Cell Signal

Monitoring & Mapping

2021-04-12

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

Phone signal information (4.6@2,114) 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 (4.5@61,282) Ǥ 16 3 / Network Cell Info - Mobile & WiFi Signal (4.5@7,346; ~EUR 2.25) Ǥ 12 3 Video Intro 6/2018; can export collected cells to MLS, OpenCellId – but also to KML
Mobile Trace (4.5@42) Ǥ 16 6
Cellular-Z (4.4@1,460) 17 cell, WiFi, location
Coverage - Cell and Wifi Network Signal Test (4.3@40,344) Ǥ 13 7
NetMonster (4.3@3,992) Ǥ 14 3
Opensignal - 5G, 4G, 3G Internet & WiFi Speed Test (4.2@412,729) Ǥ 12 3 Wikipedia
LTE Discovery (5G NR) (4.2@20,680) Ǥ 29 5
Netmonitor (4.2@13,892) Ǥ 15 4
AeroConn - network monitoring (4.2@946) 8 1 LastUpdate: 2019-06-14
Network Monitor (4.2@523) 8 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2019-08-11 Github; Intro 10/2016
Tower Collector (4.2@274) Ǥ 13 2 Github; contributes to OpenCellID and Mozilla; IzzyOnDroid recommendation (F-Droid version)
Brigitel (4.2@263) Ǥ 13 2
Rx Monitor (4.2@244) Ǥ 12 3
Network Signal Info (4.1@40,097) Ǥ 18 11 / Network Signal Info Pro (4.3@5,767; ~EUR 4.25) Ǥ 16 2
Cell Signal Monitor: monitoring of mobile networks (4.1@5,240) 9 3 LastUpdate: 2019-03-30 Kurzvorstellung 7/2014
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
NoGa Cell 2G 3G 4G (4@79) Ǥ 15 4
4G map & speedtest (3.9@20,179) Ǥ 11 2
Signal Guard Free (3.9@2,144) Ǥ 21 5 / Signal Guard Pro (4.4@333; ~EUR 5.25) Ǥ 20 1
CellID Info (3.9@1,744) 2 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2013-10-18
NetMonitor Cell Signal Logging (3.9@1,553) 10 1
SSA Outdoor RF Signal Tracker (3.9@235) Ǥ 16 3
GSM Signal Tracker (3.8@326) 9 1 LastUpdate: 2015-09-27
cellumap (3.8@162) 7 LastUpdate: 2014-09-16
Mobile Cell Check(Network Cell Info) (3.8@56) 6 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$
inViu OpenCellID (3.7@357) 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 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$
Cell Towers (3.5@4,194) Ǥ 11 8
Cell Tower Locator (3.5@2,672) Ǥ 7 3
CellMapper (3.5@2,018) Ǥ 13 1
Cell Coverage Map: mobile network signal testing (3.5@636) 10 3 LastUpdate: 2019-04-23
Signal Finder (3.4@3,863) 8 4
Antennas (3.2@4,207) 7 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ LastUpdate: 2012-05-15
Network Signal Guru (3.2@3,148) Ǥ 11 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$
SignalCheck Lite (3.1@1,079) 8 1 / SignalCheck Pro (4@840; ~EUR 3.00) 11 1
RF Signal Tracker (3@2,243) Ǥ 14 4 LastUpdate: 2019-01-17
Network Survey (0@0) 14 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ / Network Survey+ (0@0) 10 $Contains no trackers known to us \o/$ Github / Github; advanced version (root needed)
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

2021-04-12

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
Dr. Network (4.2@300) Ǥ 10 2
GSM Signal Monitor & SIM Card Info 📱 (4.1@2,236) Ǥ 13 6
Network Voice Alert! (4.1@222) Ǥ 12 3
Signal Notifier (4.1@97) 2 1 LastUpdate: 2014-06-27
Signal Strength Warning (3.9@48) Ǥ 6 2

Bad Signal Handler

2021-04-12

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

2021-04-04

Cell Spy Catcher (Anti Spy) (4.1@3,118) 9 2 detect Stingray Cell Phone Trackers („IMSI catchers“)
EAGLE Security FREE (4@10,136) Ǥ 12 3
GSM Spy Finder (4@2,914) Ǥ 14 26 detect Stingray Cell Phone Trackers („IMSI catchers“), but spies itself (see included trackers)
SnoopSnitch (3.7@3,698) 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)

2021-04-12

IzzyOnDroid

Cell Signal

Monitoring & Mapping

Bad Signal Alert

Bad Signal Handler

IMSI Catcher