Modern man actively takes advantage mobile communications and the Internet. We are used to staying in touch around the clock and find it difficult to live without a mobile phone at hand. However, even in the center of Moscow there are still so-called “blind spots” of federal operators. The reasons for their existence are varied: from banal mechanical barriers to the signal path in the form of powerful ceilings and mirrors to peak load base stations.

Signal amplification cellular communications are carried out by specialized organizations. Specialists from the company, whose main profile is strengthening communications, gave some tips on how to independently measure the level of a cellular signal using an iPhone to further improve the quality of communications.

By performing a series of simple actions with your smartphone, you can obtain data on the signal strength that comes from the base station, as well as find out what frequency range this operator uses in your area.

It will be necessary to make at least 8-10 measurements, since, firstly, the measurement results will vary slightly in time and at different points in space (this is a dynamic value), so it is necessary to make several measurements and calculate the average value. Secondly, the signal is measured only for the operator whose SIM card is in this moment installed in the slot. To assess the situation for Megafon, Beeline, MTS and Tele2 in a comprehensive manner, you will need to sequentially install SIM cards of these operators and repeat the algorithm.

And thirdly, measurements must be made for each frequency range separately, so in the settings of your phone, before selecting a range, you will need to set the appropriate parameter mobile network:

Settings > Cellular > Data Options > Voice & Data.

Thus, for a full analysis of the quality of mobile communications, it is necessary to record 12 readings in the form of a table (Beeline, Megafon, MTS and Tele2 in each of the 3 modes).

How to make changes

Now let's move on to the measurement itself. In order to record the readings, you will need to launch the device’s service menu and make several simple transitions. To start, in dialing mode, dial the code *3001#12345#*, then “Call”.

After this it will open service mode Field Test.

In the upper left corner, the “E” icon means that the phone is in 2G mode, the number in the corner of the screen is the GSM signal level.

Let's go sequentially to the following points: GSM Cell Environment > GSM Cell Info > Neighboring Cells

Press 0 (Active channel)
The number “-…” is the signal level of the Active GSM channel in dB (decibels)
ARFCN - Active channel number.

In the upper left corner, the “3G” icon means that the phone is in 3G mode,
Number in the corner of the screen. – this is the 3G signal level.

Press 0 (Active channel)
Now in the upper corner the number is the signal level of the Active 3G channel.
Downlink Frequency - Active channel number.

That is, as you guessed, the 3G signal can travel both on the 900th and 2100th frequencies.

You can make sure that LTE mode is active ("4G" above the data icon, if this band is available at all in this area)

The phone displays information:

• Band number
• Signal strength (RSCP)

The image shows the following readings as an example: Frequency band number Band 7, signal level -78 dB.

• Band 3 (1800 MHz)
• Band 7 (2600 MHz)
• Band 20 (800 MHz)
• Band 38 (2600 MHz)

*Network parameters are dynamic and may change over time. For accurate measurements, you should record multiple 4G LTE signal strength values

Interpretation of measurement results

In conclusion, you will need to decipher the results of measuring the cellular signal on the iPhone. Concerning the numerical values, conclusions can also be drawn at the layman level. Good reliable reception without interference and interruptions is achieved if the results obtained are numerically greater than -80...-85 dB.

That is, for example, “-65 dB” is very good signal, and “-98 dB” for a GSM signal means almost complete absence. By at least The discomfort when communicating on the phone will already be noticeable.

However, if your iPhone produces a good signal over 2G, then do not rush to draw positive conclusions. The fact is that modern smartphones devices that support 3G mode usually support a protocol for automatically switching to a higher frequency if it is detected. At the same time, the smartphone does not always intelligently assess the strength of the incoming signal. As a result, voice communication may switch to a weak 3G signal even during a conversation on a mobile phone. And here you are again having trouble hearing your interlocutor.

Therefore, it is important to make sure that the 3G signal is either completely absent and not picked up by the smartphone, or is provided at a good level.

Development of standards GSM 900, GSM E900, GSM 1800 contributed to the improvement of communication channels, but did not solve the problem of access to the Internet at the level required by modern people.

These standards belonged to the second generation (2G), in which the EDGE and GPRS protocols were used for data transmission, which made it possible to achieve speeds of up to 473.6 Kbps - catastrophically low for a modern user.

