Cellular IoT
PSM and eDRX: Cellular Battery Trade-Offs
Power-saving modes change when the device listens and can be reached.
Power-saving modes change when the device listens and can be reached. Align energy targets with the required response time.
Understand reachability
PSM can let a registered device spend extended time with its radio inactive. eDRX extends the listening cycle. Neither setting should be treated as continuous availability for immediate remote commands; the application must account for the selected sleep behaviour.
Confirm negotiated settings
Check what the module requests and what the network actually accepts. Operator support and timer policies can differ. Log the effective settings during the pilot rather than calculating battery life only from firmware configuration values.
Measure complete cycles
Measure wakeup, registration or resume, data exchange and sleep energy. Include failed attempts and the sensor workload. Verify that delayed downlinks expire appropriately and that maintenance procedures can still contact or physically service a sleeping device.
FAQ
Can PSM guarantee years of battery life?
No. Actual life depends on the full workload, coverage, battery characteristics and accepted network settings.
Technical References
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