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imp.rssi()

Returns the current WiFi signal strength

Availability

Device
DEPRECATED METHOD — DO NOT USE IN NEW CODE

Returns

Integer — the WiFi signal strength in dBm

Description

This method is now deprecated. However, removing it altogether would cause users’ existing code to stop working, so we currently have no plans to do so. The recommended means of gaining the information this method returns is to call imp.net.info().

The current strength of the WiFi signal in dBm is negative, and the higher the number (ie. the closer to zero), the greater the signal strength.

The figure returned is the raw value reported by the WiFi hardware. To convert the value to ‘bars’ of signal strength as seen on phones, tablets and laptops, one mapping might be:

RSSI Bars
below -87 zero (still connected, but barely)
-87 to -82 1
-82 to -77 2
-77 to -72 3
-72 to -67 4
above -67 5 (well connected)

There are many more signal strength levels above -67 — values of up to -11 have been reported — but that’s not important: anything above -67 is good enough for everything the imp needs to do. Remember, the value can change even if both the imp and the WiFi access point or router are not moved and remain at constant range.

If the WiFi is not active at all, or during an outage, the result will be zero.

Note This method has been removed from versions of impOS running on the impC001.