WiFi Signal Strength

What is WiFi signal strength?

WiFi signal strength is how loudly your router is "shouting" to your device, and vice versa. It's measured in decibels relative to a milliwatt (dBm), which is a negative number—the closer to zero, the better.

Think of it like cell phone bars or radio reception. When you're close to the source with few obstacles, you get a strong, clear signal. Move further away or put walls between you and the signal drops.

Why it matters

Weak WiFi signal leads to slower speeds, more dropped connections, and inconsistent performance. Your device and router have to shout louder and repeat themselves more often, which uses more battery and bandwidth.

Video calls are especially sensitive to weak signals. The connection might work for web browsing but struggle to maintain the steady stream of data needed for smooth video and audio.

What you can do

• Move closer to your router—distance is the biggest factor
• Reduce obstacles between you and the router (walls, floors, metal objects)
• Elevate your router—place it higher up, not on the floor or behind furniture
• Consider a mesh WiFi system for larger homes or offices
• Try switching between 2.4 GHz (better range) and 5 GHz (faster but shorter range) bands
• Update your router's firmware or consider a newer router with better antennas

What Network Weather shows you

Network Weather displays your WiFi signal strength in dBm and translates it to easy-to-understand ratings.