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Posted: 4/30/2016 8:41:43 AM EDT
If you ever wondered if the idiot signal strength dots mean as an actual -db reading keep reading.
On iOS 9 copy and paste this code *3001#12345#* into the dialing section of your phone. It will bring up this screen. 
This screen isn't important from what I can tell, but to get the phone to display the -db reading hold down the power button until the shutoff screen displays. DO NOT POWER OFF DEVICE! Once the power down screen come up hold down the home button and the -db reading will be displayed in the upper left of your home screen. 
Enjoy. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:15:50 AM EDT
[#1]
I can get the field test screen but the rest doesn't seem to work for me.
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:17:14 AM EDT
[#2]
What is your wallpaper?
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:17:41 AM EDT
[#3]
Been through 3 iPhones with this. I can't stand the dots/bars anymore
ETA for those of you who don't know, the closer the number is zero, the better service you have |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:18:59 AM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
What is your wallpaper? Looks like some large pipes, to me. Perhaps you call them tubes. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:20:20 AM EDT
[#5]
But I know what the dots mean...what does the -db mean? Higher is better? What's good/bad?
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:26:30 AM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
But I know what the dots mean...what does the -db mean? Higher is better? What's good/bad? The display is in negative numbers. The lower the number (closer to zero), the stronger your signal is. -50 is stronger than -100. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:27:28 AM EDT
[#7]
Same...test screen but no DO NOT POWER OFF.
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:28:46 AM EDT
[#8]
this worked for me
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:29:04 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Looks like some large pipes, to me. Perhaps you call them tubes. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
What is your wallpaper? Looks like some large pipes, to me. Perhaps you call them tubes. its the internet! |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:30:28 AM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Same...test screen but no DO NOT POWER OFF.  ... he meant "don't turn off your phone". When you hold the power button down, and it tells you to swipe to turn off, you DON'T... instead, you just hold the Home button until the screen disappears and you are left with the dB reading in the corner. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:30:30 AM EDT
[#11]
Cool. -94 at the moment.
Guys after the number dial, hold the power button until the "slide to power off" screen comes up, let go of the power button and hold down the home button until your normal screen comes back. The signal strength will be visible. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:30:56 AM EDT
[#12]
Neat, I found this useful.
I have an aluminum bumper on my iPhone 6+ and was wondering if it effected reception. I got -108 with it on, -100 with it off, inside my office building. Thanks for the tip |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:33:46 AM EDT
[#13]
Cool!
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:39:11 AM EDT
[#14]
Anything else about that menu that's useful without screwing something up?
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:41:26 AM EDT
[#15]
This has been around for 5 or 6 years at least. It's called "Field Test Mode" and is very useful for measuring signal strength.
You can just dial the sequence from your keypad, no need to cut and paste. Also, if you touch the numeric display it should toggle between the dots and numbers. On my iPhone 6s+,-114 is 2 dots, -115 is one. That is on T-Mobile, so this may vary depending on your carrier network settings. Great tip, and very useful for walking around the house to find out if being in a certain room or by a window actually matters for reception. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:42:58 AM EDT
[#16]
Can someone explain why this matters?
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:43:09 AM EDT
[#17]
Awesome hack. Thanks for posting.
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:43:17 AM EDT
[#18]
96 case on 92 case off
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:45:06 AM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
What is your wallpaper? 150mgd water plant in the Midwest. High service pump room. 
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:46:54 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: 150mgd water plant in the Midwest. High service pump room. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: What is your wallpaper? 150mgd water plant in the Midwest. High service pump room. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:47:32 AM EDT
[#21]
Good tip. Icons are fine for a quick look but not very definitive for comparisons.
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:47:51 AM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Can someone explain why this matters? It doesn't matter. But I work with rf and I like seeing numbers as opposed to dots or bars. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:48:34 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Can someone explain why this matters? For one, some people can't afford wifi internet so they tether their phone to all their devices. So finding the best signal makes life mo better if that's the case. Anything else you need? |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:50:00 AM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
96 case on 92 case off 4 dB is a lot. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:51:07 AM EDT
[#25]
It's scaring me.
