How to check the quality and strength of your WiFi signal

Nowadays, almost every home and workplace has a WiFi connection. But unfortunately, the signal is not always strong enough to cover our usage needs. In this article we will see How to check the quality and strength of your WiFi signal. The methods for measuring it and the ways that exist to improve it.

There are many factors that influence the functioning of a wireless Internet network. But if we want its performance to be at its best, it is important to know how to optimize it and solve any problems that may arise.

Reference values

What scale is used to measure the quality of a WiFi signal? The value we should use is the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator), which indicates the signal strength. Depending on the results of our measurements, we will know the quality of our connection:

• Excellent signal (between -30 dBm and -50 dBm), perfect for Gaming or to play 4K videos.
• Good sign (between -50 dBm and -70 dBm): Enough for browsing and video streaming.
• Normal signal (between -70 dBm and -80 dBm), which may result in interruptions or slow speeds.
• Poor signal (more than -80 dBm): We have a problem.

Ways to check the quality and strength of your WiFi signal

To achieve this goal, we have different resources. A range of solutions ranging from the use of tools built into our operating system to seeking help from specialized applications. We will discuss all of this in the following paragraphs.

The WiFi icon on your computer

In Windows, the first reference we should pay attention to is the one that gives us the WiFi icon, which is displayed in the taskbar, in the lower right corner of the screen. This icon displays a series of bars that indicate the strength of the network signal. In principle, The more bars we see, the stronger the connection. But it must be said that this is not a very precise method.

In macOS, this icon is accompanied by more information. To access it, hold down the Option (Alt) key and at the same time click on the WiFi icon in the menu bar, top right. In addition to the bars, you will find there data such as the data transmission rate or
RSSI.

Symbol of the system

Another way to get information about your WiFi signal strength is through the Command Prompt (cmd). Here's how we can do it:

1. To start we use the key combination Windows + R to open the system search engine.
2. Then we write cmd and we press Enter.
3. Next, we run the following command: netsh wlan show interfaces
4. After this, the screen will display the Detailed information about our WiFi connection, including signal strength. The higher the percentage, the better.

Router data

router models They allow you to see information about the quality and intensity of your WiFi signal and the connection to the different connected devices. This data is available to us in the administration interface.

To access the router interface we have to do the following:

1. First, from a web browser, We enter the IP address of our router (it is usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
2. Then we must identify ourselves with our username (network name) and password.
3. Next, let's go to the WiFi information section or connected devices, where data such as the general status of the network and signal strength are displayed.

Speed ​​tests

Although speed test, in principle, is designed to find out how fast a WiFi connection is, it can also serve as a reference, since it usually reflect in some way the quality of the signalTo carry out these tests, it is a good idea to use tools that are as effective as they are known to almost everyone.

Perhaps the best for this job is Speedtest.netTo perform this test, you just have to access their website from your browser or download the app on your mobile. The speed results (download and upload) provided by these tests will help us determine whether we have a strong or weak signal.

How to improve the strength of your WiFi signal?

If the information we have searched reveals that our signal is weak or of poor quality, we need to look for ways to solve the problem. Here are some useful suggestions:

• Change the router location, somewhere in your home or office for better coverage. It is important to keep it away from cordless phones, microwave ovens and other devices that may cause interference.
• Use a WiFi signal extender or repeater in case the coverage in some areas of your house is insufficient, this solution will significantly improve the intensity of your WiFi signal.