To date cellular standards One of the most important requirements is the data transfer speed and signal purity. Obviously, this affects the development of the mobile operator market. So, at one time, 3G networks appeared in Russia, which won the massive attention of users. And now it is for this reason that the number of people who choose 4G is increasing.

Feature of the UMTS standard

The main feature that distinguishes UMTS standard from GSM is that the use of WCDMA, HSPA+, HSDPA protocols allows users to access higher quality mobile Internet. At speeds from 2 to 21 Mbit/sec, you can not only transfer more data, but even make video calls.

UMTS covers more than 120 largest Russian cities. This is the standard in which the currently popular mobile operators(MTS, Beeline, MegaFon and Skylink) provide 3G Internet service.

It's no secret that high frequencies are more efficient for data exchange. However, Russia has its own nuances that make it impossible to use, for example, UMTS frequency 2100 MHz in some regions.

The reason is simple: frequency UMTS 2100, which is actively used for 3G Internet, quickly sits down on obstacles. This means that a high-quality signal is hampered not only by distances to base stations, but also by increased vegetation. In addition, some regions are practically closed to this frequency due to the operation of air defense systems. Thus, in the South-Western part of the Moscow region there are several military bases, and accordingly, an unspoken taboo has been introduced on the use of this frequency.

In such a situation, for 3G Internet it is used UMTS 900. Waves in this frequency range have higher penetrating power. At the same time, at this frequency the data transfer rate rarely reaches 10 Mbit/sec. However, considering that just a few years ago many cities could not even think about Internet coverage, this is not so bad.

At the moment, Huawei E352 and the more stable version E352b, as well as E372, E353, E3131, B970b, B260a, E367, E392, E3276 are showing excellent results with the popular UMTS900.

LTE: in what ranges will the future standard operate?

The logical development of UMTS was the development in 2008-2010. LTE is a new standard, the purpose of which is to increase signal processing speed and throughput, and in technical terms, to simplify the network architecture and thereby reduce data transfer time. In Russia LTE network officially launched in 2012.

It is LTE technology that determines the development of the new generation of mobile Internet in our country - 4G. This means access to online broadcasts, fast transfer of large files and other advantages of the modern Internet.

At the moment, 4G Internet is supported by the LTE 800, LTE 1800, LTE 2600 standards, using the LTE Cat.4, Cat.5, Cat.6 protocols. This allows, in theory, to obtain data transfer speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s for upload and up to 50 Mbit/s for reception.

High LTE frequencies become an ideal solution for regions where the population density is quite high and where such data transfer speed is very important. These include, for example, large industrial cities. However, if all operators begin to work only in the range LTE 2600– a problem with radio signal coverage will immediately arise.

Now residents of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Novosibirsk, Sochi, Ufa and Samara can take advantage of 4G technology. In Russia, Yota became one of the first operators to develop the fourth generation of mobile standards. Now the following have joined them large operators, like Megafon and MTS.

Development is considered optimal today LTE 1800: This frequency is more economical and allows new companies that offer mobile communication services to enter the market. It is even cheaper to build networks at 800 MHz. Thus, it is possible to predict what exactly LTE 800 And LTE 1800 will be the most popular among operators and, accordingly, with you and me.

The same frequency band is also used by television, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Among the frequency range there are those that were allocated specifically for mobile phones.

Historically, the radio waves used for mobile communications systems in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia differ from each other.

Technology and frequency standards

The first technology standard commercialized in the United States was AMPS in the 800 MHz band. In northern European countries, NMT-450 technology was first introduced, the range of which was 450 MHz.

Along with the growing popularity of mobile phones, manufacturers faced a problem: they could not provide the service to a large number of people. They had to develop existing systems and introduce a new standard with a different frequency range.

In Japan and some European countries, the TACS standard has appeared with a range of 900 MHz. The GSM standard, which replaced NMT-450 technology, also used the 900 MHz band. As the demand and market for cell phones grew, providers acquired licenses to use the 1800 MHz band.

More low frequencies allow providers to cover larger areas, and higher frequencies make it possible to provide communications to a larger number of customers in a smaller area.

Modern technology standards

The current generation of mobile devices operates mainly using the GSM standard. The UMTS standard is also gaining popularity. In some countries, ELT, 3G, 4G format technologies are used.

Each standard or format uses a frequency range of two frequencies. The low frequency range transmits information from mobile device to the station, and high - from the station to the mobile.

