Cell Signal

Monitoring & Mapping

2021-07-16

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

Phone signal information (4.5@2,221) 6 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ / Phone Signal Strength Information (4.5@101) Ǥ 6 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$
Network Cell Info Lite - Mobile & WiFi Signal (4.4@1,701) Ǥ 16 3 / Network Cell Info - Mobile & WiFi Signal (4.5@7,671; ~EUR 2.25) Ǥ 12 3 Video Intro 6/2018; can export collected cells to MLS, OpenCellId – but also to KML
Rx Monitor (4.4@267) Ǥ 12 3
Network Survey (4.4@7) 15 1 / Network Survey+ (0@0) 10 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github / Github; advanced version (root needed)
Coverage - Cell and Wifi Network Signal Test (4.3@43,048) Ǥ 15 7
LTE Discovery (5G NR) (4.3@21,324) Ǥ 29 5
NetMonster (4.3@4,572) Ǥ 14 3
AeroConn - network monitoring (4.3@973) 8 1 LastUpdate: 2019-06-14
Opensignal - 5G, 4G, 3G Internet & WiFi Speed Test (4.2@417,105) Ǥ 12 3 Wikipedia
Netmonitor (4.2@14,379) Ǥ 15 4
Cellular-Z (4.2@1,553) 17 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ cell, WiFi, location
Network Monitor (4.2@523) 11 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2019-08-11 Github; Intro 10/2016
Brigitel (4.2@267) Ǥ 13 2
Mobile Trace (4.2@52) Ǥ 16 6
Network Signal Info (4.1@40,679) Ǥ 18 11 / Network Signal Info Pro (3.9@846; ~EUR 4.50) Ǥ 16 2
Cell Signal Monitor: monitoring of mobile networks (4.1@5,267) 9 3 LastUpdate: 2019-03-30 Kurzvorstellung 7/2014
Tower Collector (4.1@293) Ǥ 13 2 Github; contributes to OpenCellID and Mozilla; IzzyOnDroid recommendation (F-Droid version)
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@446) Ǥ 13 5
inViu routes GPS tracker OSM (4@313) 15 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ OSM Wiki EN | DE; tracker using and contributing to OpenCellID, also supports GeoNotes
SSA Outdoor RF Signal Tracker (4@244) Ǥ 16 3
NoGa Cell 2G 3G 4G (4@82) 11 5
4G map & speedtest (3.9@20,179) Ǥ 11 2
Signal Guard Free (3.9@2,146) Ǥ 21 5 / Signal Guard Pro (4.4@333; ~EUR 5.25) Ǥ 20 1
NetMonitor Cell Signal Logging (3.9@1,622) 10 1
Mobile Cell Check(Network Cell Info) (3.9@65) 6 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$
GSM Signal Tracker (3.8@326) 9 1 LastUpdate: 2015-09-27
cellumap (3.8@162) 7 LastUpdate: 2014-09-16
inViu OpenCellID (3.7@359) 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
Cellular Info (3.7@36) Ǥ 12 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2019-12-02
Cell Towers (3.5@4,223) Ǥ 11 9
Signal Finder (3.5@3,877) 8 4
Cell Coverage Map: mobile network signal testing (3.5@636) 10 3 LastUpdate: 2019-04-23
Cell Tower Locator (3.4@2,836) Ǥ 7 3
CellMapper (3.4@2,132) Ǥ 13 1
Antennas (3.2@4,217) 7 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2012-05-15
SignalCheck Lite (3.2@1,087) 8 1 / SignalCheck Pro (4.1@847; ~EUR 3.00) 11 1
RF Signal Tracker (3.2@33) Ǥ 14 4 LastUpdate: 2019-01-17
Network Signal Guru (3.1@3,259) Ǥ 11 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$
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

2021-07-16

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@65) 8 3 LastUpdate: 2016-07-06
GSM Signal Monitor & SIM Card Info � (4.2@2,374) Ǥ 12 5
Dr. Network (4.2@324) Ǥ 10 2
Network Voice Alert! (4.2@225) Ǥ 12 3
Signal Notifier (4.1@97) 2 1 LastUpdate: 2014-06-27
Signal Strength Warning (4@48) Ǥ 6 2

Bad Signal Handler

2021-07-16

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) 13 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

2021-07-13

Cell Spy Catcher (Anti Spy) (4.1@3,188) 9 2 detect Stingray Cell Phone Trackers („IMSI catchers“)
EAGLE Security FREE (4@10,162) Ǥ 12 4
SnoopSnitch (3.8@3,748) 16 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ 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)

2021-07-20

IzzyOnDroid

Cell Signal

Monitoring & Mapping

Bad Signal Alert

Bad Signal Handler

IMSI Catcher