RAK7267 WisGate Soho Pro Power Efficiency Results for LoRaWAN® Deployments

When deploying LoRaWAN networks, especially in remote or power-sensitive environments, understanding how much energy your gateway consumes is as critical as evaluating its communication range. 

With these deployment demands, the RAK7267 WisGate Soho Pro was tested across multiple voltage inputs and operational modes to assess its real-world power efficiency under typical LoRaWAN network conditions.

Why Power Consumption Testing Matters

In IoT applications that rely on solar panels, backup batteries, or limited power budgets, understanding the gateway’s power consumption at different voltages and operating modes is essential for:

• Properly sizing your solar power setup
• Selecting the appropriate backup battery
• Extending deployment lifespan
• Ensuring compliance with industrial energy budgets

Performance and Testing Setup

The RAK7267 is an IP67-rated outdoor LoRaWAN gateway with WisGateOS 2 , designed for robust and reliable performance in various environments. Key features include:

• LTE Cat 1 for cellular backhaul
• 8-channel LoRaWAN® support
• Built-in antennas
• 9-36 V DC wide input
• Compact, mount-ready design

With these features, the gateway is ideal for small office/home office (SoHo) and light industrial environments, where simplicity and efficiency are key priorities.

Test Conditions

Testing was conducted using a SIGLENT SPS5084X programmable power supply to simulate typical LoRaWAN deployment environments. Four common voltage levels were applied: 12V, 24V, 32V, and 36V.

The gateway was examined under two test conditions:

1. All Functions Active: Wi-Fi, LTE, and LoRa were running simultaneously.
2. Wi-Fi Disabled: Only LTE and LoRa were active to simulate a low-power mode.

During the tests, simulations included the following realistic network activity loads: 

• Full-power LoRaWAN packet transmissions
• External servers were continuously pinged over Wi-Fi
• Sensor data was transmitted through LTE to a ChirpStack network server

Power Consumption Test Results

The table below summarizes the measured power consumption:

Here's the graphical representation: 

Key Observations

• Power Draw: The power consumption slightly increased with higher input voltages, but the variation remained minimal across the tested range. 
• Wi-Fi Impact: Disabling Wi-Fi consistently reduced power usage by up to 20%, offering significant energy savings in solar-powered LoRaWAN deployments .

LTE Cat 1: The Strategic Connectivity Choice

The WisGate Soho Pro RAK7267 features an LTE Cat 1 module, which is perfect for use cases that don’t require the high bandwidth of Cat 4 or the ultra-low speeds of NB-IoT.

Here’s why Cat 1 is a smart choice for LoRaWAN backhaul applications:

• Lower power draw than LTE Cat 4
• Wider coverage and reliability compared to NB-IoT
• Ideal for moderate data rates in LoRaWAN backhaul scenarios

This balance makes the RAK7267 ideal for smart agriculture, utilities, smart city, and SoHo gateway applications.

Conclusion

Whether you’re building a resilient industrial LoRaWAN deployment or setting up a small, solar-powered sensor network, the RAK7267 delivers dependable connectivity with power efficiency to match. If you're looking for a gateway that’s rugged, compact, and tuned for low-power operation, this one's a solid bet.

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: 04/28/2025