How do I make it go away? |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:52:01 AM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
It's scaring me. How do I make it go away? Reboot the phone and it'll go back to default. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:56:24 AM EDT
[#27]
huh
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:57:18 AM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Reboot the phone and it'll go back to default. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: It's scaring me. How do I make it go away? Reboot the phone and it'll go back to default. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 9:58:54 AM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Reboot the phone and it'll go back to default. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
It's scaring me. How do I make it go away? Reboot the phone and it'll go back to default. Or dial *3001#12345#* and then hit the home button. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:01:59 AM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Or dial *3001#12345#* and then hit the home button. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: It's scaring me. How do I make it go away? Reboot the phone and it'll go back to default. Or dial *3001#12345#* and then hit the home button. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:06:08 AM EDT
[#31]
-102
I know I can lose signal in the middle of the house..big logs... Mammoth Lakes so some dead areas by terrain. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:07:12 AM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I can get the field test screen but the rest doesn't seem to work for me. Same here. Does this work for Verizon? ETA: I got it to work on my Verizon 6S Plus. I was closing the field test screen before I powered off the phone. I should have powered off from the test screen. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:10:31 AM EDT
[#33]
-110 my service sucks.
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:10:33 AM EDT
[#34]
worked for me too.
-109 where i am now |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:11:37 AM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Same here. Does this work for Verizon? Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: I can get the field test screen but the rest doesn't seem to work for me. Same here. Does this work for Verizon? |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:11:57 AM EDT
[#36]
It goes away as soon as I unlock the phone
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:12:19 AM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
-110 my service sucks. -118, my suckage lols at yours. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:13:02 AM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Can someone explain why this matters? It can be very useful for someone who uses their phone in multiple locations or in less populated areas, around interference producing machines or literally a million different scenarios for troubleshooting signal issues. If none of the above apply to you, then enjoy your dots and move along. As a technician, I prefer actually seeing the db loss. Just in the last hour I've identified huge (repeatable) variances where I am now. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:18:16 AM EDT
[#39]
It should work for All US carriers. I've been able to enable it while roaming in Europe of foreign carriers.
There is also a hack that gives your WiFi signal strength in Dbm, but it requires some code editing in iOS. Here's a sample screen. 
The upper left number is carrier strength, the -28 is WiFi signal strength. I've also enabled seconds in my status bar clock. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:19:04 AM EDT
[#40]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
It goes away as soon as I unlock the phone Try touching the dots to see if it switches back to numerals. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:22:44 AM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Try touching the dots to see if it switches back to numerals. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
It goes away as soon as I unlock the phone Try touching the dots to see if it switches back to numerals. Nope. I have Verizon and an iPhone 6 fwiw. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:31:41 AM EDT
[#42]
I can't get this to work on either phone of mine, a 5 running IOS 8.4 or a 4S running IOS 6.1
Can some list the exact step by steps? ... Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:32:25 AM EDT
[#43]
Verizon, and I still have the #'s.
-101 @ work. Can't wait until I get home to see the amount of suck I have there. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:33:16 AM EDT
[#44]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I can't get this to work on either phone of mine, a 5 running IOS 8.4 or a 4S running IOS 6.1 Can some list the exact step by steps? ... Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile You need to type the number exactly as posted, and call it. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:35:29 AM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Verizon, and I still have the #'s. -101 @ work. Can't wait until I get home to see the amount of suck I have there. Do you have a password on your phone? |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:39:59 AM EDT
[#46]
A password does not interfere with the process.
Dial: *3001#12345#* then hit Send or Call. It should immediately switch to Field Test Mode. The original instructions were posted with the proper method for the process. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:42:52 AM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
A password does not interfere with the process. Dial: *3001#12345#* then hit Send or Call. It should immediately switch to Field Test Mode. It does Then I hit the power button then the home button which bring up my lock screen. On the lock screen I see the number but once I enter my password or use my finger print to unlock the phone the dots come back. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:43:31 AM EDT
[#48]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Same here. Does this work for Verizon? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I can get the field test screen but the rest doesn't seem to work for me. Same here. Does this work for Verizon? The instructions I posted are for ios 9. Not sure on previous versions. Should work with verizon. |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:45:14 AM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You need to type the number exactly as posted, and call it. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I can't get this to work on either phone of mine, a 5 running IOS 8.4 or a 4S running IOS 6.1 Can some list the exact step by steps? ... Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile You need to type the number exactly as posted, and call it. Got it! I was missing the "*" at the start of the line. .. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Posted: 4/30/2016 10:47:35 AM EDT
[#50]
After dialing the numbers, you hold down the power button until the "Power Off" slider appears. Release the Power button. Then hold down the "Home" button below your screen until the Power Off slider disappears. You should be back at your Home screen now. Remember, you need to hold down the Home Button, not just push and release.
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