Many GPS phones cover three frequency bands: 900, 1800, 1900 MHz or 850, 1800, 1900 MHz. These are so-called tri-band phones or tri-band devices. With such a phone it is convenient to travel around the world, and it does not require replacement when
moving to another country.

A cell phone with an infrared port appeared in 2001, again under the Nokia brand. The first phone with an mp3 player was the Samsung SPH-M100.

The receiver can be either a built-in or a separate device connected to the computer in the form of a special card inserted into the expansion slot.

The same operating principle is used by many electronic devices– cell phones, wireless networks, garage door openers, remote controls remote control and so on. However, unlike the infrared communication that these devices rely on, RF communication does not require the mouse and receiver to be within an accessible distance of each other. The gadget's transmitter signal easily passes through obstacles in the form of a computer monitor or tabletop.

Wireless Mouse Sync

As with most modern computer mice, wireless models use not a ball, but an optical system, which significantly increases the accuracy of the gadget. In addition, the optical system allows the user to use a wireless mouse on almost all surfaces, which is very important for a device that is not connected to the computer by cable for at least some time.

Another advantage of radio frequency communications is the minimal energy consumption of radio transmitters and receivers, which are also lightweight, inexpensive and can be powered by batteries.

Synchronization of a wireless mouse is necessary for the interaction of its transmitter with the receiver, which must operate on the same channel, which is a combination of identification code and frequency. Synchronization prevents interference caused by other wireless devices and external sources.

Each manufacturer equips its own wireless mouse– some models (more expensive in the overall rating) are sold already synchronized, and some need to be automatically synchronized by pressing certain buttons on the device. The data transmitted by the mouse to the receiver is protected by encryption mechanisms or frequency hopping technology.

Sources:

• how does a mouse work

DownLink - communication channel from the base station to the subscriber
UpLink is a communication channel from the subscriber to the operator’s base station.

Standard 4G/ LTE Frequency 2500

This type of communication has been developing relatively recently and mainly in cities.

FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) - DownLink and UpLink operate on different frequency bands.
TDD (Time division duplex) - DownLink and UpLink operate on the same frequency band.

Yota: FDD DownLink 2620-2650 MHz, UpLink 2500-2530 MHz
Megafon: FDD DownLink 2650-2660 MHz, UpLink 2530-2540 MHz
Megafon: TDD 2575-2595 MHz - this frequency band is allocated only in the Moscow region.
MTS: FDD DownLink 2660-2670 MHz, UpLink 2540-2550 MHz
MTS: TDD 2595-2615 MHz - this frequency band is allocated only in the Moscow region.
Beeline: FDD DownLink 2670-2680 MHz, UpLink 2550-2560 MHz
Rostelecom: FDD DownLink 2680-2690 MHz, UpLink 2560-2570 MHz
After Megafon purchased the Yota company, Yota virtually began to operate as Megafon.

Standard 4G/ LTE Frequency 800

The network was launched into commercial operation at the beginning of 2014, mainly outside the city, in rural areas.

UpLink/DownLink (MHz)

Rostelecom: 791-798.5 / 832 - 839.5
MTS: 798.5-806 / 839.5 - 847.5
Megafon: 806-813.5 / 847 - 854.5
Beeline: 813.5 - 821 / 854.5 - 862

Standard 3G/UMTS Frequency 2000

3G/UMTS2000 is the most common cellular communication standard in Europe and is mainly used for data transmission.

UpLink/DownLink (MHz)

Skylink: 1920-1935 / 2110 - 2125 - in the end, most likely, these frequencies will go to Rostelecom. The network is not currently in use.
Megafon: 1935-1950 / 2125 - 2140
MTS: 1950-1965 / 2140 - 2155
Beeline:1965 - 1980 / 2155 - 2170

Standard 2G/DCS Frequency 1800

DCS1800 is the same GSM, only in a different frequency range, mainly used in cities. But, for example, there are regions where the TELE2 operator operates only in the 1800 MHz band.

UpLink 1710-1785 MHz and Downlink 1805-1880 MHz

There is no particular point in showing division by operators, because In each region, frequency distribution is individual.

Standard 2G/DCS Frequency 900

GSM900 is the most common communication standard in Russia today and is considered second generation communication.

There are 124 channels in GSM900 MHz. In all regions of the Russian Federation frequency ranges GSM is distributed between operators individually. And E-GSM exists as an additional frequency range of GSM. It is shifted in frequency from the base one by 10 MHz.

