Why Optimize your Devices for the Energy Saving Stack?

The Energy Saving Stack (ESS) is a collection of improvements that can be enabled on selected device models to greatly improve their energy efficiency during uploads. Because the modem is often the most power-hungry component on the board, this can increase overall battery life dramatically. While simply turning on ESS functionality will deliver instant improvements, the degree to which the full potential can be experienced will depend on how well settings match the network in which the device operates. Gathering information about network support and implementing this in the settings will improve energy savings. The logic is straightforward:

How Can I Determine if PSM is Enabled on a Network?

Within Admin Parameters, under PSM Settings, we have included the ability to set a Digital Input high when an attempt to use PSM or RAI on the network has failed. By configuring the device to upload frequently and logging the digital input values when a test device is operating in the expected networking environment we can assess how often PSM is available. 

1. After enabling ESS with ESS Server, add PSM Settings and turn on the Enable PSM/RAI with ESS. Then enable Network Fallback Digital Input and select a free Digital Input (Digital Input 1 on a Barra Edge is VBatt and cannot be used). 

2. Set System Parameters such that the device uploads frequently. One option for a Barra Edge would be to set the device to periodic mode and have it upload hourly. For information see Tracking Parameters - Barra Edge and Barra Core.
    
3. Ensure that your device has a connector, and physically deploy it onto a route representative of your typical network environment - ideally moving between networks as your target devices would be likely to do.
    
4. Record the telemetry including your digital input values. On a platform like Telematics Guru, you can label the digital input accordingly and export the telemetry as suits. An example is shown below:

5. Analyze your data and determine whether the device spent the majority of its uploads in the presence of a network that supports PSM. If so, that would be a clear indication that it is worth keeping the Enable PSM/RAI with ESS setting as Yes for your Admin Parameter Template.
    

Next Steps

The above is the most straightforward way to optimize, but there are additional steps that we can take to assist you in improving energy efficiency including power profiling with the Digital Matter Energy Monitoring Tool, please contact support at Contact Support to learn more.