¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Stages does (did?) have issues with signal at distance from the unit, also on the older ones the back of the battery lid didn't always make a solid connection and let the coin battery move. Mine wouldn't pick up my ANT stick in my computer ~5ft away, but reads it fine sitting underneath the trainer (less than a ft) although it always paired to my head unit (~2ft) fine. Some folk I installed for reported the same at short'ish distances (almost exclusively gen1 devices though)
With the cell service I've gotten every time I've been at DLV I could see it being an issue connecting everything.