Cell Signal

Monitoring & Mapping

2019-06-14

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

IMNOS Mobile Trace (5@28) Ǥ 12
Network Cell Info Lite (4.5@37,770) Ǥ 11 / Network Cell Info (4.7@4,928; ~EUR 2.25) Ǥ 10 Video Intro 6/2018
Coverage - Cell and Wifi Network Signal Test (4.5@21,453) Ǥ 12 LastUpdate: 2017-11-12
Phone signal information (4.5@1,096) 5 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ / Phone Signal Strength Information (no ads) (4.5@71; ~EUR 0.50) Ǥ 6
Netmonitor (4.4@11,271) Ǥ 13
Phono (4.4@7,379) 7 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ / Phono Donation (4.8@93; ~EUR 0.50) 3 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2010-05-16 Widget for carrier, signal strength, and more
Keypad-Mapper - OpenStreetMap (4.4@194) 11 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2013-12-12 contributes to OpenCellID
NetMonster (4.3@1,602) Ǥ 13
AeroConn - network monitoring (4.3@818) 8 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2017-03-11
Network Monitor (4.3@496) 10 Github; Intro 10/2016
4G WiFi Maps & Speed Test. Find Signal & Data Now. (4.2@375,698) Ǥ 16 Intro 1/2013; Video Demo 2/2013; Testbericht 6/2013; Wikipedia
Sensorly: 4G Coverage and Speedtests (4.2@20,061) Ǥ 12
LTE Discovery (4.2@16,398) Ǥ 28
Cell Signal Monitor: monitoring of mobile networks (4.2@4,925) 9 Kurzvorstellung 7/2014;
Signal Guard Free (4.2@1,979) Ǥ 21 LastUpdate: 2017-03-04 / Signal Guard Pro (4.1@294; ~EUR 5.25) Ǥ 20 LastUpdate: 2017-02-07
NetMonitor Cell Signal Logging (4.2@776) 10
inViu routes GPS tracker OSM (4.2@300) 15 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ Test 7/2013; Vorstellung 10/2013; OSM Wiki EN | DE; tracker using and contributing to OpenCellID, also supports GeoNotes
Brigitel (4.2@230) Ǥ 11 LastUpdate: 2017-02-25
Tower Collector (4.2@203) Ǥ 11 Github; contributes to OpenCellID; IzzyOnDroid recommendation (F-Droid version)
SSA Outdoor RF Signal Tracker (4.2@129) Ǥ 14
Network Signal Info (4.1@34,906) Ǥ 21 / Network Signal Info Pro (4.2@4,275; ~EUR 3.25) Ǥ 18
G-MoN (4.1@4,527) Ǥ 12 Video Demo 6/2012
NoGa Cell 2G 3G 4G (4.1@35) Ǥ 12
CellMapper (4@1,372) Ǥ 12
MyMobileCoverage (4@729) Ǥ 15
The Coverage Project (4@553) 24 LastUpdate: 2017-01-06
inViu OpenCellID (4@311) 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
Cell Towers (3.9@3,204) Ǥ 10
CellID Info (3.9@1,744) 2 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2013-10-18
Cell Tower Locator (3.9@1,267) Ǥ 10
Antennas (3.8@4,127) 7 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2012-05-15
SignalCheck Lite (3.8@1,005) 8 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2016-02-18 / SignalCheck Pro (4.4@741; ~EUR 3.25) 11
Cell Coverage Map: mobile network signal testing (3.8@611) 10
GSM Signal Tracker (3.8@326) 9 LastUpdate: 2015-09-27
cellumap (3.8@162) 7 LastUpdate: 2014-09-16
Cellular Info (3.8@33) Ǥ 12 $Contains no known trackers \o/$
Signal Finder (3.7@3,832) 8 LastUpdate: 2017-09-26
RF Signal Tracker (3.7@2,165) Ǥ 13
Network Signal Guru (3.7@1,930) Ǥ 10 $Contains no known trackers \o/$
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

2019-06-14

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

Network Voice Alert! (4.6@77) Ǥ 11
Deeps Network Utility (4.5@53) 8 LastUpdate: 2016-07-06
Dr. Network (4.3@220) Ǥ 8
GSM Signal Monitor (4.1@1,154) Ǥ 9
Signal Notifier (4.1@97) 2 LastUpdate: 2014-06-27
Signal Strength Warning (4@34) Ǥ 6 LastUpdate: 2016-10-26
Network Signal Alerts & Battery Alerts (4@4) Ǥ 12
Signal Alert Lost Signal (3.6@60) 7 LastUpdate: 2014-11-28

Bad Signal Handler

2019-06-14

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

2019-06-07

EAGLE Security FREE 2.2 (4.5@8,828) Ǥ 9
Cell Spy Catcher (Anti Spy) (4.3@2,510) 7 detect Stingray Cell Phone Trackers („IMSI catchers“)
GSM Spy Finder (4.1@2,921) Ǥ 14 detect Stingray Cell Phone Trackers („IMSI catchers“), but spies itself (see included trackers)
SnoopSnitch (3.3@3,295) 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)

2019-06-16

IzzyOnDroid

Cell Signal

Monitoring & Mapping

Bad Signal Alert

Bad Signal Handler

IMSI Catcher