--- title: LTE eDRX and PSM Technology Explained for LTE-M1 | Link Labs description: How does LTE-M1 achieve years of battery life for asset tracking? LTE eDRX & LTE PSM are the innovations that increase the power & efficiency of 3GPP's LTE-M1. image: https://www.link-labs.com/hubfs/pexels-photo-7388500-1-1.webp --- [![link-labs-logo-radial-2](https://www.link-labs.com/hubfs/link-labs-logo-radial-2.svg "link-labs-logo-radial-2")](https://www.link-labs.com/) [![link-labs-logo-radial-2](https://www.link-labs.com/hubfs/link-labs-logo-radial-2.svg "link-labs-logo-radial-2")](https://www.link-labs.com/) ** [![Book a Demo](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/427771/598eabc0-7dd8-4d20-87dc-95a6fe8622ab.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/427771/598eabc0-7dd8-4d20-87dc-95a6fe8622ab) ** ![](https://www.link-labs.com/hubfs/pexels-photo-7388500-1-1.webp) # LTE eDRX and PSM Explained for LTE-M1 Published May 22, 2016 [LTE-M1](https://www.link-labs.com/lte-iot-technologies/) is the 3GPP’s long awaited answer to growing interest in the Internet of Things community to low power, long range networks (LPWAN). LTE-M1 allows simpler and less expensive radio chipsets to connect to existing LTE networks, after a software upgrade. [![Selecting wireless technology for IIoT Whitepaper](https://www.link-labs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-Banner-Template-04.webp?width=1000&name=blog-Banner-Template-04.webp)](https://www.link-labs.com/selecting-wireless-technology-for-iiot-products) There are two primary innovations that make LTE-M1 a very attractive option for designers looking for extremely power efficient performance, along with the ubiquity of already deployed LTE networks. **LTE eDRX** (Extended Discontinuous Reception) and **LTE PSM** (Power Saving Mode) This article will briefly describe how eDRX and PSM work, and why it greatly improves the battery life for LTE-M1 connected devices. For applications like water meters, agricultural monitors, and cold chain monitors, this is a game changing technology. ## LTE eDRX ![Shows the power profile of an LTE-M1 UE in eDRX Mode](https://www.link-labs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/LTE-M-1-e-DRX-Mode-Power-Graph-1024x659.png?width=1024&height=659&name=LTE-M-1-e-DRX-Mode-Power-Graph-1024x659.png) Shows the power profile of an LTE-M1 UE in eDRX Mode   A normal LTE paging cycle is 1.28s, during which the device can be contacted by the network if traffic is queued for that UE (User Equipment - LTE lingo for the “thing” connected to the network). The not-yet-implemented LTE DRX improvement to LTE allowed UE devices to sleep for 10.24s between paging cycle which improved sleep current somewhat, but still not enough for multi-year battery life. LTE-M1 also extends the normal idle to 5.12s from 1.28s. The eDRX innovation allows the UE to tell the network how many “hyper frames” (HF) of 10.24s it would like to sleep before checking back in. The maximum number of HFs a UE can sleep is settable by the mobile network operator, but it should be at least 40 minutes. For a LTE-M1 device that transmits data once per day, and wakes up every 60 hyper frames to check for commands (this would be about every 10 minutes), a life of 4.7 years is achievable on 2 AA batteries. ## LTE PSM Power Saving Mode is a mode that the UE tells the network it is going to go dormant indefinitely. When the UE host device decides, based on some logic or timer, that it is time to transmit, it wakes up and transmits to the network, and remains in RX mode for 4 idle frames so that it can be reachable if needed. ![Power Profile for LTE-M1 Power Saving Mode.](https://www.link-labs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/LTE-M-1-PSM-Power-Saving-Mode-1024x644.png?width=1024&height=644&name=LTE-M-1-PSM-Power-Saving-Mode-1024x644.png) Power Profile for LTE-M1 Power Saving Mode.   Since the device is dormant during the the entire LTE PSM window, it’s power consumption is extremely low. In fact, it can be even lower than a Sigfox or LoRaWAN module, since the TX rate for LTE-M1 is much higher (do to the lack of interference in the licensed spectrum). An LTE-M1 devices that transmits once per day in full PSM mode could last well over 10 years on 2 AA batteries. Verizon and Sequans are accelerating development of LTE-M1 for the US market. If you have more questions, [reach out to us](https://www.link-labs.com/contact) or tweet us [@LinkLabsInc](https://twitter.com/LinkLabsInc). 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He designs and builds all of Link Labs’ hardware—radios, devices, modules… you name it, he creates it. Before Link Labs, Mark worked for TMC Design building GPS jammers at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. He also worked at the John Hopkins Applied Physics lab for eight years. Mark graduated with a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida and a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from John Hopkins University. ## Related Blogs Asset Tracking, BLE Asset Management Bluetooth Low Energy, Featured, Asset Tracking, supply chain, Bluetooth LE, equipment tracking, iot solutions, iot technology, Real-time location services, Asset Tracking Solutions, supply chain operations, supply chain visibility tools, end to end supply chain ## [Link Labs: 12 Years of Innovation in Tracking and Logistics](https://www.link-labs.com/blog/link-labs-12-years-of-innovation-in-tracking-and-logistics) [Read](https://www.link-labs.com/blog/link-labs-12-years-of-innovation-in-tracking-and-logistics) Asset Tracking, BLE Asset Management Bluetooth Low Energy, Asset Tracking, supply chain, Bluetooth LE, equipment tracking, iot solutions, iot technology, Real-time location services, Asset Tracking Solutions, supply chain operations, supply chain visibility tools, end to end supply chain ## [National Supply Chain Day: How Link Labs Is Transforming Visibility from Warehouse to World](https://www.link-labs.com/blog/national-supply-chain-day-how-link-labs-is-transforming-visibility-from-warehouse-to-world) [Read](https://www.link-labs.com/blog/national-supply-chain-day-how-link-labs-is-transforming-visibility-from-warehouse-to-world) Asset Tracking, BLE Asset Management Bluetooth Low Energy, Asset Tracking, Bluetooth LE, equipment tracking, iot solutions, iot technology, Real-time location services, Healthcare Asset Tracking, Healthcare RTLS, Healthcare Logistics, Asset Tracking Solutions ## [Never Lose Track of Medical Equipment Again](https://www.link-labs.com/blog/never-lose-track-of-medical-equipment) [Read](https://www.link-labs.com/blog/never-lose-track-of-medical-equipment) Subscribe to Link Labs' blog weekly update! 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