Embodiments include signal strength indication methods for use in wireless communication devices. In an embodiment, a method includes producing a default received signal strength indicator (RSSI) using default RSSI determination parameters. The method also includes determining that a received signal strength is inadequate, and producing an alternate RSSI, in response, where the alternate RSSI is produced using at least one alternate RSSI determination parameter that is different from at least one default RSSI determination parameter. In another embodiment, a method includes measuring multiple received signal strengths for multiple received signals from multiple base stations, and producing an alternate RSSI based on a received signal strength measurement for a strongest signal of the multiple received signals. An embodiment of a wireless communication device may include a processing subsystem adapted to perform embodiments of the methods.