Hey friend,
Stetson here, co-founder of CoverageMap.
Today, we are excited to launch Signal Mapping!
Signal Mapping brings passive signal strength logging to Android users, and an all-new crowdsourced signal strength map to everyone.
We think you’re going to love this free new update (and new map!). Here’s what’s new:
Signal Mapping: The Ground Truth of Reception Quality
Signal Mapping is an opt-in feature where Android users can log signal strength readings as they move throughout their day.
The app passively collects readings of RSRP, RSRQ, RSSI, SINR, the serving carrier, network technology, the frequency band in use, and tower information.
These readings are then processed in real-time and appear on the crowdsourced map within minutes.
Why Did We Build This?
Carrier coverage maps show what a network is predicted to cover. They are a carrier's best guess at how their signal propagates and where service is usable based on modeled data.
Our Signal Mapping feature captures what a phone actually experiences. It is the ground-truth of what reception quality is like in a given area. As users move, the app samples and records the cellular connection at each location, building a picture of real coverage rather than a modeled one.
This paints a more accurate view of what true cell coverage is like and which carrier is better in a given area, which is our mission.
Built with Privacy First
Having your app collect data in the background takes a huge amount of trust between you and an app developer. That is why we built Signal Mapping with privacy in mind.
Opt-in only: there is no way for us to passively collect signal data from your device unless you specifically turn on the Signal Mapping feature
Contribute Options: choose if you want to contribute data always, only while using the app, or never
Exclusion Zones: set areas where signal data should not collected or mapped, such as your home or work
Pause/Resume: pause Signal Mapping at any time for 1 hour, until the end of the day, or for a custom duration
An Unmatched Visualization of Signal Data
The new Signal Mapping feature brings an all-new view to our crowdsourced coverage map. Now, you can select the signal strength as a metric to view the contributed signal data.
Tapping on a square reveals the measured signal strength in that area, along with additional key metrics:
RSRP: Reference Signal Received Power
RSRQ: Reference Signal Received Quality
RSSI: Received Signal Strength Indicator
SINR: Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio
Readings: number of signal readings taken in that location
Towers: how many unique towers devices have connected to in that location
Frequencies: all frequencies available in that location
The new crowdsourced signal strength map also allows users to easily compare metrics between providers.
Powerful Filters
Our integrated filters allow you to refine the map to only show the data you care about most.
Carrier: filter signal data by carrier
Technology: filter signal data by technology to see maps of 3G, 4G LTE, or 5G coverage
Frequencies: filter by frequency to see exactly where certain bands are being used. For example, 2500 MHz to see where T-Mobile has n41, or 3700 MHz to see where Verizon has n77
Best/Average/Median: view signal quality data based on best, average, or median values
Dual-SIM Mapping & Roaming-Aware Attribution
Signal Mapping works perfectly with dual-SIM phones. If you have two active SIMs, both are mapped at the same time. A single trip produces a full set of readings for each carrier, with no switching back and forth between lines.
Signal Mapping works while roaming, too. Each signal reading is credited to the carrier your phone is actually connected to, regardless of who provided your SIM. So, whether you get a roaming add-on from your current carrier or grab a dedicated international eSIM pan, all the metrics your phone collects are correctly mapped to the local carrier.
What's New: Full Feature List
📡 Automatic Signal Mapping: Record real-world reception quality & contribute to a public crowdsourced map
🔄 Background Collection: Run it in the background, only while the app is open, or not at all
🌍 Global Support: Works with all 30+ countries & carriers supported by CoverageMap today
🔋 Battery Efficient: Minimizes battery impact while prioritizing collecting data in new locations
🧠 Smart Duplicate Detection: Fingerprints location, carrier, tower, frequency, and technology so the same spot isn't remapped endlessly
⚙️ Configurable Remapping: Set your own remap distance and recheck interval
📶 Dual-SIM Mapping: Both active lines mapped in parallel on a single trip
🌐 Roaming-Aware Attribution: Works perfectly while roaming or while on your native network
📊 Full Metric Suite: RSRP, RSRQ, RSSI, and SINR, with side-by-side Carrier Comparison
🎚️ Advanced Filtering: Filter by carrier, technology (4G LTE, 5G), and frequency band
🗼 Tower Data Collection: Recorded with every reading today, ready for tower mapping in the future
⚡ Runs Alongside Speed Tests: Mapping never pauses when you run a test
🚫 Exclusion Zones: Prevent mapping in certain areas
🔒 Opt-In and Reversible: Off until you enable it, and deleting your account deletes your readings
We hope you enjoy!
Thanks,
Stetson
P.S. - Check out our Coverage API for access to coverage data in your application or project
