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There's a way to get a more accurate read of your phone's reception

You can get the exact decibel signal strength of your phone’s reception if you know how.

FOR MOST PHONES, you have the traditional four or five bars or dots telling you how strong your signal is.

For the most part, this is pretty sufficient but what you might not know is you can get a more accurate reading.

If you own an iPhone, you need to activate Field Test mode. This is used as a way to take multiple signal readings around an area or building to see which parts are weak and strong.

If you’re on iPhone, you can activate it by going into Phone and dialling *3001#12345#*.

If you’ve done this correctly, you will go into Field Test mode and your reception strength will change from bars to a minus number. You can look around the menu if you want to but unless you’re familiar with radio frequency terminology, it’s best to ignore it.

Phone number

If you’re on an Android device, it’s more straightforward. Go into Settings > About Phone > SIM Status and you will see the phone signal there.

SIM

The negative number is the decibel signal strength reading and the closer it is to zero, the stronger your reception. So for example, if it says -130, then you’re in a place with a weak signal.

If you want to switch back, just tap on the figure and it will revert back to the normal bar chart. You may have to enter in the number again if you want to get a more accurate reading, but at least you have the option.

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    Mute Paul Culligan
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    Dec 5th 2017, 12:42 PM

    Arrested for wanting freedom for his followers? Sitting Bull, William Wallace, George Washington, and our own beloved Patriots, spring to mind. They all paid a price in some fashion or another, but this is 2017.

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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Dec 5th 2017, 12:50 PM

    @Paul Culligan: Yes, the poor oppressed people of Catalonia need a visionary to pull them out of the squalor and degradation of being the wealthiest part of Spain.

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    Mute Paul Culligan
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    Dec 5th 2017, 1:12 PM

    @Honeybadger197: Wealth is NOT Freedom. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery”(Galatians 5:1).

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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Dec 5th 2017, 1:49 PM

    @Paul Culligan: “Thus sayeth the Lord, use not my words inappropriately lest ye be accused of hyperbole and vacuous false ideas” ( Badgers 7:24)

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    Mute Marc Esteve
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    Dec 5th 2017, 1:52 PM

    Spain has withdrawn the arrest warrant because it would have been rejected by Belgium and that would have proved that it is a Fascist regime non compliant with European standards.

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    Mute Toki Wartooth
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    Dec 5th 2017, 2:47 PM

    @Marc Esteve: hahahahahaha! Have you ever been in Spain? I don’t think so because if you would have and you still state that is a fascist country, you have to pass me the number of your dealer because I want to smoke the same that you smoke…

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