🎯 System Overview
RFS-Portable-BTS is designed as a portable IoT security testing platform with specific performance characteristics. Understanding these limitations is crucial for optimal deployment and realistic expectations.
⚠️ Important Note
These limitations are inherent to the portable form factor and cost-effective hardware choices. They are not bugs but design trade-offs for portability and accessibility.
🖥️ Hardware Limitations
📊 CPU Performance
- ARM Cortex-A72 quad-core @ 1.5GHz
- Limited compared to x86 processors
- Thermal throttling under sustained load
- Single-threaded performance constraints
- Memory bandwidth limitations
💾 Memory Constraints
- 8GB RAM shared with GPU
- No ECC memory support
- Limited memory bandwidth
- No memory expansion options
- Memory fragmentation issues
🔌 I/O Limitations
- USB 3.0 bandwidth sharing
- Single Ethernet port
- Limited GPIO pins
- No PCIe expansion
- USB hub limitations
📡 RF Performance Limitations
📶 BladeRF Mini A4 Constraints
- 40MHz instantaneous bandwidth limit
- USB-powered operation limitations
- Single RF chain (no MIMO)
- Limited transmit power
- No external power option
🌐 Network Coverage
- GSM: 1-5km radius typical
- NB-IoT: 1-10km radius typical
- Limited by antenna gain
- Environmental factors affect range
- No tower-height advantage
📊 Concurrent Connections
- GSM: 50-100 concurrent users
- NB-IoT: 1000+ devices (limited by memory)
- Processing power limits
- Memory constraints
- Network protocol overhead
⚡ Performance Metrics
📊 CPU Performance
Single-threaded: ~500-800 MIPS (ARM Cortex-A72)
Multi-threaded: ~2000-3200 MIPS (4 cores)
Thermal throttling: Starts at 80°C, reduces to 1.2GHz
Sustained load: 70-80% of peak performance
💾 Memory Performance
Bandwidth: ~4.3 GB/s (LPDDR4-3200)
Latency: ~100-150ns typical
Available for applications: ~6-7GB (after GPU allocation)
Swap usage: Not recommended for real-time applications
🔌 I/O Performance
USB 3.0: ~400 MB/s sustained (shared bandwidth)
Ethernet: ~940 Mbps (Gigabit Ethernet)
Storage: ~100-200 MB/s (microSD), ~500+ MB/s (M.2 SSD)
GPIO: ~1 MHz maximum switching frequency
📡 RF Performance
Bandwidth: 40MHz instantaneous (BladeRF Mini A4)
Sample rate: Up to 40 MSPS
Latency: ~1-5ms (USB 3.0 + processing)
Power output: ~10-20 dBm typical
🌡️ Thermal Limitations
🌡️ Temperature Constraints
- Operating range: 0°C to 85°C
- Thermal throttling at 80°C
- PWM fan required for sustained load
- Case ventilation critical
- Ambient temperature affects performance
⚡ Power Management
- 15W maximum power consumption
- USB-C power supply limitations
- No battery backup capability
- Power fluctuations affect stability
- External devices increase power draw
🔧 Software Limitations
🐧 Operating System
- ARM64 architecture limitations
- Limited software ecosystem
- No Windows support
- Driver compatibility issues
- Real-time kernel limitations
📡 YateBTS Constraints
- Single BTS instance limitation
- Limited to 2G/3G protocols
- No 4G/5G support
- Memory usage grows with users
- No load balancing capabilities
🌐 Network Stack
- Limited concurrent connections
- No advanced routing protocols
- Basic QoS implementation
- No traffic shaping
- Limited security features
📊 Performance Comparison
| Metric | RFS-Portable-BTS | Commercial BTS | Limitation Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concurrent Users | 50-100 | 1000+ | CPU/Memory |
| Coverage Radius | 1-5km | 10-50km | Antenna/Power |
| Bandwidth | 40MHz | 100MHz+ | SDR Hardware |
| Uptime | 99.5% | 99.99% | Hardware Reliability |
| Power Consumption | 15W | 1000W+ | Design Trade-off |
| Cost | $500-700 | $50,000+ | Commercial vs DIY |
🎯 Use Case Limitations
🚫 Not Suitable For:
- Commercial cellular networks
- High-traffic environments
- Mission-critical applications
- Long-term unattended operation
- High-power RF applications
- Multi-site deployments
✅ Ideal For:
- IoT security testing
- Educational purposes
- Research and development
- Emergency communications
- Penetration testing
- Prototype development
🔧 Optimization Strategies
⚡ Performance Optimization
- Use M.2 SSD for storage
- Enable GPU memory split optimization
- Configure CPU governor for performance
- Disable unnecessary services
- Use real-time kernel for low latency
- Optimize YateBTS configuration
🌡️ Thermal Management
- Ensure proper case ventilation
- Configure PWM fan curves
- Monitor CPU temperature
- Use thermal paste on heatsink
- Avoid direct sunlight
- Consider external cooling
📡 RF Optimization
- Use high-gain antennas
- Optimize antenna placement
- Minimize cable losses
- Use RF amplifiers if needed
- Optimize frequency selection
- Monitor signal quality
📈 Scaling Considerations
⚠️ Scaling Limitations
RFS-Portable-BTS is designed as a single-node solution. For larger deployments, consider multiple units or commercial solutions.
🔄 Horizontal Scaling
- Multiple RFS-Portable-BTS units
- Load balancing between units
- Geographic distribution
- Frequency coordination
- Centralized management
- Inter-unit communication
⬆️ Vertical Scaling
- Upgrade to BladeRF x40/x115
- Use external power supplies
- Add cooling solutions
- Optimize software stack
- Use faster storage
- Add more memory (if possible)
🚀 Optimize Your Setup
Learn how to maximize performance within these limitations
📖 Optimization Guide 🔧 Troubleshooting 💬 Community Support