What is the typical measurement format of the RSSI?

The typical measurement format of the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is expressed in negative decibels. This is because RSSI indicates the power level of received radio signals, with stronger signals yielding higher values, which translates to less negative decibels.

In wireless communication, a perfect signal strength would be represented as zero dBm (decibels relative to 1 milliwatt). However, most RSSI values fall below this point, hence they are expressed as negative values. For instance, an RSSI of -50 dBm indicates a strong signal, while an RSSI of -100 dBm indicates a weak signal. The use of negative decibels allows users and technicians to interpret the strength of a signal more adequately, as all real-world received signals are generally below zero dBm.

Using formats such as Hertz or Kilohertz is not applicable for measuring signal strength, as they relate to frequency rather than intensity or power of the signal. Therefore, the negative decibel scale provides a clear and effective way to represent RSSI values in terms of received power levels.