What is a Good dBm Worth?
Today, as we’ve already explored topics like RSRP, SINR, and signal strength indicators, it’s the right time to talk about what makes a “good” dBm value and how you should look at it when analyzing LTE or wireless performance. I’ll help you understand this in a very straightforward way so that next time you see a dBm reading, you’ll know exactly what it means for your connection.
dBm is a unit of power that tells us how strong a signal is. It’s measured in decibels relative to 1 milliwatt, and you’ll usually see it with a negative number in wireless systems. The closer the value is to 0 dBm, the stronger the signal. But remember, higher power doesn’t always mean better if there’s a lot of noise or interference involved.
Understanding dBm Value Range
Let me explain you this through a simple range list that you can keep in mind whenever you’re checking signal quality:
- -30 dBm to -50 dBm: Excellent signal – This usually means you’re very close to the cell tower or access point.
- -51 dBm to -65 dBm: Very good signal – Strong and stable for most activities like streaming or video calls.
- -66 dBm to -75 dBm: Good signal – You can still enjoy web browsing, social media, and even some HD streaming.
- -76 dBm to -85 dBm: Fair – Expect slower performance. Might be okay for browsing or light use.
- -86 dBm to -100 dBm: Poor – Unstable signal, frequent disconnects, dropped VoIP calls, low-quality streaming.
- Below -100 dBm: Very weak – Often unusable. LTE modem may struggle to maintain connection.
Typical dBm Values by Use Case
You might want to compare dBm readings for different technologies or usage environments. I’ve included a table to make that easier for you:
| Technology | Good dBm Range | Typical Usage |
|---|---|---|
| LTE (RSRP) | -70 dBm to -90 dBm | Mobile internet, VoIP, browsing |
| Wi-Fi | -30 dBm to -67 dBm | Local network access, high-speed internet |
| 5G (NR) | -65 dBm to -85 dBm | Ultra-fast mobile data, real-time applications |
Why dBm Alone Isn’t Enough
Now, even if you see a good dBm value, it doesn’t always mean your internet will be fast or stable. You also need to consider other things we’ve discussed before like SINR (Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio) and RSRQ (Reference Signal Received Quality). I suggest you always evaluate dBm together with these to get a full picture of what’s happening in your network.
As we discussed in the article on SINR, even with a good signal strength (say, -65 dBm), poor SINR due to interference could lead to low throughput. So you should keep checking multiple parameters instead of just relying on one number.
Practical Tip
If you’re using a signal monitoring app or LTE modem interface, you can aim for an RSRP around -70 dBm to -85 dBm for stable LTE performance. And if your dBm is lower (closer to zero) than -60, you’re likely enjoying very high signal strength.
Now that you’ve got a better understanding of what a good dBm value looks like and how it relates to your connection, you can start using this knowledge to assess and optimize your network setup more confidently.