You can check the signal strength of your node using the following methods below.
What does signal strength refer to?
How is the node's signal strength measured?
What causes a poor signal, and what can I do to improve it?
Does good signal strength guarantee good network performance?
Where can I check my node's signal strength?
What can I do when a device is connected to a node that’s farther away with a weak signal?
What does signal strength refer to?
Your Linksys Mesh WiFi system is made up of multiple nodes where each node houses antennas that emit WiFi waves. Signal strength refers to how well a node hears the signal from another node.
How is the node's signal strength measured?
Signal strength has a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value measured in dBm or decibels per milliwatt. The dBm is expressed in negative values. The higher the number, the better the signal.
| Symbol | RSSI (dBm) |
 |
0 to -60 |
 |
-61 to -70 |
 |
-71 to -80 |
 |
-81 and lower |
 |
Not applicable |
If your signal is Fair or Poor, consider relocating or moving your child node closer to another node, then recheck your signal. Moreover, if a WiFi child node appears as a wired node in the Linksys app, consider restarting the network. After the network has come back online, wait for a short while to check whether the status has changed.
What causes a poor signal, and what can I do to improve it?
1. Node placement - Nodes placed improperly or too far apart can cause weaker signals. Make sure all nodes are placed out in the open where signals can travel versus inside a cabinet or behind furniture. If a node is out in the open but still has a weak signal, move it closer to another node.
2. Interference from crowded WiFi airspace - Your router sends data across frequency bands: 2.5 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz. Within these bands are channels which are segments of the band and identified by a number. Like multiple lanes on a freeway, these channels can get crowded when a certain number of devices use them to connect to WiFi. Keep in mind your neighbor’s devices will be using these channels too.
Use the Channel Finder tool in the Linksys app to use the best channel.
Does good signal strength guarantee good network performance?
Not necessarily. Achieving good signal strength is a good place to start for optimizing your network but also consider the number of devices and bandwidth your network uses.
Where can I check my node's signal strength?
1. Open the Linksys app and Log in to the Linksys app Dashboard.
2. Tap on the menu icon in the upper left-hand corner, and then go to Network Administration.
| iOS | Android™ |
 |
 |
3. Tap on Nodes.
4. Tap on a wireless child node. You will see a signal strength value.
The value will update every 10 minutes.
1. Launch a web browser enter “LinksysSmartWiFi.com” in the Address bar and press [ENTER].
2. Enter your Linksys cloud account credentials, then click Sign In.
3. From the dashboard, click on Device List.
4. You will see a signal strength icon on each node. Click on each node to view the node details and see the exact RSSI (dBm) value. The value will update every 10 minutes.
This situation may occur when using a non-stationary device such as a mobile phone or laptop that was connected to the closest node but was moved afterward. WiFi drivers in these devices use signal strength to determine if it’s time to search for another access point or node. You can force a device to connect to another node by simply turning the device’s WiFi OFF and ON again.
