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Field Test Mode for iPhones and Android

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Taking cell signal measurements using the "Field Test Mode" functionality of your phone can help you choose and install the right signal booster.

In this guide, we explain why it's important to take signal measurements, what field test mode is, how it works, and where to find your strength and quality readings.

In this guide

Why Should I Measure My Signal?

We’re all familiar with our phone’s signal bars. But what do they actually mean?

Well, not a whole lot. Bars vary a lot between devices.

You can have full bars and terrible data rates. Or just one bar and great data rates.

It's much better to dig in on the two critical measures that your phone uses to measure signal:

  • Signal strength (RSRP) is a measure of the strength of the cellular signal when it reaches your phone (measured in dBm).
  • Signal quality (SINR) is the ratio of actual source signal to the noise and interference also received by your phone (measured in dB).

Getting exact RSRP and SINR values gives you a much more granular view of your signal.

How Will Signal Measurements Help Me Decide Which Booster To Buy?

If you have strong signal (RSRP) you can often use a lower-cost, "broadband" booster like those made by weBoost, SureCall, and HiBoost. If your signal is weak, you'll want to use a high gain, single-carrier booster like the Cel-Fi GO X.

If your signal quality (SINR) is low you should make sure to order a high gain outdoor antenna with your booster, like our log periodic or Griddy antennas. Higher gain antennas help you reduce interference and get the best signal quality possible.

Field Test Mode on Android Phones

There are a number of apps for taking field test signal measurements on Android, including our free SignalStream App.

SignalStream shows field test information under the "Signal Info" tab, but it also allows you to take, save, and optionally share 3G, 4G, and 5G signal readings with our team of SIgnal Specialists, who can recommend a booster.

Another free app that also allows you to take signal measurements is Network Cell Info Lite.

How To Take Signal Measurements Using SignalStream:

  1. Download SignalStream from the Play Store;

  2. After downloading, turn off the WiFi on your phone so that your phone can accurately measure your cellular connection speed;

  3. Open the "SignalStream" app and tap on “Take your first signal measurement” at the bottom of the “Measure” tab. Your first signal test will run and display your network readings automatically;

  4. Label your reading and tap “Save measurement” to move on and test the next position;

  5. Move on to a different side of your building, and tap on “Take another signal measurement” to get more readings from around your building;

  6. Repeat steps 3 to 5 for each of the following locations:

    • On each side of the building (from outside);
    • On any upstairs balconies or outside on the roof (if possible);
    • Inside (where the phones will be used the most);

    Note: For on each side of your building, we recommend taking two measurements and naming each reading North, South, East, and West.

  7. By the time you're done, you should have at least eight to twelve readings taken around your building;

  8. When you’re ready, tap on “Submit readings & receive a booster recommendation” to send your readings to us.

As soon as we receive your readings, we’ll reach out to recommend a system that will work best for your situation, or help you gather some more info if needed.

SignalStream Field Testing Steps

Field Test Mode for iPhones

Accessing Field Test Mode on an iPhone can be quite straightforward: simply go to your phone's dialer, type in *3001#12345#* and hit the dial button.

Unfortunately, though, you often can't get reliable signal strength (RSRP) or signal quality (SINR) readings on iPhones.

If someone else in your household has an Android phone, the easiest option for taking signal measurements is usually to borrow a device.

If you can't borrow an Android phone, then read on.

The exact details of how Field Test Mode works depends on which model of iPhone you have, and which version of iOS you're running.

How to Access iPhone Field Test Mode on iOS 16:

If you’re using iOS 15, refer to the next section, below this set of instructions.

  1. Download the "Speedtest by Ookla" app on your iPhone from the Apple App Store;

  2. After downloading, turn off the WiFi on your iPhone so that your phone can accurately measure your cellular connection speed;

  3. Go into the iPhone “Phone” app and then type in this code: *3001#12345#* and hit the green dial button to enter Apple's "Field Test Mode for iPhone Utility";

  4. You should see a list of options. Under the “LTE” heading, tap on “RsrpRsrqSinr” to access your LTE signal readings; Your app will run and display your network readings automatically.

