What is RSSI and How Does it Affect Your Wi-Fi Signal?

What is RSSI and how to measure and improve your Wi-Fi signal strength with it? You will know about all these in detail in this article.

What is RSSI? 

RSSI stands for Received Signal Strength Indicator, which measures how well your device can hear a signal from an access point or router. RSSI is a relative value that varies depending on the chipset manufacturer, and it can range from 0 to 255 or 0 to 127. The higher the RSSI value, the stronger the signal. RSSI is useful for determining if you have enough signal to get a good wireless connection.

RSSI is different from dBm, which is an absolute measure of signal power in milliwatts. dBm is a logarithmic scale, so the closer to 0 dBm, the better the signal is. A good signal strength for Wi-Fi is usually between -67 dBm and -30 dBm.

How Does RSSI Affect Your Wi-Fi Signal?

You already know what RSSI is. Now we will discuss several ways in which RSSI affects your Wi-Fi signal. Here are some of them:

The first thing to understand is that RSSI is a measure of a device's ability to receive a signal. In other words, RSSI is the value used to determine a good wireless connection. A higher RSSI value means a stronger signal, which means less interference, less packet loss, and faster data rates. A lower RSSI value means a weaker signal, which means you may experience dead zones, poor performance, or dropped connections if you are too far from the router or access point.

So, RSSI can help you troubleshoot and optimize your Wi-Fi network. By measuring the RSSI values of different locations and devices, you can identify the best places to install or relocate your router or access point, adjust the antenna orientation, change the channel or frequency band, or use a Wi-Fi extender or repeater to boost the signal.

How to Improve Your Wi-Fi Signal Strength?

Depending on your situation and preferences, there are many possible ways to improve your Wi-Fi signal strength. Here are some general tips that might help you:

Upgrade your router: If you have an old or low-quality router, it might not be able to handle the demands of your devices and environment. A newer or more powerful router can offer better performance, features, and security.

Move your router: The location of your router can make a big difference in the quality and coverage of your Wi-Fi signal. You should place your router in a central and open area, away from walls, metal objects, appliances, and other sources of interference.

Switch devices over to Ethernet: If you have devices that don’t need to be wireless, such as desktop computers, smart TVs, or game consoles, you can connect them to your router using an Ethernet cable.

Remove unnecessary devices: If too many devices are connected to your Wi-Fi network, they can compete for the limited bandwidth and slow down your connection. You should disconnect any devices that you are not using or need Wi-Fi access, such as printers, smart speakers, or security cameras.

Update your firmware: Your router’s firmware is the software that controls its functions and features. Sometimes, the manufacturer releases updates that can improve the performance, stability, and security of your router.

Change your Wi-Fi channel and frequency band: Your Wi-Fi network operates on a certain channel and frequency band, which can affect its speed and reliability. If there are many other Wi-Fi networks in your area using the same channel or band, they can interfere with each other and cause congestion.

Consider an extender or repeater: If you have areas in your home that are too far from your router or have weak signal strength, you might want to use an extender or repeater to boost your Wi-Fi coverage. An extender is a device that connects to your router wirelessly and creates a new Wi-Fi network with the same name and password. Both devices can help you eliminate dead zones and improve your Wi-Fi experience.

Upgrade to high-gain antennas: If your router has external antennas, you can replace them with high-gain antennas that can increase the range and strength of your Wi-Fi signal. High-gain antennas are usually larger and more directional than standard antennas. This means they can focus the signal in a certain direction rather than spreading it evenly in all directions. You should point the antennas towards the areas where you need better Wi-Fi coverage.

Wrap Up 

It always helps to learn a little extra on top of the surface knowledge about anything. We have discussed what is RSSI and how it affects your signal. It can help you understand your Wi-Fi connectivity better, and you will be able to improve your signal strength as well.