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RSSI Signal Quality Calculator

Work out rssi signal quality instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About RSSI Signal Quality Calculator

RSSI alone does not determine throughput; the signal-to-noise ratio does. A strong signal in a noisy environment performs worse than a moderate signal in a quiet one. The highest modulation schemes need progressively more SNR — around 31 dB for 1024-QAM in Wi-Fi 6 — which is why -67 dBm is the usual design target for voice-grade coverage.

Formula

SNR

SNR = RSSI - noise floor; required SNR rises with modulation order (about 25 dB for 64-QAM, 31 dB for 1024-QAM)

Worked example

With the default values below, RSSI Signal Quality Calculator returns Signal to noise ratio of 28.0. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Received signal strengthaccepts -110–-20 dBm
-67 dBm
Noise flooraccepts -110–-40 dBm
-95 dBm
Wi-Fi standardone of 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ax / Wi-Fi 6
802.11ax / Wi-Fi 6

Results

Signal to noise ratio
28.0 dB
Signal quality band
Good - suitable for voice and video
Achievable modulation
Mid-to-high modulation
Headroom against the top modulation requirement
-3.0 dB

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2SNR
  3. 3Signal to noise ratio= 28.0 dB
  4. 4Signal quality band= Good - suitable for voice and video
  5. 5Achievable modulation= Mid-to-high modulation
  6. 6Headroom against the top modulation requirement= -3.0 dB

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 1 decimal place, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is -67 dBm the design target?

It provides enough SNR against a typical -95 dBm noise floor for high modulation rates with margin for body loss and orientation, which voice and video need.

Can I improve SNR by increasing transmit power?

Only on the downlink, and it makes co-channel interference worse. Reducing noise and moving the access point closer are both more effective.

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