I think they could potentially make this cheaper for larger deployments with multicast-like down link packets.
So if someone has 10,000 devices to update, this might be doable with one stream.
Wouldn't help a hobbyist or small batch IOT device.
> I can't think of the use cases for these modems that use that little data and have that much of a power draw...
Large asset tracking.
Re:Swarm M138 Modem
by StillBored on Thursday March 02, 2023 @03:36PM
(#35001665)
Why does it need always-on receive? Any number of data acquisition apps can just wake-up on a set schedule, power that modem on, send their data, and get any action/responses at the same time then power everything back down. So the W/h numbers could still be quite trivial.
And presumably much of the power is as you mention transmit, because its talking to a satellite, not a device 1/2 a mile away.
For systems that I've worked with that have firmware that small or even smaller have had power budgets in the <50mA/hour range... This modem uses up to a full amp at 3.3V (presumably only while transmitting but I'd bet its receive mode still busts that power budget in under a minute).
I can't think of the use cases for these modems that use that little data and have that much of a power draw...