The lone worker device uses cell phone signals to communicate – just like a regular cell phone, though it has a much smaller antenna and power output. Measuring your signal strength can help you identify blackspots where the lone worker device may not have enough signal to operate.
Check With a Cell Phone App
We use LTE discovery which is a free app to search for cell phone signals.
LTE Discovery is a band identifier for 5G/4G and data analyzer. It allows you to measure signal strength, check your coverage, and find any dead spots.
You’ll need to be using a SIM card that’s going to be used in the device, such as AT&T for USA, Rogers in Canada, Telstra in Australia & EE in the UK. Install that SIM card into the phone you’ll be using
In the Signals area of the app, you’ll need to look for the 4G/LTE signal.
- Close to no signal strength= -110 dBm – The device is unlikely to work
- Poor signal strength = -85 dBm to -100 dBm The device may not be able to use a voice signal at the lower dBm, however SMS may still transmit
- Good signal strength = -65 dBm to -84 dBm The device will operate normally
- Excellent signal strength = -64 dBm to -50 dBm The device will operate normally
Through this tool, you can determine if the location of your location has a weak signal. When taking signal readings, move to the location where you want to take the reading, wait for 30 to 60 seconds for the signal readings to catch up.
Check Through the Phone Status (In Case of Android Devices)
Another way to check signal strength is through the Phone Status in Android devices. To do this, go to
Settings > About phone > Status > Signal strength. This will display the network type, signal strength
The closer the number is to 0, the better the signal strength. For example, -50 dBm is a strong signal; anything lower than -85 dBm can cause loss of voice or no connection at all.
Check With a Field Check Mode (In Case of iOS Devices)
If you have an Apple iPhone or iPad, you can check the signal strength of connected devices using field test mode. Go to the settings of your model. Then, type in “Field Test Mode” or “Engineering Mode” in the search field. You should then find the field test mode, which will allow you to see your signal strength. It is usually displayed in decibels.
You can also find field test mode in the Dialer app of your device. First, go to settings and turn off the WiFi. Type in *3001#12345#* and press call to launch the field test mode menu. From the menu, select LTE, Serving Cell Meas, and then rsrp0 to get the signal strength from the nearest cell tower. Add +20 dBm to the resulting number (example -102 shown would be -82 dBm)
Use Signal Boosters To Solve Bad Cellular Coverage
Cell phone signal boosters are a great solution for bad cell coverage. These devices work by amplifying the cell signal from your cell tower to your connected devices, allowing you to stream and download content faster.
Signal boosters come in many forms, including cell phone repeaters, cell phone amplifiers, and cell signal boosters. These devices capture weak cell signals with an antenna and amplify them to provide a stronger signal to connected devices. With the right signal booster, you can increase the range of your cell signal to the Lone worker devices.
