JUNE 2019 MACWORLD 51gets to decide how much signal strength
equals how many bars, and it often varies
widely from model to model.
If you really want to know how strong
your cell signal is, you need to look at a
direct measurement of the signal strength,
as measured in decibels (dB). Fortunately,
there’s a hidden “Field Test” menu on your
iPhone to do just that. It’s not particularly
convenient, but it is interesting.
HOW TO ACCESS THE
FIELD TEST MENU
The Field Test menu has changed along
with iOS over the years, but this guide
should work for anyone on iOS 11 or 12.
First, open the Control Center (go.
macworld.com/nwtc) (or head over to the
Settings app) and turn off Wi-Fi.
Then, open the Phone app and enter in
the following numbers and symbols,
exactly as written (including the stars and
pound signs):
*3001#12345#*
Press the call button, and the Field Test
menu will pop up on screen.USING FIELD TEST TO SEE
YOUR CELL SIGNAL STRENGTH
Now that you’re in this weird Field Test
menu, how do you check your cellular
signal strength?
There’s a lot of stuff in here, and it’s not
very well labeled. After all, this is not a
menu for regular users, but for service
technicians.Turn off your Wi-Fi before accessing the Field
Test application.
Press *3001#12345#*, then the call button
and the Field test menu will appear.