WIFI Module Fun Roving Network RN-XV and Sleep Mode Current

[Veramacor]

Hi All,

Anyone had any experience with Roving Network's (now Microchip's) RN-XV?

The datasheet says that these wifi modules will only consume 4 micro amps of current in sleep mode.

But the best I have gotten with one of these things is about 40 micro amps.

I called Roving Networks directly and they confirm what I'm seeing - the extra hardware on the board consumes more than the stated 4 micro amps! 

So I am over the marketing fib, but I'm seeing something very strange with my pcb design that might be answered by the geniusphere:

After attaching my pcb design to the RN-XV board,  I see that the current consumption now reads about 500 micro amps in sleep mode.  This is very strange.  I touch one of the I/O pins with my finger (dont worry low power app!)  on the RN-XV, and the current immediately ramps down to about 43 micro amps!  Has anyone seen this situation before,  where they touch a pin, and the current draw drops?

I'm making a guess here and I'm sorry I didn't attach any schematics I guess I'm curious what might cause that to happen.  My first guess is trace capacitance,  I do have a long trace going from my Microcontroller to the RN-XV. 

My breadboard version of the circuit does read about 50 microamps, so my guess is that is the best current draw I can get.

I can post my PCB layout if requested.   

Any clues?

J