An internet speed test measures the connection speed and quality of your connected device to the internet. It does so by running multiple consecutive tests that analyze different aspects of your internet connection, namely ping (latency), download speed, and upload speed. WiFi Signal Strength Meter - Network Monitor & WiFi Monitor is a simple tool that allows you to view your current WiFi signal strength. WiFi Signal Strength Meter - Network Monitor & WiFi Monitor. Understanding Signal Strength. WiFi signal strength is tricky. The most accurate way to express it is with milliwatts (mW), but you end up with tons of decimal places due to WiFi's super-low transmit power, making it difficult to read. For example, -40 dBm is 0.0001 mW, and the zeros just get more intense the more the signal strength drops.
Planning
The key to any good wireless deployment is proper planning, which requires a set of goals and requirements to achieve. Determining minimum signal strength requirements in the coverage area is almost alway part of the network requirements list.
Symptoms of poor wifi signal strength. Ring Doorbells and Security Cameras. The devices may disconnect from wifi and have trouble reconnecting. Video quality may be reduced or distorted. Audio quality may be reduced or distorted. Notifications from the Ring device may be delayed. The Ring device may miss Motion Events completely.
Requirements and Variables
Desired signal strength for optimal performance varies based on many factors, such as background noise in the environment, the amount of clients on the network, what the desired data rates are, and what applications will be used. For example, a VoIP or VoWiFi system may require much better coverage than a barcode scanner system in a warehouse.
Understanding Signal Strength
WiFi signal strength is tricky. The most accurate way to express it is with milliwatts (mW), but you end up with tons of decimal places due to WiFi's super-low transmit power, making it difficult to read. For example, -40 dBm is 0.0001 mW, and the zeros just get more intense the more the signal strength drops.
RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) is a common measurement, but most WiFi adapter vendors handle it differently, as it isn't standardized. Some adapters use a scale of 0-60, and others 0-255.
Ultimately, the easiest and most consistent way to express signal strength is with dBm, which stands for decibels relative to a milliwatt. Since RSSIis handled differently by most WiFi adapters, it's usually converted to dBm to make it consistent and human-readable.
- mW - milliwatts (1 mW = 0 dBm)
- RSSI - Received Signal Strength Indicator (usually 0-60 or 0-255)
- dBm - Decibels in relation to a milliwatt (usually -30 to -100)
Reading dBm
The first thing to understand about dBm is that we're working in negatives. -30 is a higher signal than -80, because -80 is a much lower number.
Next, it's important to know that dBm does not scale in a linear fashion like you'd expect, instead being logarithmic. That means that signal strength changes aren't smooth and gradual. The Rule of 3s and 10s highlights the logarithmic nature of dBm:
3 dB of loss = -3 dB = halves signal strength3 dB of gain = +3 dB = doubles signal strength
10 dB of loss = -10 dB = 10 times less signal strength (0.1 mW = -10 dBm, 0.01 mW = -20 dBm, etc.)
10 dB of gain = +10 dB = 10 times more signal strength (0.00001 mW = -50 dBm, 0.0001 mW = -40 dBm, etc.)
Ideal Signal Strength
So what signal strength should you shoot for? For simple, low-throughput tasks like sending emails, browsing the web, or scanning barcodes, -70 dBm is a good signal strength. For higher-throughput applications like voice over IP or streaming video, -67 dBm is better, and some engineers recommend -65 dBm if you plan to support mobile devices like iPhones and Android tablets.
