Iridium Go! About time!

demonboy

demonboy

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I'm not sure if this is on the market yet but I've just come across the Iridium Go! package. It's a wifi antenna using the Iridium sat network that allows you to connect up to five devices. The cost of the lot is around the same as a sat phone and the monthly rental is $125, which includes 100 mins of talk time. However you can be online all the time. The speed is still only 2kbps, the same as a sat phone, but there are plans to bring out a similar device in the next couple of years that'll support 3G speeds.

In today's technological age I say about bloody time!

More info here:

http://www.predictwind.com/iridium-go/
 
Surely you can use any software you like, Duncan? All this does is provide an Internet connection. Obviously there are bandwidth considerations but it's merely acting as a router, unless I've missed something?
 
Yes, some t...er put me on the mailing list too!

At $1150 plus $50 every time you connect and $199 a month plus $1.25 per minute every time you exceed a voice call time of 5mins a month, I don't think it's that much of a good deal except for ocean crossers. For those of us around the Med. say, the €80 up front and €15 a month for 5Gb of Vodafone's package does us fine.
 
Steve C Cronin said:
Yes, some t...er put me on the mailing list too!

At $1150 plus $50 every time you connect and $199 a month plus $1.25 per minute every time you exceed a voice call time of 5mins a month, I don't think it's that much of a good deal except for ocean crossers. For those of us around the Med. say, the €80 up front and €15 a month for 5Gb of Vodafone's package does us fine.
Click to expand...

Well, that kinda goes without saying, Steve. If you have mobile connection then of course that's preferable. Clearly this product is not aimed at coastal cruisers, it's for those of us offshore for periods at a time. Comparing this to a land-based alternative isn't realistic.
 
duncan99210 said:
I looked at it and am quite interested but at the moment it will only allow you to use some pretty limited software to access the interweb. Otherwise, a step forward as you say.
Click to expand...

As far as I can see, the Iridium Go requires that the Iridium Mail and Web App, https://www.iridium.com//products/iridium-mail-and-web.aspx, is used for ad hoc access. Other apps will integrate through the Go API so this is a solution for Android/iOS users only and wont integrate with existing laptop based setups. The bottom line of the overview page also give this impression, https://iridium.com/products/Iridium-GO.aspx?productCategoryID=29.

That probably wont limit the devices market but it doesnt do it for me
 
RobbieW said:
As far as I can see, the Iridium Go requires that the Iridium Mail and Web App, https://www.iridium.com//products/iridium-mail-and-web.aspx, is used for ad hoc access. Other apps will integrate through the Go API so this is a solution for Android/iOS users only and wont integrate with existing laptop based setups. The bottom line of the overview page also give this impression, https://iridium.com/products/Iridium-GO.aspx?productCategoryID=29.

That probably wont limit the devices market but it doesnt do it for me
Click to expand...

I think you could be right. It says:

Can I use any App/Software with the Iridium GO?
Only Iridium GO! certified Apps can be used with Iridium GO! This includes the Iridium mail & web App, and the PredictWind Offshore App (Mac/Windows).
Click to expand...

Hmmm, that's disappointing. If they're going to be offering 3G then that has to change.
 
I was excited about the Iridium Go! when I first read about it. I then tried to take a look at it on the MailaSail stand at Southampton, but the guy there simply spent 10 minutes telling me why it was a really bad choice and with hardly any software compatibility.

I didn't fully understand all his problems with it, but clearly he didn't consider it to be any improvement over a regular sat phone.
 
TimBennet said:
I was excited about the Iridium Go! when I first read about it. I then tried to take a look at it on the MailaSail stand at Southampton, but the guy there simply spent 10 minutes telling me why it was a really bad choice and with hardly any software compatibility.

I didn't fully understand all his problems with it, but clearly he didn't consider it to be any improvement over a regular sat phone.
Click to expand...

I spent some time at "mainsail" too.... seemed a hard sell to me....

I've chosen to go with sail mail through HF/modem and hope to get away from a major sat phone connection by using Delorme inReach tracker (it offers messaging as well as tracking)
 
TimBennet said:
I was excited about the Iridium Go! when I first read about it. I then tried to take a look at it on the MailaSail stand at Southampton, but the guy there simply spent 10 minutes telling me why it was a really bad choice and with hardly any software compatibility.

I didn't fully understand all his problems with it, but clearly he didn't consider it to be any improvement over a regular sat phone.
Click to expand...

With lack of software compatibility I would agree, though the set-up looks much simpler. When crossing from the Maldives to Malaysia I simply couldn't get my sat-phone to get online, even though I could txt other sat phones The guys at mailasail just told me I'd set it up incorrectly. The fact that two other boats had the same problem on the same crossing at the same time made me think otherwise, but that's another story. Either way, that was a big waste of money. If the Iridium Go! is simpler to set up, it's a step in the right direction. SSB is a much bigger headache, IMHO, at least one I can't be bothered with again.
 
TimBennet said:
I was excited about the Iridium Go! when I first read about it. I then tried to take a look at it on the MailaSail stand at Southampton, but the guy there simply spent 10 minutes telling me why it was a really bad choice and with hardly any software compatibility.

I didn't fully understand all his problems with it, but clearly he didn't consider it to be any improvement over a regular sat phone.
Click to expand...

Mailasail don't like it because (at present) you cannot use their software with Iridiums. i have the Iridium Accesspoint. I got the same derogatory comments from mailasail about it. I have to say, the iridium mail and web is so simple to use. No drivers, no flaffing around with different versions of outlook or windows live. Simple download and works on any phone and most android devices. If I hadn't already bought an Iridium extreme I would get the 'Go'.

Chris
 
Monique said:
I spent some time at "mainsail" too.... seemed a hard sell to me....

I've chosen to go with sail mail through HF/modem and hope to get away from a major sat phone connection by using Delorme inReach tracker (it offers messaging as well as tracking)
Click to expand...
i used the Delorme Inreach Communicator for my trip to Portugal. It did what it says on the tin. Another forumite has one as well. We weather routed each other across Biscay. Cost me £100 off Ebay and the running costs were £36 for the first month inc activtion and £21 for the second month, I have now deactivated until I do another big trip.
Stu
 
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