SignalCheck - Android app to monitor your Wi-Fi/2G/3G/4G LTE/5G-NR signal strengths

[digiblur]

Happy to report that my shiny new Nexus 5 arrived, and shows signal data on both Sprint and T-Mobile without activating either SIM! The Sprint one locked itself out after about 60 seconds, but it continues to receive signal data. On both carriers, it reports LTE GCI, PCI, and TAC, as well as report the MCC-MNC in the most preferred/accurate method. I was expecting this with AOSP, but you never know..

 

As others had mentioned before, it reports an invalid LTE SNR and nothing for CQI. With an AT&T SIM (not activated) inserted, it will not connect to anything. Might try some schmoozing with AT&T to see if there's anything I can do about that. On Verizon, it.. oh wait, nevermind.. 

 

Going to start digging into this sucker to see what goodies I can dig out of it.. fingers crossed!

 

-Mike

 

You've further added like the 50th reason to get this phone.  You mean I could really map out the 5 Tmobile sites and the 500 AT&T ones around here with it, all with PCI and GCI..awesome!! :)

[lordsutch]

Yes, in LTE mode with a T-Mobile SIM installed the Nexus 5's ROM reports TAC/GCI/PCI, including info for neighboring sites. Can't see why it wouldn't work on any other carrier as well, including the D821 European model.

 

Incidentally, if you put 4.4 on the Nexus 4 and flash an LTE-enabled radio, you also get TAC/GCI/PCI for LTE on it too. Obviously useless for Sprint (since the Nexus 4 doesn't do CDMA), but it works like a charm with T-Mobile's Band 4 LTE.

[PDXmike]

Happy to report that my shiny new Nexus 5 arrived, and shows signal data on both Sprint and T-Mobile without activating either SIM! The Sprint one locked itself out after about 60 seconds, but it continues to receive signal data. On both carriers, it reports LTE GCI, PCI, and TAC, as well as report the MCC-MNC in the most preferred/accurate method. I was expecting this with AOSP, but you never know..

 

As others had mentioned before, it reports an invalid LTE SNR and nothing for CQI. With an AT&T SIM (not activated) inserted, it will not connect to anything. Might try some schmoozing with AT&T to see if there's anything I can do about that. On Verizon, it.. oh wait, nevermind.. 

 

Going to start digging into this sucker to see what goodies I can dig out of it.. fingers crossed!

 

-Mike

This is why we love your app. You never stop improving it! To use one of my favorite terms, SignalCheck is in a "continual process of improvement." Keep up the good work, and enjoy your new toy!

[kct1975]

This is why we love your app. You never stop improving it! To use one of my favorite terms, SignalCheck is in a "continual process of improvement." Keep up the good work, and enjoy your new toy!

I completely agree!

[mikejeep]

You've further added like the 50th reason to get this phone.  You mean I could really map out the 5 Tmobile sites and the 500 AT&T ones around here with it, all with PCI and GCI..awesome!! :)

 

T-Mobile seems good to go. AT&T, not so much. At least not without some extra work. I drove all over the place with the AT&T SIM (SKU 40954) installed for an hour, rebooted, in/out of airplane mode.. never saw a hint of any connections whatsoever. The phone does identify the SIM as belonging to MCC-MNC, 310-410 (which is AT&T), but that's it. The two AT&T retail stores I had visited said they absolutely could not sell a SIM without activation, so I had to get it on eBay.. but I think it's a network issue, not a SIM issue.

 

And Sprint apparently doesn't like non-active SIMs on their LTE network. Shortly after getting the "locked out" message, it bounces over to EV-DO and won't reconnect to LTE until you reboot.

 

-Mike

[digiblur]

T-Mobile seems good to go. AT&T, not so much. At least not without some extra work. I drove all over the place with the AT&T SIM (SKU 40954) installed for an hour, rebooted, in/out of airplane mode.. never saw a hint of any connections whatsoever. The phone does identify the SIM as belonging to MCC-MNC, 310-410 (which is AT&T), but that's it. The two AT&T retail stores I had visited said they absolutely could not sell a SIM without activation, so I had to get it on eBay.. but I think it's a network issue, not a SIM issue.

 

And Sprint apparently doesn't like non-active SIMs on their LTE network. Shortly after getting the "locked out" message, it bounces over to EV-DO and won't reconnect to LTE until you reboot.

 

-Mike

 

Straight Talk SIM is only $6 plus the one month service.

[JossMan]

Thanks.. still trying to get in touch with someone (anyone!?) at Sprint that can have a conversation with me about this.. very curious about your area, I really think those are mistakes. When it says null, what MCC-MNC are you connecting to?

