In order to choose the optimal direction for the 3G antenna, the regular utility that comes with the modem is often not enough.
It is more convenient to use special applications for testing the signal strength.
Here are some of them:
1) My Huawei Terminal 2) HLS (Huawei signal level) 3) Mobile Data Monitoring Application (MDMA)4) WlanExprt UMTS
Before you start working with any of these programs, you need to close the native program from the 3G modem, if it was running.
After you need to find out what COM port number our modem received, for this you need: in the START menu, select COMPUTER, right-click, select PROPERTIES:
Next, select the device manager:
In the device manager, we look at the COM and LPT ports, we need a COM port, remember the port number.
In this case, port number 16:
This is where the preparation ends, we start looking for the best direction for the antenna, it is better to turn the antenna by 15 degrees, check the signal level and turn further.
And so programs for measuring 3G signal
Developer: Alexander S. Shokin
This program does not require installation, it is launched by an exe file. After starting the program, in the upper window you need to specify the number of the COM port on which the modem was detected.
Click Connect, the program starts to display the network status and signal strength:
1) Signal level: -77dBm (the higher the better, for example, -66dBm will be stronger than -77).
2) CSNR : -83,-5
First -83: This is the RSCP level of the pilot signal (the first signal that the modem receives when connected to the base station).
Second -5: this is Ec/Io — the ratio of the signal level to noise (the higher the value, the better). This indicator should not be neglected!
In addition to the signal level in this program, we can enter AT commands and set the required modem mode.
The advantages of this application are ease of installation and use, instant response to changes in the position of the antenna.
Minus: there is no way to view this data in a large window like, for example, MDMA or HLS.
2) HLS (Huawei level signal)
Install the program, run it, specify the COM port number, connect the modem.
1) Blue bar at the top — signal level in percent
2) MCC, Mobile Country Code — code of the country in which the BS is located. For Russia it is 250, Ukraine — 255, Belarus — 257
3) MNC, Mobile Network Code — cellular network code. For example, MTS has the code 01, MegaFon — 02, NSS — 03, SMARTS — 07, Beeline — 99
Here you can see the codes (MCC MNC) designations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_country_code
4) LAC, Local Area Code — local area code. A local area is a set of BSs that are served by one BSC — a base station controller.
5) Cell ID, CID, CI — “cell identifier”. This is a parameter that is assigned by the operator to each sector of each BS, and serves to identify it.
6) level percentage — level as a percentage
7) level as voice — voice level
Save id button — will help you find out the approximate direction to the base station, after clicking, save the connection data to an ini file.
The «Open ID» application is installed with HLS. With it, you can open a previously saved ini file by pressing the «OPEN ID» button. After that, press the «MAP» button — «Yandex Maps» opens, where you can find out the approximate location of the base station.
9) Full screen button — can display the signal level in dBm on the whole screen and pronounce the level by voice.
As a disadvantage of this application, it is a very slow response to a change in the position of the antenna, there is no Ec / Io level of signal-to-noise ratio like My Huawei Terminal.
From the pros: ease of installation and use, the ability to view readings in a large window.
3) Mobile Data Monitoring Application (MDMA)
Next, right-click on the shortcut and select PROPERTIES. In the object field, you need to write the COM port, instead of an asterisk, the number of the COM port on which the modem was defined, it should turn out, for example, like this
Now you can run the program:
you can see the same parameters as in the previous program plus signal to noise ratio as in My Huawei Terminal.
By installing an additional Entropy plugin (Developer: http://entropiy.ru/3g), we can get the signal level in a large window with the possibility of voice notification.
Of the advantages, fast — response to changes in the position of the antenna and high information content.
4) WlanExpert UMTS
To run this program, you will need to remove the SIM card from the modem. Run the program and select the COM port:
(Screenshot taken in Moscow)In the running program we will see:
PSC — BS code in presence area,
RSCP — signal level,
Ec/i0 — signal-to-noise ratio,
Freq MHz — frequency.
Rotate the antenna until you get the best result.
P.S. New article on measuring the signal strength and determining the frequency using Android.
GOOD SIGNAL TO YOU! GOOD LUCK!
