RF Signal Tracker

RF Signal Tracker is an engineering application designed for conducting impromptu hand-held drive tests with an Android device. It allows users to monitor RF and WiFi signal strength as experienced by the device, identify WiFi hotspots, map cell site coverage areas, and analyze changes in technology and handover points. The app offers a practical way to collect, record, and share data regarding wireless signals, making it a valuable tool for engineers and enthusiasts alike. Users can download RF Signal Tracker from the Android platform to begin utilizing its various features.

The app provides the ability to monitor data traffic bytes, enabling users to keep track of their network usage in real time. It includes an XY chart that visually represents RF and WiFi signal strength over time, allowing for easy analysis of signal fluctuations while on the move. Additionally, RF Signal Tracker offers voice notifications that alert users to changes in signal strength, technology shifts, handovers, and open hotspots, ensuring that users stay informed without needing to constantly check their screens.

One of the distinctive features of RF Signal Tracker is the capability to insert notes into the collected RF data. This allows users to document observations or issues encountered during their drive tests, which can be later reviewed and edited in the app's Big Picture mode. The app also includes a 'Drive Mode' screen that displays essential information such as RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator), Cell ID, and technology. This streamlined interface is particularly useful for users who need to focus on driving while monitoring signal information.

RF Signal Tracker enables users to map and record their RF signal strength using a color-coded system as they travel. This feature helps in visualizing coverage areas and identifying zones with strong or weak signals. The app also supports wardriving, allowing users to collect information on WiFi access points and log their mobile location when near the strongest signals. This capability is beneficial for users interested in exploring wireless networks in their vicinity.

Customizability is another advantage of RF Signal Tracker, as users can redefine site locations on the map. By long-pressing a specific area or site icon, users can add, move, or remove site locations in their database. This feature is instrumental for users conducting their own site surveys, especially for those who may not have direct access to proprietary site location data typically available only to carrier engineers.

The app allows for playback and manipulation of recorded data, providing options to pause, jump forward, or rewind to any part of the collected information. This feature is particularly useful for users who wish to review their findings or analyze specific events during their drive tests. Additionally, users can share their collected data and maps through various social media platforms, facilitating collaboration and information exchange with others.

RF Signal Tracker also includes sector coverage zones that describe sector orientation and beamwidth. This information can help users understand the directional nature of signal coverage from various cell sites. Notifications for handovers are available through sound and vibration alerts, which inform users when their device transitions between different cell sites or technologies.

It is important to note that background recording will not register signal strength changes if the phone enters sleep mode. This limitation is attributed to a known bug in the Android operating system rather than the app itself. Users can circumvent this issue by ensuring that their phone does not sleep while recording data in the background.

For users with CDMA devices, it's essential to be aware that RF Signal Tracker is optimized primarily for GSM service. The app has not undergone extensive testing on CDMA devices due to the lack of access to such technology by the developers. Users should keep this in mind when considering the app's compatibility with their devices.

In terms of known issues, users may encounter instances where a site appears off the coast of Africa. This occurs when Google's location service or OpenCellID cannot determine the cell’s location, resulting in coordinates of 0 degrees latitude and longitude. The recent update to the app has introduced features that allow users to define their own site locations, which can help address this issue for those without access to accurate site data.

RF Signal Tracker stands out as a practical tool for monitoring and analyzing wireless signals. With features that cater to both casual users and professionals, it provides a robust platform for understanding RF and WiFi environments, enabling users to conduct effective drive tests while gathering valuable data about their wireless connectivity.