How to Read Cell Phone Field Test Data

Guide for testing signal strength accurately on Apple iPhone, and Android phones.

Scale of signal forcefulness in decibels:

If you want to perform a diagnostic bank check for poor jail cell phone reception or if you lot want to know the strength of your cell phone's point accurately, then you must set phone for dB reading because you need to exist able to check the DB (decibel) strength of the point dBm rating.

Sure, you lot can look at the bars and get an indicator every bit to how strong or weak your input and output will be, but this visual indicator is non very specific and is prone to change with the slightest shifts of the phones position. In addition, information technology does non update in realtime.

Therefore, you may notice 2, 3, four, and even five bars but you cannot make a phone call. Or you may see 1 bar, or even no bar / no service bulletin, but notwithstanding you lot can make a call merely fine. Being within your Carrier's coverage map is likewise no guarantee for cellular connectivity.

This quick guide will show yous how to check your telephone'due south indicate force on both an Apple tree and an Android phone with more than accurateness, considering inaccurate and finicky nature of antenna confined on cell phones.

This volition besides help you figure out whether the cell phone bespeak booster yous installed is working or not? Delight cheque signal strength by putting your phone in field test manner or make and receive calls to know if at that place has been improvement, before returning your installed kit on supposition that it does not work! It may be working fine, but your indicate bars may not be reflecting improvement in betoken strength.

The methods we will provide below only shows you signal strength of the service carrier providing service to your phone. If you demand to know signal strength hitting your phone from all carriers, you will demand a bespeak meter .

What does negative number cell signal mean?

A negative number as in cellular signal signifies the strength of the indicate in decibels.

Why do the decibels matter?

If y'all recall of the decibels on the phone as the detailed information to gain the best bespeak, then you volition understand how the bars are really superfluous to agreement how your telephone works. For example: If yous purchase a jail cell phone signal booster that claims that it tin can heave your phones decibels upwardly to 50 points, but your bespeak strength is reading at -157, your signal volition still be pretty weak. However, if your telephone is reading at -100 and you get the same booster, you will become a very strong bespeak (likewise, the phone will never evidence you anything above a -l on a telephone).

• Cellular signal strength is measured in decibels (dB), and typically range from -fifty dB to -110 dB.
• The dB scale is logarithmic. This means that every 3 dB increase doubles the power. For case, -67 dB is twice the power of -70 dB.
• Every vi dB will approximately double the coverage altitude from antenna (or cell tower).

Calibration of signal strength in decibels:

Please note that above 3G signal strength chart is close, but not the aforementioned for 4G/ LTE. Encounter the differences shown below based on whether measuring signal strength in dBm on a 3G network or 4G network  due to comparatively better quality of the newer 4G LTE network signals in comparing to older 3G network signals:

In brief, how to put your phone in field examination fashion to measure signal strength in decibels?

• How to Enter Field Test Mode for iPhones Not Running iOS 11:

1. Go into your Settings / WiFi / Turn Off WiFi.
2. Bank check your iOS and:
1. For iOS 9.3 and later go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Information Options > Enable LTE > Turn Off LTE.
2. For iOS 9.2 and before Settings > Cellular > Enable LTE > Plough Off LTE.
3. Make a phone call to *3001#12345#* and press telephone call.

How to Enter Field Test Mode for iPhones Running iOS 11:

1. Go into your Settings / WiFi / Turn Off WiFi.
2. Check your iOS and:
1. For iOS eleven and later go to Settings / Cellular / Cellular Data Options / Enable LTE / Turn Off LTE.
3. Brand a phone call to *3001#12345#* and printing telephone call.
4. Select Serving Jail cell Measurements and refer to the top detail named Measured RSSI.

How to Enter Field Examination Way for Android

1. Settings > More Options or More Settings.
2. Tap on About Phone > Mobile Networks > Signal Strength
3. Under Indicate Forcefulness yous will run into your dB reading. If you do not see it there you will meet it nether Network Type or SIM Status .

Detailed Instructions:

For IOS Apple Phones.

Information technology is important to state that you lot should not jailbreak your phone to find the signal strength. Yes, you volition demand to become into the hidden files on your phone, but such tin can be washed without having to tamper with important files or bodily framework of the telephone. You volition need to accept administrator permissions on the phone (which just basically means that you lot know the countersign to access secure apps if you have that security measure activated on your iPhone). To find the decibels on your phone, follow the following steps:

