nRF9160: Difference in Achievable LTE-M Range Using 20 dBm vs. 23 dBm Output Power

[David Day]

Hello,

Please comment on the expected difference in achievable range using 20 dBm vs. 23 dBm output power.  Any details, assumptions, questions, etc. would be appreciated.

Thanks,  David

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi, 

A rule of thumb is that 6 dB increase in link budget will give a doubling of range. This assumes quite ideal conditions such that a 'free space model' can be used. Due to logarithmic relationships in this, a 3 dB increase does not give 1.5 times the range, but rather ~1.41 (square root of 2)

Typically due to real-world effects, most accurate propagation models give a lower increase than this. Exactly how much is hard to say, and will likely depend on the environment near the respective customer.

-Amanda H.