Cell Signal

Monitoring & Mapping

2020-07-04

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

IMNOS Mobile Trace (5@29) Ǥ 15 5
Network Cell Info Lite - Signal & Speed Test (4.4@51,002) Ǥ 14 3 / Network Cell Info - Signal & Speed Test (4.5@6,302; ~EUR 2.25) Ǥ 10 2 Video Intro 6/2018; can export collected cells to MLS, OpenCellId – but also to KML
Phone signal information (4.4@1,645) 6 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ / Phone Signal Strength Information (no ads) (4.5@93) Ǥ 5 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$
Opensignal - 3G & 4G Signal & WiFi Speed Test (4.3@399,188) Ǥ 12 3 Wikipedia
Coverage - Cell and Wifi Network Signal Test (4.3@32,270) Ǥ 13 6 LastUpdate: 2017-11-12
LTE Discovery (4.3@18,800) Ǥ 28 3
Netmonitor (4.3@12,723) Ǥ 15 4
Brigitel (4.3@256) Ǥ 11 2
Tower Collector (4.3@242) Ǥ 13 1 Github; contributes to OpenCellID and Mozilla; IzzyOnDroid recommendation (F-Droid version)
Cell Signal Monitor: monitoring of mobile networks (4.2@5,126) 9 3 Kurzvorstellung 7/2014
NetMonster (4.2@2,840) Ǥ 13 2
Network Monitor (4.2@523) 8 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github; Intro 10/2016
Network Signal Info (4.1@37,995) Ǥ 21 10 / Network Signal Info Pro (4.4@5,220; ~EUR 4.00) Ǥ 16 2
Cellular-Z (4.1@1,082) 14 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ cell, WiFi, location
AeroConn - network monitoring (4.1@874) 8 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2017-03-11
Rx Monitor (4.1@185) Ǥ 12 2
Phono (4@7,294) 7 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2018-06-15 Widget for carrier, signal strength, and more
G-MoN (4@4,708) Ǥ 13 5
NetMonitor Cell Signal Logging (4@1,230) 10 1
inViu routes GPS tracker OSM (4@309) 15 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Test 7/2013; Vorstellung 10/2013; OSM Wiki EN | DE; tracker using and contributing to OpenCellID, also supports GeoNotes
SSA Outdoor RF Signal Tracker (4@212) Ǥ 15 2
NoGa Cell 2G 3G 4G (4@62) Ǥ 15 5
Sensorly: 4G Coverage and Speedtests (3.9@20,179) Ǥ 11 2
Cell Towers (3.9@4,056) Ǥ 9 7
Signal Guard Free (3.9@2,121) Ǥ 20 6 / Signal Guard Pro (4.5@324; ~EUR 5.25) Ǥ 20 1
CellID Info (3.9@1,744) 2 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2013-10-18
CellMapper (3.8@1,688) Ǥ 12 2
GSM Signal Tracker (3.8@326) 9 1 LastUpdate: 2015-09-27
cellumap (3.8@162) 7 LastUpdate: 2014-09-16
Cellular Info (3.7@35) Ǥ 12 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$
Network Signal Guru (3.6@2,647) Ǥ 11 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$
inViu OpenCellID (3.6@343) 9 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2016-11-06 records cell towers incl. coordinates for open-source database, see OpenCellID (map) and in the Wiki
Signal Check(Network Cell Info) (3.6@27) 6 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$
Cell Tower Locator (3.5@2,100) Ǥ 9 4
Cell Coverage Map: mobile network signal testing (3.5@630) 10 3
Signal Finder (3.4@3,837) 8 3 LastUpdate: 2017-09-26
Antennas (3@4,166) 7 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2012-05-15
RF Signal Tracker (3@2,206) Ǥ 14 2 LastUpdate: 2018-01-29
SignalCheck Lite (3@1,040) 6 1 / SignalCheck Pro (4.1@786; ~EUR 3.25) 11 1
Network Survey (0@0) 12 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github
RadioBeacon (0@0) 11 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2016-09-15 Github; Wiki; Map wireless networks and cell towers for the radiocells.org database (formerly OpenBmap)

Bad Signal Alert

2020-07-04

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 (4.3@60) 8 3 LastUpdate: 2016-07-06
GSM Signal Monitor & SIM Card Info 📱 (4.2@1,813) Ǥ 11 6
Network Voice Alert! (4.2@183) Ǥ 11 2
Dr. Network (4.1@257) Ǥ 8 4 LastUpdate: 2018-12-24
Signal Notifier (4.1@97) 2 1 LastUpdate: 2014-06-27
Signal Strength Warning (4@42) Ǥ 6 2 LastUpdate: 2016-10-26
Network Signal Alerts & Battery Alerts (3.6@7) Ǥ 12 4

Bad Signal Handler

2020-07-04

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 1 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 1 LastUpdate: 2017-08-10

IMSI Catcher

2020-06-22

EAGLE Security FREE (4.3@9,852) Ǥ 12 3
Cell Spy Catcher (Anti Spy) (4.1@2,896) 9 3 detect Stingray Cell Phone Trackers („IMSI catchers“)
GSM Spy Finder (4@2,914) Ǥ 14 26 detect Stingray Cell Phone Trackers („IMSI catchers“), but spies itself (see included trackers)
SnoopSnitch (3.9@3,533) 16 1 Intro 1/2015 | 4/2015; Vorstellung 2015 | 4/2018; Video Demo 11/2016; Mike’s favorite; detect Stingray Cell Phone Trackers and missing security patches

Further Readings:

IMSI-Catcher: So lassen sich Informationen übers Handynetz abfangen (8/2019)
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)

2020-07-07

IzzyOnDroid

Cell Signal

Monitoring & Mapping

Bad Signal Alert

Bad Signal Handler

IMSI Catcher