How Do You Know How Strong the Antenna Is on a Cell Phone

A how-to guide for checking bespeak strength more than accurately on Apple tree IOS and Android cell phones.

If yous want to perform a diagnostic check for poor jail cell phone reception or if you lot want to know the force of your prison cell telephone's indicate accurately, then you must prepare phone for dB reading because you demand to be able to check the DB (decibel) strength of the signal dBm rating.

Sure, you tin await at the bars and become an indicator as to how strong or weak your input and output will exist, but this visual indicator is non very specific and is prone to change with the slightest shifts of the phones position. In improver, information technology does not update in realtime.

Therefore, y'all may discover ii, 3, 4, and even 5 confined merely you cannot make a call. Or you may encounter 1 bar, or even no bar / no service message, but nevertheless you can make a call simply fine. Existence inside your Carrier'southward coverage map is also no guarantee for cellular connectivity.

This quick guide will evidence you how to check your phone'south signal force on both an Apple and an Android phone with more accuracy, considering inaccurate and choosy nature of antenna confined on cell phones.

This will also help you figure out whether the jail cell phone signal booster you installed is working or not? Please check signal force past putting your phone in field test mode or make and receive calls to know if there has been improvement, before returning your installed kit on supposition that it does not work! It may exist working fine, but your signal confined may not be reflecting improvement in signal forcefulness.

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

What does negative number cell signal mean?

A negative number equally in cellular betoken signifies the force of the signal in decibels.

Why do the decibels matter?

If yous call up of the decibels on the phone as the detailed data to proceeds the all-time signal, then you will understand how the bars are actually superfluous to agreement how your phone works. For case: If y'all buy a cell phone signal booster that claims that information technology tin can boost your phones decibels upwardly to fifty points, but your betoken strength is reading at -157, your point will still be pretty weak. However, if your telephone is reading at -100 and you get the same booster, you will get a very strong point (besides, the telephone will never prove you anything above a -50 on a telephone).

• Cellular signal strength is measured in decibels (dB), and typically range from -50 dB to -110 dB.
• The dB scale is logarithmic. This means that every three dB increase doubles the power. For example, -67 dB is twice the power of -70 dB.
• Every 6 dB will approximately double the coverage distance from antenna (or prison cell belfry).

Calibration of indicate strength in decibels:

Please note that higher up 3G signal strength chart is shut, but non the aforementioned for 4G/ LTE. Meet the differences shown below based on whether measuring indicate force in dBm on a 3G network or 4G network  due to comparatively meliorate quality of the newer 4G LTE network signals in comparison to older 3G network signals:

What is a Good Cell Phone Signal Forcefulness (3G & 4G)?

In brief, how to put your phone in field examination style to mensurate 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. Check your iOS and:
1. For iOS nine.3 and later go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Enable LTE > Turn Off LTE.
2. For iOS 9.ii and earlier Settings > Cellular > Enable LTE > Plough Off LTE.
3. Make a phone call to *3001#12345#* and printing call.

How to Enter Field Exam Mode for iPhones Running iOS xi:

1. Get into your Settings / WiFi / Turn Off WiFi.
2. Check your iOS and:
1. For iOS xi and later go to Settings / Cellular / Cellular Data Options / Enable LTE / Plough Off LTE.
3. Make a telephone call to *3001#12345#* and printing call.
4. Select Serving Cell Measurements and refer to the top item named Measured RSSI.

How to Enter Field Test Style for Android

1. Settings > More Options or More than Settings.
2. Tap on Nigh Phone > Mobile Networks > Bespeak Strength
3. Nether Signal Strength you will see your dB reading. If you do not meet information technology in that location you will see it nether Network Type or SIM Condition .

Detailed Instructions:

For IOS Apple Phones.

It is important to country that you lot should not jailbreak your phone to detect the signal forcefulness. Yes, you lot will demand to go 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 phone. Y'all volition demand to accept administrator permissions on the telephone (which simply basically ways that you know the password to access secure apps if yous have that security measure out activated on your iPhone). To find the decibels on your phone, follow the following steps:

