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Posted: 5/2/2016 10:29:14 AM EDT
[#1]
-100 here at the office. I have a Samsung tablet at home that I use as a hotspot. I live out in BFE, so it's always an adventure trying to find the sweet spot in the house to locate the tablet for the strongest signal. This trick might help me do that easier - thanks for sharing!
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Posted: 5/2/2016 10:37:54 AM EDT
[#2]
I did this on Saturday night and haven't seen a reading under 100 yet.
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Posted: 5/2/2016 10:45:14 AM EDT
[#3]
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. This worked for me. I can see either dots or the numerals. |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 2:59:59 PM EDT
[#4]
I'm getting -68 to -82 in my work office, but that is probably the signal strength to the DAS (Distributed Antenna System) within our building. -102 at home.
Someone with a high IQ probably came up with the idea to use a high negative number and a lower negative number means a better signal strength.  |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 3:06:14 PM EDT
[#5]
Can I make an Android do this?
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Posted: 5/2/2016 3:10:42 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
What phone are you using, and what carrier are you with? The asterisks are absolutely necessary. What happens on your screen when you push the Call button? iPhone 5, IOS 9.3, it dials the number. "Verizon Wireless. The number you're trying to dial does not exist. Please check the number and try again." I'm using both asterisks, exactly in the OP. |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 3:19:09 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
iPhone 5, IOS 9.3, it dials the number. "Verizon Wireless. The number you're trying to dial does not exist. Please check the number and try again." I'm using both asterisks, exactly in the OP. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
What phone are you using, and what carrier are you with? The asterisks are absolutely necessary. What happens on your screen when you push the Call button? iPhone 5, IOS 9.3, it dials the number. "Verizon Wireless. The number you're trying to dial does not exist. Please check the number and try again." I'm using both asterisks, exactly in the OP. Mine did that (same phone) once or twice. I had entered it incorrectly. |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 6:03:11 PM EDT
[#8]
I'm not sure what to tell you, I've never seen a phone it wouldn't work on. Double double check you have entered all the digits in the proper order.
* 3 0 0 1 # 1 2 3 4 5 # * then press call. It should immediately jump to Field Test Mode. From here, hold down the power button on top until the Slide To Power Off appears. Release the power button, do not slide it to off or hit the cancel button. Press and hold down your Home button at the bottom of the screen until you return to your home screen. That's all there is to do. |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 6:10:32 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Can I make an Android do this? Lol, sure - go to play store, download Cell Signal Strength -dBm app 
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Posted: 5/2/2016 6:24:10 PM EDT
[#10]
-100 that sucks.
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Posted: 5/2/2016 6:54:12 PM EDT
[#11]
-100 is not too bad a signal. I'd say it's the equivalent to 2 or 3 bars out of 5. The cutoff point for iPhones seems to be -130 before going to "No Service" -50 is about the strongest signal you'll ever see, so you're in a very serviceable zone.
I just ran a speedtest on my iPhone 6s + with a signal strength of -117 and it was 17.63 Mbps download with a ping time of 56ms. On my phone, anything below -114 is one bar. This is on T-Mobile LTE. |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 6:58:47 PM EDT
[#12]
Had it down (or up) to -64 today. Funny thing is I was in the middle of nowhere.