    Note: If you do not see the "LTE" heading, wait 2-5 minutes for the app to fully load.

    If the "LTE" heading does not load after this time, turn off the iPhone's "Cellular Data" for about 30 seconds, then turn it back on and reattempt Step 3.

  5. This “LTE RsrpRsrqSinr” page should display a rsrp and rsrq value. Take a screenshot of this page and label it appropriately;

    Note: These values should update every couple seconds. If they do not, go back one page and then return to the “RsrpRsrqSinr” page to get updated values.

    Since iPhone's don't calculate sinr values correctly, their rsrq values should be used instead.

  6. Exit the Field Test Mode app;

  7. Open the "Speedtest by Ookla" app on your iPhone, tap on “GO” to perform a data speed test;

  8. Once completed the test will display a DOWNLOAD and UPLOAD speed. Take a screenshot of this page and label it appropriately;

  9. Repeat steps 3 to 8 for each of the following locations:

    • On each side of the building (from outside);

    • On any upstairs balconies or outside on the roof (if possible);

    • Inside (where the phones will be used the most);

      Note: We recommend taking two measurements at each location.

      Please name the measurements on each side of the building according to their direction: North, South, East, and West.

  10. When you’re ready, send the labeled screenshots of your readings to us via email.

As soon as we receive your readings, we’ll reach out to recommend a system that will work best for your situation, or help you gather some more info if needed.

iPhone Field Test Mode Steps

How to Perform a iPhone Field Test on iOS 15:

Unfortunately, while iOS 15’s Field Test Mode is able to measure signal strength (RSRP) through the “Rach Attempt” option, important values like SINR and RSRQ are missing.

If you can’t update to iOS 16 or borrow an Android phone to take signal measurements, follow the earlier Field Test steps for iOS 16 and skip steps 3-6 to gauge your signal by taking a few speed tests.

As soon as we receive your readings, we’ll reach out to recommend a booster that will work best for your situation, or help you gather some more info if needed.

Frustrated? Write to Apple

We're asking people to send some feedback to Apple about the lack of RSRP/SINR measurements in the Field Test Mode of iOS 15.

If you're willing to help, please send Apple a feature request on this form. Feel free to just copy & paste the following message:

Please update Field Test Mode so that it reliably displays and constantly updates RSRP, SINR, RSRQ and frequency information on every carrier aggregated band. iOS 15 has made updates unreliable, SINR is never shown, and it's impossible to see information on a per-band basis.

Please make all this information available via public APIs so that developers can build apps that measure cell signal and help users understand their cell network performance.

What do my RSRP and SINR/RSSNR measurements mean?

Signal Strength (RSRP)

Signal strength (RSRP) is measured in decibels milliwatts (dBm). All the values are negative where higher values (i.e. values closer to zero) mean higher strength signals!

An RSRP of -80 dBm or higher (e.g. -70, -60 or -50 dBm) is generally considered strong signal. This means that you can use a broadband signal booster, like those made by weBoost, Wilson, HiBoost and SureCall.

If your RSRP is lower than -80 dBm (e.g. -90 or -100 dBm), you should use a 100 decibel single-carrier booster like the Cel-Fi GO X, or for larger buildings, the Cel-Fi Quatra.

Signal Quality (SINR/RSSNR, and RSRQ)

Signal quality (SINR/RSSNR, and RSRQ) is measured in decibels (dB). For SINR/RSSNR, values can be either positive or negative where higher values (i.e. values more positive) mean higher quality signals! For RSRQ, all the values are negative where higher values (i.e. values closer to zero) mean higher quality signals!

Any SINR over 10 dB is excellent, over 5 dB is considered good, while over 0 dB is acceptable. A negative SINR means that you have low signal quality.

