5G Signal Tester

5G NR signal testing for UK IoT and M2M installations. SA vs NSA explained. UK 5G bands, signal metrics and when 5G makes sense for IoT.

What is a 5G signal tester and what metrics does it measure?
A 5G signal tester measures NR (New Radio) signal quality using SS-RSRP, SS-RSRQ and SS-SINR metrics - the 5G equivalents of the 4G LTE RSRP/RSRQ/SINR readings. For IoT and M2M installations, a 5G signal tester must distinguish between 5G NSA (Non-Standalone, which relies on a 4G core) and 5G SA (Standalone, with a full 5G core). UK operators EE, Vodafone and Three are deploying 5G SA on n78 (3500 MHz). CellTester reads 5G NR metrics directly from Teltonika RUTX50 and compatible routers via the RutOS API.

5G SA vs NSA - why it matters for IoT

5G NSA (Non-Standalone) uses an existing 4G LTE core network with 5G NR radio added on top. The device connects to both 4G and 5G simultaneously. 5G SA (Standalone) uses a full 5G core network independently. For IoT applications, SA is more significant: lower latency (down to 1ms vs 10ms for NSA), network slicing for guaranteed QoS, and better support for NB-IoT and RedCap devices. EE, Vodafone and Three are all deploying 5G SA in the UK.

5G NR frequency bands in the UK

BandFrequencyUK OperatorsRangeIoT use
n783500 MHz (sub-6)EE, Vodafone, ThreeUrban, suburbanHigh-bandwidth IoT, CCTV, industrial
n28700 MHz (sub-6)EERural, in-buildingWide-area IoT, rural deployments
n773700-4200 MHzO2Dense urbanHigh-bandwidth, short range
n12100 MHzMultipleUrbanCapacity layer
n25826 GHz (mmWave)Limited trialsVery short rangeFixed wireless, not practical for IoT

5G signal metrics

SS-RSRP (Synchronisation Signal RSRP): Primary 5G coverage indicator. Same interpretation as LTE RSRP. -80 dBm or better is excellent. Below -110 dBm is poor.

SS-RSRQ (Synchronisation Signal RSRQ): Quality indicator including interference. Target -10 dB or better.

SS-SINR (Synchronisation Signal SINR): Most direct predictor of 5G throughput. Above +20 dB enables maximum modulation. Below 0 dB means the connection is effectively unusable.

When does 5G make sense for IoT?

5G is not always the right answer for IoT. The decision depends on application requirements:

ApplicationRecommended technologyReason
HD CCTV (4+ cameras)5G NR or 4G Cat 6+Sustained uplink bandwidth critical
Industrial telemetry4G LTE B20/B3Reliability and coverage more important than speed
Smart meteringNB-IoT or LTE-MLow power, low data rate, deep penetration
EV chargers4G LTE (minimum Cat 4)OCPP protocol requirements, not bandwidth-intensive
Video analytics / AI edge5G SALow latency and high bandwidth both required
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5G coverage varies significantly by location. An n78 5G connection at 3500 MHz has far less building penetration than 4G B20 at 800 MHz. A router showing 5G in one part of a building may revert to 4G in another. CellTester's multi-operator sweep tests every available network and technology at the actual install location.
Related
4G Signal Tester
LTE bands, RSRP thresholds and UK 4G commissioning.
Related
5G RedCap Signal Tester
Reduced capability 5G for mid-tier IoT devices.
Reference
Signal Metrics Guide
RSRP, RSRQ, SINR threshold tables with 3GPP context.

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