The connection between WiFi reception bars and connection speed

[chrstrbrts]

Hello,

So, I bought an external antenna for my laptop's WiFi, and it's been a huge disappointment.

I didn't spend that much, so I really don't care.

It lists many networks that I can supposedly connect to, networks that otherwise don't pop up in my notification tray (I'm running WIN7)

Further, these networks show 4 or even all 5 bars.

However, when I attempt to connect, I always get unable to connect errors.

Once, I managed to connect to one of these networks.

The connection was terribly slow, and VOIP was basically impossible.

I ran a speed test from a speed test website.

I was getting something like .9 Mbps down and even less up.

Despite my OS telling me that I had 4 or 5 bars of reception strength on that network, I had no speed at all.

I thought that a high number of bars equated to reception strength which in turn equated to connection speed.

Apparently, that's not entirely true.

Where is my thinking wrong?

Thanks.

 

[JackMDS]

There is a much more important indicator in Wireless reception.

It is called Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR).

Signal that contians info and No surround electrical noise would do much better then high bar count that contains high level of Electrical Noise.

Alas, Wireless chipsets (saving few cents) do not have the internal circuit to measure it.

I.e. the consumers Bars are sort of useless for real measure.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal-to-noise_ratio

In general our society moved from General Ignorance to knowledge based on ""Comfortable Marketing"" (Not real Knowledge).