Category:
About repeaters
Measure GSM modem antenna signal (Free download)
MCC = Country Mobile Network Code (250-Russia)
MNC = Mobile network operator code (01, 02, 99, etc.)
LAC = Area Code (allows you to determine whether you belong to the switch)
Cell code of the cell (unique cell number in the network)
BSIC = Base Station Identification Code
C1,C2 = Cell reselection parameters by different criteria
Channel = Channel number BCCH (broadcast channel of the base station of the cellular network, which transmits the main service information and parameters for the operation of user equipment in the network)
PWR = Maximum authorized radiated power level of user equipment in this cell (indicated in dBm or in relative units from 0 to 16).
How to choose the best direction for 3G antenna
2) MCC, Mobile Country Code — code of the country in which the BS is located. For Russia it is 250, Ukraine — 255, Belarus — 257
3) MNC, Mobile Network Code — cellular network code. For example, MTS has the code 01, MegaFon — 02, NSS — 03, SMARTS — 07, Beeline — 99
4) LAC, Local Area Code — local area code. A local area is a set of BSs that are served by one BSC — a base station controller.
5) Cell ID, CID, CI — “cell identifier”. This is a parameter that is assigned by the operator to each sector of each BS, and serves to identify it.
Save id button – will help you find out the approximate direction to the base station, after clicking, save the connection data to an ini-file.
The Open ID application is installed with HLS. With it, you can open a previously saved ini file by pressing the «OPEN ID» button. After that, press the «MAP» button — «Yandex maps» open, where you can find out the approximate location of the base station.
Next, right-click on the shortcut and select PROPERTIES. In the object field, you need to write the COM port /port: com* instead of an asterisk, the number of the COM port on which the modem was defined, it should, for example, be like this C:mdma.exe /port:COM16
Here you can see the same parameters as in the previous program plus the signal-to-noise ratio as in My Huawei Terminal.
To run this program, you will need to remove the SIM card from the modem. Run the program and select the COM port:
Information
Approximate location of GSM/WCDMA/LTE cell towers on the map. Saving towers in the database. Cell IDs, signal strength and GPS location.
Please note: In most cases, the accuracy of the calculated cell position is better for sites with 3 detected cells. If you see only one cell, then this is not a cell position, it is a cell service center.
Installation instructions
If you don’t like the small screens of your smartphone or tablet, then you can do it with the help of an emulator program. With it, you can create an Android environment on your computer and run the application through it. At the moment, the most popular utilities for this are: Bluestacks and NoxPlayer.
Install Cell Towers, Locator on PC using Bluestacks
Bluestacks is considered the most popular emulator for Windows computers. In addition, there is a version of this program for Mac OS. In order to install this emulator on a PC, you need to have Windows 7 (or higher) installed on it and have at least 2 GB of RAM.
Click the My Apps tab. It’s in the top left of the Bluestacks window.
Click Install APK. This option is in the lower right corner of the window. An Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window opens.
Select the downloaded APK file. Navigate to the folder with the downloaded APK file and click on it to select it.
Click «Open». This option is in the lower right corner of the window. The APK file will open in Bluestacks, meaning the installation of the app will begin.
Launch the app. When the app icon appears in the My Apps tab, click on it to open the app.
Install Cell Towers, Locator on PC using NoxPlayer
Nox App Player is free and does not have any intrusive pop-up ads. Works on Android version 4.4.2, allowing you to open many games, whether it’s a big simulator, a demanding shooter or any other application.
+ Go to the official website of the developer https://www.bignox.com/
+ Next, automatic download will begin, after which you will need to go to the «Downloads» folder and click on the installation file of the downloaded program.
Installing and launching the program:
+ To continue the installation, click on the «Install» button in the window that opens. Select additional installation options by clicking on the «Customize» button if you need it. Do not uncheck the box «Accept the «Agreement»», otherwise you will not be able to continue.
+ After the emulator is installed on your computer, you will see a launch window on the screen, where you will need to click on the «Start» button.
Map of cell towers of Russia — Applications and useful programs
Each active mobile communication repeater is a strong signal source with which thousands of subscribers can interact. The closer you are to the repeater, the better the signal level and connection. Knowing the location of all communication objects will allow you to navigate the signal coverage in your area and determine which signal is best caught here and 20 km from the designated place. A map of cell towers in Russia can help with this.