An RSRQ over -9 dB is excellent, while over -12 dB is acceptable. A RSRQ below -12 dB means that you have low signal quality.

A booster will help increase the signal strength, but it won’t help improve the signal quality. The only way to improve signal quality is to buy a high gain antenna like our Grid Parabolic Antenna, which requires very careful aiming.

Where Should I Measure My Signal?

Finding the spot with the best outdoor signal takes some patience, but it’s absolutely worth it. Taking signal measurements from multiple locations around your building will do two things for you:

  1. If you can find a spot with slightly better signal, you’ll have more purchasing options to choose from. You may even be able to use a lower-cost booster.
  2. If we know the signal conditions on each side of your building, we’ll be able to help you find the best position to mount your outdoor antenna.

Here are all the locations we recommend testing your outdoor signal:

Measurement positions

Measurement positions

How come we don’t recommend just measuring at the highest point on the roof? It’s simple: while signal strength is generally higher on the roof, signal quality is often better on the side of the building.

For some people, the top of their roof (where signal is the strongest) provides the best signal. For others, it’s the side of the house. The only way to find which is best is to test.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I do a field test?

We’re all familiar with our phone’s signal bars, but they're not a reliable indication of your signal strength and quality. For example, you could have full bars and a terrible connection, or one bar and a great connection - we regularly see both.

Field testing your signal ensures that we have all the data necessary to help you make an informed purchasing decision, and get a booster that will actually solve your problem.

What if I don't have a compatible phone?

If you don't have an Android or a compatible iPhone, then the best solution is generally to try borrow one from a friend or family member.

Getting these signal measurements is crucial in helping you find the right booster for your situation, and there's no real alternative to performing these tests, so it's usually worth calling in a favor to help with this step.

If that isn't possible, then the next best thing is to just run a speed test on any cellular device, and send us screenshots of those readings. It's definitely not as good as a proper field test, but it's a start.

What do "RSRP" and "SINR" mean?

RSRP is the term for signal strength, measured in decibels milliwatts (dBm). This is effectively the power of the booster, and a higher value (closer to zero) means a stronger signal. An RSRP of -80 dBm or higher is generally considered strong signal.

SINR is the term for signal quality, and is measured in decibels (dB). Any SINR measurement over 5 dB is considered good, while a negative SINR means that you have a lot of interference on your signal. Importantly, the only way to improve signal quality is to use a highly directional antenna like our Grid Parabolic Antenna.

Why does my iPhone Field Test Mode look different?

If the Field Test Mode utility on your iPhone looks different than our screenshots above, then you're probably using an older version of iOS.

We suggest updating your iPhone to the latest version before continuing. This comes with a number of important security updates, and can often result in increased performance too! For our purposes, the biggest reason to update is that it will allow you to get the most accurate field test readings.

Why isn't the Field Test Mode menu on my iPhone updating?

In iOS 14, th Field Test Mode measurements will not continually update while you’re on the “Serving Cell Meas” or "Rach Attempt" pages. To force it to update when you need to take a new measurement, go back one page and then open the “Serving Cell Meas” or "Rach Attempt" page again to get updated values.

How can I test signal for multiple carriers?

Unfortuantely there's no shortcut here. The only way to do a field test for more than one carrier is to get a phone with a SIM card for each carrier that you're trying to measure, and follow the steps outlined above on each phone.

How do I take a screenshot?

This differs by device, but here's the most common way to take a screenshot on iOS and Android respectively:

  • iOS: Press the Side/Power Button and the Volume Up button at the same time and then quickly release both buttons. After you take a screenshot, a preview of the screenshot will temporarily appear in the lower-left corner of your screen. Tap on that image to open it.
  • Android: Press the Side/Power Button and the Volume Down button at the same time and then quickly release both buttons. After you take a screenshot, a preview of the screenshot will temporarily appear in the lower-left corner of your screen. Tap on that image to open it.

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