[swb1964]

Hi. Is there an app you can get for an android phone which enables you to scan and find the strongest network signal at a particular place?

I'm not talking about projected coverage but actually measuring the real signal the phone can receive.

[mupet0000]

It would be very nice if you could just do a network scan in a location and find out the signal strength for all networks. As far as I know (on Android anyway), you can only find out what networks are available, if you want to know the signal you must use a sim card and connect to the network. Any free sim card on PAYG will do the job.

Thinking about it, when I use my Samsung without a sim card, it connects to a network by it's self and shows emergency calls only. It doesn't actually say which network, but when you check the MNC in an app like Network Signal Info, you can see which network it is. MNCs are as follows:
O2 = 10
Voda = 15
Three = 20
EE = 30
Orange = 33

I guess it picks the network with the best signal, the last few times I've booted my phone without a sim it's used O2 and Three. But when you go into network selection and try to choose a network, it doesn't allow you to register, so you don't really get a choice as to which network your phone hangs onto, unless there's some way to force that.

[de525ma]

When you do a network search, I believe the order is

Home network at the top.
Then the others by strength.

But how it resolves the 2G/3G/4G order, I don't know.

[M1kos]

Yes I concur home net then rest in order if strength

[InfamousTeal]

Just to add my findings, it doesn't seem to always be by signal strength.

I live near the Irish border, and 3 Ireland, EE, and Vodafone UK, are all being shown above O2-UK, when there is an O2-UK mast about 200m from my house. (all other masts are much further)

For anyone interested:
I'm on Three UK, the search lists them as:

3G - 3
2G - 3
3G - 3 IRL
3G - vodafone UK
3G - EE
3G - O2-UK
2G - METEOR
2G - O2-UK
2G - vodafone UK
2G - O2-IRL
2G - vodafone IE
2G - EE
3G - vodafone IE
4G - EE
4G - O2-UK
4G - vodafone UK


That's a LOT of networks
But they're not ordered in signal strength... I don't know what they're ordered in.. Maybe Home networks, then roaming home network? then 3G, then 2G, then 4G. With the exception of vodafone IE 3G at the bottom.. I'm confused

[Matt35]

Wish I'd been able test signal strength before I joined three because so theirs has been absolute shite.

[Mark in Essex]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt35

Wish I'd been able test signal strength before I joined three because so theirs has been absolute shite.

I got a pay as you go SIM before joining Three and it's perfect everywhere I go apart from home where they gave me a signal booster box to resolve this.

Was there no 14 day cooling off period when you joined if it's that bad?

They are ment to be launching 800mhz 4G with VOIP in September which should have better building penitration (but then again they were ment to have covered more towns with 4G by the end of last year so believe it when I see it (not that I'm that bothered about 4G as 3G gives me decent speeds everywhere I go)).

[Matt35]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark in Essex

I got a pay as you go SIM before joining Three and it's perfect everywhere I go apart from home where they gave me a signal booster box to resolve this.

Was there no 14 day cooling off period when you joined if it's that bad?

They are ment to be launching 800mhz 4G with VOIP in September which should have better building penitration (but then again they were ment to have covered more towns with 4G by the end of last year so believe it when I see it (not that I'm that bothered about 4G as 3G gives me decent speeds everywhere I go)).

Only reason I'm staying with them is Internet is good. My last provider was opposite, good phone signal where I never once got a no signal but Internet was crap. Hopefully it will improve by the time my 12 month is up.

[Mark in Essex]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt35

Only reason I'm staying with them is Internet is good. My last provider was opposite, good phone signal where I never once got a no signal but Internet was crap. Hopefully it will improve by the time my 12 month is up.

Yes hopefully it will improve by the end of the year.

Think I must have been lucky in the places I go as apart from home I've got fast blanket 3G coverage, but I guess up until 6 months ago Vodafone had hardly any reception inside my house and had to get a booster box from them as well.