retrieve GSM cell id

[ibec]

How can I retrieve the current GSM cell id my phone is in? I'd like to write a program for my Series 60 that does this.

[aaumala]

There are no developer tools to access the network information.

Ari / Forum Nokia

[ibec]

How do they do that?

http://www.psiloc.com/?id=prod&nrp=44

[WaldoMinny]

I'm not sure, I have been searching for this myself. I think the terminology that we are using is incorect. We are searching for the words "cell id". But I think it is something totally different. Write a small app that displays the .info information of the different Objects for the classes RLine, RCall, RPhone. I believe that you will find it within these classes.

Please let me know if you found it. I would also like the answer. I see that a lot of people would like to know.... look at the numer of views on your thread.

WAldo

[The.French.DJ]

hi!

the following information that might give you some answers..


first, download the etelbgsm.h here:

http://nokiafree.org/forums/t17750/s...c013b37f5.html

it will give you the interface to the gsm stuff. it's not part of the sdk anymore. don't know why.. (search for etelbgsm on google if the link doesn't work..)


then check out this for an example on how to work with the api:

http://www3.symbian.com/faq.nsf/f6fb...ght=2,etelbgsm

i *guess* retrieving the NMEI and getting the CellID is somewhat the same.. ;-) again, if the link does not work, search for NMEI in the symbian dev knowledge base..


please note: i didn't work with this stuff, yet. but as i am working on a navigation application this is on my todo list.. :-\

anyway, i have the feeling this cell-id information stuff is somewhat "restricted" by symbian and nokia ppl!?

btw: there are alternatives like "wap push" or "wmlscript" for retrieving cell/network information. but i didn't look into that, yet..


regards,

tfdj

[symbianyucca]

Hi

Here's Small Sample of how to get the CellId, Didn't really test it through, but used part of it in some of my earlier projects, so should work:

have fun;
yucca

//******************code***************************8

void CMyClass::GetNetWorkInfoL(TInt& aMcc, TInt& aMnc, TInt& aLocation, TInt& aCellId)
{
TInt Ret, enumphone = 1;
RTelServer server;
RBasicGsmPhone phone;
RTelServer::TPhoneInfo info;
MBasicGsmPhoneNetwork::TCurrentNetworkInfo NetworkInfo;


User::LeaveIfError(server.Connect());
CleanupClosePushL(server);
User::LeaveIfError(server.LoadPhoneModule(KTsyName));
User::LeaveIfError(server.EnumeratePhones(enumphone));

if (enumphone < 1)
{
User::Leave(KErrNotFound);
}

User::LeaveIfError(server.GetPhoneInfo(0, info));

User::LeaveIfError(phone.Open(server, info.iName));
CleanupClosePushL(phone);

User::LeaveIfError(phone.GetCurrentNetworkInfo(NetworkInfo));


aMcc = NetworkInfo.iNetworkInfo.iId.iMCC;
aMnc = NetworkInfo.iNetworkInfo.iId.iMNC;
aLocation = NetworkInfo.iNetworkInfo.iLocationAreaCode;
aCellId = NetworkInfo.iNetworkInfo.iCellId;

CleanupStack::PopAndDestroy(2);//server,phone
}

[Juggle4Evr1]

Hi yucca,

I tried your code on a 7650 but I have the problem that my application panics when executing the line:

User::LeaveIfError(server.LoadPhoneModule(_L("gsmbsc")));

Is there anything wrong with the phone module name?

[symbianyucca]

Hi

Yes it does, thats because you don't have gsmbsc.tsy file installed in your phone, try "Phonetsy.tsy" instead, it should work perfectly.

yucca

[Juggle4Evr1]

Yes it does. Thanks a lot!!

[The.French.DJ]

hi yucca!

very interesting read :-)

what i'd be interested in now is: how do i get me some geographic location from the cell-ID? is that possible? is that the right way? i have heard there are lists available mapping the cell-ID to a geographic location!?

any idea?

regards,

tfdj

[javirta2]

Interesting question:
Geographical location of Cell ID!

This is something where the operators location service based. Unless you don't have Network planning system (as Nokia NPS/x) the only way to get this mapping is do it yourself.

ie. Go outside and collect Cell-ID's (via mobile and PC connectivity) and position (GPS).
After that "outside" job estimate Cell ID's coverage area using general map, GPS and Cell ID.

That's it for Do-It-Yourself: Cell ID based Location Service.

Juha

[cyrus1]

Good to see someone cracked this nut.

In answer to obtainined pseudo-GPS information, I think mapping your Cell ID's is the only way to go.

This guy is my personal hero: http://home.iprimus.com.au/cridland/

He's actually *photographed* every Cell tower he can find, and has manually cataloged over 408 cell towers in his area.

Notable, he mentions that (in Australia at least) the last digit of the Cell ID is 7, 8, 9 and refers to a direction of transmission. So therefore if can determine you are present NORTH of cell tower X, and were previous WEST of cell tower Y, then you can get more accurate co-ordinates.

Cyrus

[cyrus1]

I just installed PSILoc mingps (http://my-symbian.com/7650/applicati...=2&fldAuto=279)

Question: why does it require rebooting of the phone?!

Is it hacking up some part of my Symbian O/S to provide it's services?

Cyrus

[rahull]

Hi,
for those who were able to get yucca's code to work, can u tell me which library must I link to for the functions. I am including etelbgsm.h and linking to etel.lib but still getting unresolved external symbol errors. can someone help???? thanx a lot, cheers, rahul.

[symbianyucca]

Hi

Which unresolved externals symbols you have missing ?
Could you just copy-paste the error messages.

yucca