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Posted: 5/2/2016 7:27:32 PM EDT
[#13]
-114 at the house in a lifeproof case
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Posted: 5/2/2016 7:39:08 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
But I know what the dots mean...what does the -db mean? Higher is better? What's good/bad? Lower negative # is better signal strength. -89 is "hotter" than -109. Some systems have dynamic power control so you may see it a lot lower than you would expect, as it may be cutting your signal strength down on the fly to keep you in a "sweet spot". |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 7:41:29 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
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. Yep. The dB display is much more real-time. The bars are more of a fuzzy feel-good for the average user, they may not be accurate. |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 7:44:37 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Can someone explain why this matters? Bars are there to make you feel good about your service. They may be slow to change and not accurately represent signal strength. You can see where you have good signal (and not) much more accurately using test mode. That and you can compare it to what you had before much more efficiently, if it gets better or worse in the same spot. Completely meaningless if you don't care or would never call to open a case if your service started sucking out of the blue. |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 7:44:45 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
-82 here, cool hack. If you tap the number it switches back to dots, you can touch the dots again to switch back to db Very cool. -107 here in downtown Chicago. |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 7:46:10 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
-110 my service sucks. Depends. Many variables. Does it seem to function normally? |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 7:47:29 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I did this on Saturday night and haven't seen a reading under 100 yet. ..... |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 8:00:21 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Lol, sure - go to play store, download Cell Signal Strength -dBm app https://lh4.ggpht.com/SfGYBaFRvzTpF5JpPjjIBYs-Pf929rqyqp_1ax9vyquL48xiO1VzRhX5Ob_qg97_Dl2X=h900-rw Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Can I make an Android do this? Lol, sure - go to play store, download Cell Signal Strength -dBm app https://lh4.ggpht.com/SfGYBaFRvzTpF5JpPjjIBYs-Pf929rqyqp_1ax9vyquL48xiO1VzRhX5Ob_qg97_Dl2X=h900-rw |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 8:05:09 PM EDT
[#21]
Works on iPhone 4s with iOS 8.01
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Posted: 5/2/2016 8:10:38 PM EDT
[#22]
-120 in my garage
 , -85 on my drive way
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Posted: 5/2/2016 8:32:59 PM EDT
[#23]
-92 here. Nifty
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Posted: 5/2/2016 8:58:10 PM EDT
[#24]
-102 in the house.
Neat |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 9:08:43 PM EDT
[#25]
As an Android user I find this thread hilarious.
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Posted: 5/2/2016 9:35:58 PM EDT
[#26]
A few have wondered "What's The Point?", here's my spin on why it's useful.
On my iPhone, the bars/dots display can only show 1-5 as an indication of signal strength. The Dbm range is -50 to -130, therefore each dot represents 16 Dbm. Consequently, 5 bars is -50 to -65. 4 bars is -66 to -81, etc. I think most people would feel that 2-3 bars is a decent signal, and 1 bar is really crappy. However, the signal difference between 1 bar at -115, and 2 bars at -114 is negligible. Having a signal meter that is the equivalent to 80 bars is the reason to enable this function. A few years ago AT&T caught a little heat when it was revealed that they had boosted the readout and were showing 4 bars down to -91 Dbm. They corrected it, and immediately their signal strength tanked, although in reality it only affected the display, not the actual signal. |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 9:36:48 PM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
As an Android user I find this thread hilarious. Why? |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 9:37:52 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Why? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
As an Android user I find this thread hilarious. Why? Because all we have to do is go to "About Device" and we can see our signal strength in dBm and asu |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 10:02:41 PM EDT
[#29]
LOL
So, you have to go into a menu to see it, while all we have to do is glance at our status bar which is constantly updating and giving a readout in real time? Well alrighty then... |
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Posted: 5/2/2016 10:19:45 PM EDT
[#30]
3dB difference is half power. So for example if an antenna is putting +43dBm out (20W), +46dBm is 40W.
You guys getting -60 and -50 are in friggin hot areas. We have a microcell upstairs at work and have it set to -80dBm. |
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Posted: 5/30/2016 10:32:49 AM EDT
[#31]
how do I turn this off?
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Posted: 5/30/2016 10:40:36 AM EDT
[#32]
-93
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Posted: 5/30/2016 10:42:14 AM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
how do I turn this off? I believe you just dial the same string and then hit the home button, without powering off. |
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Posted: 5/30/2016 10:48:29 AM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
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? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
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? LoL Thank you, OP. 
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Posted: 5/30/2016 10:51:52 AM EDT
[#35]
Neat!
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Posted: 5/30/2016 11:00:06 AM EDT
[#36]
-106
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Posted: 5/30/2016 11:16:02 AM EDT
[#37]
Sweet. I'm rolling between 80-95. Thank you.
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Posted: 5/30/2016 11:21:16 AM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Sweet. I'm rolling between 80-95. Thank you. No probs. Fwiw that Wilson booster that someone recommended is amazing for the truck. I used to have no service for miles on the way to the bug out property now I'm good to go the whole trip. |
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Posted: 5/30/2016 11:56:09 AM EDT
[#39]
OP How do you get the seconds to display ??
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Posted: 5/30/2016 12:26:21 PM EDT
[#40]
is there a way to have wifi read in live numbers rather than bars?