 

-Mike

Its not connected to LTE when it displays "null" its connected to eHRPD, I believe they are working on the tower closest to the downtown area now.  Last week 3G speeds where very slow .20-.35Mbps wiith pings in the 300-400ms during peaks hours, did a speedtest yesterday in the same area around the same time and now getting sub 150ms pings with speeds of 1.55Mbps on 3G.  It only displays null at this particular tower, but I don't know if this is a sign of NV or not hopefully Ericsson showed back up in this area to finish up the work.   

[mikejeep]

Its not connected to LTE when it displays "null" its connected to eHRPD, I believe they are working on the tower closest to the downtown area now. Last week 3G speeds where very slow .20-.35Mbps wiith pings in the 300-400ms during peaks hours, did a speedtest yesterday in the same area around the same time and now getting sub 150ms pings with speeds of 1.55Mbps on 3G. It only displays null at this particular tower, but I don't know if this is a sign of NV or not hopefully Ericsson showed back up in this area to finish up the work.

Aha.. post a screenshot of the main screen next time you see that, nothing "null" should be appearing anywhere so I'd like to see what is causing that. Hopefully it's NV work and the finish up soon for you!

 

-Mike

[WiWavelength]

Mike, could I offer some thoughts on reworking the GSM/W-CDMA reporting?  Since we have separate sections for CDMA1X and EV-DO/eHRPD, I think it would be appropriate to stop lumping all levels of GSM and W-CDMA under the "GSM" heading.  Plus, I would love to get rid of the "UMTS" status.  It should be "W-CDMA."  The GSM fanboys do not like it, but they need to be reminded that their 3G voice is W-CDMA, derived from Qualcomm's cdmaOne/CDMA2000.

 

AJ

[mikejeep]

Mike, could I offer some thoughts on reworking the GSM/W-CDMA reporting? Since we have separate sections for CDMA1X and EV-DO/eHRPD, I think it would be appropriate to stop lumping all levels of GSM and W-CDMA under the "GSM" heading. Plus, I would love to get rid of the "UMTS" status. It should be "W-CDMA." The GSM fanboys do not like it, but they need to be reminded that their 3G voice is W-CDMA, derived from Qualcomm's cdmaOne/CDMA2000.

Are you suggesting to dyamically update what is now the fixed "GSM" label? Or split signal data into an additional on-screen section? Everything but LTE is shown in the same section because non-CDMA devices only report one non-LTE signal at a time to Android.

 

UMTS is what Android reports, that's why I went with it. Are you saying that every instance where "UMTS" is displayed should instead show "W-CDMA"?

 

For development purposes, my N5 works GREAT on a non-activated T-Mobile SIM. Being able to force live 2G/3G/4G on the fly is a perfect test environment. I have already made several tweaks based on things I discovered.. very nice being able to see results in-hand.

 

-Mike

[dedub]

can you use the n5 while still active on sprint 3g, with a tmo sim 4g? or does pulling the sprint sim disable cdma?

[WiWavelength]

Are you suggesting to dyamically update what is now the fixed "GSM" label? Or split signal data into an additional on-screen section? Everything but LTE is shown in the same section because non-CDMA devices only report one non-LTE signal at a time to Android.

Yes, I feel that either of those solutions -- dynamic headings or separate sections -- would be preferable to the current system.  I say this not as a criticism but as a suggestion.  I realize that SignalCheck started with a CDMA2000/LTE focus.  But labeling multiple airlink technologies under the "GSM" heading is like labeling CDMA1X and EV-DO simply under "Qualcomm."

 

UMTS is what Android reports, that's why I went with it. Are you saying that every instance where "UMTS" is displayed should instead show "W-CDMA"?

"UMTS" is what the GSM fanboys wish were true.  One, "UMTS" stands for "Universal Mobile Telecommunications System."  But it is hardly "universal."  Along with over half of the US -- the most important mobile market in the world -- I have not been using "UMTS" for the past decade.  Two, "UMTS" is basically a euphemism.  The GSM Euro folk do not like to admit openly that their 3G airlink is W-CDMA, based on the Qualcomm technology that they derided for years.  So, I like to drive home the point that every "UMTS" technology -- HSDPA, HSPA, HSPA+, etc. -- is an enhancement of W-CDMA.

 

For development purposes, my N5 works GREAT on a non-activated T-Mobile SIM. Being able to force live 2G/3G/4G on the fly is a perfect test environment. I have already made several tweaks based on things I discovered.. very nice being able to see results in-hand.

 

I can help with development.  For the past few weeks, I have run my Nexus 5 with an active T-Mobile SIM.  That is the primary reason why I bring up the possible GSM/W-CDMA tweaks.  I might even be willing to run an active AT&T SIM for a time if that would aid further development.  But then I would probably need a complete colonic cleansing to restore my health.

