Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI)

Received Signal Strength Indicator, or RSSI, describes the strength of a radio signal received by a wireless device. It is used to assess the wireless connection between an access point and an endpoint. Depending on the vendor and system, RSSI can be represented differently, while signal strength is commonly evaluated in dBm in practical Wi-Fi environments. A stronger signal can support a more stable connection and higher data rates, while weaker values may indicate greater distance, physical obstacles or unfavourable radio conditions. RSSI is commonly used for Wi-Fi planning, heatmaps, roaming, troubleshooting and access point placement. Actual connection quality also depends on factors such as signal-to-noise ratio, interference and channel utilisation.