I've created an Android (for now - maybe other platforms in the future) application called Coverage Mapper (http://www.coveragemapper.com), available in the Market. It logs signal strength data while you're moving around, uploads it to my server, and generates maps.
It started in the WIND Mobile on hofo, because WIND is a new cell carrier, so their coverage isn't as broad or consistent as carriers that have been around for decades.
Take a look at the website and the maps, and if you want to try it out, download the app and turn it on the next time you go driving around.
Also, it only works for GSM-based phones for now.
Keep in mind, it's still what I would consider a beta application, but I think most of the serious issues have been eliminated.
There are several similar apps out there, none of them particularly fit into the same niche... This is pretty cool sounding though, I will run it.
As with most apps I assume that one needs to be on 2G for it to reliably work? I still don't understand this limitation, as I used several cell tracking programs in Windows Mobile on 3G, but 2-3 similar things in Android read weird data if on 3G.
I haven't used it yet, but is there any tracking of cell tower locations and estimations of those tower locations based on signal and GPS location? Ideally as it gets more data, the estimation is updated. I ask because there's a tower near my wifes old workplace that has eluded me and it drives me nuts not knowing where the thing is. Otherwise I know where all of the towers are in town from previous mapping, but back to your app would be interesting to see the actual coverage.
EDIT: So far in the maps I only see "road coverage", no interpolation of area coverage. And the terms? Tsk..
khaytsus said:
There are several similar apps out there, none of them particularly fit into the same niche... This is pretty cool sounding though, I will run it.
As with most apps I assume that one needs to be on 2G for it to reliably work? I still don't understand this limitation, as I used several cell tracking programs in Windows Mobile on 3G, but 2-3 similar things in Android read weird data if on 3G.
I haven't used it yet, but is there any tracking of cell tower locations and estimations of those tower locations based on signal and GPS location? Ideally as it gets more data, the estimation is updated. I ask because there's a tower near my wifes old workplace that has eluded me and it drives me nuts not knowing where the thing is. Otherwise I know where all of the towers are in town from previous mapping, but back to your app would be interesting to see the actual coverage.
EDIT: So far in the maps I only see "road coverage", no interpolation of area coverage. And the terms? Tsk..
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Click to collapse
It works fine for me on 2G and 3G. I don't know why something wouldn't work on 3G.
I am logging the cell's LAC and Cell ID, but I'm not doing anything with the data yet.
For now, all you'll see are the paths people have travelled. The data is all accurate (i.e. no interpolation). I could probably add another layer to guess actual coverage, but one of the purposes of this app was to show carriers where dead spots are. There are definitely areas with a bad signal where a few hundred metres in all directions, you have a great signal. I don't want to interpolate a good signal in spots like that
Related to your tower issue, however, can you not get a list from the FCC? I know in Canada, all that data is public, and updated monthly, allowing things like http://www.candiancow.com/wind
Wow what an awesome Idea! Great way for us to get really accurate coverage maps! Thanks!
If you would consider making it store the data offline and sync it when in wifi range I'd probably install it.
I do not have a dataplan, so 2G/3G would be a bit too costly
minus30 said:
If you would consider making it store the data offline and sync it when in wifi range I'd probably install it.
I do not have a dataplan, so 2G/3G would be a bit too costly
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It does do that...
Does anyone use this now? Its been a year now.
I just found this app now (Late to the party) but have already started running it.
Only question i have is I am on Virgin mobile and not sure if my data will appear properly on the map (runs off Sprint Network)
ja5219 said:
Does anyone use this now? Its been a year now.
I just found this app now (Late to the party) but have already started running it.
Only question i have is I am on Virgin mobile and not sure if my data will appear properly on the map (runs off Sprint Network)
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Click to collapse
I also replied to your email, but for the benefit of everyone else:
CDMA devices are notoriously bad at reporting their network ID. About half do it, and half don't. There are a bunch of hard-coded conversions to get it working for some devices/networks, but I'll try to get it working for yours later this week.
Related
Hi,
I was wondering if anyone has used an aGPS phone to get a lock on the GPS satellites when OUTSIDE your coverage area.
Basically, I'm going to Antarctica and I want to use the GPS feature on my phone to record data but Verizon does not have coverage down there. I'm guessing that GPS will work, but without coverage, getting a lock will take longer.
