Typical output power of the nRF9161

[Azaro]

I am conducting a study on antenna mismatch using an nRF9161. I know that the minimum power it can deliver to the antenna is −40 dBm, and the maximum power is 23 dBm, with a typical maximum power of 19 dBm.

Does anyone know how the output power is managed in real-world deployments, and what the usual power ranges are for IoT devices in practical applications?

[Michal]

Hello,

Does anyone know how the output power is managed in real-world deployments, and what the usual power ranges are for IoT devices in practical applications?

The output power is determined by the network, so it is hard to say about usual ranges. In places with good coverage the average power will be much lower than in remote places.

Best regards,

Michal

[Carmichaeln]

Hello Michal,

In the practical deployments you've done, what is the average power range in dBm that the nRF9161 typically operates in (e.g., in areas with good coverage), and have you ever had to lock down the maximum power to avoid excessive power consumption? granny game

[Azaro]

And if we talk about a remote device using NBIoT? What are the power levels at which these devices usually operate?

[Michal]

So in general I would recommend doing your own measurements, but I have a few comments:

• Peak power is not really the most important thing for excessive power consumption. How often the data is sent, if cellular power saving techniques are used (see https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/ncs-3.2.1/page/nrf/protocols/lte/psm.html )
• Check the article on power profiling cellular applicaitons: https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/ncs-3.2.1/page/nrf/protocols/lte/power_nrf91.html
  • It also links to our online power profiler  Online Power Profiler for LTE 
• LTE-M requires more setup time to send a message, but it is much faster than NB-IoT. If you can choose between the two, NB-IoT would be better for very small messages, but the time and power usage increases linearly. Though in practice you are mostly limited by what is being offered in your country/area and in most places you will probably only find LTE-M.

Best regards,

Michal