Find answers to common questions and learn how to get
the most out of your mobile network. More information
is available on our support page.
It assesses your mobile network by measuring the signal strength and the download speed. A good signal means you can make calls and access the internet – see the Mobile Signal tab.
You can also measure the download speeds using the Speed Test tab.
Open the Mobile Signal tab and check your signal strength.
Simply put, anything above -100 db should enable you to make calls and access the internet.
Above -80 db is a very good signal and should mean faster download speeds and good call quality.
Below -110 db your phone will struggle to connect.
If you think Network Z may be better than your current provider get one of their SIMs and insert it into the second SIM slot on your phone.
The app will show the signal strength for both networks, enabling you to choose the best provider.
You do not need to buy a subscription to the new network to see its signal strength in the app. However, if you want to test its download speeds you will need a subscription
It is often easier to test another provider by getting a SIM card for a small operator (called an MVNO) which uses a bigger operator’s network. These are sold cheaply or given free in supermarkets and small shops.
Go to the Speed Test tab then hit the Start Speed Test button.
The Speed Test uses whichever is the active connection. Switch off Wi-Fi in your phone settings to test your mobile network.
There are two types of 5G.
The less advanced and more common version is 5G non standalone (5G NSA) which still uses the 4G network computing system. This uses two bands: a 4G (LTE) band to connect to the network and a 5G band to handle the connectivity. SignalTracker shows the 4G band in the speedo and the 5G band is shown as a slider below.
The most advanced type is 5G standalone (5G SA) where the radio technology and the network computing system are all 5G. In this case the signal strength of the main 5G band would be shown in a speedo.
Confusingly, when some phones show the 5G icon this only indicates that 5G is available, not that there is an live 5G connection. In this case the actual connectivity is the same as 4G and the signal strength is shown in the speedo, with “5G available but not connected” shown in text above.
Yes, you can save the speed test results onto your phone and record where each measurement was taken.
This is useful for comparing the results in different locations e.g. do you get as good a service in your home office as you do in your kitchen?
Unfortunately no. At the moment SignalTracker only works on Android phones.
SignalTracker is free and there are no adverts or in-app purchases.
We collect data about mobile signal strength, download speeds, coverage, technology and band usage which we use as a basis for research. This is produced by our sister company, PolicyTracker, and sold to regulators, governments and companies.
SignalTracker’s purpose is to assess the performance of mobile networks. You are not required to register and we do not collect personal information such as name, phone number and device ID.
As part of our work we need to collect location information and IP addresses but this does not identify individuals and is generalised before it is used for our research.
