Overview
RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) is a fundamental RF measurement that quantifies received signal power in radio communications. In Locus RTLS systems, RSSI serves as a critical metric for system diagnostics, range estimation, and positioning validation.
Signal Measurement
Signal Characteristics
| Parameter | Range | Description | Application |
|---|
| Strong Signal | -30 to -50 dBm | Optimal range | Direct LOS |
| Good Signal | -50 to -65 dBm | Normal operation | Typical indoor |
| Fair Signal | -65 to -75 dBm | Acceptable | Through walls |
| Poor Signal | -75 to -85 dBm | Marginal | Long range |
| Very Poor | Below -85 dBm | Unreliable | Out of range |
System Diagnostics
Installation Optimization
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Coverage Mapping
- Signal strength surveys
- Heat map generation
- Weak spot identification
- Overlap verification
-
Anchor Placement
- Line-of-sight validation
- Inter-anchor visibility
- Coverage optimization
- Interference avoidance
-
System Validation
- Performance verification
- Range confirmation
- Link reliability
- Network health
Signal Propagation
Path Loss Model
Environmental Factors
| Factor | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|
| Distance | -20dB/decade | Anchor density |
| Walls | -3 to -15 dB | Strategic placement |
| Multipath | ±6 dB | Diversity techniques |
| Interference | Variable | Channel selection |
| Orientation | Up to -20 dB | Antenna design |
Signal Quality Metrics
Quality Indicators
| Metric | Good | Warning | Critical |
|---|
| RSSI | Greater than -65 dBm | -65 to -75 dBm | Less than -75 dBm |
| Stability | ±3 dB | ±6 dB | Greater than ±6 dB |
| Coverage | Greater than 90% | 70-90% | Less than 70% |
| Reliability | Greater than 99% | 95-99% | Less than 95% |
System Integration
-
Real-time Display
- Current RSSI values
- Trend graphs
- Alert thresholds
- Quality indicators
-
Historical Analysis
- Long-term trends
- Pattern detection
- Performance tracking
- Issue correlation
-
Diagnostic Features
- Signal mapping
- Coverage analysis
- Problem detection
- Health monitoring
Data Utilization
Best Practices
Implementation Guidelines
-
Baseline Establishment
- Initial surveys
- Reference measurements
- Performance benchmarks
- Coverage mapping
-
Monitoring Protocol
- Regular checks
- Trend analysis
- Alert thresholds
- Response procedures
-
Maintenance Schedule
- Periodic validation
- System calibration
- Performance tuning
- Issue prevention
RSSI values should be used as one of several metrics for system health assessment. Do not rely solely on RSSI for critical positioning decisions.
Contact Locus support for detailed RSSI analysis tools and optimization recommendations for your specific deployment environment.
