Why is my RM024 client module pulling an average of 35-40mA when the server is not powered on but drops to around 10mA when I turn the server on?

Answer

The RM024 client sits in a receive mode when not synchronized to a server that matches its system ID and RF channel. This can happen when a server is either not powered on or out-of-range of the client. This "unsynchronized" receive mode will pull an average of 35-40mA depending on other settings within the client radio. In this mode, the client radio's receiver circuitry is constantly ON and the radio performs a "slow hop" scan of all frequency bins within its pseudo-random hop sequence (determined by RF channel); this is done while the radio waits for a server beacon to synchronize with that matches its system ID and RF channel settings. After the RM024 client synchronizes to a server, the average current will drop to 10mA because the client can enter idle mode when the radio is not active (RF_RX or RF_TX). When synchronized the client and server have the same hop frame timing and setup so the client knows when to enter receive mode to retrieve the beacon from the server and when to enter receive mode to look for data in each data slot.