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Posted: 5/30/2016 12:44:14 PM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
OP How do you get the seconds to display ?? I'm not the OP, however I did post a screen capture with seconds displayed. This requires a JailBreak. I did that when it was available for iOS 9.02, but the later versions have not been JailBroken. There are a few different apps that allow for the Status Bar clock to be modified. Military time, seconds, dual time zones, date, weather, etc. are some of the options. Also: "is there a way to have wifi read in live numbers rather than bars?" There is, as seen in my screen capture on page 1. It also requires a JailBreak unfortunately. It has the same toggle capability to switch between a numeric Dbm and the crappy little fan that is standard. There is actually a way to edit a file in iOS to make both of these changes, but that gets a little technical. |
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Posted: 5/30/2016 1:20:23 PM EDT
[#42]
-102 behind bullet resistant glass. Not too bad.
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Posted: 5/30/2016 2:17:33 PM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
this worked for me  Same, if phone is shut off do you have to do it all over? |
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Posted: 5/30/2016 3:04:59 PM EDT
[#44]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I'm not the OP, however I did post a screen capture with seconds displayed. This requires a JailBreak. I did that when it was available for iOS 9.02, but the later versions have not been JailBroken. There are a few different apps that allow for the Status Bar clock to be modified. Military time, seconds, dual time zones, date, weather, etc. are some of the options. Also: "is there a way to have wifi read in live numbers rather than bars?" There is, as seen in my screen capture on page 1. It also requires a JailBreak unfortunately. It has the same toggle capability to switch between a numeric Dbm and the crappy little fan that is standard. There is actually a way to edit a file in iOS to make both of these changes, but that gets a little technical. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: OP How do you get the seconds to display ?? I'm not the OP, however I did post a screen capture with seconds displayed. This requires a JailBreak. I did that when it was available for iOS 9.02, but the later versions have not been JailBroken. There are a few different apps that allow for the Status Bar clock to be modified. Military time, seconds, dual time zones, date, weather, etc. are some of the options. Also: "is there a way to have wifi read in live numbers rather than bars?" There is, as seen in my screen capture on page 1. It also requires a JailBreak unfortunately. It has the same toggle capability to switch between a numeric Dbm and the crappy little fan that is standard. There is actually a way to edit a file in iOS to make both of these changes, but that gets a little technical. |
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Posted: 5/30/2016 3:44:15 PM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Same, if phone is shut off do you have to do it all over? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
this worked for me Same, if phone is shut off do you have to do it all over? No, it is retained until changed manually. |
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Posted: 5/30/2016 3:48:38 PM EDT
[#46]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Are the jail breaks safe ? I have my cc saved on my phone Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
OP How do you get the seconds to display ?? I'm not the OP, however I did post a screen capture with seconds displayed. This requires a JailBreak. I did that when it was available for iOS 9.02, but the later versions have not been JailBroken. There are a few different apps that allow for the Status Bar clock to be modified. Military time, seconds, dual time zones, date, weather, etc. are some of the options. Also: "is there a way to have wifi read in live numbers rather than bars?" There is, as seen in my screen capture on page 1. It also requires a JailBreak unfortunately. It has the same toggle capability to switch between a numeric Dbm and the crappy little fan that is standard. There is actually a way to edit a file in iOS to make both of these changes, but that gets a little technical. There has never been any claim of JailBreaking affecting the security of the iOS system. I've been JailBreaking since 2009, and keep up with cellular websites daily as a kind of hobby. So, I'd say it's at least as safe as the stock iOS. In some ways perhaps a little more secure. There are apps that make the standard passcode system more secure for instance. |
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Posted: 5/30/2016 3:50:42 PM EDT
[#47]
I got it.
Thank you |
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Posted: 5/30/2016 3:55:15 PM EDT
[#48]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Indeed it does! Cool Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: -82 here, cool hack. If you tap the number it switches back to dots, you can touch the dots again to switch back to db Indeed it does! Cool |
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Posted: 5/30/2016 3:58:52 PM EDT
[#49]
-109 on the first floor of 2 story house. I will have to check upstairs and outside.
-100 upstairs -92 front yard. The cool thing is that it changes almost instantly when you walk outside. I thought it might gradually change but it went from -109 to -92 as soon as I stepped out the door. |
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Posted: 5/30/2016 4:03:59 PM EDT
[#50]
I use the Gmon app on Androids.
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