UpLink 890-915 MHz and Downlink 935-960 MHz

UpLink 880-890 MHz and Downlink 925-935 MHz

Standard 3G Frequency 900

Due to the lack of channels on the 2000 frequency, frequencies of 900 MHz were allocated for 3G. Actively used in the region.

Standard CDMA Frequency 450

CDMA450 - in the central part of Russia this standard is used only by the SkyLink operator.

UpLink 453 - 457.5 MHz and DownLink 463 - 467.5 MHz.

Frequency determination using Android applications

I. Introduction

The carrier frequency (or frequency range) of a 3G/4G signal is one of the most important parameters when choosing an antenna. In the end, you may not even know the location of base stations in the surrounding area - simply by twisting the antenna, you can determine this direction based on the signal level. If you don’t know the frequency, you may not be able to catch the signal at all.

Since frequency determination for the 3G, 4G and 4G-Advanced (4G+) standards is different, we will consider methods for determining frequencies separately.

II. Determining the frequency of a 3G signal

As you know, Russia has adopted two frequency ranges for 3G: 2100 MHz and 900 MHz. The frequency of 900 MHz is adopted in those regions where, for military reasons, it is unacceptable to use 2100 MHz. For example, South-East of the Moscow region.

Every smartphone has a hidden program called Netmonitor. For each phone model, this program is activated with its own individual code. For Android smartphones from Samsung, you must enter the code *#0011# in dialing mode. For other Android phones, the codes are: *#*#4636#*#* or *#*#197328640#*#* depending on the version. Most full list"secret" codes to activate this hidden program For different models phones, including iPhones, can be found.

So, in 3G mode I dial the code *#0011# on the dialer of my Samsung and get:

Here RX = 10713 is the channel number by which the carrier frequency is determined.

If the channel value is in the range 2937-3088, then it is 3G/UMTS900.

If the channel value is in the range 10562-10838, then it is 3G/UMTS2100.
RI = -64 dB - this is the signal level from the base station mobile operator(RSSI).

Special Android applications for determining the frequency of a 3G signal in Play Market not found.

III. Determining the frequency of a 4G signal

In 4G LTE mode, cellular operators can operate in three bands - 800 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2600 MHz. To determine the frequency in this mode, you can also use the built-in Netmonitor of your smartphone. How to do this is described in detail in.

There are only a few applications¹ that are claimed by the developers to determine the frequency, in addition to other functions. However, everything is not so simple. Some applications (G-NetTrack, Net Monitor, etc.) require an operating system of at least Android 7.X. Others (LTE Discovery) require the smartphone to be in Root² mode.

However, there was an application that provides the 4G signal frequency. Meet CellMapper. To use the application you need to register on the website, registration is free.

In order for the program to display the carrier frequency value on the screen, in the settings you need to check the “Calculate” box. GSM frequencies/UMTS/LTE". My smartphone (Samsung GT-i9505, Android 5.01) does not provide frequencies for GSM and UMTS, for LTE standard we get what is shown in the screenshot:

The program provides a lot of information about the connected tower and neighbors, including the signal frequency in the form of Band 7. This is a frequency of 2600 MHz. Other possible frequency ranges can be identified.

I will not describe each tab of the program, there are (on English language) and FAQ, I’ll just note that this application gives the frequency only for standard 4 signalsG. To determine the frequency in the 3G standard, as I said above, no Android applications were found.

IV. The situation with 4G+

V. Conclusion

A few notes at the end of the article.

I wish all antenna selection tasks could be completed on a handheld device such as a smartphone. However, the most reliable and cheapest way to determine the carrier frequency (or frequencies) of an Internet signal remains a computer (laptop) with a modem that has a HiLink interface or an MDMA program.

The rapid development of the 4G+ standard poses difficult challenges for antenna developers. How to combine different frequencies, for example 800+2600 MHz, in one antenna with good gain (about 17-20 dBi)? Moreover, so that there is MIMO. If this problem is not solved, then you will have to come up with complex designs from antennas of different ranges, combine their signals with diplexers, in general, the task is not simple or cheap. Or stay on 4G and be content with speeds, which in theory can be increased significantly.

I look forward to your feedback and comments, your dmitryvv.

1] Only free applications are considered.

2] For those who want to experiment with their smartphone, at the risk of turning it into a brick, I send it here and here (update to Android 7.XX), or to the forum w3bsit3-dns.com

3] It must be said that even the best foreign samples of this class (for example, the Australian company Telstra, costing about $300) do not exceed 8...11 dBi in gain.

