Iridium Go

No experience of it but I was looking at it last season as an option for the Fastnet campaign. Did without in the end.

It works with PredictWind's offshore app on a Windows laptop/PC, which is why I was interested in it. However, PredictWind's website says only 'Iridium Go! Certified' software/apps work with it, so it may not be straightforward getting it to work with a PC mail client or anything other than Iridium's 'Mail and Web App'. http://www.predictwind.com/iridium-go/

Edited to add: the mail and web app seems to be mobile device only; there is something for PC called 'axccess point' but it's unclear if this works with the go!.
 
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I've used it with the Predictwind Offshore app to download GRIBs straight straight to a PC - it works very neatly in that context - but when I looked last summer I couldn't see a way to download email other than to a tablet or phone.

One of the advantages is that you don't need to buy a third party compression service and
there's a plan that gives unlimited data for only US$125 per month.
 
I'm confused by the talk of "enhanced data capabilities offered through optimized apps" - it makes me question if they allow regular pure data services over Iridium Go.

I interpret that jargon as perhaps meaning they allow internet access only through certain dedicated apps. Perhaps I'm just being cynical, and someone can disabuse me of this notion?
 
oldvarnish said:
Yes, that's what I'm thinking.
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I've just bought one. I'll let you know how I get on.
They recommend for access to websites that you use Opera Mini - I already have this on my phone and can tell you it saves MASSES of time on poor connections but not all websites work well eith it (most seem ok though)
 
Despite the negative experiences shared in the net, during the last ARC and before that in the Med, I was generally satisfied with the operation of my Iridium Go. I recommend mounting the device below deck on a removable plate (provided as accessory) plus and outside Antenna you can mount on the stern rail. It worked fine on my IPad and IPhone through the designed applications Iridium Go and Iridium Mail and Web.
I did not use the Predict wind set up because their software at the time being was not adapted for tablets. Instead for weather forecasting I used OCENS application Grib Exploer Plus for Ipad which does the job perfectly. By means of it you can download GRIBS tailored to your needs. You can select your zone and resolution and check in advance how many kb will be downloaded. Prolonged downloads eat up your minutes very fast. You can plan your route through the same application. The Weather icon on the Mail And Web application also provides basic text wather for casting using your GPS position.

You can send and receive text e-mails without any problems and relatively fast. Through the application Iridium AmilAnd Web. Big emails addressed to you go automatically to a separate folder named Big Mail where you can chose whether to download or not. IMO your decision should always be negative because just trying to download them without success will cost you a lot.

When using my IPhone for voice calls I found that in order to receive calls I need to have my IPhone always logged in using the application Iridium Go in order to be able to answer (answering and calling is done only through the application Iridium Go). Otherwise, the device rings but until you log in a voice mail is automatically switched on for the caller and you miss the call though you would want to accept it.

SMS messaging again through the application works best when the other person writes its message to a particular e-mail address ending with iridium.net. Otherwise you must be sure that the other person's cell phone provider has a contract with Iridium. Some cellular service providers (in my country) did not have business relationship with Iridium and their subscribers could not call me or message me, though I could call them without being able to message them unless I message to their e-mails. One very big advantage of the Iridium Go is that you can log in up to 5 devices, therefore other people on board can communicate with their phones, tablets, lap tops using the same device Iridium Go. Internet browsing was out of question because it is very slow and eats your minutes fast.

Rumen
 
There is an interesting piece about the Iridium Go at Attainable Adventure Cruising (www.morganscloud.com/); it might be behind their pay wall. They are not impressed with the ease of setting things up - doable but a pain in the backside.
 