Operator coverage maps
There is no public access to the most complete coverage map indicating the location of all towers, all mobile operators in Russia. The most complete maps are available from telecom operators. Some of them are presented on their official websites.
Power estimation allows you to see live what signal is used in a particular area (gradations from very weak to very strong).
This project was implemented without the participation of operators. Users of mobile networks took part in it with the help of the «Connection Quality» application.
All tracked data from the application for public monitoring of communication quality was transferred to the map of the Ministry of Communications of Russia and is available at geo.minsvyaz.ru. Alas, there is no exact location of the towers on the map. Such information is usually not made public in order to protect towers from vandals and radical individuals.
On the map, you can visually see the overall quality of 2G, 3G, 4G communication in a certain area. Best of all, the quality of communication is seen in megacities, cities and on the roads. Villages, suburban cooperatives, forests, and non-residential territory remain deserted cells.
Official sites of operators
If you are interested in the coverage of the area by a certain operator, then the full map can be seen on the official website:
Why know where cell towers are
This data can be useful in various situations, for example:
How to find out the location of towers
There are technologies that allow using devices and programs to determine from which side the best cellular signal is coming. To identify the location of a cell tower, you need to know some parameters of the received signal:
You should also understand their meanings:
Knowing such values will help you approximately (with an error of several km) find out where the cell tower is located.
When you enter all the readings, the approximate location of the cellular repeater will appear on the site map. If this area is included in Google and Yandex services, the tower can be found by street views using panoramic pictures.
Values can be determined using the phone’s engineering menu, which most Android phones have (but not all, depends on the firmware). Also, for a PC and a smartphone, there are many applications that allow you to conveniently calculate this data.
Special programs and applications
To find out the approximate coordinates of the base towers, you can use the light versions of programs for smartphones and more advanced ones for computers:
How dangerous is it to be near the tower
Cellular communication technology is based on the transmission of electromagnetic waves from a repeater (base station) to receiving devices. The signal is transmitted in the ultra-high frequency range. Many factors affect the propagation radius:
The construction of base stations is done outside the city. To spread the signal, signal amplifiers (repeaters) are added to them, which contribute to greater coverage of territories. The level of electromagnetic radiation around such stations is the highest.
But even these indicators are within the normal range and do not have a detrimental effect on the body. People who live near the tower of a mobile operator are not in danger if the equipment is installed above residential buildings and meets all technical standards.
The installation of antennas on the roofs of high-rise buildings is not prohibited by law, but the requirements must be met:
Before installing new equipment, the mobile operator submits a request to the relevant authorities. At the same time, experts check compliance with the requirements for sanitary and technical standards. If the request is granted, it means that the installed towers do not harm human health.
Conclusion
A map of cell towers in Russia from the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications is available for public use. With its help, you can determine the overall availability of communication quality in a particular region. There are no tower locations on the map for security reasons. But the approximate location on the ground to the nearest tower can be determined using special programs that allow you to determine the marks of the signal being picked up.
2) HLS (Huawei level signal)
Sometimes it may be very necessary to track the parameters of the mobile network to which you are connected or want to connect. You can find out the signal strength, network type, availability of 3G or 4G, as well as how many base stations are around or the distance to them, using special cellular network monitoring programs. Due to the growing popularity of mobile devices based on the Android operating system, a lot of monitoring programs for GSM/3G/4G networks have appeared for this OS.
The GSM network monitoring program not only can help you achieve maximum signal values, there are programs for Android that can indicate the direction and distance to the nearest cell tower, as well as indicate whether it has 4G or not. It is much more convenient, instead of the well-known MDMA for Windows, which works only with USB modems, to use a smartphone or tablet. Here are 10 Android-based GSM/3G/4G/monitoring programs worthy of your attention.
Antennas.
A simple utility for monitoring GSM and CDMA networks. Shows all nearby cell towers on the map. You can also measure the signal level in dBm of the active BS, and find out its coordinates by LAC and CID.
Network Signal Strength.
The main purpose of the program is to show the signal level. The signal is shown on a convenient dial in dBm. Works in GSM/CDMA/LTE networks. Displays the type of network, the name of the cellular operator, and the presence of GPRS, 3G or 4G. You can also find out the Call ID of the device that the BS assigned to it. Of the minuses, it is worth noting the presence of an advertising banner in the interface.