 

AJ

[cdk]

Mike,

 

I figure I will my add my suggestion while everyone else is giving theirs. Is it possible to have an option for the status bar icons to hide the 1x icon when a triband phone is connected to LTE but automatically appears when the phone drops back to 1x and 3G?

[mikejeep]

I figure I will my add my suggestion while everyone else is giving theirs. Is it possible to have an option for the status bar icons to hide the 1x icon when a triband phone is connected to LTE but automatically appears when the phone drops back to 1x and 3G?

 

The suggestion box is always open! Funny you should mention that, because after just a few hours of playing with my Nexus 5, I had already decided I wanted to do that. That dashed-out 1X icon is driving me nuts! Coding for that has already started..

 

While we're on the subject of tri-band phones and their shiny new versions of Android, a new feature in testing shows the status of the mobile data connection as well as when data is flowing in/out. Android 4.4 does not have the data arrows 24/7 in the status bar, so this is (accidentally) timed well. Android moved the arrows to the quick settings pulldown, but it's always nice to have all of your nerdy network info on the screen at once. Testing is going very well, so it should be out soon.

 

-Mike

[mikejeep]

can you use the n5 while still active on sprint 3g, with a tmo sim 4g? or does pulling the sprint sim disable cdma?

 

No, the SIM determines which provider you are registered with, no matter how many G's you're trying to connect to. When the Sprint SIM is installed, it's a Sprint phone. When the T-Mobile SIM is in, it's a T-Mobile phone. When no SIM is in, it's a small tablet.

 

-Mike

[mikejeep]

Yes, I feel that either of those solutions -- dynamic headings or separate sections -- would be preferable to the current system.  I say this not as a criticism but as a suggestion.  I realize that SignalCheck started with a CDMA2000/LTE focus.  But labeling multiple airlink technologies under the "GSM" heading is like labeling CDMA1X and EV-DO simply under "Qualcomm."

Hey even when I get nasty e-mails from users complaining about the free app, I take it as a suggestion.. I made this app because I wanted it for myself. The fact that anyone else enjoys it is just gravy. I certainly have given far less time and effort to the non-CDMA side of things, mostly because I got very little feedback about it, and my testing capabilities were limited. Now that I'm a SIM swap away from having a T-Mobile testing device at any time, it will receive more attention. Already exploring the display neighboring cell data. Looks like it would work for LTE too......

 

Dynamic headings would be the better solution. Separate sections would be a waste of space, because only one connection is ever reported at a time; there would never be more than one "section" with any data in it.

 

The GSM Euro folk do not like to admit openly that their 3G airlink is W-CDMA.. <snip>

Most Euro folks (and French Canadians) generally annoy me, so consider it done just on that basis alone.

 

I can help with development.  For the past few weeks, I have run my Nexus 5 with an active T-Mobile SIM.  That is the primary reason why I bring up the possible GSM/W-CDMA tweaks.  I might even be willing to run an active AT&T SIM for a time if that would aid further development.  But then I would probably need a complete colonic cleansing to restore my health.

I appreciate it! I've had my N5 on T-Mobile more than Sprint so far, just for testing the app.. already made several tweaks just by what I have seen in a few hours of monitoring. The Nexus 5 is the ultimate developer phone for this reason alone. T-Mobile seems to expose all of the available data, so I don't see a need to get dirty with AT&T yet. For now, the biggest help to me would be keeping up with the beta updates and keep posting when you see anything that can be improved or needs fixing.

 

In all sincerity, thank you for all of your suggestions and help from the very beginning -- I appreciate all of the technical knowledge you have shared with me. The app has benefited greatly thanks to your input!

 

-Mike

[ericdabbs]

Mike or anyone familiar with this GCI, PCI, TAC stuff, I have a question about how to take the data that is output by SignalCheck in the screenshot below and interpret it to determine which tower I am connected to. It seems like maybe one of my local towers just got upgraded to LTE today since I was not able to get LTE prior to today.  I would like to try to find out which one.

 

 

[lilotimz]

Hey even when I get nasty e-mails from users complaining about the free app, I take it as a suggestion.. I made this app because I wanted it for myself. The fact that anyone else enjoys it is just gravy. I certainly have given far less time and effort to the non-CDMA side of things, mostly because I got very little feedback about it, and my testing capabilities were limited. Now that I'm a SIM swap away from having a T-Mobile testing device at any time, it will receive more attention. Already exploring the display neighboring cell data. Looks like it would work for LTE too......

