Generally the higher (closer to 0) the better, and the closer to -100 the worse. The Wi-Fi scanner shows the combined value.RSSI or received signal strength indication can go from 0 to -100 (for Apple - other vendors can measure it differently as RSSI has no stated units. rssi_combined: Receive signal strenth indicator of combination of all active chains on the control and extension channels.Īll five of these values are shown in the PHY layer decoder for every packet.rssi_ant11: Receive signal strength indicator of extension channel chain 1.rssi_ant10: Receive signal strength indicator of extension channel chain 0.rssi_ant01: Receive signal strength indicator of control channel chain 1.rssi_ant00: Receive signal strength indicator of control channel chain 0.The hardware provides the following five values: Each received packet has RSSI values for both antennas as well as the combined value. The radio hardware in the ComProbe 802.11 has two receive chains (one for each antenna). The ComProbe 802.11 uses an Atheros chipset which provides RSSI values in the range of 0 to 128. RSSI is intended to be used in a relative manner, and it shall be a monotonically increasing function of the received power.ĭifferent vendors implement these value in their own way. RSSI shall be measured during the reception of the PLCP preamble. This parameter is a measure by the PHY of the energy observed at the antenna used to receive the current PPDU. RSSI in OFDM PHY: The allowed values for the RSSI parameter are in the range from 0 through RSSI maximum.RSSI indications of up to 8 bits (256 levels) are supported. RSSI in DSSS PHY: The RSSI shall be a measure of the RF energy received by the DSSS PHY.Absolute accuracy of the RSSI reading is not specified. RSSI is intended to be used in a relative manner. RSSI shall be measured between the beginning of the SFD and the end of the PLCP HEC. RSSI in FHSS PHY: The RSSI is an optional parameter that has a value of 0 through RSSI Max.Here are the definitions from the specification. The 802.11 specification does not provide a relationship between the RSSI value and the actual power value.

Rssi values