1. Find a place where you can make a call. If you're in a dead zone, and then this method may non work. You lot volition need to have equivalent of at least ane bar in lodge to access the information as yous will have to place a call (if not, try other options stated below). For situations where yous have used upwards your data or for places where at that place is no betoken, you may need to effort to access the indicate strength data from a person who has the same make and model telephone every bit y'all have. Practice non use for example a 4G telephone to find the information on the DB of a 2G or 3G telephone. The data will not be the same because phones detect the signals they are capable of detecting such a 3G phone can notice 3G signals whereas a 4G phone will find 3G and 4G signals.
2. Call *3001#12345#* (then tap Call / Send button) - You may, or may not have to put the * sign in before you call the number, because it depends upon the phone model and how your phone is prepare to send and receive calls. If ane method does non work, effort the suggested alternative method past dialing without asterisk. If neither of the sequenced numbers method work equally stated above, then your version requires few more steps: Upon doing above, you lot will see option to tap on "LTE". So tap on, "Serving Prison cell Meas". So wait for, "rsrp0" and its corresponding signal strength. "rsrp0" is the master jail cell phone tower connected to your phone. "rsrp1" is the side by side closest one with the strongest connectedness. Both have their own cellular force depending on altitude, interference, and other measures. FYI, RSRP stands for Reference Signal Received Power with range from -45dbm (expert) to -140dbm (bad). It is a variation of RSSI measurement. Among other measurements shown, you may as well discover RSRQ measurement which stands for Reference Signal Received Quality with range from -40dB (bad) to -3dB (good) and SINR which stands for Betoken to Noise Ratio (derived from desired bespeak divided by undesired noise) that tin can be, for example, +six (ok) or -2 (poor) - but we talk well-nigh those in some other blog mail detailing all signal related acronyms to prevent going off-topic here. If all options listed above do not work, unfortunately, these "field examination mode" methods to detect signal in decibels, may non exist available for your version/ model of iPhone (usually international phones that require alternating codes to detect carrier reception). In this situation, download a betoken testing awarding from Apple app. store ensuring that it reads and presents the data in decibels (exist careful as some of these applications are not gratis).
3. Tap on the confined to switch them to numbers - If you do not already see the numerical value in the top left corner where yous normally run across the "bars".When yous punch the number it essentially volition admission the field test of the signal force. By default, the pinnacle left volition show bars (similar to what you lot're familiar with). When you tap on the confined, information technology will change to a number. At this point yous can write downward that number, or if yous want to take this feature permanent on the phone you tin can go on with the test. Information technology is advisable that you lot keep this feature as it will come up in handy in the time to come should you wish to know this specific functionality of the device. Again, you can get a bit of data from the bars on the phone, merely it is actually but a visual reference and not specific, especially if yous wish to use a bespeak booster to optimize the functionality of the telephone and its signal forcefulness. Touching "Menu" on most phones volition turn off this "Field Examination Fashion" and normalize the functions of your Apple iPhone.
4. Become to the slide to ability off screen. Hold down the power off push button Just until you run into the slide to power off button. Exercise NOT Ability THE DEVICE COMPLETELY OFF. When yous get to this screen, hitting the home button and then tap on the bars to run across the decibel reading of the signal strength. If yous accidentally power off the device, practice not worry. It should still have the awarding applied to the telephone. Yet, if you find that the information does not prove up on the elevation left of the phone equally desired, repeat steps one through three.

Understanding the decibel reading is actually simple. The closer your signal is to zero the stronger the point will be. The farther or higher that the number is, the weaker your bespeak will be. Much like golf, you want to have the lowest score in this instance.

For Android Phones.

Like 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 forcefulness on an Android phone is still a very quick procedure. However, information technology may vary slightly based on the software layer used by Android phone manufacturer Samsung, HTC, LG, Huawei, Google Pixel, OnePlus, Sony, etc.

1. Unlock your phone and turn off the automatic sleep function. By and large, the automatic sleep function will cause the screen to go black. And while this will not affect the running of the phone, it tin can exist a bit frustrating seeing your reading if the phone is constantly going into slumber manner.
2. Access the settings. Typically, your settings push will be on the Home screen of your phone. Hit the habitation push. The settings app will look like a cog wheel. Should y'all not meet the settings app on the phone, wait for a button that looks similar an one-time push dial phone filigree on a white background. Click on this and so find your settings tab.
3. Go to the status section of your settings - From the condition section of the settings y'all will encounter a signal strength. Depending on the phone that you take, the point forcefulness may be outside of the condition settings. Regardless of the location being in either condition or in the settings, the reading will be the aforementioned. The indicate should be presented in decibels. It may also evidence you lot a percent number showing the signal strength.

Why is my reading in the negatives?

Do non worry, there is nothing incorrect with your telephone if you see that there is a – sign in front end of the decibel reading. This is simply the style in which the information is presented. In other words if the phone is receiving a betoken of 107 it will read -107 (which is really weak for a phone). Ideally, you desire to have your phone reading between -50 and -80. The further y'all go from zero, the weaker your signal will be.

Minimum Bespeak Strength Needed For Talking & Data Transfer.

