7. Modem Power Saving - Swarm-Technologies/Getting-Started GitHub Wiki

Q: Does the Modem know when the next satellite pass will occur?
A: No, the Modem does not know when the next satellite pass will occur.

Q: Will the Swarm Modem automatically wake-up from sleep mode when there is a satellite overhead?
A: No, it will not. The sleep functionality has to be handled entirely by the host processor by utilizing the $SL command as shown in the Product Manual. The Modem needs to be in its receiver state to receive satellite beacons. While the Modem is in its sleep mode, the receiver is deactivated which in turn means that the Modem will not know if a satellite is passing overhead.

Q: Will the Modem automatically enter sleep mode after transmitting?
A: No, the Modem will only enter sleep mode if instructed to do so using the $SL command as shown in the Product Manual.

Q: What is the default power state of the Modem?
A: The default power state of the Modem is the receiver state.

Q: How should I program my device to optimize for power consumption?
A: The pass windows shown on the pass checker page remain constant due to our orbits. Swarm suggests that users program their devices to turn on during the pass windows shown on the pass checker rather than during very specific pass times. There are multiple satellite passes during each pass window, and the time range of these pass windows does not change. The best way to get started is to have the Modem on, and in receive mode, for some duration of the passes shown on the pass checker. You can start with a longer power on duration, and then adjust the wake time as you gain confidence in the system reliability based on the results from your testing. We also have a YouTube video available that may be useful as you continue testing.