Radio frequencies of Russian cellular operators are standardized at the federal level. Most of them are used not only in the Russian Federation, but also in many other countries of the world. In addition, cellular communications work only in the territories of China, Japan, North and South America. Since today every user can purchase a smartphone or mobile phone abroad, there is an acute issue of compatibility of communication modules of these devices with the offers of domestic operators.

GSM frequencies (2G) in Russia

The most widespread and accessible standard in the world is the GSM standard, which includes frequencies of 850/900/1800/1900 MHz. Standards 900 (GSM) and 1800 (DCS) are common in Russia. The same frequencies are used in Asia, Europe, Africa and Australia. In North America the frequencies used are 850/1900. Also in Russia there is CDMA, operating at 450 and 850 MHz, but is gradually becoming a thing of the past.

When choosing a communication device, please note that GSM devices can support:

Only one range. The worst option is if the phone does not support setting the range depending on the country you are in.
Two ranges (Dual Band). Support 900/1800 – ideal for the Russian Federation. On the other hand, the phone will also work in Russia at 850/1900, but no one guarantees the quality of communication and the absence of “dead” zones.
Three Tri Bands. Usually these are options that do not have the frequency 850 (excellent for the Russian Federation) or 900 (suitable for the USA).

UMTS (3G) frequencies in Russia

UMTS (W-CDMA, TD-CDMA, etc.) operates on frequencies 1885-2025 (Uplink) and 2110-2200 (Downlink). One frequency in cellular communications, accordingly, is used to receive signals, the other to send. In Russia, W-CDMA is preferred.

There are add-ons HSUPA, HSPDA HSPA+. The latter are often referred to as 3.5G. It should be noted that in Japan and the USA other bands are used (for example, in the USA 1710-1755 and 2110-2155 MHz). The reason for this is the occupancy of frequencies 1900 by the GSM channel.

It should also be noted that new technologies and add-ons are emerging. For example, a smartphone can operate in 3G in the TD-SCDMA, CDMA2000, FOMA standards. Of these, only the last one uses W-CDMA technology adopted in the Russian Federation, although it is intended for Japan.

Communication parameters change from year to year and it is impossible to describe all options. So we simply specify:

1. Check the standard and frequencies of your smartphone.
2. Check the standard and frequencies of your operator.
3. Correlate the data obtained.

There are standards:

Additions and/or amendments to this material are welcome.

When choosing cellular amplifiers and antennas on your own, one of the first questions that arise is about cellular signal level received in your premises and about the used cellular standard

Modern smartphones based on the most popular OS iOS(iPhone) and Android(Samsung, HTC) - will help you answer them!

1. How to measure GSM signal?

1.1 How to measure GSM signal on iPhone?

*3001#12345#*

Step 2 - numeric value -86 in the upper left corner shows the GSM signal strength in dBm (decibels per milliwatt)

Icon E(EDGE) or G(GPRS) - indicates that your phone is in GSM networks, not on a 3G network

Step 3 - click the GSM Cell Environment menu -> GSM Cell info -> Neighboring Cell -> select channel 0. Write down or take a screenshot of the number next to ARFCN (this is the operating frequency number)

Frequencies from 1 to 124 GSM 900. Choose GSM900 repeaters and GSM900 antennas

Frequencies from 512 to 885- this is the frequency range of the standard GSM 1800. Choose GSM1800 repeaters and GSM1800 antennas

Frequencies from 974 to 1023- this is the frequency range of the standard E-GSM 900. Choose E-GSM900 repeaters and E-GSM900 antennas

*3001#12345#* .

1.2 How to measure GSM signal on Android?

Step 1. We fix the phone in the GSM network- go to the "Settings/Wireless networks/Mobile networks" menu and disable 3G support by selecting "2G networks only"

*#0011#

If your phone Samsung Galaxy and can’t enter the menu - try these options: option 1 - *#32489# ; option 2 - *#*#7262626#*#* ; option 3 - *#*#4636#*#* .

Step 3. Checking the GSM signal level- numeric value -94 in the RxPwr line shows the GSM signal level in dBm (decibels per milliwatt).

