What is RSSI and its relation to a Wi-Fi network

RSSI stands for received signal strength indicator and represents the power of a received signal on a device. This measurement indicates the power level being received after a possible loss at the antenna and cable level. The higher RSSI value you are getting, the stronger the signal is.

Signal Quality goes from 0% to 100% — the higher the better, with 100% of course being a value that is theoretical given the ideal conditions. Signal quality can be determined differently based on the devices you are using as well as signal strength and SNR margin. Usually the signal is fine if the quality is above the level of 25-30%.

This is how RSSI is related to quality percentage (these are approximate values).

• High quality: 90% ~= -55db
• Medium: 50% ~= -75db
• Low: 30% ~= -85db
• Unusable: 8% ~= -96db

The 802.11 standard does not universally define the relation between RSSI value and power level in mW or dBm. The range of RSSI values is individual to different device makers, ranging from 0 to RSSI_Max.

In NetSpot you can see signal strengths in two ways, which helps you better understand and use your signal strength measurements. First, the Networks Chart, displays the location of selected networks on the 2.4 or 5 GHz bands in relation to other networks, as well as the signal strengths for each of the networks. Second, the Signal Strength graph, displays the changes in your network’s signal strength values as you move around.

If you have used a WiFi scan app like NetSpot and made sure the signal strength levels are acceptable, but you are still not happy with your connection, then the problem may be caused by interference. Use NetSpot and your computer's WiFi adapter to check for the interference and change things up a bit to avoid it.

That depends on what you do online and your expectations. For most people who use the internet to browse the web, watch online videos, send emails, and play multiplayer video games, an RSSI of -70 is perfectly acceptable. But if you’re paying for a very fast internet connection and want to use it to its full potential, you want to get as close to -50 as you can.

RSSI is typically represented in a negative form, so the closer the value is to 0, the strong the received signal is. However, since RSSI is a completely arbitrary value that has no relationship to any particular physical parameter, it can also be represented in a positive form, where the RSSI value is 0 to 100, with 100 being the strongest signal possible. In that case, an RSSI of 48 is a fairly reasonable value that’s more than sufficient for most regular activities.

Yes, an RSSI value of 55 is generally considered to be good enough for most users and online activities. If measured in negative numbers (with 0 meaning the best signal possible and -100 the worst), then the relative quality of a received signal on a device is slightly worse, but still acceptable.

The Ring doorbell requires a fairly strong signal because it transmits high-quality video in real-time. The manufacturer recommends an RSSI between -65 and -41, and warns about possible video issues if constantly at -60.

A received signal strength indication WiFi value of -72 is acceptable but not amazing. Using the methods described in this article, you should be able to improve it until you reach at least -60 (remember, the closer you get to zero, the better).

The RSSI number indicates how much power has been lost during signal transmission. In the real world, at least some power is always lost, so an RSSI value of -20 is typically as good as it gets.

RSSI doesn’t officially have any units associated with it, but it’s sometimes used interchangeably with dBm, which expresses a power level in decibels (dB) with reference to one milliwatt (mW).