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Cellular Networks

Network Survey collects data from all cellular network types, from 2G GSM through 5G NR. Each technology has unique identifiers and signal metrics.

The full list of possible fields captured by NS is defined in the NS Message API Documentation.

Supported Technologies

Section titled “Supported Technologies”
TechnologyGenerationCommon NamesStatus
GSM2G2G, GPRS, EDGELegacy (being phased out)
CDMA2G/3GCDMA2000, 1xRTTLegacy (mostly retired)
UMTS3G3G, WCDMA, HSPA, HSPA+Legacy (being retired)
LTE4G4G, LTE, LTE-AWidespread
NR5G5G, 5G NRGrowing deployment

Serving Cell vs Neighbor Cells

Section titled “Serving Cell vs Neighbor Cells”
  • Serving Cell: The cell your phone is actively connected to
  • Neighbor Cells: Nearby cells your phone detects but is not connected to

Network Survey displays both serving and neighbor cells. Neighbor cell data helps analyze coverage overlap, handover behavior, and network density.

GSM (2G)

Section titled “GSM (2G)”

Key Identifiers

Section titled “Key Identifiers”
  • MCC (Mobile Country Code) - Country identifier (e.g., 310 for USA)
  • MNC (Mobile Network Code) - Carrier identifier (e.g., 260 for T-Mobile)
  • LAC (Location Area Code) - Grouping of towers for paging
  • CID (Cell Identity) - Unique cell identifier
  • ARFCN (Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number) - Frequency channel
  • BSIC (Base Station Identity Code) - Physical layer identifier (0-63)

Signal Metrics

Section titled “Signal Metrics”
  • RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) - Signal power in dBm

UMTS (3G)

Section titled “UMTS (3G)”

Key Identifiers

Section titled “Key Identifiers”
  • MCC/MNC - Country and carrier identifiers
  • LAC - Location area code
  • CID - Cell identity (28-bit)
  • RNC ID - Radio Network Controller identifier (first 12 bits of CID)
  • Short CID - Shortened cell ID (last 16 bits of CID)
  • UARFCN - UMTS frequency channel
  • PSC (Primary Scrambling Code) - Physical layer identifier (0-511)

Signal Metrics

Section titled “Signal Metrics”
  • RSCP (Reference Signal Code Power) - Reference signal power in dBm

LTE (4G)

Section titled “LTE (4G)”

Key Identifiers

Section titled “Key Identifiers”
  • MCC/MNC - Country and carrier identifiers
  • TAC (Tracking Area Code) - Grouping of towers for paging
  • CID (Cell Identity) - Unique cell identifier (28-bit)
  • eNB ID - Cell tower identifier (first 20 bits of CID)
  • Sector ID - Cell panel/sector identifier (last 8 bits of CID)
  • EARFCN - LTE frequency channel
  • Band - Frequency band number
  • PCI (Physical Cell ID) - Physical layer identifier (0-503)
  • Bandwidth - Signal width (1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, or 20 MHz)

Signal Metrics

Section titled “Signal Metrics”

  • RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power) - Reference signal power

    • Valid range: -44 to -140 dBm

  • RSRQ (Reference Signal Received Quality) - Signal quality

    • Valid range: -3 to -19.5 dB

  • SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) - Signal clarity

    • Valid range: -20 to +30 dB

  • TA (Timing Advance) - RF distance from tower (0-1282)

    • Larger values = further from tower
    • Roughly: TA × 78 meters = distance

  • CQI (Channel Quality Indicator) - Downlink quality (0-15, higher is better)

NR (5G)

Section titled “NR (5G)”

Key Identifiers

Section titled “Key Identifiers”
  • MCC/MNC - Country and carrier identifiers
  • TAC - Tracking area code
  • NCI (NR Cell Identity) - Unique cell identifier (36-bit)
  • gNB ID - 5G tower identifier (first 22-32 bits of NCI)
  • NR Sector ID - Cell sector within tower (remaining bits of NCI)
  • NARFCN (NR Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number) - Frequency channel number
  • PCI - Physical cell identifier (0-1007)

Signal Metrics

Section titled “Signal Metrics”

  • SS-RSRP (SS Reference Signal Received Power) - Reference signal power

    • Valid range: -31 to -156 dBm
    • Good: -80 dBm or better
    • Fair: -81 to -100 dBm
    • Poor: -101 dBm or worse

  • SS-RSRQ (SS Reference Signal Received Quality) - Signal quality

    • Valid range: 20 to -43 dB
    • Good: -5 dB or better
    • Fair: -6 to -15 dB
    • Poor: -16 dB or worse

  • SS-SINR (SS Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio) - Signal clarity

    • Similar interpretation to LTE SNR

  • TA (Timing Advance) - RF distance from tower

Override Network Type

Section titled “Override Network Type”

Some carriers display marketing names (e.g., “5G”) when the phone is actually on a different technology (e.g., LTE). Network Survey shows both:

  • Reported Type - What Android reports
  • Override Type - Marketing label from carrier

This is common with:

  • “5G E” or “5G” on AT&T (actually LTE)
  • “5G UW” on Verizon (actually mmWave NR)
Section titled “Related”