Trail Coverage StudySupport ‹ Home

Montgomery County, NY

Support

The Trail Coverage Study app records anonymous cellular signal and speed measurements as you walk or ride the trail corridor. Those readings contribute to a Montgomery County broadband coverage study that maps where connectivity works and where it does not.

Contact us

Questions, problems, or feedback about the app — email us and we will get back to you.

Please include your device model and OS version — it helps us reproduce the problem.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the app need location access, including in the background?

A coverage measurement is only meaningful with a position attached — a signal reading with no location tells us nothing about where service is good or poor. Background access lets the app keep recording while your screen is off or you are using another app, which is the normal case when you are walking or riding. It records in the background only while a measurement session is active; when you end the session, it stops.

Does the app collect personal information?

No. It does not collect your name, email address, contacts, or photos, and it has no account to sign into. Measurements are tagged to an anonymous install identifier — a random value created when the app is installed, not a hardware or advertising ID — and exported data is de-identified. Full detail is in the Privacy Policy.

Will it use a lot of battery or mobile data?

Signal readings themselves are very light. The periodic speed tests are the part that uses measurable mobile data, since they transfer data to measure throughput. Both are governed by your session settings — reducing the frequency or duration of a session reduces battery and data use accordingly.

Why does my carrier show as “Unknown”?

Recent iOS versions restrict access to carrier information, so the operator name is often unavailable to apps. When that happens the app records the measurement and labels the carrier as unknown rather than guessing. This is an Apple platform limitation, not a fault in the app or your device, and the signal and speed data are unaffected.

How do I stop contributing?

Any of the following, at any time:

  • End the session in the app — recording stops immediately.
  • Revoke location permission in your device settings (Settings → the app → Location).
  • Uninstall the app — it stops recording and sends nothing further.

Who runs this study?

The study is a Montgomery County, New York initiative, measuring cellular coverage along the county’s trail corridor to inform broadband planning. It is delivered together with the County’s project partners. See the main site for background on the study.

Troubleshooting

The app is not recording Check that location permission is granted, and that it is set to “Always” if you want measurements to continue while the app is in the background or your screen is off. “While Using the App” stops recording as soon as you switch away.
No data is appearing A measurement session must be active — readings are not recorded outside a session. Also note that measurements taken outside the study area are not included in the study, so readings from elsewhere will not appear.
Battery use is higher than expected Continuous location and periodic speed tests both draw power. Shorten the session duration or reduce the measurement frequency in the session settings, and end sessions when you finish your walk or ride.