Cell Signal

Monitoring & Mapping

2019-11-21

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
Phone signal information (4.7@1,333) 5 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ / Phone Signal Strength Information (no ads) (4.5@83) Ǥ 5
Network Cell Info Lite - Mobile & WiFi Signal (4.5@42,400) Ǥ 14 / Network Cell Info - Mobile & WiFi Signal (4.6@5,486; ~EUR 2.25) Ǥ 10 Video Intro 6/2018
Coverage - Cell and Wifi Network Signal Test (4.4@25,783) Ǥ 12 LastUpdate: 2017-11-12
Netmonitor (4.4@11,878) Ǥ 15
NetMonster (4.4@2,040) Ǥ 13
Signal Check(Network Cell Info) (4.4@7) 6
OpenSignal - 3G, 4G & 5G Signal & WiFi Speed Test (4.3@383,892) Ǥ 12 Intro 1/2013; Video Demo 2/2013; Testbericht 6/2013; Wikipedia
NetMonitor Cell Signal Logging (4.3@945) 10
Network Monitor (4.3@506) 10 Github; Intro 10/2016
Tower Collector (4.3@210) Ǥ 12 Github; contributes to OpenCellID and Mozilla; IzzyOnDroid recommendation (F-Droid version)
Rx Monitor (4.3@85) Ǥ 10
LTE Discovery (4.2@17,124) Ǥ 28
Cell Signal Monitor: monitoring of mobile networks (4.2@5,008) 9 Kurzvorstellung 7/2014
Cellular-Z (4.2@913) 12 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ cell, WiFi, location
Brigitel (4.2@245) Ǥ 11 LastUpdate: 2017-02-25
SSA Outdoor RF Signal Tracker (4.2@149) Ǥ 14
NoGa Cell 2G 3G 4G (4.2@40) Ǥ 13
AeroConn - network monitoring (4.1@841) 8 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2017-03-11
inViu routes GPS tracker OSM (4.1@305) 15 Test 7/2013; Vorstellung 10/2013; OSM Wiki EN | DE; tracker using and contributing to OpenCellID, also supports GeoNotes
Phono (4@7,294) 7 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ / Phono Donation (4.8@90; ~EUR 0.50) 3 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2010-05-16 Widget for carrier, signal strength, and more
G-MoN (4@4,590) Ǥ 12
Network Signal Info (3.9@35,575) Ǥ 19 / Network Signal Info Pro (4.4@4,703; ~EUR 3.50) Ǥ 18
Sensorly: 4G Coverage and Speedtests (3.9@20,179) Ǥ 12
Cell Towers (3.9@3,546) Ǥ 10 LastUpdate: 2017-12-18
Signal Guard Free (3.9@2,059) Ǥ 21 LastUpdate: 2017-03-04 / Signal Guard Pro (4.5@309; ~EUR 5.25) Ǥ 20 LastUpdate: 2017-02-07
CellID Info (3.9@1,744) 2 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2013-10-18
Cell Tower Locator (3.9@1,508) Ǥ 9
CellMapper (3.8@1,473) Ǥ 12
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 $Contains no known trackers \o/$
Cell Coverage Map: mobile network signal testing (3.6@614) 10
inViu OpenCellID (3.6@325) 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
Signal Finder (3.4@3,837) 8 LastUpdate: 2017-09-26
Network Signal Guru (3.4@2,192) Ǥ 10
Antennas (3.1@4,144) 7 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2012-05-15
SignalCheck Lite (3.1@1,023) 6 $Contains no known trackers \o/$ LastUpdate: 2016-02-18 / SignalCheck Pro (3.9@754; ~EUR 3.25) 11
RF Signal Tracker (2.9@2,181) Ǥ 13 LastUpdate: 2018-01-29
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

2019-11-21

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@55) 8 LastUpdate: 2016-07-06
Network Voice Alert! (4.3@134) Ǥ 11
GSM Signal Monitor & SIM Card Info 📱 (4.1@1,225) Ǥ 11
Signal Notifier (4.1@97) 2 LastUpdate: 2014-06-27
Dr. Network (4@234) Ǥ 8
Signal Strength Warning (4@36) Ǥ 6 LastUpdate: 2016-10-26
Network Signal Alerts & Battery Alerts (3.7@3) Ǥ 12
Signal Alert Lost Signal (3.6@68) 7 LastUpdate: 2014-11-28

Bad Signal Handler

2019-11-21

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

2019-12-07

EAGLE Security FREE (4.5@9,472) Ǥ 9
Cell Spy Catcher (Anti Spy) (4.3@2,665) 7 detect Stingray Cell Phone Trackers („IMSI catchers“)
SnoopSnitch (4@3,381) 16 Intro 1/2015; Video Demo 11/2016; Mike’s favorite; detect Stingray Cell Phone Trackers
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)
8-teilige Blog-Serie: Tipps zum Akku-Fresser "Mobilfunk-Standby" (9/2012)

2019-12-07

IzzyOnDroid

Cell Signal

Monitoring & Mapping

Bad Signal Alert

Bad Signal Handler

IMSI Catcher