iOS 4.1 Restores Field Test Mode

[MacRumors]

Gizmodo reports that iOS 4.1 has reincluded the Field Test mode to iOS. Field Test mode allows you to get a numerical figure for your antenna strength rather than the traditional bar measure. To get to Field Mode:

• First, upgrade your iPhone 4—or any iPhone—to iOS 4.1.
• Dial *3001#12345#* into your phone [and press Call].

Pressing Home will exit you from the Field Test mode. For reference, Anandtech provides a good discussion about bar strength. Since that article was published, Apple has remapped the signal strength to # of bar ratio. More negative numbers are worse, and Anandtech reports they were surprised they were able to hold calls with signals as low as -113db.

Most customers won't care about their numerical signal strengths, but the antenna strength changes generated a lot of publicity surrounding the iPhone 4 launch due to issues with new antenna system.

Article Link: iOS 4.1 Restores Field Test Mode

 

[anubis]

Users with a poor understanding of the difference between linear-scale and log-scale need not apply.

 

[Dr Kevorkian94]

I still don't have it and I'm on 4.1 gm I go in and all I have is blank lines, but I can still tap the bars at the top and change them.

 

[chaosman]

people on other blogs are saying that death grip really affects db levels. And now we finally have a valid source of information rather than just "bars"

 

[Simsonic]

Test this

That is what I'm talking about...a specific number to use. Not bars!

 

[QuarterSwede]

I still don't have it and I'm on 4.1 gm I go in and all I have is blank lines, but I can still tap the bars at the top and change them.

The GM is exactly the same as the public release. I mean they're identical. Field test only shows the numbers, there is no more info unfortunately.

people on other blogs are saying that death grip really affects db levels. And now we finally have a valid source of information rather than just "bars"

You could display the numbers if you went from a jailbroken phone running a hack to display that in 3.1.3 or 4.0 to 4.0.1. It would keep it and show you the numbers instead of bars. So this isn't anything new really. It's just a much easier way.

Also, there is thread about this on MR already.

 

[iShorty]

Ignore this post, I forgot the star on the end.

 

[PipPip]

Should refer to "dBm" not "db"

 

[iZac]

Not working in the UK.

"Error performing request
Unknown Error"

I may be wrong..

Works for me, db on one side, battery percentage on the other

Incidentally, I double tapped to jump out of the field test into another app and now the meter stays up. pushing the corner changes between bars and db.

(using a 3GS, was just curious)

 

[techapocalypse]

so does deathgrip destroy this thing?

 

[Dr Kevorkian94]

The GM is exactly the same as the public release. I mean they're identical. Field test only shows the numbers, there is no more info unfortunately.


You could display the numbers if you went from a jailbroken phone running a hack to display that in 3.1.3 or 4.0 to 4.0.1. It would keep it and show you the numbers instead of bars. So this isn't anything new really. It's just a much easier way.

Also, there is thread about this on MR already.

Just to clarify this is it:


And for the second thing u said u can have it that the DBS are showing and that u can tap them at the top just to switch back to bars I do it all the time:
http://db.tt/fJoViyJ

http://db.tt/AbF2OUw

 

[iShorty]

I still don't have it and I'm on 4.1 gm I go in and all I have is blank lines, but I can still tap the bars at the top and change them.

Works for me, db on one side, battery percentage on the other

That's pretty weird, not working on 4.1 GM for me neither.

Edit://
Nevermind, forgot the star on the end. -facepalm

 

[jasonq13]

so does deathgrip destroy this thing?

The death grip doesn't destroy mine -- -62 the whole time.

 

[coolfactor]

iPhone 3G.

Oddly, the battery percentage doesn't show for me next to the battery icon.

My dBm is -90 where I am (inside a building).

 

[Tomple]

Can't wait until 4.1 Jailbreak so i can update. Do the cases actually reduce signal loss?

 

[DigitalLifeDad]

TIP: During Field Test Mode...tap the numerical figure to switch to the regular antenna strength, the traditional bar measure.

This only works during Field Test Mode.
When you hit the home button and it closes, that functionality no longer works.

 

[iShorty]

TIP: During Field Test Mode...tap the numerical figure to switch to the regular antenna strength, the traditional bar measure.

This only works during Field Test Mode.
When you hit the home button and it closes, that functionality no longer works.

There's ways to keep the field test mode while using your phone.
http://twitpic.com/2mjo4u

 

[Dr Kevorkian94]

My DBs are -106 and I'm in my house I never get service in my house or in my part of town

 

[quagmire]

so does deathgrip destroy this thing?

I am seeing a 18 dbm drop when covering the magic spot on my iPhone 4.

I made a thread about it and one person saw a 10 dbm drop and another saw a 30 dbm drop( and he had a pretty good signal too at -65 dbm).

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1010515/

 

[Warbrain]

I love that someone voted this negative.

 

[Dr Kevorkian94]

There's ways to keep the field test mode while using your phone.
http://twitpic.com/2mjo4u

Yes go into Feild test tap the bars at the top so they change to DBS and then respring (hold the sleep button till it says slide to power off then Letgo and hold the home button). now the DBS will be at the top and just tap them any time to switch back to bars.

 

[maokh]

It updates very slowly, so don't expect to see any dramatic changes.

 

[smileyborg]

Yes go into Feild test tap the bars at the top so they change to DBS and then respring (hold the sleep button till it says slide to power off then Letgo and hold the home button). now the DBS will be at the top and just tap them any time to switch back to bars.

Excellent tip! Will keep it as a numerical measure for a few days and see how things look in different situations.

 

[VenusianSky]

I just updated from 4.0 to 4.1, so I never had the "fixed" bars until now. From my apartment, it use to display full bars. Now I have only 2-3. Boy, was I deceived the whole time. I entered field test mode and get between -95 and -101. Oh well, calls work fine and that is all that matters.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

Yes go into Feild test tap the bars at the top so they change to DBS and then respring (hold the sleep button till it says slide to power off then Letgo and hold the home button). now the DBS will be at the top and just tap them any time to switch back to bars.

genius!