Here are the instructions for taking some signal readings with your cell phone. This will only show the signal strength for that particular carrier.
There are some easy apps to use if you have Android. Apple has blocked all of these types of apps recently so a field test mode is necessary.
Easiest method if you can find an Android Device For Android users, there is a great go-to app to do a signal strength test and network speed test.
Network Cell Info Lite, available for free on the Google Play store, provides nearly real-time monitoring of cellular and Wi-Fi signals. Raw network cellular information is provided, such as network speeds as shown in decibels. Route coloring is displayed in a map, in accordance to signal strength and relative location of towers form the Mozilla MLS database.
iPhone Field Test Mode
iPhone users can also view a signal strength reading by accessing their iPhone Field Test Mode. Below are instructions to enact the field test mode an iPhone models. *Instructions may not work for iPhone’s using iOS 11 and higher.
- Turn off Wi-Fi
- Key in *3001#12345#*
- Press call
- Tap: Serving Cell Measurements
- Scroll down to: Measured rsrp0
- Add +20 dBm to the resulting number (example -102 shown would be -82 dBm)
Helpful tip: When taking signal readings, move to the location where you want to take the reading, wait for 30 to 60 seconds for the signal readings to catch up, and then record the signal strength and network type (2G, 3G, 4G, LTE, etc.).
How to check signal strength for an Android
Android cell phone signal strength app
For Android users, there is a great go-to app to do a signal strength test and network speed test.
- Network Cell Info Lite, available for free on the Google Play store, provides nearly real-time monitoring of cellular and Wi-Fi___33 signals. Raw network cellular information is provided, such as network speeds as shown in decibels. Route coloring is displayed in a map, in accordance to signal strength and relative location of towers form the Mozilla MLS database.
Android Field Test Mode
Most Android phone models allow the user to view signal strength readings by navigating the device’s menu tree. Accessing Field test mode on Android phones is also straightforward.
- Go to “Settings” > “About Phone”
- Your numerical signal strength will be available under either Network or Status, depending on the model of the phone you own.
- Being able to find the right menu screen varies across phone manufacturers, models and versions of Android OS.
- A typical navigation sequence is Settings – About Phone – Status or Network – Signal Strength or Network Type and Strength.
Alternate navigation sequence for some Android phones is Settings > More Options or More Settings > About Phone > Mobile Networks > Signal Strength. Some experimenting with the menus on your Android phone should get you a dBm reading that’s reliable.
Helpful tip: Android phones will read only one network at a time. If you have 4G network access, that’s the default dBm reading your phone will display. If there’s no 4G service at the moment, the reading will default to 3G.
After following the instructions above, if you’re unable to determine your device’s signal strength reading, check the operations guide that came with your device.
