Signal Tests
Choose a stronger signal reception location for the 4G router.
Find A Location
The mobile modem sensitivity is -101dBm. We should input at least 2-bar 4G LTE signals for the router.
Insert the SIM card used on the router on a mobile phone. Go outdoors with a mobile phone. Disable the Wi-Fi connection and check the network type and signal bars. Then, choose a location with a 4G LTE network reception and muscular signal strength for the 4G router.
The numerical values of 2G and 3G networks are RSSI standards. The LTE network is RSRP standard, which is Reference Signal Receive Power.
The closer the number is to zero, the better the reception, so -90dB is a stronger signal than -100 dB.
Mobile Networks
There are various mobile networks, 2G, 3G, 4G, and even the newest 5G NR networks. To get a fast and stable internet connection on the 4G outdoor router, we shall input a strong 4G LTE signal to the router. Please take note of the signal bars and the symbol in the status bar of the mobile phone and compare it with the chart below.
Symbol | Mobile Networks | Internet Speed |
G | GPRS | 50 Kbits/s |
E | EDGE | 100 Kbits/s |
3G | 3G - UMTS / WCDMA / CDMA2000 | 2 Mbits/s |
H/H+ | HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access) | 10-100 Mbits/s |
4G (LTE) | 4G - LTE or WiMax | 100 Mbits/s+ |
Signal Strength
You can read signal bars on your mobile phone, followed by the carrier name and network symbol. To check more accurate signal strength, please use the below methods.
i. Check on the Router
Insert a SIM card and log in to 4G router admin. You can check the cellular network band and RSRP signal strength on the front page.
Since the mobile connection is the first priority, the device information will take a few minutes to show completely on the first boot.
ii. Field Test on Phone
iPhone iOS 12
1. Go into the Phone app and switch to the Keypad. Dial *3001#12345#* and press Call button.
It will launch the field test mode on your iPhone.
2. In the latest iOS 12, tap on Serving Cell Measurements.
3. Look for Measured RSSI with numerical measurement of the iPhone 4G LTE cellular signal strength in dBm.
Android Smartphone
Go to Settings > About Phone > Status > SIM Status and numerical signal strength will be available on either network or status, which depends on the phone model.
You can also use signal test apps to check the mobile phone signal strength in Android phones.
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