What is RSSI? Understanding Your RSSI Level

RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) is a way to measure how strong a wireless signal is when it’s received by your device. A stronger RSSI means clearer and more reliable connection on your phone, laptop or router, while a weaker RSSI increases the risk of dropped calls, slower downloads, or glitches in your Bluetooth devices.  

The numbers used for RSSI don’t have a universal scale, but they’re often shown as negative values, like -30 dBm for a very strong signal or -90 dBm for a very weak one. The closer the number is to zero, the better the signal. 

An RSSI of -30dBm, for instance, means better connection quality and faster data transfers on your device, while an RSSI of -90dBm can create dropped connections, buffering videos, or slow downloads. 

RSSI is used in measure signal strength for many wireless systems, including WiFi, Bluetooth, and mobile networks, to help devices decide when to connect, disconnect, or switch to a better source.  It’s one of the many factors your devices use to decide when to switch from one network to another, or from WiFi calling to your mobile network.  

Wireless devices have small sensors that detect the energy of the signal. When the device receives the signal, it calculates its strength and assigns it an RSSI value.  

This value isn’t the same as the speed of your connection, but it tells the device how reliable the signal is. If the RSSI is strong, the device knows it’s getting a clear signal and can use it efficiently, while if the RSSI is weak, the device might struggle, causing slower speeds or dropped connections.  

RSSI works in real-time, constantly updating as the device moves closer to or farther from the signal source. For example, if you’re walking away from a WiFi router, the RSSI will drop, signaling to your device that the connection is weakening.  

This helps the device decide whether it needs to switch to a stronger signal or alert you that the connection is poor.  

RSSI affects how well your device can communicate with the router, which can have a big impact on your WiFi performance.  

When the RSSI is strong, data can move quickly and efficiently between your device and the router, which means faster WiFi speeds. But when RSSI is weak, the connection becomes less reliable, and your WiFi speed will suffer. This can happen if you’re too far from the router, or if there are obstacles like walls or other devices interfering with the signal.  

WiFi networks also adapt based on RSSI. When the signal is weak, the router or device might lower the speed to reduce errors and keep the connection stable. This is why you might notice slower internet speeds in certain areas of your home or when multiple devices are competing for the same signal.  

For most WiFi networks, an RSSI of -30 dBm to -50 dBm is considered excellent. This range indicates that your device is very close to the router or access point, and the connection should be fast and stable, even for high-demand activities like streaming in 4K or online gaming. 

An RSSI between -50 dBm and -70 dBm is still good and should work fine for most everyday tasks, like browsing, video calls, or watching videos in HD. However, as the RSSI approaches the weaker end of this range, you might start to notice slower speeds or buffering, especially if you’re using multiple devices or apps that need a lot of data. 

Once RSSI drops below -70 dBm, the signal becomes weak, and the connection may start to have problems. You might experience interruptions, dropped connections, or very slow internet speeds. An RSSI below -85 dBm is generally too weak to maintain a usable connection, and your device may disconnect entirely. 

Most devices have a built-in way to show RSSI:  

• On Windows: Open the Command Prompt and type “netsh wlan show interfaces”. This will show details about your connection, including your RSSI level.  

• On macOS: hold the Option key while clicking the WiFi icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen to view your RSSI. 

• On a smartphone: Go to your WiFi settings, connect to a network, and look for signal details. On iOS, you’ll need to use an app from the app store that can analyse WiFi signals, as iOS doesn’t display this information directly. 

If you can’t find your RSSI level in your settings, some routers allow you to view the RSSI of connected devices. Log in to your router’s admin panel (usually done by typing the router’s IP address into a web browser) and navigate to the connected devices or signal strength section. There you can usually see the RSSI for each device on your network. 

If your RSSI level looks good, it may be something else that’s causing your broadband speed issues.  

Use our helpful broadband speed checker to see if you’re broadband is up to speed. 

1. Move Closer to the Router

The simplest way to improve your RSSI is to reduce the distance between your device and the WiFi router. WiFi signals weaken as they travel, so being too far from the router can lead to a lower RSSI. Try to use your device in the same room or areas with fewer walls and obstructions between you and the router. The closer you are, the stronger the signal will be. 

2. Reduce Obstacles and Interference

WiFi signals can be blocked by walls or furniture and interfered by home devices like microwaves, cordless phones, and baby monitors. To improve your RSSI, try repositioning your router to a more central, open location and away from these sources of interference. 

3. Upgrade Your Router or Antennas

Older routers may not have the same range or power as newer models. Upgrading to a modern router with better antennas and support for newer WiFi standards (like WiFi 6) can greatly improve your RSSI. Some routers also allow you to replace or adjust their antennas to boost the signal in specific directions. 

4. Use a WiFi Extender or Mesh System

If your router’s signal can’t reach certain parts of your home, a WiFi extender or mesh system can help. These devices work by repeating or redistributing the WiFi signal to areas with poor RSSI. A mesh WiFi system is especially useful for large homes or areas with lots of walls, as it provides a seamless and reliable connection throughout the space. 

5. Adjust Your Device or Router Placement

Sometimes, small changes in placement can make a big difference. Place your router on a high, flat surface, like a shelf, to maximize its signal range and avoid placing it on the floor or near thick walls. Try to also keep your device in an open area and avoid placing it in corners or behind large objects. 

6. Switch to a Less Crowded WiFi Channel

WiFi networks operate on channels, and if too many devices are using the same channel, it can cause interference and reduce your RSSI. Many routers have a setting to automatically choose the best channel, but you can also manually switch to a less crowded one through the router’s settings. For dual-band routers, connecting to the 5 GHz band instead of 2.4 GHz can also improve signal strength and reduce interference. 

That depends! If you’ve got an RSSI level between -30dBm and -70 dBm and you’ve still got slow internet speeds, then you probably don’t have issues with RSSI but with bandwidth, latency, or other factors that determine the speed of your WiFi.

If you want a breakdown of your WiFi speed, use our helpful broadband speed checker to see how fast your connection is. If something looks too high, it may be an issue with your broadband package or your router that’s causing the issues.  

Looking for a WiFi upgrade? Take a look at our superfast broadband deals to get yourself up to speed.