OpenBarres 2.4.2

Open Barres is a free, ad-free application provided by the French National Frequency Agency (ANFR) that offers users a range of valuable features:

• Access to the signal strength received by your smartphone from your operator's 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks;
• Technical information about publicly available mobile phone networks;
• Weekly updates on the deployment of publicly available 5G networks in metropolitan France without requiring a 5G phone;
• Data regarding exposure to radio waves emitted by mobile phones.

The app allows users to measure and record the signal strength (GSM, UMTS, LTE) received by their phone from the connected operator's network. Signal values are displayed in dBm, using a color code based on the signal strength. Users can log signal measurements during travels, accompany them with additional technical details (such as cell ID, MNC, LAC, MCC, U/E/ARFCN), and then download and share this data for further analysis. This enables users to identify areas where their operator's network signal is strong or weak.

Signal strength is measured in dBm; lower dBm values indicate weaker signal reception. When the signal reception is good, the phone reduces its transmission power to the minimum needed for maintaining a connection, thereby minimizing exposure to emitted radio waves.

Open Barres also facilitates real-time discovery of nearby relay antennas on a cartographic background, including the operators utilizing these antennas and the deployed technologies (2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G). Depending on the density of relay antennas, users may need to adjust the map around their location or change its scale to visualize available antennas.

The application provides insights into the state of 5G deployment through counting and mapping operational or authorized sites at various levels (by operator, municipality, and nationally), offering frequency band details. By accessing the '5G deployment' feature, users receive automatic updates on 5G deployment status relevant to their locality and specific operator networks without needing a 5G phone. The information regarding 5G deployment is updated weekly.

Users can also check their mobile phone's Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) values as published by manufacturers. If a phone's SAR values have been assessed by the ANFR, these will also be displayed in Open Barres.

SAR measures how much radio wave energy is absorbed by different parts of the body (head, torso, limbs) when exposed to emissions from mobile phones. Due to specific equipment requirements, SAR measurements must be conducted in controlled laboratory settings and cannot be performed in real-time on mobile devices.

Finally, Open Barres provides guidance on "best practices for reducing exposure to radiofrequency waves emitted by mobile phones," published by health and environmental authorities. This enables users to adapt their mobile phone usage effectively.