How the Meshtastic Signal Meter Works

The Meshtastic signal meter — the bars or status color next to a node — is calculated differently from the bars on a cell phone or Wi-Fi router. This page explains what it measures and why the same reading can mean something different on another preset.

RSSI and SNR

Every time the LoRaLoRaA low-power, long-range wireless communication technology used by Meshtastic devices to enable communication over distances of several kilometers without the need for cellular, Wi-Fi, or other traditional network infrastructures. radio receives a message, it reports two measurements:

• RSSIRSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator). The raw power level of a received signal, where a value closer to zero is stronger. Clients rate signal quality from SNR rather than RSSI. (Received Signal Strength Indicator) — the raw power hitting the antenna.
• SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. (Signal-to-Noise RatioSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission.) — how far the signal stands above the background noise.

💡 Tip: Think of RSSIRSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator). The raw power level of a received signal, where a value closer to zero is stronger. Clients rate signal quality from SNR rather than RSSI. as how loud a friend is talking and SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. as how easily you can pick their voice out of the noise in the room. A friend shouting at a rock concert can be loud (high RSSIRSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator). The raw power level of a received signal, where a value closer to zero is stronger. Clients rate signal quality from SNR rather than RSSI.) yet unintelligible (bad SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission.), while a whisper in a quiet library is faint (low RSSIRSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator). The raw power level of a received signal, where a value closer to zero is stronger. Clients rate signal quality from SNR rather than RSSI.) yet perfectly clear (great SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission.).

Decoding Below the Noise Floor

Standard radios such as FM or Wi-Fi lose a signal to static once the background noise is louder than it (a negative SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission.). LoRaLoRaA low-power, long-range wireless communication technology used by Meshtastic devices to enable communication over distances of several kilometers without the need for cellular, Wi-Fi, or other traditional network infrastructures.'s spread spectrum modulation lets the radio pull a signal out of the noise even when the noise is louder, so negative SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. values are common and expected in Meshtastic — for example, −10 dB means the signal is 10 decibels weaker than the background noise.

Each modem presetModem PresetThe tradeoff between range and speed for LoRa transmissions. Each preset sets the bandwidth, spreading factor, and coding rate, and nodes need the same preset to hear each other. has an SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. limit: the lowest SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. at which that preset can still decode a message. Slower presets tolerate a weaker, noisier signal (a more negative limit, longer range); faster presets need a stronger signal (a less negative limit, shorter range).

Rating Signal Quality

The app rates signal quality (None, Bad, Fair, or Good) from SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. relative to the active preset's SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. limit. When RSSIRSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator). The raw power level of a received signal, where a value closer to zero is stronger. Clients rate signal quality from SNR rather than RSSI. and a noise-floor reading are both available, it also rates the difference between them against that limit and uses the worse rating. Otherwise, it uses SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. alone.

Because the rating is relative to the preset, the same SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. rates differently on different presets. An SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. of −16 dB rates Good on Long Fast (SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. limit −17.5 dB) but None on Short Fast (SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. limit −7.5 dB). Let limit be the active preset's SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. limit:

Level	Bars	Criteria	Meaning
Good	Full	SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. above limit	Comfortably above the demodulation floor — a healthy connection.
Fair	3	less than 5.5 dB below limit	Decodable, but approaching the floor.
Bad	2	5.5 dB to 7.5 dB below limit	At the edge of what the preset can recover.
None	1	more than 7.5 dB below limit	Far below the preset's floor; further packets from this node are likely to be lost.

The icon never goes blank, so count the bars carefully: a single bar means None, not a weak but usable link, and Good is a solid wedge rather than a set of bars. A gray three-bar icon labeled Unknown is a different state again — the packet carried no SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. measurement at all, which is not the same as measuring one and finding it too weak.

ℹ️ Note: TracerouteTracerouteA request that reports the path a message took through the mesh. The result lists the nodes along the way in both directions, with the signal-to-noise ratio at each hop. and neighbor-info SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. colors use the active preset's limits too. RSSIRSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator). The raw power level of a received signal, where a value closer to zero is stronger. Clients rate signal quality from SNR rather than RSSI. text has separate strength colors: green above −115 dBm, yellow above −120 dBm, orange above −126 dBm, and red at or below −126 dBm.

Diagnosing Local Interference

A great RSSIRSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator). The raw power level of a received signal, where a value closer to zero is stronger. Clients rate signal quality from SNR rather than RSSI. paired with a one- or two-bar rating (None or Bad) points to local interference, not distance. A cheap power supply, a noisy computer, or a nearby transmitter can create enough static to drown out an otherwise strong signal.

Where Signal Information Appears

In the app, signal data appears in several places:

• Node list — a signal-bars icon, shown only for nodes your radio heard directly. A node reached through a relay shows its hop count instead, because the SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. your radio measured describes the last hop, not the whole path
• Node detail — SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission., RSSIRSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator). The raw power level of a received signal, where a value closer to zero is stronger. Clients rate signal quality from SNR rather than RSSI., and the quality word in the Details card at the top of the screen
• TracerouteTracerouteA request that reports the path a message took through the mesh. The result lists the nodes along the way in both directions, with the signal-to-noise ratio at each hop. — per-hop signal quality for each relay node
• Signal Quality — historical SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. and RSSIRSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator). The raw power level of a received signal, where a value closer to zero is stronger. Clients rate signal quality from SNR rather than RSSI. data in the metrics charts

Related Topics

• Nodes — where signal bars appear in the node list
• Node Metrics — SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission./RSSIRSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator). The raw power level of a received signal, where a value closer to zero is stronger. Clients rate signal quality from SNR rather than RSSI. history and the per-node signal quality reference
• Settings — Radio & User — modem presetsModem PresetThe tradeoff between range and speed for LoRa transmissions. Each preset sets the bandwidth, spreading factor, and coding rate, and nodes need the same preset to hear each other. and their SNRSNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). A measure used in communications to quantify the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. In Meshtastic and other wireless systems, a higher SNR indicates a clearer signal that can enhance the reliability and quality of data transmission. limits