1. Discover a place where you tin make a phone call. If you lot're in a dead zone, so this method may not piece of work. You lot will demand to accept equivalent of at least one bar in club to access the information every bit you will accept to place a call (if not, try other options stated below). For situations where you take used upwardly your data or for places where at that place is no signal, you may need to effort to admission the bespeak force data from a person who has the aforementioned make and model telephone as yous take. Do non use for example a 4G phone to observe the information on the DB of a 2G or 3G phone. The data will non be the same considering phones detect the signals they are capable of detecting such a 3G phone tin detect 3G signals whereas a 4G telephone will find 3G and 4G signals.
2. Call *3001#12345#* (then tap Telephone call / Ship push button) - You may, or may not have to put the * sign in before you lot telephone call the number, because it depends upon the phone model and how your telephone is set upward to send and receive calls. If one method does non work, try the suggested alternative method by dialing without asterisk. If neither of the sequenced numbers method piece of work as stated above, and so your version requires few more steps: Upon doing above, you volition see pick to tap on "LTE". And so tap on, "Serving Jail cell Meas". So expect for, "rsrp0" and its respective signal forcefulness. "rsrp0" is the chief cell phone tower connected to your phone. "rsrp1" is the next closest ane with the strongest connection. Both have their own cellular force depending on distance, interference, and other measures. FYI, RSRP stands for Reference Indicate Received Ability with range from -45dbm (good) to -140dbm (bad). Information technology is a variation of RSSI measurement. Among other measurements shown, y'all may besides notice RSRQ measurement which stands for Reference Signal Received Quality with range from -40dB (bad) to -3dB (adept) - simply nosotros will talk most it in some other blog post to prevent going off-topic here. If all options listed higher up practice not work, unfortunately, these "field test fashion" methods to detect signal in decibels, may not be available for your version/ model of iPhone (usually international phones that require alternating codes to observe carrier reception). In this situation, download a signal testing application from Apple tree app. store ensuring that it reads and presents the information in decibels (be careful as some of these applications are not gratuitous).
3. Tap on the bars to switch them to numbers - If you lot exercise non already run across the numerical value in the top left corner where yous ordinarily meet the "confined".When you dial the number it essentially will access the field test of the signal forcefulness. Past default, the top left will bear witness bars (like to what yous're familiar with). When you lot tap on the bars, information technology will change to a number. At this point you can write downward that number, or if you want to have this feature permanent on the telephone you can go on with the test. It is appropriate that you lot go on this feature as it will come up in handy in the future should you wish to know this specific functionality of the device. Once again, y'all can become a bit of information from the bars on the phone, but it is really only a visual reference and non specific, especially if y'all wish to apply a bespeak booster to optimize the functionality of the phone and its betoken strength. Touching "Menu" on most phones volition plow off this "Field Exam Manner" and normalize the functions of your Apple tree iPhone.
4. Go to the slide to power off screen. Concur down the power off button ONLY until you run across the slide to power off button. DO NOT POWER THE DEVICE COMPLETELY OFF. When you get to this screen, hit the home push button and and so tap on the bars to run into the decibel reading of the signal strength. If you lot accidentally power off the device, do non worry. It should still have the application applied to the phone. Even so, if you find that the information does non show upward on the peak left of the telephone as desired, repeat steps i through three.

Understanding the decibel reading is really simple. The closer your signal is to aught the stronger the signal will be. The further or higher that the number is, the weaker your bespeak will be. Much like golf, you want to have the lowest score in this case.

For Android Phones.

Similar to iPhones, some Android phones allow access to test mode past punching in a few numbers or punctuations in the numerical keypad as follows:

• HTC: *#*#7262626#*#*
• Samsung: *#*#197328640#*#* or *#0011#
• Sony: *#*#*386#*#* or *#*#*585*0000#*#*

However, even if those don't work, finding the decibel strength on an Android telephone is still a very quick process. However, it may vary slightly based on the software layer used by Android telephone manufacturer Samsung, HTC, LG, Huawei, Google Pixel, OnePlus, Sony, etc.

1. Unlock your telephone and plough off the automatic slumber function. By and large, the automated slumber function will cause the screen to get blackness. And while this will not bear on the running of the phone, it can be a chip frustrating seeing your reading if the telephone is constantly going into sleep way.
2. Access the settings. Typically, your settings button will exist on the Home screen of your phone. Hit the dwelling house button. The settings app will look like a cog wheel. Should you not see the settings app on the phone, look for a button that looks like an old push dial phone grid on a white groundwork. Click on this and then find your settings tab.
3. Go to the status section of your settings - From the status section of the settings you will see a indicate strength. Depending on the phone that you have, the indicate strength may be outside of the status settings. Regardless of the location beingness in either status or in the settings, the reading will be the same. The signal should be presented in decibels. It may likewise bear witness you a per centum number showing the signal force.

Why is my reading in the negatives?

Practise not worry, in that location is null wrong with your phone if you see that in that location is a – sign in front of the decibel reading. This is just the way in which the information is presented. In other words if the phone is receiving a indicate of 107 information technology will read -107 (which is really weak for a phone). Ideally, you want to take your phone reading betwixt -fifty and -fourscore. The further you get from zero, the weaker your point volition be.

Minimum Signal Strength Needed For Talking & Data Transfer.

What is the minimum signal strength needed for property a conversation and data exchange over a cell network? While non as much required every bit needed for holding a cellular conversation (-100dB), atleast -100 dB is notwithstanding required for information transfer to occur while maintaining the 4G or LTE speeds. As the strength deteriorates past that point on to -105 dB, -110 dB, -115 dB, and fifty-fifty -120 dB - The wireless data transfer speed will slowly come to a grinding halt.

