How to Read a Signal Survey Dashboard

Why Dashboard Literacy Matters for Facility Managers

When you receive the results of a professional cellular signal survey, the data is typically delivered through an interactive dashboard rather than a static PDF report. These dashboards contain a wealth of information—coverage heatmaps, signal metrics, carrier comparisons, and compliance scores—that drive critical decisions about DAS investment and building infrastructure.

You don't need to be an RF engineer to use this data effectively. This guide explains the key metrics, how to interpret visualizations, and how to translate dashboard insights into confident decisions about your facility's wireless infrastructure.

Key Metrics Explained

Signal survey dashboards present several RF measurements. Understanding what each metric tells you—and what "good" versus "bad" looks like—is the foundation of dashboard literacy.

RSRP: Reference Signal Received Power

RSRP is the most fundamental cellular signal metric. It measures the power of the reference signal received from a cell tower, expressed in dBm (decibels relative to one milliwatt). Think of RSRP as the "volume" of the cellular signal at a given location.

How to read it: RSRP values are always negative. Values closer to zero are stronger.

• -65 to -80 dBm: Excellent. Strong indoor signal suitable for all applications including HD video calls and high-speed data.
• -80 to -95 dBm: Good. Adequate for most indoor use cases including voice calls and standard data.
• -95 to -105 dBm: Fair. Users may experience slower speeds and occasional quality issues. This range often triggers DAS consideration.
• -105 to -115 dBm: Poor. Unreliable service with frequent issues. DAS is strongly recommended.
• Below -115 dBm: No usable coverage. DAS or alternative infrastructure is required.

On your dashboard heatmap, RSRP is typically shown with a color gradient from green (strong) through yellow (moderate) to red (weak). Areas in red are your primary coverage gaps.

RSRQ: Reference Signal Received Quality

While RSRP tells you how strong the signal is, RSRQ tells you how clean it is. RSRQ measures signal quality by factoring in interference from other cells and noise in the environment. Measured in dB, it reveals whether signal quality issues exist even in areas where signal strength appears adequate.

How to read it: RSRQ values are also negative, with values closer to zero being better.

• -3 to -9 dB: Excellent quality. Clean signal with minimal interference.
• -10 to -12 dB: Good quality. Normal operating conditions for most indoor environments.
• -13 to -15 dB: Fair quality. Interference is affecting signal. Performance may be inconsistent.
• Below -15 dB: Poor quality. Heavy interference is degrading service regardless of signal strength.

RSRQ is particularly important in dense urban environments where multiple cell towers compete for the same device. A location might show acceptable RSRP but poor RSRQ, indicating that while signal reaches the area, interference makes it unreliable.

SINR: Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio

SINR is the best predictor of actual user experience. It measures the ratio of useful signal power to the combined power of interference and background noise. Expressed in dB, SINR directly correlates with the data speeds a user will experience.

How to read it: Unlike RSRP and RSRQ, higher SINR values are better.

• Above 20 dB: Excellent. Capable of supporting the highest data rates the network can deliver.
• 13 to 20 dB: Good. Strong performance for all typical applications.
• 0 to 13 dB: Fair. Usable but with noticeably reduced data speeds. Users will experience buffering and slower downloads.
• Below 0 dB: Poor. The noise and interference overpower the signal. Data service is essentially non-functional.

When reviewing your dashboard, SINR is often the metric that most directly explains user complaints. An area might have marginal RSRP that technically qualifies as "coverage," but if SINR is low, the actual experience will be poor.

Reading Coverage Heatmaps

Heatmaps are the most visually intuitive element of a signal survey dashboard. They overlay color-coded signal measurements onto a map or floor plan, creating an immediate visual picture of where coverage is strong, adequate, or deficient.

Color Scales

Most dashboards use a green-yellow-red color scale where green represents strong signal and red represents weak or absent signal. Some dashboards offer multiple color schemes, but the principle is consistent: warm colors indicate problem areas, cool colors indicate good coverage.

