Enter the signal strength (RSSI), measured power (Tx Power), and distance into the calculator to determine the missing variable.

Beacon Distance Calculator

Enter any 2 values to calculate the missing variable


Related Calculators

Beacon Distance Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the distance for a given signal strength and measured power.

d = 10^{((P - R) / (10 * n))}

Variables:

  • d is the distance in meters
  • P is the measured power (Tx Power)
  • R is the received signal strength indicator (RSSI)
  • n is the path-loss exponent (typically 2 for free space)

To calculate the distance, subtract the RSSI from the Tx Power, divide by 10 times the path-loss exponent, and then raise 10 to the power of the result.

What is a Beacon Distance?

Beacon distance refers to the distance between a beacon device and a receiver, typically measured in meters. Beacons are small, wireless transmitters that use Bluetooth technology to send signals to nearby devices. The distance is calculated based on the signal strength (RSSI) received by the device and the known transmission power (Tx Power) of the beacon. This measurement is crucial for applications like indoor navigation, proximity marketing, and asset tracking, where accurate distance estimation is required.

How to Calculate Beacon Distance?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Beacon Distance.


  1. First, determine the signal strength (RSSI) received by the device.
  2. Next, determine the measured power (Tx Power) of the beacon.
  3. Next, use the formula d = 10^((P – R) / (10 * n)) to calculate the distance.
  4. Finally, calculate the Beacon Distance.
  5. After inserting the values and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem : 

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

Signal Strength (RSSI) = -70 dBm

Measured Power (Tx Power) = -50 dBm

Path-loss exponent (n) = 2