Step 4. Checking the GSM 900 or 1800 band- the GSM standard is indicated in the top line - in this case GSM1800. Opposite parameter T the number of the GSM operating frequency will be indicated - in this case 549 frequency

Frequencies from 1 to 124- this is the frequency range of the standard GSM 900. Choose GSM900 repeaters and GSM900 antennas

Frequencies from 512 to 885- this is the frequency range of the standard GSM 1800. Choose GSM1800 repeaters and GSM1800 antennas

Frequencies from 974 to 1023- this is the frequency range of the standard E-GSM 900. Choose E-GSM900 repeaters and E-GSM900 antennas

2. How to measure 3G signal?

2.1 How to measure 3G signal on iPhone?

Step 1. Revealing the hidden engineering menu iPhone - dial phone number *3001#12345#*

Step 2. Checking the 3G signal level- numeric value -95 in the upper left corner shows the 3G signal strength in dBm (decibels per milliwatt)

3G (UMTS) or H (HSDPA) icon - indicates that your phone is on a 3G network and not on a GSM network

Step 3. - click the UMTS Cell Environment menu -> Neighbor Cells -> UMTS Set -> select channel 0. Write down or take a screenshot of the number next to Downlink Frequency (this is the operating frequency number)

Frequencies from 2937 to 3088- this is the frequency range of the standard 3G-UMTS 900. Choose GSM900 repeaters and GSM900 antennas

Frequencies from 10562 to 10838- this is the frequency range of the standard 3G-UMTS 2100. Choose 3G 2100 repeaters and 3G 2100 antennas

How to disable engineering menu mode on iPhone?

Re-dial the phone number *3001#12345#* .

Next, press your finger on the numbers of the cellular signal level in the upper left corner and switch to the standard display mode of the cellular signal level. Then click Home button and exit the engineering menu.

2.2 How to measure 3G signal on Android?

Step 1. We fix the phone in the 3G network- go to the menu "Settings/Other networks/Mobile networks/Network mode" and enable 3G support by selecting "WCDMA only"

Step 2. Open hidden engineering Android menu- dial the phone number *#0011#

If your phoneSamsung Galaxyand can’t enter the menu - try these options: option 1 - *#32489# ; option 2 - *#*#7262626#*#* ; option 3 - *#*#4636#*#* .

Step 3. Checking the 3G signal level- numeric value -86 The R parameter shows the 3G signal level in dBm (decibels per milliwatt).

Step 4. Checking the 3G band 2100 or 900- opposite the Rx CH parameter the number of the 3G operating frequency will be indicated - in this case 10638 frequency, which indicates that this is a standard 3G-UMTS 2100

Frequencies from 2937 to 3088- this is the frequency range of the standard 3G-UMTS 900. Choose GSM900 repeaters and GSM900 antennas

Frequencies from 10562 to 10838- this is the frequency range of the standard 3G-UMTS 2100. Choose 3G 2100 repeaters and 3G 2100 antennas

How measure 4G LTE signal read our new article!

Did not find an answer to your question?

Write a comment at the end of the article or call us- and you will receive personal, professional, free answer!

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We offer you the best modem compatible with the largest number of routers, the ability to view the signal level in dBm without third party programs and two CRC9 outputs for connecting an external 3G or 4G LTE antenna

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Today we’ll look at several simple programs for setting up 3g modems and orienting antennas to the base station. Most often, standard programs that come from operators do not have high-quality and user-friendly interface to determine the 3g signal level, and often it is not possible to determine the level in dBm, which is very important for choosing a 3g antenna and its subsequent orientation. So, I present to your attention a review of two applications: Mobile Data Monitoring Application (MDMA), Huawei Level Signal (HLS), as well as a convenient plugin for working with MDMA. Programs taken from the site http://entropiy.ru Thanks to the authors for that! With these programs you can independently orient an external 3g antenna.
Attention, for all the programs described below to work, you need to close the native program from the 3G modem!

Let's start with Mobile Data Monitoring Application (MDMA) [DOWNLOAD]

program version 1.1.0.2, dated 2014-06-27.

