Question 1

How long does setup actually take?

Accepted Answer

Under ten minutes. You make a list of your operatories, your staff names, and the actions you want on the buttons. We have a default dental setup you can start from. No installer, no IT call.

Question 2

Which devices does AltoSignal run on?

Accepted Answer

Native apps for iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, Amazon Fire, Windows, Mac, and Linux, plus a browser version for any computer.

Question 3

Do we need an internet connection, or does it work offline?

Accepted Answer

Signals travel two ways at once: across your own office network, and through the cloud. If the connection drops, devices running the app on that network keep signaling each other, with nothing for staff to switch on. What waits for the connection is the administrative side, changing button labels, adding a channel, or reaching a second location. The browser version does not take part in local delivery, so a browser-only screen receives through the cloud.

Question 4

What are channels, and how do they work?

Accepted Answer

Channels decide who hears a message, a single device or a group. Main and Emergency always reach every device. You can add your own, like a Front Desk channel that goes straight to one operatory, without interrupting the rest of the office.

Question 5

Is there an emergency alert?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A built-in Emergency channel is ready from day one. It reaches every device with priority and stands out on every screen. You can rename the buttons to fit your office, like Call 911 or Hazard.

Question 6

Does AltoSignal keep a record of messages?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every message is saved with the time it went out and who acknowledged it. Anything no one has confirmed stays flagged, so nothing quietly gets missed.

Question 7

Is AltoSignal only for large practices?

Accepted Answer

No. It works for a single-dentist office just as well as a busy multi-doctor practice, and it scales up to dental schools and enterprise settings with many rooms and teams.

Question 8

Can it replace our old intercom or light system?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most practices come to AltoSignal from wired call boxes, light paging, or an older app. See how it compares to Porter, Visicom, Cyber Intercom, BlueNote, Kelkom, Comlite, and Venga in the compare section.

Question 9

How much does AltoSignal cost?

Accepted Answer

AltoSignal is priced per device, and the rate drops as you add devices. $25 a month covers your first 5 devices; devices 6–10 are $4 each, 11–20 are $3, 21–100 are $2, 101–200 are $1.50, and 201–500 are $1.25. Each band prices only the devices inside it, so a 12-device practice pays $51 a month. Pay yearly and you get two months free. Staff seats are unlimited: you pay for the screens that receive signals, not for people. Every plan starts with a 30-day free trial, no credit card. Past 500 devices, email sales@altosignal.com.

Question 10

Will it work over our existing Wi-Fi?

Accepted Answer

Yes. AltoSignal runs in any browser and as native apps. If your front desk can load Google, AltoSignal will work. We don’t need a special network or any new hardware.

Question 11

What happens if a device goes offline mid-day?

Accepted Answer

When the device comes back online, it picks up the most recent broadcast and any acknowledgements it missed. Nothing gets lost in the gap. If it was the office internet that dropped rather than the device, the devices still on your office network keep signaling each other in the meantime.

Question 12

Is it HIPAA-friendly?

Accepted Answer

AltoSignal does not store patient names, charts, or PHI. The buttons say “Dr. Patel needs assistant in Op 2,” not patient information. We sign a BAA on request.

Question 13

Can we customize the buttons for our practice?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Doctor names, role names, room labels, and the actions are all editable. Most practices set this up once on day one and rarely touch it again.

Question 14

What if our practice has a non-standard layout, two suites, a satellite office?

Accepted Answer

You can group screens by location and have separate broadcasts per suite, or one shared layer across both. Your call.

Question 15

Can we cancel anytime?

Accepted Answer

Anytime. Month-to-month, no contract. Cancel from settings, no phone call required.