Wifi signal, what is a good db level?

[pete6032]

My wifi signal is -56db according to SSIDer. Is this a good signal level? Am I correct in assuming that -56db is better than -57db?

 

[SecurityTheatre]

My wifi signal is -56db according to SSIDer. Is this a good signal level? Am I correct in assuming that -56db is better than -57db?

Yeah, that is correct and that is a good signal level, in general.

Doing some wifi site surveys, I have seen signals as strong as about -30db but only with a very strong amplified transmitter sitting right next to the receiver.

I think the connection threshold is around -80 or -90 depending on the noise level. Really, the SnR is the most important, but in most places, the noise isn't too wild so the signal level will suffice and something in the -50s is quite good.

 

[DainBrammage]

-56dBm is is actually the minimum threshold for your network to support VOIP Traffic on a 2.4GHz network. That signal level is quite good. As far as amplifiers and -30's the previous poster must have been surveying a crap site. Enterprise class access points will crank out signal in the mid -20 and low 30's PASSIVELY when you are in the sweet spot on 2.4 and 5GHz

 

[Damers101]

I have two engenius enh500's linked together at 5G, 5.8 actually. At 1000' I'm getting -43db in wds bridge mode. A/N only using AES encrytion.

 

[azazel1024]

I have two engenius enh500's linked together at 5G, 5.8 actually. At 1000' I'm getting -43db in wds bridge mode. A/N only using AES encrytion.

While we are it, let's compare a couple of main battle tanks to a Honda civic.

Two wireless bridges, with high powered radios and 14dB panel antennas isn't remotely like looking at the signal levels from an access point/router.

As for -56dB, it isn't particularly strong, but so long as you don't have a big source of interference, it is perfectly dandy in the "mid range" of Wifi signal strength. You generally only start to see big drop offs in performance once you start getting in to the -60dB range and it'll plummet once you hit around -70dB. General disconnection range is between -80 to -90dB, depending if we are talking 2.4GHz or 5GHz and also depending heavily on the local noise floor and client/router.

dB measures are logarithmic. So -60dB is 10x weaker than -50dB. -70 is 100x weaker than -50dB.

 

[pete6032]

I have two engenius enh500's linked together at 5G, 5.8 actually. At 1000' I'm getting -43db in wds bridge mode. A/N only using AES encrytion.

Holy thread necro Batman.

 

[Makaveli]

lol necro is correct Anandtech need to use the same system techpowerup is using for their forums.

when you go to post its shows a big red warning.

example