Heltec praises the Lora V4 for its higher Tx output und higher Rx sensitivity.
What they don’t tell you is the increase in current consumption going along with this.
V3.2 draws about 6.5mA during Rx.
V4.3 draws 16mA!
IMO this renders V4.3 almost useless for applications in need of continuous reception like solar / battery powered LoRa relays.
Of course you can disable the LNA but this comes with a price tag of RSSI -12dB worse than V3.2.
A V3.2 and a V4.3 lying next to each other on my desk, receiving LoRa packets from another LoRa device (sending with 21 dBm) 5m away. Same antenna and pigtail each.
V3.2: RSSI -4 dBm, SNR 5 dB
V4.3 w/ LNA: RSSI 0 dB, SNR 7 dB
V4.3 w/o LNA: RSSI -16 dB, 5 dB
If you think using RxDutyCycle makes a difference:
No, the current is still 9,5mA during SX1262’s sleep phases.
The SX1262 can’t switch off the FME / LNA during sleep phases.
So think twice which version you choose…