Note: The numbers in this chart are suggestions only. The desired signal strengths will vary, based on the requirements for the network.
| Signal Strength | TL;DR | Required for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| -30 dBm | Amazing | Max achievable signal strength. The client can only be a few feet from the AP to achieve this. Not typical or desirable in the real world. | N/A |
| -67 dBm | Very Good | Minimum signal strength for applications that require very reliable, timely delivery of data packets. | VoIP/VoWiFi, streaming video |
| -70 dBm | Okay | Minimum signal strength for reliable packet delivery. | Email, web |
| -80 dBm | Not Good | Minimum signal strength for basic connectivity. Packet delivery may be unreliable. | N/A |
| -90 dBm | Unusable | Approaching or drowning in the noise floor. Any functionality is highly unlikely. | N/A |
Tracking Signal Strength
Signal strength is easy to track with inSSIDer. Configure the signal strength threshold to whatever signal strength you require, select your network, and walk the desired coverage area.
If the blue line falls below the dotted line, you know you have a dead spot. That's it!
Next Lesson...
Understanding RSSI
The range of a Wi-Fi computer network depends primarily on the number and type of wireless access points (including wireless routers) used to build it.
A traditional home network having one wireless router can cover a single-family dwelling but often not much more. Business networks with grids of access points can cover large office buildings. And wireless hotspots spanning several square miles (kilometers) have been built in some cities. The cost to build and maintain these networks increases significantly as the range increases, of course.
The Wi-Fi signal range of any given access point also varies significantly from device to devices. Factors that determine the range of one access point include:
the specific 802.11 protocol it runs
the strength of its device transmitter
the nature of physical obstructions and/or radio interference in the surrounding area
A general rule of thumb in home networking says that Wi-Fi routers operating on the traditional 2.4 GHz band reach up to 150 feet (46 m) indoors and 300 feet (92 m) outdoors. Older 802.11a routers that ran on 5 GHz bands reached approximately one-third of these distances. Newer 802.11n and 802.11ac routers that operate on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands vary in the reach similarly.
Physical obstructions in homes such as brick walls and metal frames or siding reduce the range of a Wi-Fi network by 25% or more. Due to laws of physics, 5 GHz Wi-Fi connections are more susceptible to obstructions than are 2.4 GHz.
Desired signal strength for optimal performance varies based on many factors, such as background noise in the environment, the amount of clients on the network, what the desired data rates are, and what applications will be used. For example, a VoIP or VoWiFi system may require much better coverage than a barcode scanner system in a warehouse.
Understanding Signal Strength
WiFi signal strength is tricky. The most accurate way to express it is with milliwatts (mW), but you end up with tons of decimal places due to WiFi's super-low transmit power, making it difficult to read. For example, -40 dBm is 0.0001 mW, and the zeros just get more intense the more the signal strength drops.
RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) is a common measurement, but most WiFi adapter vendors handle it differently, as it isn't standardized. Some adapters use a scale of 0-60, and others 0-255.
Ultimately, the easiest and most consistent way to express signal strength is with dBm, which stands for decibels relative to a milliwatt. Since RSSIis handled differently by most WiFi adapters, it's usually converted to dBm to make it consistent and human-readable.
- mW - milliwatts (1 mW = 0 dBm)
- RSSI - Received Signal Strength Indicator (usually 0-60 or 0-255)
- dBm - Decibels in relation to a milliwatt (usually -30 to -100)
Reading dBm
The first thing to understand about dBm is that we're working in negatives. -30 is a higher signal than -80, because -80 is a much lower number.
Next, it's important to know that dBm does not scale in a linear fashion like you'd expect, instead being logarithmic. That means that signal strength changes aren't smooth and gradual. The Rule of 3s and 10s highlights the logarithmic nature of dBm:
3 dB of loss = -3 dB = halves signal strength3 dB of gain = +3 dB = doubles signal strength
10 dB of loss = -10 dB = 10 times less signal strength (0.1 mW = -10 dBm, 0.01 mW = -20 dBm, etc.)
10 dB of gain = +10 dB = 10 times more signal strength (0.00001 mW = -50 dBm, 0.0001 mW = -40 dBm, etc.)
Ideal Signal Strength
So what signal strength should you shoot for? For simple, low-throughput tasks like sending emails, browsing the web, or scanning barcodes, -70 dBm is a good signal strength. For higher-throughput applications like voice over IP or streaming video, -67 dBm is better, and some engineers recommend -65 dBm if you plan to support mobile devices like iPhones and Android tablets.
