Low power Wide Area Networks were specifically designed for IoT use. LoRaWAN® devices offer long battery life by periodically transmitting small packets of data to a connected gateway. These gateways then connect to a LoRaWAN® network which offer a long range of up to 10km (depending on location) and don’t interfere with any existing networks or infrastructure.

Cellular Connectivity

Cellular IoT such as Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and LTE-M offer a great alternative to LoRaWAN®. NB-IoT is the newest kid on the block when it comes to IoT connectivity. Like LoRaWAN®, it offers an excellent coverage range and supports a long battery life.

However, unlike WiFi or LPWAN solutions using ethernet powered gateways, cellular doesn’t require an ethernet connection. Connectivity is instead supported by piggybacking on mobile networks. These devices require the use of a cellular IoT SIM card.

The main difference between NB-IoT and LTE-M is the support of mobility on the network. If you’re looking to track assets across multiple locations for example, LTE-M is likely to be the best option for you as it is better suited to faster moving assets that you need more frequent messages from as it supports handover.

Things to Consider…

There are a few things we’d recommend you take into consideration when selecting the type of IoT connectivity for your solutions.

Coverage

We’ve all experienced the loss of phone signal in remote locations. Sometimes cellular coverage can be weaker or unavailable in certain areas. Before going full steam ahead with a cellular IoT solution, it’s important to check the coverage available; we can help you with this.

In some areas, LoRaWAN® could well be the better option for you as you have the ability to create your own network therefore enabling you to ensure a relatively stable coverage across all types of locations. With LoRaWAN® you have the flexibility to create your own coverage by installing gateways, there are no licensing costs for the radio, and you can install them anywhere you want!

Cost & Scalability

Both LoRaWAN® and cellular IoT are future-proof in terms of scalability. With NB-IoT and LTE-M you have the ongoing cost of your SIM cards. The cost of SIM connectivity is low and given the size of your solution can be very cost-effective when compared to the costs involved with setting up a LoRaWAN® solution. Cellular IoT is great option where you only want a very small number of sensors per site, since you don’t need anything other than the sensor and a SIM contract which costs pence per month, per device. In these instances, installing gateways would be prohibitively expensive for a small number of sensors. Plus, you have the added benefit that the network is the responsibility of the mobile network provider!

If, however your solution is going to have thousands of connected devices, LoRaWAN® could prove to be more cost-effective for you as it operates on free (unlicensed) frequencies which you manage yourself so there are no upfront licensing costs to use the technology and you can potentially connect thousands of sensors to one gateway.

Deployment

Both NB-IoT and LoRaWAN® solutions are simple to install. We can even ship devices to you ready to plug & play! LoRaWAN® gateways offer coverage between 10km and 2km based on the installation environment. This is ideal for monitoring sensors deployed within this distance. However, if you’re looking to track assets throughout the country for example, LTE-M may offer a better alternative.

Whatever your requirements we’re here to help. Both cellular IoT and LoRaWAN® offer excellent options when it comes to connecting your IoT solutions. Get in touch today to discuss your IoT connectivity.

Our experts are on hand to help you every step of the way
Lets talk