Kernaali ToolsCapture the serving connection first
/interface/lte/monitor lte1 once
/interface/lte/show-capabilities lte1Serving-cell output describes the active connection. Available fields depend on modem, firmware, RAT and whether traffic is running. NR measurements can refer to synchronization-signal or CSI reference signals; do not compare them as if every modem reports the same LTE metric.
| Field | What it tells you | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| RSRP (dBm) | Power in specified reference signals | Compare coverage for the same RAT/measurement type |
| RSRQ (dB) | Reference quality relative to total received power | Interpret with RSRP, bandwidth and load |
| SINR (dB) | Signal relative to interference plus noise | Higher usually permits more reliable higher-order modulation |
| RSSI (dBm) | Total received power over the measured bandwidth | Includes noise and interference; strong is not necessarily clean |
| CQI | Channel-quality feedback used in link adaptation | Modem/RAT-specific reporting, not a percentage score |
| EARFCN | LTE absolute radio-frequency channel number | Identify the LTE carrier with its band |
| NR-ARFCN | NR channel number / reference frequency | Not MHz; decode using NR raster rules |
| PCI / PHY-CELLID | Physical cell identity | Reused between sites; not a globally unique tower ID |
| Serving / primary band | Current control/primary carrier | Record channel, PCI and bandwidth together |
| CA bands | Additional component carriers | Check during load; absence at idle need not mean failure |
No universal green/yellow/red thresholds
A high RSRP reading with poor SINR can still produce heavy retries and slow transfers. Conversely, a weaker but clean signal may work well. Thresholds vary with modem, measurement definition and service requirements, so this reference does not turn informal Internet signal tables into standards.
For an original comparison, suppose moving an antenna changes LTE RSRP from −88 to −94 dBm but SINR from 3 to 15 dB. Signal power fell by 6 dB while the reported ratio improved. That is a reason to run a throughput/latency test, not proof that either position wins.
Scan only where supported
/interface/lte/cell-monitor lte1Check cell-scan capability first. Stop the live monitor with Ctrl+C. Cell-monitor is modem-dependent and can interrupt or affect service; use a maintenance window for a remote connection. It reports visible candidates, not a guarantee of a full scan of every nearby tower or every NR band.
Rows may include PHY-CELLID, BAND, EARFCN, RSRP, RSRQ, RSSI and SINR, but not every field exists on every modem. Compare like-for-like rows. Combine EARFCN and PCI when collecting a candidate LTE lock; PCI alone is reused. A visible sector may reject the SIM or provide worse scheduling.
An antenna comparison that you can repeat
Mark the antenna’s initial position, use small controlled movements and wait for readings to settle. Keep cable and traffic test unchanged. Save serving-cell and cell-monitor output before each trial. Compare several runs and times of day; backhaul or cell congestion can dominate radio improvements. Do not lock a cell until automatic selection has been measured.
Use channel and PCI for a supported LTE lock · Separate radio problems from IP/DNS failures
Kernaali Tools is not affiliated with MikroTik.
Technical references
Found an issue? Send a correction with a reproducible example.