Deploying high-end LoRaWAN® gateways often comes with a critical planning question: How much power will the gateway consume in real deployment conditions?
Power usage impacts solar sizing, backup capacity, and overall network reliability, especially in off-grid or remote scenarios.
This report presents real-world power usage data for the RAK7289V2 and RAK7289CV2 (WisGate Edge Pro V2), providing insights into performance across multiple configurations, including full 16-channel LoRa and LTE backhaul and 8-channel operation.
Why Power Consumption Matters
Different gateway configurations, such as LoRa channel count and LTE backhaul, directly affect energy consumption. Understanding these variations enables more accurate, deployment-specific power planning that supports long-term reliability and operational efficiency.
Accurate power estimation is essential to avoid:
- Oversized or undersized solar and battery systems
- Inadequate backup runtime provisions
- Unexpected downtime in remote or off-grid environments
Test Conditions
The RAK7289V2 & RAK7289CV2 gateways were evaluated under three test conditions:
- LTE active: Gateway continuously pinging an external online host.
- Wi-Fi active: Device connected to a local network, performing ICMP pings.
- LoRa: Simulated send/receive of uplink and downlink packets.
Two power input voltages were used to simulate typical power supply conditions with both PoE and direct DC input.
- 48 VDC
- 12 VDC
For RAK7289V2/RAK7289CV2 specifications, refer to the datasheet on RAK Docs.
Deployment Configurations
Gateway testing covered 4 common deployment modes:
- 16 LoRa Channels + LTE
- 16 LoRa Channels (No LTE)
- 8 LoRa Channels + LTE
- 8 LoRa Channels (No LTE)
For each configuration, Peak and RMS values for current and power were measured during the transmission (Tx) and reception (Rx) phases of the LoRa radios.
Average Power Consumption (RMS)
The table below summarizes the average (RMS) power draw during Tx and Rx phases for each configuration:
| Configuration | Input Voltage (V) | Avg Tx Power (W) | Avg Rx Power (W) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
16CH + LTE |
48 V | 6.15 W | 3.92 W |
| 12 V | 4.81 W | 2.72 W | |
|
16CH (No LTE) |
48 V | 5.36 W | 3.02 W |
| 12 V | 4.13 W | 2.29 W | |
|
8CH + LTE |
48 V | 4.79 W | 3.62 W |
| 12 V | 3.59 W | 2.71 W | |
|
8CH (No LTE)
|
48 V | 3.90 W | 2.74 W |
| 12 V | 2.94 W | 1.99 W |
Here's the graphical representation:
Key Takeaways
✅ LTE increases power demand
Enabling LTE significantly increases overall current and power consumption, particularly in 16-channel configurations. If LTE isn’t required, turning it off provides a notable power saving.
✅ More LoRa channels = higher power draw
Operating in 16-channel mode offers greater capacity but costs more in power, both at 12 V and 48 V input.
✅ Optimal low-power mode
The most energy-efficient setup is 8 channels without LTE at 12V, consuming under 3 W RMS, ideal for solar or battery-powered deployments.
Conclusion
The WisGate Edge Pro V2 is built for performance, but with smart configuration, it can be energy-efficient. These power consumption benchmarks can support deployment planning for a range of scenarios, from high-performance city-wide networks to remote, energy-constrained environments, enabling more reliable, cost-effective LoRaWAN rollouts.
|
Todor Velev Experienced Technical Marketing and Support Specialist with a strong background in FAE, troubleshooting, and resolving customer issues. Passionate about cutting-edge technologies, including AI, big data, and IoT. |
Changelog
- Version 1
- Author: Todor Velev
- Reviewer: Karla Michelle Jimenez
- Date Published: 04/25/2025
Updated