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Pye_End said:
Just trying to work out the pros and cons of the Go as opposed to an InReach (2 way) unit, and a sat phone. Not having 3 different devices is good, but which unit or combination?
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And that is exactly what I'm trying to work out! I've already got a satphone and it has done me proud over many years linked to a laptop for email and gribs, but I'm trying to work out if things have moved on and the GO is a step forward - or not.
 
oldvarnish said:
And that is exactly what I'm trying to work out! I've already got a satphone and it has done me proud over many years linked to a laptop for email and gribs, but I'm trying to work out if things have moved on and the GO is a step forward - or not.
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If you have an existing set up that works well, there's little point in changing, especially if your total typical monthly spend is inside the US$125 per month for which you can get unlimited data for the Iridium Go.
 
r_h said:
If you have an existing set up that works well, there's little point in changing, especially if your total typical monthly spend is inside the US$125 per month for which you can get unlimited data for the Iridium Go.
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That price also gets you 120 mins of talk time ontop of the unlimited data AND unlimited texts. If you buy it through globaltelesat it's a one month rolling contract so you don't have to sign up for 12 like you seem to with everyone else...
(no connection to Globaltelesatcomms, just a customer)
 
Olianta
Thanks for the penning your experience with the Go.

I am pondering a Go v Sat phone connected to Red Port Optimizer. Getting to grips with the various grib apps with/ without routing capability, the compression software and charges for both airtime, compression and grib routing is doing my head in!

Your clear explanation has helped, thanks.
 
Camelia said:
There is an interesting piece about the Iridium Go at Attainable Adventure Cruising (www.morganscloud.com/); it might be behind their pay wall. They are not impressed with the ease of setting things up - doable but a pain in the backside.
Click to expand...
You'll leap the paywall if you enter their site via Google.

I think the article you have in mind is the top hit for this search:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=At%20first%20glance%20the%20GO!%20would%20seem%20to%20be%20a%20clear%20winner%20since%20you%20can%20use%20it%20with%20your%20smart%20phone,%20it%20has%20way%20more%20capabilities%20than%20the%20handset%20and,%20best%20of%20all,%20you%20can%20get%20unlimited%20data%20and%20150%20minutes%20of%20voice%20calls%20for%20just%20$125/month
 
Pye_End said:
Just trying to work out the pros and cons of the Go as opposed to an InReach (2 way) unit, and a sat phone. Not having 3 different devices is good, but which unit or combination?
Click to expand...
I thought the Delorme Inreach looked quite impressive, with cheap pricing plans, but it seems to have some weird restrictions on receiving messages that make it quite dependent on their "Mapshare" website.

Apparently, the "system has been designed with intent of the inReach device user having to initiate the first point of contact to an email recipient or SMS destination number. This is why the inReach device does not have an associated email address or SMS number which can be used to initate messages to the inReach device."

http://support.inreachcanada.com/kb/articles/46-initiating-a-message-to-an-inreach-device-user
 
Thanks for that. Looks a bit messy but workable so long as.... Presumably OldVarnish had no issues with the SMS/email side of things with InReach?

Have been trying to find an instruction manual online for the Go. It says that it can offer GPS tracking, but no idea if this is as easy and automatic as InReach. Not yet found a price for tracking for a hired Go.
 
Pye_End said:
Have been trying to find an instruction manual online for the Go. It says that it can offer GPS tracking, but no idea if this is as easy and automatic as InReach. Not yet found a price for tracking for a hired Go.
Click to expand...
http://www.snapphone.eu/polopoly_fs/1.521681.1424096102!/httpFile/file.pdf

oJT5E28.png

Subsequent pages cover Twitter (!) etc.
 
Strolls said:
I thought the Delorme Inreach looked quite impressive, with cheap pricing plans, but it seems to have some weird restrictions on receiving messages that make it quite dependent on their "Mapshare" website.
Click to expand...

Yes, I've used inReach all the way down the Atlantic, and it's very good for messaging and tracking, although the shore end can only reply via the website - even so it's good and reliable and quite cheap.
But you can't download gribs with it, and that's what I'm seeking to do - and wondering if a GO system might be less clunky/ cheaper than my present satphone/laptop system. From the replies above, it looks as though it might be.
 
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