 

Dynamic headings would be the better solution. Separate sections would be a waste of space, because only one connection is ever reported at a time; there would never be more than one "section" with any data in it.

 

 

Most Euro folks (and French Canadians) generally annoy me, so consider it done just on that basis alone.

 

 

I appreciate it! I've had my N5 on T-Mobile more than Sprint so far, just for testing the app.. already made several tweaks just by what I have seen in a few hours of monitoring. The Nexus 5 is the ultimate developer phone for this reason alone. T-Mobile seems to expose all of the available data, so I don't see a need to get dirty with AT&T yet. For now, the biggest help to me would be keeping up with the beta updates and keep posting when you see anything that can be improved or needs fixing.

 

In all sincerity, thank you for all of your suggestions and help from the very beginning -- I appreciate all of the technical knowledge you have shared with me. The app has benefited greatly thanks to your input!

 

-Mike

Beta updates..... O.o :huh:

 

Sent from my Google Nexus 5

 

 

[mikejeep]

Mike or anyone familiar with this GCI, PCI, TAC stuff, I have a question about how to take the data that is output by SignalCheck in the screenshot below and interpret it to determine which tower I am connected to. It seems like maybe one of my local towers just got upgraded to LTE today since I was not able to get LTE prior to today.  I would like to try to find out which one.

 

The only surefire way is to check your local market thread and see if someone has a spreadsheet with the PCIs or GCIs documented. They do not directly correlate to the IDs shown on the sponsor maps. All that is really known is that it was determined that Sprint GCIs appear to be broken down to MMMSSSXX, where M = market ID, S = site ID, X = sector ID. So I can tell you that you're in market 0BC, connected to sector 3 of site 2E3. Does that help? 

 

-Mike

[Nickel]

"UMTS" is what the GSM fanboys wish were true.  One, "UMTS" stands for "Universal Mobile Telecommunications System."  But it is hardly "universal."  Along with over half of the US -- the most important mobile market in the world -- I have not been using "UMTS" for the past decade.  Two, "UMTS" is basically a euphemism.  The GSM Euro folk do not like to admit openly that their 3G airlink is W-CDMA, based on the Qualcomm technology that they derided for years.  So, I like to drive home the point that every "UMTS" technology -- HSDPA, HSPA, HSPA+, etc. -- is an enhancement of W-CDMA.

AJ

The funny thing is, one of the main reasons it could even be considered "universal" is because IIRC, the EU mandated that all carriers use GSM/ banned CDMA.

 

I know that you know this, I was merely pointing this out for those who didn't know.

[cdk]

The suggestion box is always open! Funny you should mention that, because after just a few hours of playing with my Nexus 5, I had already decided I wanted to do that. That dashed-out 1X icon is driving me nuts! Coding for that has already started..

 

That was my same reaction. Its one thing when you are in an area with little or no service and 3G or 1x gets dashed out. Yet seeing it dashed out when its there (but not connected) seems wrong.

 

Now if somehow you could figure out a way to determine what the phone will drop to (800 or 1900) when a call does come in and display that information...

[bmoses]

i'd like to go ahead and throw my suggestion into the hat

 

yes its another alert, and yes i know there are a ton of alerts already, but when i'm out hunting for new 1x800 signals i would love it if it would alert me anytime the BID changes while i'm on 1x800. they tend to bring new sites up in clusters so once you are on 1x800 you will stay on there as you are driving going from tower to tower so you won't get alerts for dropping/reconnecting to 1x800. the only way i'll know if i'm on a new tower is to constantly watch the app for the BID to change.

 

thanks again for the amazing app!

[WiWavelength]

Dynamic headings would be the better solution. Separate sections would be a waste of space, because only one connection is ever reported at a time; there would never be more than one "section" with any data in it.

 

Right, for 99 percent of 3GPP handsets, only one airlink is active at a time.  And to tie this in with our "Breaking Band" thread, T-Mobile and AT&T have always used e/CSFB to fall back from LTE to W-CDMA or GSM.

 

Along those same lines, I am curious why the "GSM" section stays on screen while connected to LTE.  Plus, you offer the option of a "GSM" secondary status bar icon.  But my "GSM" readout, for example, stays fixed at -85 dBm because I am definitely not connected to GSM nor W-CDMA while connected to LTE.

 

Thoughts?

 

AJ

[TechSmurf]

I saw some talk of this earlier in this thread, but it seemed a bit back and forth...

 

Are current Cyanogen builds allowing signalcheck to populate GCI/PCI info from Samsung handsets?

[ThomasM]

Hey Mike, when you are tired of pulling your hair out trying to get all these phones and SIM's figured out, why not go back into the code and program in logging so I can keep all that valuable SignalCheck info around to peruse over and over?