WIFI
🧭 1. Quick Method (Using Built-in Tools)
Windows
- Press
Win + R, typecmd, and press Enter. - Run:
netsh wlan show interfaces - Look for Signal — shown as a percentage (e.g. Signal : 85%).
| Signal % | Quality |
|---|---|
| 100–80% | Excellent |
| 80–60% | Good |
| 60–40% | Fair |
| <40% | Weak |
macOS
- Hold Option and click the Wi-Fi icon in the top bar.
- Find RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator).
| RSSI (dBm) | Quality |
|---|---|
| −30 | Excellent |
| −50 | Good |
| −70 | Poor |
| <−80 | Unusable |
Android
- Go to Settings → About Phone → Status → Wi-Fi Signal Strength,
- Or use an app like WiFi Analyzer to see dBm and channel info.
iPhone
- Install Airport Utility.
- Enable “Wi-Fi Scanner” in Settings → Airport Utility.
- Open Airport Utility → Wi-Fi Scan → Start.
- View the RSSI values in dBm.
🧪 2. Advanced Tools
Desktop Tools
- inSSIDer
- NetSpot
- Acrylic Wi-Fi Home
- WiFi Explorer
Mobile Apps
- WiFi Analyzer (Android)
- Fing
- NetSpot
- Network Analyzer
These display dBm, channel overlap, and throughput data.
📶 3. Physical Testing
- Walk around your space with the analyzer open.
- Observe how signal strength changes.
- Use a Wi-Fi heatmap to visualize strong and weak areas — helpful for router or mesh placement optimization.
📊 Signal Strength Reference
| Signal (dBm) | Quality Description | Expected Performance |
|---|---|---|
| −30 to −50 | Excellent | Maximum speed, stable connection |
| −51 to −60 | Good | Fast, reliable |
| −61 to −70 | Fair | Usable, may slow down |
| −71 to −80 | Weak | Lag, frequent drops |
| <−80 | Very Poor/Unusable | Likely to disconnect |