How to find the nearest 4G / 5G mobile phone mast

Aligning an external antenna, such as the CoFlex3200 or CoFlex5200 from Halo&Son, is critical for optimal performance and an excellent result in improving your mobile internet reception. To align the antennas correctly, you need to know the location of your provider's nearest cell tower. Here are some tools, apps and websites that can help you with this:

Germany

• Network coverage maps of the mobile phone providers: Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and O2 offer maps on their websites that show the locations of their cell towers.
• Federal Network Agency EMF database: This database contains information on the locations of transmitters in Germany.
• Apps such as "OpenSignal" or "CellMapper": These apps allow you to find the nearest mobile phone towers and show the network coverage and signal strength in your area.

Austria

• Network coverage maps of the providers: A1, Magenta and Drei offer similar maps on their websites that show locations and network coverage.
• RTR network coverage map: The Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Broadcasting offers a detailed map of network coverage in Austria.
• Apps such as "OpenSignal" or "CellMapper": These apps can also be used in Austria to locate masts and obtain network information.

Alignment of the antennas

Once you have found the location of the nearest mast, you can align your Halo&Son antenna. Align the antenna so that it points towards the mast to get the strongest possible signal.

Signal values in the router

To check the signal quality, you can read out certain values in your router. The most important ones include

• RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power): This value measures the power of the reference signal and indicates how strong the signal arrives at the device.
• RSRQ (Reference Signal Received Quality): This is a measure of the quality of the reference signal received in relation to noise and interference.
• SINR (Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio): This ratio indicates the ratio of signal strength to interference and noise. A higher SINR value indicates better signal quality.

These values can be found in the router's user interface under the signal or network status overview. By optimizing these values by correctly aligning the antenna, you can significantly improve the performance of your mobile Internet connection.

Conclusion

The correct positioning of an outdoor antenna is crucial for the maximum performance of your mobile Internet. With the tools and methods mentioned above, you can determine the location of the nearest mobile phone mast in Germany and Austria and align your antennas accordingly. Halo&Son's CoFlex3200 and CoFlex5200 antennas are designed to achieve the best possible signal strength and quality when installed and aligned correctly. With this knowledge and the right tools, you can maximize the potential of your mobile internet.