Cell Signal

Monitoring & Mapping

2020-02-10

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 Info Lite - Mobile & WiFi Signal (4.5@44,689) Ǥ 14 / Network Cell Info - Mobile & WiFi Signal (4.6@5,742; ~EUR 2.25) Ǥ 10 Video Intro 6/2018; can export collected cells to MLS, OpenCellId – but also to KML
Coverage - Cell and Wifi Network Signal Test (4.4@27,489) Ǥ 12 LastUpdate: 2017-11-12
Netmonitor (4.4@12,143) Ǥ 15
Phone signal information (4.4@1,439) 5 / Phone Signal Strength Information (no ads) (4.4@90) Ǥ 5
Tower Collector (4.4@217) Ǥ 12 Github; contributes to OpenCellID and Mozilla; IzzyOnDroid recommendation (F-Droid version)
OpenSignal - 3G, 4G & 5G Signal & WiFi Speed Test (4.3@388,132) Ǥ 12 Intro 1/2013; Video Demo 2/2013; Testbericht 6/2013; Wikipedia
NetMonitor Cell Signal Logging (4.3@1,012) 10
Network Monitor (4.3@515) 10 Github; Intro 10/2016
SSA Outdoor RF Signal Tracker (4.3@168) Ǥ 15
LTE Discovery (4.2@17,345) Ǥ 28
Cell Signal Monitor: monitoring of mobile networks (4.2@5,043) 9 Kurzvorstellung 7/2014
Brigitel (4.2@247) Ǥ 11 LastUpdate: 2017-02-25
Rx Monitor (4.2@107) Ǥ 12
NetMonster (4.1@2,198) Ǥ 13
AeroConn - network monitoring (4.1@846) 8 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2017-03-11
inViu routes GPS tracker OSM (4.1@304) 15 Test 7/2013; Vorstellung 10/2013; OSM Wiki EN | DE; tracker using and contributing to OpenCellID, also supports GeoNotes
Signal Check(Network Cell Info) (4.1@9) 6
Network Signal Info (4@36,239) Ǥ 21 / Network Signal Info Pro (4.4@4,866; ~EUR 4.00) Ǥ 16
Phono (4@7,294) 7 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2018-06-15 Widget for carrier, signal strength, and more
G-MoN (4@4,621) Ǥ 13
Cell Towers (4@3,700) Ǥ 9 LastUpdate: 2017-12-18
Signal Guard Free (4@2,084) Ǥ 20 LastUpdate: 2017-03-04 / Signal Guard Pro (4.5@316; ~EUR 5.25) Ǥ 20 LastUpdate: 2017-02-07
Cellular-Z (4@955) 12 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ cell, WiFi, location
NoGa Cell 2G 3G 4G (4@52) Ǥ 13
Sensorly: 4G Coverage and Speedtests (3.9@20,179) Ǥ 11
CellID Info (3.9@1,744) 2 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2013-10-18
Cell Tower Locator (3.8@1,618) Ǥ 9
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 $Contains no known trackers \o/$
Network Signal Guru (3.7@2,302) Ǥ 10
CellMapper (3.7@1,532) Ǥ 13
Cell Coverage Map: mobile network signal testing (3.7@617) 10
Signal Finder (3.5@3,834) 8 LastUpdate: 2017-09-26
inViu OpenCellID (3.5@328) 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
Antennas (3.1@4,148) 7 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2012-05-15
RF Signal Tracker (3@2,185) Ǥ 13 LastUpdate: 2018-01-29
SignalCheck Lite (2.9@1,034) 6 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2016-02-18 / SignalCheck Pro (4@771; ~EUR 3.25) 11
Network Survey (0@0) 8 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ Github
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

2020-02-10

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@58) 8 LastUpdate: 2016-07-06
Network Voice Alert! (4.2@158) Ǥ 11
GSM Signal Monitor & SIM Card Info 📱 (4.1@1,287) Ǥ 11
Dr. Network (4.1@245) Ǥ 8
Signal Notifier (4.1@97) 2 LastUpdate: 2014-06-27
Signal Strength Warning (3.9@39) Ǥ 6 LastUpdate: 2016-10-26
Network Signal Alerts & Battery Alerts (3.8@5) Ǥ 12
Signal Alert Lost Signal (3.6@68) 7 LastUpdate: 2014-11-28

Bad Signal Handler

2020-02-10

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

IMSI Catcher

2020-02-10

EAGLE Security FREE (4.5@9,586) Ǥ 12
Cell Spy Catcher (Anti Spy) (4.3@2,724) 7 detect Stingray Cell Phone Trackers („IMSI catchers“)
SnoopSnitch (4@3,407) 16 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
GSM Spy Finder (4@2,914) Ǥ 14 detect Stingray Cell Phone Trackers („IMSI catchers“), but spies itself (see included trackers)

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)

2020-02-20

IzzyOnDroid

Cell Signal

Monitoring & Mapping

Bad Signal Alert

Bad Signal Handler

IMSI Catcher