Your Ring Smart Lights RSSI (High vs Low)

The RSSI reading in your app will help you know how strong the signal is between your Bridge and router, also your Bridge and Smart Lighting devices. Think of the Bridge as the center of your Smart Light setup. It needs to be in a location where it can have a strong connection to your wifi router and to your Smart Lighting devices. Your Bridge can be moved after you set it up to get the best RSSI for your Smart Lighting devices. Learn more about your Bridge in the Community article.

Where to Find your Device’s RSSI
Open your Ring app, select your Bridge or a Smart Light device, then select the “Device Health” section to see the signal strengths. If you tap on the reading in your apps Device Health section for your Smart Light or Bridge it will show you the RSSI number value.



Understand Your RSSI Reading Ranges

Wifi Router to Bridge

  • Bad (-61 to -90) is critical and will likely cause a loss of functionality or be unable to maintain a usable connection to the wifi altogether.
  • Fair (-60 to -41) is sufficient. Possible connection issues if constantly at -60.
  • Good (-40 or better) is virtually no interference and a very strong signal.

Bridge to Smart Light Device - Our Bridge uses a long-range radio frequency network that can extend farther than wifi, so the reading meanings are different than wifi router to Bridge.

  • Bad (-90 to -100) is critical and will likely cause a loss of functionality or be unable to maintain a usable connection to your Bridge altogether.
  • Fair (-81 to -89) is sufficient. Possible connection issues if constantly at -89.
  • Good (-80 or better) is virtually no interference and a very strong signal.

Common Results of Poor RSSI

  • Delayed Commands - the commands you have setup for your lights may take longer to activate or might not happen at all if the device has a weak signal to the Bridge.
  • Loading Status - the status of your lights will likely take longer to load the weaker it’s signal is.
  • Poor RSSI Reading - if a router is an older model or is just not strong at broadcasting signal, the RSSI could be poor even though little interference exists between the router and Bridge.

Tips for Poor RSSI
If you’re having connectivity concerns and don’t have the best RSSI readings, it would be good to start by moving your Bridge closer to your wifi source. Try to keep it uncovered and give it room to let the signal out. You can move the Bridge around freely to try and find the best spot for your setup. Trying to get a strong signal between the Bridge and your Router, as well as the Bridge and your Smart Light devices.

IMPORTANT REMINDER
If speeds are not sufficient, but the router is right near the Ring device, the RSSI can certainly read a strong value. It only knows the signal strength, but it does not measure the resources otherwise. To measure that you will want to run a speed test, you can learn how here.

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