Thanks.
ke5in said:
Hi,
I was wondering if anyone has used an aGPS phone to get a lock on the GPS satellites when OUTSIDE your coverage area.
Basically, I'm going to Antarctica and I want to use the GPS feature on my phone to record data but Verizon does not have coverage down there. I'm guessing that GPS will work, but without coverage, getting a lock will take longer.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Depending on the amount of 'clear sky', it might take some minutes yes. But I guess the cold will be much more disturbing your machine : they're just not made to survive in xtreem sites....
Dirk
does Antarctica have a commercial gsm network at all?
If you are using it for getting directions from non-internet maps, or not getting lost, I would highly recommend getting a stand alone GPS unit.
I would hate to see you lost because it didn't work as expected. Not too many Best Buys to buy one down there too
Government report finds LightSquared's LTE interferes with GPS -- color us surprised
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/government-report-finds-lightsquareds-lte-interferes-with-gps/
you could link to actual relevant sources (listed with the link) and not engadget. they dont even report news, they just index index and write a short paragraph. I hate giving them traffic since they dont really do much.
Huh, who would have thunk it. Will there be a "patch" the the network now?
Actually my professor for my electromagnetics class was hired to fix this issue directly, and left after this semester to go work on it. He spoke a little about it but basically there will be a "shield" put up around the towers when they recognize GPS signals and sort of "saturate" the LTE signal to prevent gps drops, a sort of automatic interference detector.
However the radius for the gps issues is rather small, and not a problem for most yet. Also the reason for this is because Lightsquared uses frequencies that are directly next to the same frequencies used for GPS.
All in all, don't sweat it, its already being fixed, and if you knew my professor, it will work in the end He taught me everything I know about anything that travels through the air.
I hope he fixes the problem--I get lost a lot so GPS is a must have!
I was under the impression that LightSquared beamed the signal from space and that is why it interferes with GPS.... Verizon LTE does not work like LightSquared....
awwilson21 said:
I was under the impression that LightSquared beamed the signal from space and that is why it interferes with GPS.... Verizon LTE does not work like LightSquared....
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Yea, Verizon doesn't use LightSquared's LTE tech. In fact, nobody does yet. This thread is completely irrelevant.
HI
arunningpir8 said:
Actually my professor for my electromagnetics class was hired to fix this issue directly, and left after this semester to go work on it. He spoke a little about it but basically there will be a "shield" put up around the towers when they recognize GPS signals and sort of "saturate" the LTE signal to prevent gps drops, a sort of automatic interference detector.
However the radius for the gps issues is rather small, and not a problem for most yet. Also the reason for this is because Lightsquared uses frequencies that are directly next to the same frequencies used for GPS.
All in all, don't sweat it, its already being fixed, and if you knew my professor, it will work in the end He taught me everything I know about anything that travels through the air.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ill be happier if the find a magnetic monopole...classical electrodynamics just begs for that missing symmetry.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
awwilson21 said:
I was under the impression that LightSquared beamed the signal from space and that is why it interferes with GPS.... Verizon LTE does not work like LightSquared....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem will be with the ground stations they want to install (if and when). The aviation community is just as concerned. See this link for more details: http://www.flyingmag.com/news/new-report-intensifies-lightsquared-vs-gps-fight
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/04/lightsquared-broadband-a-threat-to-gps.ars
I was considering buying one of these ebay signal boosters, and was wondering if anyone has had any experience with them and the TP2 on Sprint. I am getting 2 bars, and on a good day I can download at ~80k/s at home. I want to be able to squeeze any more data speed from my phone that I can as it is my only internet source (D*mn you Comcast for putting your pole 1000' from my house).
That repeater appears to be for GSM only.
The only repeater I've heard of for Sprint/CDMA is kind of a hack. It basically uses your existing broadband connection to 'boost' your signal - see Airave.
Edit - the more I read that ebay ad, the more confused I am. CDMA 2000 is CDMA, but it says it boosts at the 2100mhz range, while Sprint's service is 1900mhz...
Edit 2 - moar info
The ebay link I posted shows Frequency range: Uplink 1930~ 1990MHz Downlink 2110 ~ 2180MHz boosted. That should cover the correct range.
