iPhone: get the GSM signal in numbers WITHOUT jailbreaking? Is it possible?

[starriol]

Hi guys,

I need to measure the signal rate in different parts of a building. I know that it can be done with SBSettings, but I don't want to jailbreak my phone.

Can this configuration (getting the signal strength in numbers instead of the lines) be done without jailbreaking?

 

[pm]

Bring up the dial menu and dial:
*3001#12345#*

this brings up field test mode and converts the signal strength in the upper left to a number. It's in dB and more positive/higher numbers are better. So -60 is much better than -90.

For what you are trying to do, you might find the value for the field "Serving Rx Level" to be more useful - it's is under the Field Test menu under GSM Cell Environment -> GSM RR Info. Higher numbers are better here as well. It's more useful than the dB number in the upper left because it updates a lot more often - and you can manually update it by hitting the refresh button.

 

[ViviTheMage]

nice info PM.

Any chance there is an actual application that can do this better? for wifi, or gsm signals?

 

[pm]

For WiFi: use Netstumbler (Cydia, free) or Wififofum (app store, $3). There's a nifty graphical demo of WiFiFoFum here: http://www.aspecto-software.com/wififofum/

The field test does it for GSM/EDGE and 3G - the 3G signal info is under "UMTS Cell Environment -> UMTS RR Info -> Serving Rx Level" and the EDGE/GSM info is under "GSM Cell Enviroment -> GSM RR Info -> Serving Rx Level". If you aren't in 3G then the 3G section is blank.