Interpreting Patterns

When examining a heatmap, look for these common patterns:

• Perimeter degradation: Signal weakens as you move away from exterior walls (if signal enters from outdoor towers). Interior corridors and rooms farthest from windows typically show the worst coverage.
• Floor-by-floor variation: Lower floors in multi-story buildings often have worse coverage than upper floors, since signal from macro towers reaches higher elevations more easily. Basements and sub-grade levels typically have the worst coverage.
• Material shadows: Elevator shafts, stairwells, and rooms with concrete walls create "shadows" where signal drops sharply. These areas appear as red spots within otherwise green zones.
• Carrier variation: Different carriers may show dramatically different heatmap patterns at the same location, depending on their tower locations and frequency bands. Toggle between carriers on your dashboard to see these differences.

Understanding Carrier Comparisons

A comprehensive signal survey measures all available carriers simultaneously. Your dashboard should provide carrier-by-carrier comparisons that reveal which networks perform best and worst at your facility.

Why carrier comparison matters: In a multi-tenant building, occupants use different carriers. A DAS system typically needs to support all major carriers to serve the entire building population. Carrier comparison data shows which networks need the most improvement and helps prioritize DAS design decisions.

Look for:

• Consistently poor carrier: If one carrier performs significantly worse than others, their tower placement or frequency allocation may be particularly unfavorable for your location. This data is valuable when negotiating with carriers about DAS participation.
• Band-specific issues: Some carriers may have strong low-band coverage but poor mid-band performance at your facility. This affects 5G readiness and overall capacity.
• Coverage consistency: A carrier that shows spotty coverage with highly variable signal levels may be more problematic than one with uniformly moderate signal, because inconsistency causes more dropped connections than steady weak signal.

What "Good" Signal Looks Like

For DAS planning and RFP purposes, industry guidelines define target signal levels for indoor environments. While specific requirements vary by application, general benchmarks for acceptable indoor coverage are:

• RSRP: Better than -95 dBm across at least 90% of the covered area
• RSRQ: Better than -12 dB across at least 90% of the covered area
• SINR: Better than 5 dB across at least 90% of the covered area

Your dashboard's compliance scoring feature compares measured values against these thresholds (or custom thresholds you define) and calculates a compliance percentage for each metric and carrier. This single number—"78% of test points meet RSRP threshold"—is one of the most actionable data points for DAS decision-making.

Using Dashboard Data for DAS RFP Decisions

The ultimate purpose of a signal survey dashboard for many facility managers is to inform DAS procurement. Here is how to translate dashboard insights into RFP-ready decisions:

Documenting the Need

Your dashboard provides the evidence that DAS is necessary. When presenting to stakeholders or executives, focus on compliance scores (e.g., "only 45% of the building meets minimum RSRP thresholds for AT&T"), heatmap visualizations of coverage gaps, and carrier comparison data showing which networks are most affected.

Setting Performance Targets

Use your baseline survey data to set specific, measurable DAS performance targets in the RFP. Instead of "improve indoor coverage," specify "achieve RSRP of -85 dBm or better across 95% of all occupied areas for all Tier 1 carriers." Survey data makes these targets credible and verifiable.

Evaluating Vendor Proposals

When DAS integrator proposals arrive, compare their predicted coverage improvements against your survey baseline. Vendors who have access to your survey data can provide more accurate designs and cost estimates. After installation, a follow-up survey using the same methodology validates that contractual performance targets have been met.

Ongoing Monitoring

If your dashboard supports data updates, periodic resurveys can track coverage changes over time. This is valuable for identifying degradation, validating DAS performance after installation, and planning future upgrades as carriers deploy new frequency bands and technologies.

Your signal survey dashboard transforms complex RF data into actionable business intelligence. By understanding the key metrics, reading heatmaps effectively, and connecting the data to procurement decisions, you can confidently manage your facility's wireless infrastructure investment.