Wi-Fi Signal Strength
system_profiler
To check your Wi-Fi signal strength, use the command below. The output will include a line similar to this: Signal / Noise: -47 dBm / -90 dBm.
% system_profiler SPAirPortDataType
Wi-Fi:
Software Versions:
CoreWLAN: 16.0 (1657)
CoreWLANKit: 16.0 (1657)
Menu Extra: 17.0 (1728)
System Information: 15.0 (1502)
IO80211 Family: 12.0 (1200.13.1)
Diagnostics: 11.0 (1163)
AirPort Utility: 6.3.9 (639.26)
Interfaces:
en0:
Card Type: Wi-Fi (0x14E4, 0x4387)
Firmware Version: wl0: Oct 31 2024 06:06:06 version 20.10.1135.4.8.7.191 FWID 01-e648b845
IO80211_driverkit-1345.8 "IO80211_driverkit-1345.8" Nov 9 2024 17:02:32
MAC Address: 06:cf:3c:59:9d:4e
Locale: Unknown
Country Code: CN
Supported PHY Modes: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
Supported Channels: 1 (2GHz), 2 (2GHz), 3 (2GHz), 4 (2GHz), 5 (2GHz), 6 (2GHz), 7 (2GHz), 8 (2GHz), 9 (2GHz), 10 (2GHz), 11 (2GHz), 12 (2GHz), 13 (2GHz), 36 (5GHz), 40 (5GHz), 44 (5GHz), 48 (5GHz), 52 (5GHz), 56 (5GHz), 60 (5GHz), 64 (5GHz), 149 (5GHz), 153 (5GHz), 157 (5GHz), 161 (5GHz), 165 (5GHz)
Wake On Wireless: Supported
AirDrop: Supported
Auto Unlock: Supported
Status: Connected
Current Network Information:
ZTE-YsyTUc_5G:
PHY Mode: 802.11ac
Channel: 36 (5GHz, 80MHz)
Country Code: CN
Network Type: Infrastructure
Security: WPA2 Personal
Signal / Noise: -47 dBm / -90 dBm
Transmit Rate: 866
MCS Index: 9
Signal/Noise
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) helps determine signal quality. Higher SNR is better.
SNR (dB) = Signal Strength (dBm) – Noise Level (dBm)
Example:
- Pair 1: -40 dBm / -90 dBm, SNR = 50 dB
- Pair 2: -47 dBm / -90 dBm, SNR = 43 dB
Pair 1 (50 dB) is better due to higher SNR and stronger signal.
Signal Strength Guidelines:
- Excellent: > -50 dBm
- Good: -50 to -60 dBm
- Fair: -60 to -70 dBm
- Poor: < -70 dBm