Electron, GSM Cellular Service Availibility Test

[tecarc]

Has anyone created a simple test to determine if GSM service (3G) is even available and accessible at a given location?

I am not talking about cell locator. All I want to do is determine IF service is available, possibly signal strength and IF Electron can connect to network.

My application is some agricultural sensors in a rather rural and hilly location (western NY state). I know Verizon CDMA is available, although spotty 3G service at best. I’m looking for something already done and tested so that I can evaluate service sooner rather than later.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[rickkas7]

It wasn't what you were asking for, but I wrote some example code that might be helpful if you want to build such a tool yourself:

Getting cellular information from modem example code

Here’s some sample code you can use to get information about your cellular connection. It can retrieve: Model information ICCID, IMEI, IMSI numbers Cellular operator (“AT&T” for example) Signal strength (RSSI) and quality Cellular band (“UMTS 850” for example) It also can test ping and DNS using the functions in the cellular modem. And it can test connecting to the Particle cloud. [image] It can sometimes also get information about neighboring cell sites. That works for me on 2G (G350) but …

Also, the Electron only uses AT&T and T-Mobile in the Untied States, not Verizon or Sprint.

[tecarc]

Thanks for the link . As my time ran short I just powered up a module at the site I was wondering about and, unfortunately, never got to “breathing cyan” indicating happily connected to internet. Pretty much a no-go test.

May spend some time this winter working on a “test” but since I was not able to find enough signal to connect in the first place become a don’t care for a GSM module.

I could be real happy if there was an Electron coming with a CDMA (Verizon) based module. I know I have that signal at the site.

[Dave]

Heya @tecarc,

I’ve heard good things about OpenSignal for checking coverage:

https://opensignal.com/

Thanks!
David

[tecarc]

Dave,
I have used both the Open Signal application and Sensorly on my Verizon CDMA phone. Both work well and have documented that my home is in a less than optimal signal area even though I live in “Verizon country”. That said I also have never figured out how my phone can have “international” capability without access to GSM. That is a whole different topic.

Not having a GSM phone prevents me from using the app to check GSM signal.

Bottom line, the Electron module will offer a go/no-go indication of connectivity and with addition of some code that will access the AT commands can give detail. Just have to find the time get there.