GSM Monitor.
A simple program in Russian to measure the GSM signal strength. Changes in the signal level over time are displayed clearly on the graph. Using GSM Monitor, you can find out the type of network, the name of the operator, the IMEI code of the device, as well as the serial number of the SIM card. The program will run in the background in the system until it is stopped.
Gsm Signal Monitor.
Another simple GSM signal monitoring utility. Displays the signal on the chart, plus large numbers of values at the top of the screen, which is very convenient. Of the features of the program, it should be noted the ability to choose how to display the signal level. You can select standard dBm, RSSI level, or percentage. Plus, the BS coordinates are displayed in the LAC and CID parameters. There are banner ads.
Cell Phone Coverage Map.
A handy program that allows you to run a test of the network to which the device is connected. Works with any type of Internet connection, including Wi-Fi. Displays signal strength and network protocol. The test will show the speed of the incoming and outgoing channels. On the map you can see the density and activity of the cells that surround the device.
Network Signal — Network signal information.
Location Finder and GSM mapper.
A very useful program for monitoring the cellular network. The main advantage is in the detailed information about the connection. Displays all data in detail: signal strength, network type, LAC and CID coordinates, MCC and MNC mobile codes. Displays on the Google map the connected BS with the coordinates of the area.
GSM Signal Monitoring.
Convenient application in Russian. Work with GSM, UMTS and LTE networks. Tracks such cell parameters as: cell Id, LAC, MNC, MCC. Displays the signal level on the graph and its change over time. Shows neighboring cells, only in the GSM network. There is a data rate monitor.
OpenSignal.
Program in Russian, with wide functionality. When GPS is on, the program will show on the screen in the form of an arrow the direction in which it is worth moving to achieve the best signal. Simply put, the direction of movement to the nearest cell tower of your operator is indicated. You can find out not only the signal strength, but also measure the speed of the Internet 3G or 4G. You can also see on the map the nearest available towers, and which device, smartphone or tablet is connected to.
A feature of the OpenSignal program is the ability to view the coverage. Exactly GSM, 3G or 4G network coverage on the map. This is a very useful feature, it can be very helpful when installing, for example, a 3G or 4G antenna.
Netmonitor.
This application is designed to monitor GSM/CDMA networks. A very user-friendly interface, displays the connected BS and the nearest neighbors. Moreover, the list of cells displays the physical addresses of the towers in Russian, not a single application listed above can boast of this. Plus, it is possible to write the log to a file. The signal level is displayed as a graph that changes over time.
Here are perhaps the most interesting and useful applications from «Google Play» for monitoring the network. All of them, to one degree or another, have different and similar functions, and it is best to use several at once. Depending on the task at hand, whether it’s installing an antenna and tuning it to the nearest base station, or just looking for the best signal, these apps can help a lot.
If you know other useful applications for monitoring GSM/3G/4G, please tell us about them in the comments. We will be happy to test them.
What programs will help you set up an antenna for 3G / 4G Internet in the country?
The most difficult thing in self-installation of an antenna for 3G / 4G Internet in the country is the fine tuning of the antenna. Rotating the directional antenna just a few degrees can greatly improve the quality of the received signal and significantly increase the speed of the Internet.
To simplify this task, enthusiasts from the w3bsit3-dns.com forum have developed special firmware, web interfaces and programs for displaying the signal level from Huawei E3372 and E8372 modems.
Getting the signal strength through the browser.
If the web-interface of your modem supports displaying the signal level, then to determine the signal level it is enough:
Programs for smartphones and tablets on Android
Android apps load and update faster than the web interface. Therefore, with them it is easier and faster to set up an antenna for the Internet in a private house.
These programs were developed by w3bsit3-dns.com enthusiasts and therefore are distributed directly, and not through the Play Market. To install them, you need to temporarily allow the installation of programs from unknown sources: “Settings / Lock screen and protection / Unknown sources” set the switch to ONE time.
To use these programs:
For these programs to work, the following conditions must be met:
Computer software
The signal strength can also be viewed on a computer. For this we recommend HiLinkTray