It looks like sprint 3g is running from 1932.4 to 1987.6 from what I am seeing on the web.
wizardknight said:
The ebay link I posted shows Frequency range: Uplink 1930~ 1990MHz Downlink 2110 ~ 2180MHz boosted. That should cover the correct range.
It looks like sprint 3g is running from 1932.4 to 1987.6 from what I am seeing on the web.
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So does that mean the repeater will only work in one direction...
I'm not trying to discourage you from finding a solution, I just don't want you to waste $90 on something that might be useless for you.
Edit - what about wi-ex? Those seem to be the most "dependable" products... although much pricier. I just can't find much outside of the Airave for Sprint... and in theory it should work - but it would only improve your signal to what you get outdoors it seems. I'm not convinced any of it will boost your signal as if you had a new Sprint tower outside your window...
http://www.wi-ex.com/homeOffice.aspx
arrrghhh said:
So does that mean the repeater will only work in one direction...
I'm not trying to discourage you from finding a solution, I just don't want you to waste $90 on something that might be useless for you.
Edit - what about wi-ex? Those seem to be the most "dependable" products... although much pricier. I just can't find much outside of the Airave for Sprint... and in theory it should work - but it would only improve your signal to what you get outdoors it seems. I'm not convinced any of it will boost your signal as if you had a new Sprint tower outside your window...
http://www.wi-ex.com/homeOffice.aspx
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Click to collapse
Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't the airave work by using a broad band internet connection? As noted in the first post I am using my cell as my internet connection so that doesn't seem like a viable option.
wizardknight said:
Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't the airave work by using a broad band internet connection? As noted in the first post I am using my cell as my internet connection so that doesn't seem like a viable option.
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Click to collapse
Huh? Wi-EX is not an Airave. Sorry I mentioned it my post, I was just stating the only cell booster technology I've seen for Sprint or even CDMA specifically is the Airave - which as you noted works on an existing broadband connection.
However, that Wi-EX site seems to support both GSM and CDMA technologies - perhaps as does that one you found on ebay. If you don't have good service outside I don't see those devices improving anything for you...
Good luck, let us know if you do end up with something - I've always wondered about doing this for my parents house - they live in the boonies and no service... but over a ridge not 1/2 mile by the way the crow files, full bars. Very frustrating for them, and it was maddening when I lived up there... I just am skeptical these types of devices will make that big of a difference. They seem to really be for large buildings where you have difficulty getting service inside the building - but service is fine outside of the building. Not quite the case for my parents, not sure if it's the case for you or not...
Do those things transmit with higher power than your phone? If so then they could improve your signal strength quite a bit since the limiting factor in your phones ability to communicate with the network is its puny transmitter, not the towers.
For many years I live with a problem using mobile networks. I couldn't find any post of similar problems, even knowing that's very common, at least here in Brazil.
When the mobile network is in 4G, I can navigate normally, using web, watching videos, or anything else, everything works just fine.
But when I'm on an area without 4G signal, the network icon shows 3G is working (H or H+) but I can't navigate. Most of the time I can't even load a google page or send/receive a text message on Whatsapp, and in the moments it works, it's so slow that a speed test barely register anything, it looks like dial-up connection. But if I go to settings and limit the data connection to only 3G, it works just fine, the speed is good enough and it keeps stable.
This is not a problem with a specific carrier or phone. I've had four 4G phones (Nokia Lumia 920, 930 and 950XL, and currently a Galaxy S9+), and I already used four different carriers, and this problem always happened. Today I use two carriers, one with the best signal coverage on my region, and another one with a not so good coverage but better speeds (and price, that's why I use it). All carriers have the exactly same problem, same symptoms, same behavior, everything identical. And I already spoke to many friends and colegues asking if they had this problem, and is unanimous, no matter what phone they use, and what carrier, it happens to everyone (and still, I could't find one single post talking about this problem).
I have a theory that the phone ocupy the band thying to reconnect to 4G and because of that it can't use 3G traffic, but when I limit it to 3G only, it releases the band and the traffic works fine. I don't know if it makes any sense, I have no base to this theory, I don't know much about telecomunications, this theory makes any sense?
