Cell Signal

Monitoring & Mapping

2019-08-23

From simple signal strength widgets up to full-fledged war-driving apps (also see WLAN WarDriving) …

IMNOS Mobile Trace (5@28) Ǥ 12
Bluehawk - Wireless Network Test (5@8) 8
Network Cell Signal & WiFi Info Lite (4.6@39,248) Ǥ 14 / Network Cell Signal & WiFi Info (4.6@5,120; ~EUR 2.25) Ǥ 10 Video Intro 6/2018
Coverage - Cell and Wifi Network Signal Test (4.5@22,978) Ǥ 12 LastUpdate: 2017-11-12
NetMonster (4.5@1,803) Ǥ 13
Phone signal information (4.5@1,192) 6 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ / Phone Signal Strength Information (no ads) (4.5@75) Ǥ 7
Netmonitor (4.4@11,396) Ǥ 13
Keypad-Mapper - OpenStreetMap (4.4@194) 11 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2013-12-12 contributes to OpenCellID
4G WiFi Maps & Speed Test. Find Signal & Data Now. (4.3@373,557) Ǥ 12 Intro 1/2013; Video Demo 2/2013; Testbericht 6/2013; Wikipedia
Cell Signal Monitor: monitoring of mobile networks (4.3@4,878) 9 Kurzvorstellung 7/2014
Cellular-Z (4.3@827) 12 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ cell, WiFi, location
Network Monitor (4.3@497) 10 Github; Intro 10/2016
Tower Collector (4.3@206) Ǥ 11 Github; contributes to OpenCellID and Mozilla; IzzyOnDroid recommendation (F-Droid version)
Rx Monitor (4.3@72) Ǥ 10
LTE Discovery (4.2@16,481) Ǥ 28
Signal Guard Free (4.2@1,979) Ǥ 21 LastUpdate: 2017-03-04 / Signal Guard Pro (4.5@296; ~EUR 5.25) Ǥ 20 LastUpdate: 2017-02-07
NetMonitor Cell Signal Logging (4.2@864) 10
inViu routes GPS tracker OSM (4.2@297) 15 Test 7/2013; Vorstellung 10/2013; OSM Wiki EN | DE; tracker using and contributing to OpenCellID, also supports GeoNotes
Brigitel (4.2@240) Ǥ 11 LastUpdate: 2017-02-25
SSA Outdoor RF Signal Tracker (4.2@129) Ǥ 14
NoGa Cell 2G 3G 4G (4.2@33) Ǥ 13
AeroConn - network monitoring (4.1@813) 8 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2017-03-11
Phono (4@7,294) 7 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ / Phono Donation (4.8@90; ~EUR 0.50) 3 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2010-05-16 Widget for carrier, signal strength, and more
G-MoN (4@4,468) Ǥ 12 Video Demo 6/2012
Cell Towers (4@3,281) Ǥ 10 LastUpdate: 2017-12-18
MyMobileCoverage (4@729) Ǥ 15
inViu OpenCellID (4@309) 9 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2016-11-06 records cell towers incl. coordinates for open-source database, see OpenCellID (map) and in the Wiki
Network Signal Info (3.9@34,699) Ǥ 19 / Network Signal Info Pro (4.2@4,398; ~EUR 3.50) Ǥ 18
Sensorly: 4G Coverage and Speedtests (3.9@19,792) Ǥ 12
CellID Info (3.9@1,744) 2 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2013-10-18
CellMapper (3.9@1,400) Ǥ 12
GSM Signal Tracker (3.8@326) 9 LastUpdate: 2015-09-27
cellumap (3.8@162) 7 LastUpdate: 2014-09-16
Network Signal Guru (3.7@2,017) Ǥ 10 $Contains no known trackers \o/$
Cell Tower Locator (3.7@1,369) Ǥ 10
Cellular Info (3.7@30) Ǥ 12 $Contains no known trackers \o/$
RF Signal Tracker (3.6@2,146) Ǥ 13 LastUpdate: 2018-01-29
Cell Coverage Map: mobile network signal testing (3.6@604) 10
Signal Finder (3.4@3,768) 8 LastUpdate: 2017-09-26
SignalCheck Lite (3.2@994) 8 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2016-02-18 / SignalCheck Pro (4.1@734; ~EUR 3.25) 11
Antennas (3@4,069) 7 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2012-05-15
RadioBeacon (0@0) 11 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2016-09-15 Github; Wiki; Map wireless networks and cell towers for the radiocells.org database (formerly OpenBmap)

Bad Signal Alert

2019-08-23

Some of the apps mentioned in Monitoring & Mapping include this feature. But the following candidates are specialized in alarming you on bad reception:

Deeps Network Utility (4.5@53) 8 LastUpdate: 2016-07-06
Network Voice Alert! (4.4@107) Ǥ 11
GSM Signal Monitor & SIM Card Info ???? (4.1@1,171) Ǥ 11
Dr. Network (4.1@222) Ǥ 8
Signal Notifier (4.1@97) 2 LastUpdate: 2014-06-27
Signal Strength Warning (3.9@33) Ǥ 6 LastUpdate: 2016-10-26
Signal Alert Lost Signal (3.7@64) 7 LastUpdate: 2014-11-28
Network Signal Alerts & Battery Alerts (3.7@3) Ǥ 12

Bad Signal Handler

2019-08-23

If your device should take action automatically on bad reception (e.g. switch to airplane mode for a few minutes, then re-check), the following candidates are worth a look:

Auto Pilot Mode (3.8@505) 7 LastUpdate: 2015-02-28 Intro 4/2014; Android 4.2+: root needed (up to 4.1 no root needed)
NoBars Battery Saver (3.8@358) 4 LastUpdate: 2017-08-10 Test 9/2012

IMSI Catcher

2019-08-16

EAGLE Security FREE (4.5@9,001) Ǥ 9
Cell Spy Catcher (Anti Spy) (4.3@2,573) 7 detect Stingray Cell Phone Trackers („IMSI catchers“)
GSM Spy Finder (4.1@2,922) Ǥ 14 detect Stingray Cell Phone Trackers („IMSI catchers“), but spies itself (see included trackers)
SnoopSnitch (3.3@3,310) 15 Intro 1/2015; Video Demo 11/2016; Mike’s favorite; detect Stingray Cell Phone Trackers

Further Readings:

GSM – Der unsichere Standard zum mobilen Telefonieren (7/2016)
IMSI-Catcher Erkennung für Android – AIMSICD (3/2014)
What are the different signal indicators avalable on the notification bar? (11/2013)
What is Cell standby and how can I keep it from eating my battery? (10/2012)
Does 'poor' reception deplete the battery quicker? (9/2012)
8-teilige Blog-Serie: Tipps zum Akku-Fresser "Mobilfunk-Standby" (9/2012)

2019-08-23

IzzyOnDroid

Cell Signal

Monitoring & Mapping

Bad Signal Alert

Bad Signal Handler

IMSI Catcher