RF Meter
SureCall’s RF Meter measures the received signal power from the Cellular Tower. This is important information to both optimally aim the directional outside antenna and to estimate the expected inside cellular coverage from a boosted system.
The RF Meter measures power in units of dBm RSSI. In 4G (HSPA) your cellular phone also measures signal power in dBm RSSI. However, in LTE or 5G your cellular phone measures signal power in dBm RSRP. The difference between RSSI & RSRP can be 20-30 dBm! When discussing signal power, ALWAYS CONFIRM the units of measure as either RSSI or RSRP. The relationship between RSRP and RSSI is approximate and depends on the channel bandwidth, noise floor, and channel loading. The chart below displays the approximate equivalent measurements:
The SureCall RF signal meter is a piece of test equipment that comes with a low-cost SMA connector and an SMA Stick Antenna. SMA connectors are known to be Fragile. Be Gentle!
The SureCall RF Meter measures the signal power in RSSI for all 5 frequency bands (Data below as of August 2022)
If you want to learn how to use the RF power meter, there are three different modes you can try. The SureCall RF Meter has 3 Modes to allow for measuring the downlink power within all or parts of the 5 bands. If you hold down the mode button for 6 seconds the RF Meter advances: Mode 1 to Mode 2 // Mode 2 to Mode 3 // Mode 3 to Mode 1. Certain modes work better depending on your cellular carrier and location, so choosing the right mode for your specific circumstances can make all the difference.
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Mode 1: Measures RF sub-band Power by Letter… A / B / C / D / E etc. This might be how the frequency was originally auctioned and does not necessarily reflect how it is deployed today in Canada. The one important exception is Cellular Band 5! Rogers’ towers only broadcast Cellular A. While Bell/Telus towers only broadcast Cellular B. Clever installers can use this information to more precisely aim the outside antenna when only one Carrier service is required.
Mode 2: Measures RF downlink Power within the Frequency Band by 5 MHz increments. This is not often used, but can be of value if the installer knows the specific sub-band frequencies the carrier is broadcasting.
Mode 3: This is the most popular and measures the downlink RF Power across the complete frequency band. This is what should be used for all Canadians using this device. When in doubt, Mode 3 works for nearly all carriers and signal strengths throughout Canada.
What is included? The SureCall RF Signal Meter includes connectors to adapt between the SMA port and the common commercial grade connectors of N male/female & F male/female. Remember to be careful with these connectors, as they are fragile. However, they will allow the installer to replace the SMA stick antenna with a directional antenna for aiming purposes. The SureCall RF Meter also includes a carry case and 4 rechargeable batteries which should be replaced if the battery life of the RF Meter is unacceptably short.
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