Strong Tropo openings and its effect on Cell Phone reception

[Buckeyes2001]

Curious to know what your observations on your cell phone reception during a strong tropo event. Yesterday while there was a tropo opening to the north from Canada, my Verizon phone kept warning me of global data roaming which tells me my phone was picking up Canadian Cell signals (probably from Rogers Cellular). At the same time, FMs from across Lake Erie and further north were blasting in like locals as well as some TV stations. Cell phone reception where I was is chronically very weak with Verizon because their closest tower doesn't get out with decent coverage beyond a mile of their Vermilion, OH tower.

[kilokat7]

I live near the Lake Michigan shoreline.  When at the beach, our cell phones frequently hit the towers near Milwaukee at a distance of 90 miles.  We always know, since the time on our phones tick back one hour to Central Time!  I've been meaning to look for some type of Android app that might help me analyze the cell signal more to learn more about it.  Perhaps there are such tools already built into the Android OS, I haven't really explored it yet.

Cool subject!

[spunker88]

Ive always wondered this as well but figured the low power level of cell phones would limit any tropo enhancement. For Verizon CDMA towers in rural towns near me I've found the signal drops at around 8 to 10 miles. I imagine this limit is determined by the phones transmitter. I have been able to pick up a time signal from further away. I'm not sure if the phone only needs to receive to get a time signal or if it has to send a request.

Ive found the signal bars to be pretty inaccurate on many phones. Luckily android lets you look at the dbm value of the signal so you actually know how strong the signal really is. But more advanced info like individual tower info and strength isn't available unfortunately. I really wish we could see this, it would basically be similar to a wifi spectrum analyzer except cellular.

[nocomradio]

 I've also noticed a similar phenomenon with Hughes Net satellite internet service. In the warmer months, usually around 11AM to 2PM it will just stop sending info or lose its satellite link. I suspect its the same thing going on. It only happens every so often and now I am curious to see what my radio is doing at the same time..........

[kilokat7]

Okay, so I did some searching around and found the OpenSignalMaps app for the Android platform.  If you have an Android phone, check it out.  One of the interesting features is that it plots the cell tower on a map - the tower that your phone is connected to.  This will be fun the next time we're at Lake Michigan.  Who knows, maybe a new hobby - cell phone DX? :-)