I don't know if this is a problem with Brazilian networks and carrier's equipment, but I would like to understand why this happens, and if there are any known solutions, or at least tricks to minimize this problem, besides the only trick I know, limiting the connection to 3G when I'm in those areas, which is annoying.
I wanted to start a thread to be a collective of solutions this community has been developing to use cell phones and cellular solutions to provide WIFI to homes and small businesses. I have ready many posts and solutions for this but have not been able to find a collective that contains multiple solutions across various cellular providers, cellular equipment and hard ware solutions.
I want to thank all the mods/devs and individuals who have contributed to this site. I have been hanging around these boards for quite a few years now and have rooted, reprogrammed and installed quite a few ROMs on phones since the late 90s early 2000's and the information that I get here is always helpful. I dont even think I have posted but a handful of times because 99% of the time if you do the work the answers are already there.
I have gone from full-timing in an RV travelling the country for over 4 years to now living in the mountains of Washington State in the US and getting data services has always been a challenge. I have been working through Cellular to WIFI projects for the past 6 years or so.
I am certain many people hanging out in these parts have a same or similar project and I thought this General Topics forum would be a good place to start these discussions as it is not pertinent to a specific phone, carrier or device.
If there is already another thread supporting this somewhere on XDA or if this is the wrong sub-forum to post this in please feel free to move this or post a link to the other thread.
Thanks.
I have been a SPRINT customer since the 90s and have had the account forever. I have also used Verizon, T-Mobile and ATT over the years but have maintained the Sprint account and my current challenges are with the acquisition of Sprint by T-Mobile. My hardware for the home WIFI is currently as follows -
1. Cellular Device - SPRINT Samsung Note 8 with a T-Mobile SIM. Currently using a 2nd APN with DUN for the unlimited tethering. This has worked flawlessly with Sprint but since switching to a T-Mobile SIM (Regretfully as now I wished I had waited longer more on that in a minute) it has been more challenging. Still working as of today anyways. Seems like T-Mobile pushes updates to its towers and devices almost weekly these days.
2. Router - GL-iNet Travel Router (GL-AR750S). Basically stock at this point. I have tried installing WRT and got it working on this device but had a performance issue and haven't really had time to play with it so I am back to stock and it is working well at this point.
3. Repeater - ASUS RP-AC55 - Not the best but it was cheap and does what it is supposed to. I have reverted to the base firmware version that shipped with this device 3.0.0.4.382_15250 as that has the best performance network wise compared to the newer versions of firmware for this model.
I am in a pretty remote location but was lucky in that I have direct line of site to the one cell tower in our little town just over a mile and a half from the house. The cell phone sits in a window facing the tower and while I used to get downloads of close to 100mb and uploads in the 20mb range when I was on the SPRINT network, T-Mobile has since cobbled all the LTE bands here and the best I can get for downloads is T-mobile B2 (1895mhz up and 1975mhz down) with 40mb download and 1mb upload but I am typically on Band 25 (1912.5mhz up, 1992.5mhz Down) with 15mb upload and <10mb for upload speeds as I need the upload bandwidth for work. So much for T-Mobile bringing faster speeds to the Rural areas.
With the setup I have we cover the entire house and just about half an acre outdoors. Some areas with better performance than others. All of the outdoor space (2+ acres) is covered with cellular connectivity as well and I just make sure I have wifi in areas where we would sit outside and use a laptop. We use about 300gb of data a month on the WIFI (I have 4 teens in the house with mobile phones) and it works well. Lately T-Mobile has enforced the default APN and while you can still add a second APN with DUN, as of this month it takes a little bit of finagling to get the 2nd APN to take after you hit your hotspot cap for the month. This is the first time in 6 years I have had an issue with getting the APN to take and I have also noticed that now the option to turn off the default APN is grayed out.
Im currently looking to replace the Note 8 with a device that can be rooted so I can find an alternate solution for the wifi tethering. Starting to look at possible 5G devices. I honestly wouldn't mind using T-Mobiles unlimited wifi device but that is not currently available here in the mountains and not sure it will be anytime soon. The only other solution where I live to get internet access is either DISH network or a DSL line from the local phone company. Both of which average less than 3mb up/down.
Interested to see what others are using for solutions to get WIFI to remote locations.
Reserved**