nRF9160 real network power profile

[Willem21]

I trying to match the nrf9160DK current consumption measured with the "power Profiler kit II" with the "online power profiler".

I watched the nordic youtube video "How to power profile your cellular IoT application".

In the video a total average current of 83uA is archived for the UDP example.

When I execute the same UDP example on the nrf9160DK I get a total average current of 579uA. See picture with the red circle.

Maybe the difference is due the part within the red circle which is much longer than the "cDRX inactivity timer" from the video.

What is the name of the part within the red circle and how can I enter this part in the "online power profiler"?

 

nRF9160DK PCA10090 1.1.0

Modem firmware: mfw_nrf9160_1.3.4.zip

Measured PSM floor current: 3.73uA

NRF Connect SDK V2.2.0

[Øyvind]

Hello, 

Are you able to provide any log output from the device during the measurements, along with a modem trace? This will tell us what is going on in the background. What SIM card are you using? What is you location?

Note that there are several settings that differ from network to network, e.g. is the roaming SIM allowed on the network. 

Thanks!

Kind regards, 
Øyvind

[Willem21]

Hello, 

Below you can find the log output and modem trace file.

I'm using the IBASIS eSIM (I get simular results with a simpoint SIM)

My location: The Netherlands, Drenthe, Emmen, 7812VA

Fullscreen log output.txt Download

[2023-02-16 13:45:35.841] I: Trace thread ready
[2023-02-16 13:45:35.851] I: Trace level override: 2
[2023-02-16 13:45:35.853] *** Booting Zephyr OS build v3.2.99-ncs1 ***
[2023-02-16 13:45:35.857] UDP sample has started
[2023-02-16 13:45:37.216] LTE cell changed: Cell ID: 4152588, Tracking area: 33201
[2023-02-16 13:45:37.298] RRC mode: Connected
[2023-02-16 13:45:37.884] Network registration status: Connected - home network
[2023-02-16 13:45:37.890] PSM parameter update: TAU: 3600, Active time: 0
[2023-02-16 13:45:37.895] Transmitting UDP/IP payload of 38 bytes to the IP address 8.8.8.8, port number 2469
[2023-02-16 13:45:48.572] RRC mode: Idle
[2023-02-16 13:45:48.574] 

trace-2023-02-16T12-45-32.766Z.bin

Kind regards, 

Willem

[Willem21]

Øyvind,

I didn't use settings from the Online Power Profiler.

I executed the SDK V2.2.0 example "nrf/samples/nrf9160/udp" with the modifications "CONFIG_NRF_MODEM_LIB_TRACE=y" and "CONFIG_SERIAL=y". And I observed the large average current difference with the video.

[Øyvind]

Can you retry without CONFIG_SERIAL? 

[Willem21]

Øyvind,

I tried commenting out "CONFIG_SERIAL=y" in both "spm.conf" and "prj.conf" but in this case serial is still enabled and the long high power consumption part within the red circle is still there.
I also tried setting "CONFIG_SERIAL=n" in both "spm.conf" and "prj.conf" in this case serial is disabled but the long high power consumption part within the red circle is still there.
Below you find the trace file.
Is there a way to enable more logging/debugging to find out what is happening within the red circle?

trace-2023-02-17T08-28-50.475Z.bin

Thanks for your reply in advance

With best regards,

Willem

[Øyvind]

Willem, I have forwarded this to our modem team and expect an answer by end of today or tomorrow. 

-Øyvind

[Øyvind]

I've tried with three different SIM cards to have a comparison. Was your modem trace done with an iBasis SIM?

[Øyvind]

Also, could you please try to do a full erase of your board and then a factory reset of the modem?

Thanks

[Willem21]

I believe I did use the Ibasis SIM in the previous uploads.

I've done the following:
-I did a full erase of the nRF52 and programmed "nrf9160_dk_board_controller_fw_2.0.1.hex"
-I did a full erase of the nRF91 and programmed "mfw_nrf9160_1.3.4.zip" and "nrf9160dk_at_client_2022-12-08_188a1603.hex"
-I connected the "LTE Link Monitor" and send the factory reset command AT%XFACTORYRESET=1 which responded with an "OK"
-Made sure that the iBasis SIM was installed
-Flashed the UDP example with Visual Studio Code
-Run the power profiler and trace collector again, below you find the results
Result: The long part within the red circle still exist

trace-2023-02-21T16-32-49.016Z.bin

[Willem21]

Today I tried a "telenor" SIM.
With this simcard the udp sample behaviour is as expected, see screenshot below.

With the "telenor" SIM the serial log shows "Network registration status: Connected - roaming".
With the "iBasis" SIM the log shows "Network registration status: Connected - home network".

But the question still remains: What is happening with the iBasis" SIM within the red circle in previous reply?

[Willem21]

Øyvind,

Unfortunately the Telenor SIM doesn't always use cDRX intervals within the red circle.
When it does use cDRX intervals it keeps using it and when it doesn't it keeps not using it.
Below you find the modem trace and wireshark capture.

1. How can I find out what is happening within the red circle?
2. How can I detect it and force the modem back to using cDRX intervals?

Thanks for you reply in advance.

With best regards,

Willem

trace-2023-03-02T10-20-20.139Z.bin

trace-2023-03-02T10-20-20.139Z.pcapng

[Øyvind]

Willem, sorry for the late reply. I was out of office due to Mobile World last week. 

The initial answer is that this is an issue with the network provider. I will have a look at the last trace. Does any of your traces use Telenor? 

Where is the kit located? I.e. inside a normal house, a concrete building, a cellar? Just trying to figure out why this is happening. Have you tried to test this at other locations? How far are you from the nearest cell tower?

Could you run the AT Client and provide the log output when running in LTE Link Monitor?