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Im currently developing a low power IoT node based on Contiki-ng running on a TI CC1350 launchpad board. My problem is that my power consumption is always >6mA.

Compiling and running the energest example I can see the MCU radio is always listening, no matter if I compile with MAKE_MAC = MAKE_MAC_NULLMAC and MAKE_NET = MAKE_NET_NULLNET. Running MAKE_MAC = MAKE_MAC_TSCH or MAKE_MAC = MAKE_MAC_CSMA increases consumption by around 2mA as the CPU is always active, but the radio is never duty cycled.

Is there a way of reducing current consumption for Contiki-ng on this platform?

aanc
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1 Answers1

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With Contiki-NG, you have two options:

  1. Use CSMA or NullMAC and turn off the radio from the application code with NETSTACK_RADIO.off().
  2. Use TSCH and make sure the schedule has some idle slots. The radio is going to turn off automatically once the node has joined a TSCH network.

If you the latter, still see big consumption, and you're sure about your code, submit an issue to the Contiki-NG git - there can be an energy consumption bug in the OS specific to the CC1350 board.

kfx
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  • Thank you very much! Is there a way of measuring "real world current with TSCH without joining a network? Currently I only have access to one board and would like to measure current without a full network. Also, could you clarify what you mean with making sure the schedule has some idle slots? – aanc Aug 06 '21 at 14:17
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    You are already apparently measuring current without joining a network. Its with radio always on. To reduce the current consumption, you need to join a network. A node can create its own network - set it in the TSCH coordinator role for that to happen. – kfx Aug 06 '21 at 18:35