[linda anne]

Thursday, March 27 2008, @ 6:47 AM (-0800 GMT)

Hi All,

I published this info here several months back, but have since added more to it. The "5 Bar" signal level display, at the top right corner of your 8820 display is, "cute," but of little practical use as it is too vague and insensitive. With a more accurate, and sensitive way to indicate signal power, you can experiment with "how" you physically "hold" and use your BB, try an external antenna in remote locations, keep a "handle" on receiver sensitivity, etc.

A far better way to indicate cell tower signal strength is to display the actual signal power in "dBM." This is the signal power level, in decibels, referenced to a signal power of 1 milliwatt. The level will ALWAYS be a "negative" number as your signal level will always be less than 1 milliwatt, much less.

To change your display from "5 Bars" to signal power in dBM, do the following: With one finger, hold down the ALT key on the far left. Now, with your other hand, press the letter sequence NMLL. Your display should instantly change from "5 Bar" to signal power in dBM. To revert BACK to "5 Bar," do the same thing again.

There is ONE CAVEAT in doing this. An extremely WEAK signal, less than or equal -100 dBM, will NOT show on-screen becuz only 2 digits can be displayed. So, when your signal level gets VERY VERY weak, at, say, -99 dBM, a further drop will change the display to "-10," then "-11" etc, corresponding to signal powers in the -100 to -119 dBM range. This is of no real problem tho, as your phone probably wont work at that low a level anyway, BUT you can experiment with an iinduction coupled external antenna if you want. Also, it is highly unlikely you will ever see a signal level HIGHER than about -40 dBM, i.e. -39, -38, yada yada, dBM.

For those who are technically oriented, as most BB Users are, and want MORE, here is an approximate tabulation of the # of Bars vs. signal level in dBM:
1 bar ~ -102 to -120 dBM
2 Bars ~ -93 to -101 dBM
3 Bars ~ -87 to -92 dBM
4 Bars ~ -78 to -86 dBM
5 Bars ~ -40 to -77 dBM

I hope this is helpful information? i have learned a LOT from the Crackberry forums and am trying to "payback" in a way that I can.

If you participate in the 3D Virtual World of SL, "Second Life," Second Life: Official site of the 3D online virtual world, visit me "in-world." My name there is Linda Latte. We can "do lunch" on the SS Titanic, back in 1912, before it sinks. <giggle> YES, it "exists" there, really! Hahahaha. If you don't "do" SL, visit my web site for FREE antispam software. Its at FREE antispam software. Free spam blockers you can download.

[editionfws]

That's pretty cool. When I have my hand around my phone holding it, the numbers go up 10 to 12 dbs. When I set it down it goes back to normal. I knew my hand blocked signal but not that much!

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[jackie treehorn]

quick question does this work with the curve

[my_handle]

^^ Yes it does. I just did it on my 8320

[prgodfather]

Worked with my curve 8320

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[aoprods]

Yep, works on the 8300 also.

[ChrisGrant]

Does anyone know if this will work on the pearl??

Thanks!

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[jackm3]

Id love this for my pearl....

[linda anne]

That's pretty cool. When I have my hand around my phone holding it, the numbers go up 10 to 12 dbs. When I set it down it goes back to normal. I knew my hand blocked signal but not that much!

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

Cool! This tip should help you anr others use your phones in weaker signal areas now that you can SEE wat the level is. Make a NOTE of the weakest signal level your phone will work with; it is gud to know!

Linda

[scaninky]

More useful info for the BB.... I love it!

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[my_handle]

Does anyone know if this will work on the pearl??

Thanks!

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

just try it. thats how you find out if it works or not

[Duvi]

Good work... works for the 8310 as well.

[Denny_Crane]

For those who are technically oriented, as most BB Users are, and want MORE, here is an approximate tabulation of the # of Bars vs. signal level in dBM:
1 bar ~ -102 to -120 dBM
2 Bars ~ -93 to -101 dBM
3 Bars ~ -87 to -92 dBM
4 Bars ~ -78 to -86 dBM
5 Bars ~ -40 to -77 dBM

I live 3 blocks from a cell tower and always have 5 bars on my Pearl but only get -80dBm. I don't think I've ever seen a higher number then that. I didn't use this trick to find out, I just went into Options, Status.

[Yankel]

Does it work on the Pearl?

[linda anne]

Does it work on the Pearl?

Don't know as I havr an 8820. TRY it, cant hurt anything. If it DOES, then post a reply here so others will know, huh?

[gomezemog]

It works for the pearl. While holding down the ALT button, you need to press the [8/B/N] button twice to get the N before proceeding to press the M, and L buttons


---Edit---
Sorry, need to press the L button twice, so:

Hold down ALT, press [8/B/N] twice, press M once, press L twice
---Edit---

[ChrisGrant]

I feel like an *****... On the pearl, is this from the home screen?

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[kmc979]

wow, thanks so much! whenever i was looking at the number of the signal i was wondering which was better, a higher or lower number (ignoring the minus). so now in my mind, i want to see a "lower" number. i was about to ask about this because i couldn't find anything!

[ChrisGrant]

Ok... So I stopped trying and poof! It appeared... Haha.. Go me, thanks everyone

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[linda anne]

It works for the pearl. While holding down the ALT button, you need to press the [8/B/N] button twice to get the N before proceeding to press the M, and L buttons

Wow, GREAT! Thank you for helping all the real 'Pearls" out there. Good job.

[cate]

this is neat, thank you! :]

so wait, lower is better?

[jackm3]

Not workin for my pearl. Holding down alt key... pressing B/N twice, pressing M once and L once.

Nothing

[cate]

Not workin for my pearl. Holding down alt key... pressing B/N twice, pressing M once and L once.

Nothing

gotta press the L twice!

so B/N twice, M & then LL

[jackm3]

bless you, im an i d i o t

[cate]

bless you, im an i d i o t

no you're not... you knew to space the word i d i o t in order for it to show up :]

glad to help!