Two inspection laptops from different vendors report different RSSI numbers while sitting in the same city-hall lobby seat. What should the technician conclude?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
RSSI is each vendor's private report card, not a shared yardstick stamped by IEEE. Same seat, different brands, different numbers — that is normal. Reach for dBm when you need an absolute handshake between devices.
Full Explanation
Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is implemented as a vendor-specific relative metric and is not guaranteed to match another vendor's RSSI or absolute dBm at the same location. Divergent RSSI readings between dissimilar clients therefore do not by themselves prove a defective NIC, illegal EIRP, or an SSID mismatch. For comparable documentation, technicians should prefer absolute dBm measurements from calibrated or consistent tools. Understanding that RSSI is relative prevents false troubleshooting conclusions in mixed-client environments.