The program shows the 3g signal level in dBm, as well as in the form of a color scale, can count traffic, display reception/transmission speed, work with USSD requests and many other convenient gadgets. The program uses standard modem drivers and can work with most common 3g modems. “MDMA” was tested by us with such 3g modems as HUAWEI e171, e352, e3131, e303; ZTE MF100, MF667. The program does not require installation and is ready to work immediately after unpacking from the archive. Attention, for the MDMA program to work, you need to close the native program from the 3G modem.
But there is one problem. Even if you have a laptop, being on the roof while setting up a 3g antenna, you will not be able to move away from the laptop, because information in the MDMA program is displayed in small print, so you will have to carry it around with you, or call an assistant. And even more so if you desktop computer. But Entropiy solved the problem, as you will find out below.
There is a convenient plugin for MDMA from Entropiy [DOWNLOAD]

The plugin is designed for convenient configuration of 3G modems and 3G antennas. The plugin can: show the signal level in dBm in large numbers (on the entire screen), as well as pronounce the signal level in Russian or English; determine the direction to the operator’s transmitting base station. The program works together with MDMA, i.e. launch MDMA, then launch the plugin.
“Level Percentage” - Level in percentage
“Level as voice” - Voice level
“Voice R2” - only when the signal level changes
“MAP” button - used to determine the direction to the cellular operator station (the Internet must be connected via network connections or MDMA program, the native program from the modem is closed)
PS: If you were unable to determine the direction to a 3G station, switch to EDGE/GPRS mode and try again. The fact is that some 3G stations in the database have old EDGE/GPRS identifiers, but this does not always happen.

And the last one for today HLS (Huawei level signal) from Entropiy [DOWNLOAD]

Options:
level percentage - level in percentage
level as voice - voice level
Save id button save id (for viewing in the "Open ID" application)
Like the plugin for MDMA program HLS can display the signal level in dBm on the entire screen, pronounce the level by voice, and you can also find out the approximate direction to the base station using the “Save id” button. After clicking, save the connection data to an ini file.

Before launching the "Open ID" application, the Internet must be connected through a standard 3g modem program, and the HLS program must be closed.

The Open ID application is installed along with HLS. Using it, you can open a previously saved ini file by clicking the “OPEN ID” button. After that, pressing the “MAP” button opens “Yandex maps”, where you can find out the approximate location of the base station.

To the question What do these numbers mean in the signal level? (see photo) given by the author Undersalt the best answer is Decibels (dB) are logarithmic units,
widely used in radio engineering to express the relationship of two quantities.
The ratio of voltages (U) and powers (P) of two signals in decibels can be
express it like this: N = 20 log (U1/U2) = 10 log (P1/P2)
If a certain reference value is used as one of the quantities in the relation
absolute value, then it becomes possible to express absolute values
in logarithmic units. For example, if we take as the reference value
power is 1 mW, then other absolute power values ​​can be expressed in
logarithmic units<дБм>(decibel to milliwatt) which are often
used in radio engineering. In this case, positive values ​​correspond to
levels exceeding the reference value, and negative - levels below the reference
meanings.
_________________________________________________________________-RxLev, signal level - level received via
this radio signal channel at the input to the telephone receiver. Measured in
decibels per milliwatt (dBm). Calculated using the formula RxLev = 10lg
Rx(mW) /1 mW. Since the received signal power is significantly less than 1 mW,
the resulting value is negative. Moreover, the smaller it is numerically, the signal
worse. IN cellular networks GSM standard, the received signal strength fluctuates in
within approximately −35 dBm - −111 dBm.
In Android level
signal is issued in ASU units
(Arbitrary Strength Unit),
The noise level is taken as 0 useful signal, i.e. -113dBm.
Formula
conversion from ASU to dBm:
(2 * ASU) – 113.
dBm and asu
Gradations of cellular signal strength with base station
(BS):
5. up to -75 dBm - reliable or normal communication in buildings;
4. -85…-75 dBm - reliable communication on the street and in transport;
3. -95…-85 dBm - average signal level (border zone);
2. -105…-95 dBm - low signal level (reception not guaranteed);
1. -110…-105 dBm -min signal level (communication on the verge of breaking).
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Asu-arbitrary strength unit
signal level wireless network, my translation)) The signal in the pilot channel is continuously emitted by the BS, level
the power of this signal is constant and 4-6 dB higher than in direct channels
traffic. The subscriber station (SS) uses the pilot signal to acquire
carrier frequency (initial synchronization), after which it tracks it with
accurate to the phase and identifies the reference vibrations necessary for processing
signals of this BS upon reception.
The direct traffic channel is used to transmit voice messages,
data, service control information and signaling.
Gradations of the signal-to-noise ratio (asu) in the pilot channel:
I. asu at least 10 – the telephone can transmit voice;
II. asu at least 6-7 – the phone can transmit data.
A by-product of the search)))