As I tried to say, I think you can't expect RSSI values to be especially meaningful. Here
are readings I took using my 433-Mhz RFM22s a couple of weeks ago. The host unit sent
out a packet every 5-sec, while I carried the remote unit down the street, basically LOS.
The remote unit would receive the packet and re-transmit back to the host. The host
then displayed the received packet info, along with the RSSI value for that reception.
I got approx 700ft down the street before the remote stopped receiving packets, then I
turned around and walked back. The host lost the echoed packets somewhat before 700ft.
The debug msgs are shown for the first couple of packets sent, then I've edited
out everything but the received info. As you can see, the RSSI values jump all over
the place. I've also attached the RSSI conversion curve below.
TX transponder...
TX power(6.2,12.5,25,50,100mW -> 3..7): 6
sending: 000 tx_sponder
rxd: 000 tx_sponder ...rssi=242
TX transponder...
TX power(6.2,12.5,25,50,100mW -> 3..7): 6
sending: 001 tx_sponder
rxd: 001 tx_sponder ...rssi=87
rxd: 002 tx_sponder ...rssi=212
rxd: 003 tx_sponder ...rssi=200
rxd: 004 tx_sponder ...rssi=199
rxd: 005 tx_sponder ...rssi=208
rxd: 006 tx_sponder ...rssi=206
rxd: 007 tx_sponder ...rssi=172
rxd: 008 tx_sponder ...rssi=158
rxd: 009 tx_sponder ...rssi=151
rxd: 010 tx_sponder ...rssi=87
rxd: 011 tx_sponder ...rssi=147
rxd: 012 tx_sponder ...rssi=136
rxd: 013 tx_sponder ...rssi=136
rxd: 014 tx_sponder ...rssi=106
rxd: 015 tx_sponder ...rssi=136
rxd: 016 tx_sponder ...rssi=121
rxd: 017 tx_sponder ...rssi=107
rxd: 018 tx_sponder ...rssi=130
rxd: 019 tx_sponder ...rssi=73no echo
rxd: 021 tx_sponder ...rssi=78
rxd: 022 tx_sponder ...rssi=107
no echo
no echo
no echo
rxd: 026 tx_sponder ...rssi=113
no echo
no echo
no echo
no echo
no echo
no echo
no echo
no echo
no echo
no echo
no echo
no echo
no echo
no echo
no echo
no echo
no echo
no echo
no echo
no echo
rxd: 048 tx_sponder ...rssi=110
no echo
rxd: 050 tx_sponder ...rssi=72
rxd: 051 tx_sponder ...rssi=122
rxd: 052 tx_sponder ...rssi=141
rxd: 053 tx_sponder ...rssi=131
rxd: 054 tx_sponder ...rssi=61
rxd: 055 tx_sponder ...rssi=133
rxd: 056 tx_sponder ...rssi=112
rxd: 057 tx_sponder ...rssi=107
rxd: 058 tx_sponder ...rssi=132
rxd: 059 tx_sponder ...rssi=161
rxd: 060 tx_sponder ...rssi=183
rxd: 061 tx_sponder ...rssi=173
rxd: 062 tx_sponder ...rssi=118
rxd: 063 tx_sponder ...rssi=211
rxd: 064 tx_sponder ...rssi=193
rxd: 065 tx_sponder ...rssi=231
rxd: 066 tx_sponder ...rssi=238