Boosting the point strength.

If you want to boost your cell telephone signal strength, then it is of import that you first check to meet if the betoken is weakened by the structure of the edifice (such equally structure materials like concrete, metal, other wires and such), the region in which you reside/piece of work (which may take antennas, boosters, and interference from adjacent buildings and such), or if the phone is corrupted in the .net or framework. To cheque the construction of the building, see if your signal increases when you are in your dwelling house or office. Should yous find that the signal is greater on the exterior and then the interior, then a cell telephone signal booster may be appropriate for your home/office to boost the decibels on the phone. Yet, if you detect that the indicate does not fluctuate when you are inside or outside of the building it may be that y'all are likewise far from a tower/network in order to get a signal. If this is the case, check your phone at diverse locations to encounter if the bespeak changes at all. Should yous find that the indicate does non alter regardless of your position, it may exist that your phone's software has a glitch and the phone may demand to be reset to manufacturer factory settings. If that does non work, the circuitry may be damaged in which case y'all will want to, and need to, supplant the telephone in order to get the best signal.

Go along in mind that your indicate strength is not your WI-FI strength. Yeah, you can boost your upload and the download speeds on your phone past eliminating the dropped calls and optimizing the performance of the phone, but if the wi-fi is lacking you will need to either use a wi-fi booster or go an all in one booster for your telephone. Additionally, y'all volition need to calculate the space in which you demand to boost. Should your infinite exist lower than 5,000 feet, a personal domicile booster is appropriate. Anything over 7,500 sq. ft. may require multiple boosters or amplifiers or will need to have a commercial booster.

Need help in finding your phone's DB more accurately? Ask usa.

There'due south a tool called " Indicate Meter " that can arrive easy to check dB in any spot easily. Or run into the video beneath to see how information technology works. Knowing the within and exterior functions of your telephone is of import to have the phone working at its best. However, we understand that yous may accept questions in how to boost your cell phone signal. SignalBooster.com would like to assist you address these questions. You lot tin can reach us by either going to our website and sending u.s.a. an electronic mail, or you can achieve the states directly through our telephone line. Should you need to buy a cell phone bespeak booster, our team of professionals can help you lot find a prison cell phone signal booster that meets your needs such as your space requirements, your phone's compatibility, and the best model to keep your telephone working (regardless of whether it is an IOS Apple phone or an Android phone) with the strongest possible decibels.

Comparison of signal strength in decibels vs. confined vs. practical experience.

Signal strength is represented in -dBm format in the nautical chart below from -60 to -110. This is the power ratio in decibels (dB) of the measured power referenced to ane milliwatt. That means the closer the value is to 0, the stronger the point. For instance, -60dBm is better betoken strength than -110dBm.

Signal Strength in dBm	Practical Signal Strength
Greater Than -60 or 5 Bars.	First-class point. No chance of dropped calls. Optimal voice quality and data transmission speed.
-threescore to -75 or 4 Bars.	Very proficient bespeak. Unlikely to experience dropped calls or quality issues that affect performance. This is usually the best bachelor signal unless y'all're straight next to a cell tower or a signal booster interior antenna.
-76 to -90 or iii Bars.	Good signal. While reliability and quality are generally adequate, interruption by building materials or other obstructions while moving could quickly deteriorate betoken.
-91 to -100 or 2 Bars.	Fair signal. However, voice quality and data transfer speed may be noticeably affected. Dropped calls are more than common.
-101 to -110 or 1 Bar.	Poor signal. Dropped calls and extremely dull wireless information transfer speed are abiding bug.
Less Than -110 or No Bars / No Service.	No signal. At that place'south no wireless connectivity possible without a custom solution.

Since cell phone boosters crave some indicate in order to boost it or multiply information technology many times, there needs to be atleast "poor" or "weak" signal outside where donor antenna can exist placed. Therefore, yous can deduce from nautical chart higher up that the minimal amount needed must exist atleast within -101 to -109 dBm if on 3G network, and within -111 to -119 dBm on 4G / LTE network. However, the best estimate would be the median of those two which is approx. -105 dBm on 3G and -115 dBm on 4G LTE. This is absolute minimal signal strength in decibel milliwatts that is needed outdoor for whatever jail cell phone signal booster to aid improve reception indoor to any minimum extent.

What if y'all do not take enough bespeak to use point booster?

If you cannot garner minimal signal strength as stated using your directional antenna ( survey kit ), a cellular booster, bi-directional amplifier (BDA) or RF repeater will not work. In such instances, you may submit location details for a custom point enhancing solution that would include a Small Cell, Microcell, Femtocell or active distributed antenna organization (Active DAS). A site survey by SignalBooster.com team volition exist required to advise the most effective solution that will resolve your wireless connectivity issues permanently.

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Source: https://www.signalbooster.com/pages/field-test-mode

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