The Cloud Connector uses a custom signal quality indicator based on real-world data from thousands of deployed devices. This article explains what factors affect it and how it is calculated.
Who is this article for?
Anyone monitoring Cloud Connector connectivity who wants to understand what the signal strength percentage means and what affects it.
What affects signal strength?
- Distance to the nearest cellular base station
- Radio noise in the area
- Network congestion
- Placement and orientation of the Cloud Connector
A signal strength between 20% and 60% is considered normal and is sufficient for a robust cellular connection.
How the signal quality score is calculated
DT's 4G Cloud Connectors report three cellular metrics from the modem:
- RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power) — the average power of cell-specific reference signals, nearly directly proportional to RSSI on DT devices
- RSRQ (Reference Signal Received Quality) — signal quality taking into account RSSI, RSRP, and available bandwidth usage
- SINR (Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio) — a modem-vendor-defined measure of signal quality
Each metric is compared against thresholds for "good", "moderate", and "poor" performance, inspired by the Android Open Source Project. The metric with the worst score determines the final signal quality percentage. The thresholds were calibrated using real-world data collected from DT's fleet of 4G Cloud Connectors.
Troubleshooting / FAQ
Q: My Cloud Connector shows a signal below 20%. Will it still work?
A: Low signal can still maintain a connection, but reliability may be reduced. Try repositioning the Cloud Connector, moving it closer to a window, or away from metal surfaces or other interference sources.
Q: Where can I read the technical specification for these signal metrics?
A: The RSRP, RSRQ, and SINR parameters are defined in ETSI TS 36.214.