What is the minimum signal strength needed for holding a chat and data exchange over a cell network? While not as much required every bit needed for holding a cellular conversation (-100dB), atleast -100 dB is still required for data transfer to occur while maintaining the 4G or LTE speeds. As the force deteriorates by that point on to -105 dB, -110 dB, -115 dB, and fifty-fifty -120 dB - The wireless information transfer speed will slowly come up to a grinding halt.

Boosting the signal strength.

If yous want to boost your cell phone signal strength, then it is important that you lot get-go check to see if the signal is weakened by the construction of the building (such every bit construction materials like physical, metallic, other wires and such), the region in which you reside/work (which may have antennas, boosters, and interference from adjacent buildings and such), or if the phone is corrupted in the .cyberspace or framework. To check the structure of the building, come across if your signal increases when you are in your abode or function. Should yous find that the signal is greater on the exterior then the interior, then a cell phone signal booster may be appropriate for your home/office to heave the decibels on the phone. However, if you lot find that the signal does not fluctuate when y'all are inside or exterior of the edifice it may be that y'all are too far from a belfry/network in order to get a betoken. If this is the case, check your phone at various locations to run across if the indicate changes at all. Should you find that the betoken does non change regardless of your position, information technology may be that your phone'southward software has a glitch and the phone may need to be reset to manufacturer mill settings. If that does not piece of work, the circuitry may be damaged in which example you will desire to, and need to, replace the phone in order to become the best signal.

Go on in mind that your betoken strength is not your WI-FI forcefulness. Yes, 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 volition demand to either use a wi-fi booster or go an all in one booster for your phone. Additionally, you will demand to calculate the space in which you need to boost. Should your space be lower than 5,000 feet, a personal home booster is appropriate. Anything over 7,500 sq. ft. may require multiple boosters or amplifiers or volition need to take a commercial booster.

Need help in finding your phone'due south DB more than accurately? Ask united states of america.

There's a tool called " Signal Meter " that can arrive easy to cheque dB in any spot easily. Or see the video below to run into how it works. Knowing the inside and exterior functions of your phone is important to have the phone working at its best. Notwithstanding, we understand that yous may take questions in how to boost your cell phone signal. SignalBooster.com would like to assistance y'all address these questions. Yous can reach u.s. by either going to our website and sending us an e-mail, or you tin can reach us directly through our phone line. Should you demand to buy a cell phone signal booster, our team of professionals can assistance you notice a cell telephone signal booster that meets your needs such as your space requirements, your phone's compatibility, and the all-time model to keep your telephone working (regardless of whether information technology is an IOS Apple telephone or an Android phone) with the strongest possible decibels.

Comparing of indicate forcefulness in decibels vs. confined vs. practical feel.

Point forcefulness 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 i milliwatt. That means the closer the value is to 0, the stronger the signal. For example, -60dBm is better signal strength than -110dBm.

Indicate Strength in dBm	Practical Signal Strength
Greater Than -lx or 5 Bars.	Excellent signal. No chance of dropped calls. Optimal voice quality and data manual speed.
-lx to -75 or 4 Bars.	Very skilful betoken. Unlikely to experience dropped calls or quality issues that affect operation. This is usually the best available bespeak unless you're directly next to a prison cell belfry or a signal booster interior antenna.
-76 to -ninety or 3 Bars.	Good signal. While reliability and quality are generally adequate, interruption by edifice materials or other obstructions while moving could quickly deteriorate signal.
-91 to -100 or 2 Bars.	Fair signal. Yet, vocalisation quality and data transfer speed may be noticeably afflicted. Dropped calls are more common.
-101 to -110 or one Bar.	Poor signal. Dropped calls and extremely irksome wireless data transfer speed are constant issues.
Less Than -110 or No Bars / No Service.	No signal. There's no wireless connectivity possible without a custom solution.

Since cell phone boosters require some signal in order to boost it or multiply it many times, at that place needs to exist atleast "poor" or "weak" indicate exterior where donor antenna tin be placed. Therefore, you can deduce from chart to a higher place that the minimal amount needed must be atleast inside -101 to -109 dBm if on 3G network, and within -111 to -119 dBm on 4G / LTE network. All the same, 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 accented minimal indicate strength in decibel milliwatts that is needed outdoor for whatever cell phone signal booster to help amend reception indoor to any minimum extent.

What if you practise not have plenty signal to use signal booster?

If y'all cannot garner minimal signal forcefulness 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 indicate enhancing solution that would include a Pocket-size Cell, Microcell, Femtocell or agile distributed antenna system (Agile DAS). A site survey by SignalBooster.com team will be required to suggest the most effective solution that will resolve your wireless connectivity issues permanently.

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Source: https://www.signalbooster.com/blogs/news/how-to-measure-signal-strength-in-decibels-on-your-cell-phone

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