Note: The numbers in this chart are suggestions only. The desired signal strengths will vary, based on the requirements for the network.
| Signal Strength | TL;DR | Required for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| -30 dBm | Amazing | Max achievable signal strength. The client can only be a few feet from the AP to achieve this. Not typical or desirable in the real world. | N/A |
| -67 dBm | Very Good | Minimum signal strength for applications that require very reliable, timely delivery of data packets. | VoIP/VoWiFi, streaming video |
| -70 dBm | Okay | Minimum signal strength for reliable packet delivery. | Email, web |
| -80 dBm | Not Good | Minimum signal strength for basic connectivity. Packet delivery may be unreliable. | N/A |
| -90 dBm | Unusable | Approaching or drowning in the noise floor. Any functionality is highly unlikely. | N/A |
Tracking Signal Strength
Signal strength is easy to track with inSSIDer. Configure the signal strength threshold to whatever signal strength you require, select your network, and walk the desired coverage area.
If the blue line falls below the dotted line, you know you have a dead spot. That's it!
Next Lesson...
Understanding RSSI
The range of a Wi-Fi computer network depends primarily on the number and type of wireless access points (including wireless routers) used to build it.
A traditional home network having one wireless router can cover a single-family dwelling but often not much more. Business networks with grids of access points can cover large office buildings. And wireless hotspots spanning several square miles (kilometers) have been built in some cities. The cost to build and maintain these networks increases significantly as the range increases, of course.
The Wi-Fi signal range of any given access point also varies significantly from device to devices. Factors that determine the range of one access point include:
the specific 802.11 protocol it runs
the strength of its device transmitter
the nature of physical obstructions and/or radio interference in the surrounding area
A general rule of thumb in home networking says that Wi-Fi routers operating on the traditional 2.4 GHz band reach up to 150 feet (46 m) indoors and 300 feet (92 m) outdoors. Older 802.11a routers that ran on 5 GHz bands reached approximately one-third of these distances. Newer 802.11n and 802.11ac routers that operate on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands vary in the reach similarly.
Physical obstructions in homes such as brick walls and metal frames or siding reduce the range of a Wi-Fi network by 25% or more. Due to laws of physics, 5 GHz Wi-Fi connections are more susceptible to obstructions than are 2.4 GHz.
Wifi Signal Strength Chart
Radio signal interference from microwave ovens and other equipment also negatively affects Wi-Fi network range. Because 2.4 GHz radios are commonly used in consumer gadgets, those Wi-Fi connections protocols are more susceptible to interference inside residential buildings.
Finally, the distance at which someone can connect to an access point varies depending on antenna orientation. Smartphone users, in particular, may see their connection strength increase or decrease simply by turning the device at different angles. Furthermore, some access points utilize directional antennas that enable longer reach in areas the antenna is pointing but shorter reach in other areas.
Wifi Signal Meter App
There are a variety of routers available on the market. Below are my picks for some of the best sellers, and they all can be purchased on Amazon.com:
802.11ac Routers
The TP-LINK Archer C7 AC1750 Dual Band Wireless AC Gigabit Router includes 450Mbps at 2.4GHz and 1300Mbps at 5GHz. It features guest network access for extra privacy when sharing your home, and comes with an easy setup assistant with multi-language support to make for a simple installation process.
802.11n Routers
The Netgear WNR2500-100NAS IEEE 802.11n 450 Mbps Wireless Router will make downloading movies, songs, playing games and streaming much faster. The power boost antennas also ensure a stronger connection and broader range.
802.11g Routers
The Linksys WRT54GL Wi-Fi Wireless-G Broadband Router features four fast ethernet ports and the WPA2 encryption allows you to surf the Internet securely.
Wifi Signal Strength App
Source: LifeWire
