About Iridium GO!

General Questions about the Iridium GO!^® Hotspot

1. People cannot hear me on outbound calls from my iPhone?
Some Iridium GO! users with an iPhone can’t be heard when making calls. If this is happening to you, it is possible that when you initially installed the Iridium GO! app from the Apple Store you enabled a mute restriction. Solution: Go to iOS settings and select "General". Scroll down and select “Restrictions”. Scroll down and select "Privacy". Select "Microphone" Make sure your microphone is set "On". Note: if it was set to “Off”, then this was the reason that outbound audio was not working properly on your iPhone.

2. Can I change the default Wi-Fi password used by the Iridium GO! to make it more secure?
Yes, to configure the Wi-Fi password, go to Advanced > Wi-Fi settings via the Iridium GO! application

3. I forgot my password?
There is a reset button that will restore factory defaults. It is a small button next to the recharging port. You will need a paperclip to press it. Resetting the Iridium GO! will change the default username back to "guest" with password "guest".

4. My Iridium GO! will not register on the Iridium^® Satellite Network. What do I do?
Check that your Wi-Fi antenna is up (so the unit is ON) and make sure the Iridium GO! has a clear unobstructed view of the sky. If it is sitting next to the wall of a building, you are blocking its view of much of the sky. If it is sitting under a tree, again, you are reducing the signal it can see from the satellites.

5. I can't make or receive calls through my smartphone or tablet. What do I do?
Verify that your smartphone or tablet is connected to the Iridium GO! Wi-Fi network (ex. “Iridium-xxxxxx”) and not your home or office Wi-Fi network Also, make sure you are using the correct dialing sequence, e.g. if you have a standard SIM card (but not a Crew Calling SIM) then +16158898833 would be the dialing sequence for calling Outfitter Satellite which is in the U.S. with country code 1. Make sure that you have 4-5 bars of Iridium signal before making the call. The Iridium signal level can be seen on the LCD screen of the Iridium GO! and also on the Iridium GO! app.

6. My Iridium GO! app works but my Mail & Web app doesn't. What do I do?
Verify that you are using the same default password for both apps. By default the username and password are both "guest". If you change the default password on one app you must change it on both.

7. Which smart phones and tablets can be used with the Iridium GO! and what are its main features and benefits?
You can use the Iridium GO! with Android and iOS devices such as iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Currently, Windows and Macintosh computers are not supported.

8. What apps are available?
There are principle apps. The Iridium GO! app enables you to make and receive phone calls, send 160 character SMS messages (to either text addresses or email addresses), send your GPS location (either manually or automatically at equal time spacings), send tweets, and initiate S.O.S. messages. You can also use it to configure various settings including a firewall, Wi-Fi security, and user administration. Different users can be limited by the administrator, e.g. to make texts only, or to be able to make phone calls and send texts, etc.

The other key app is the Iridium Mail & Web app. This app allows you to send and receive full featured email messages with attachments. Outfitter Satellite recommends that you keep attachments under 100 KB because of the slow 2400-2800 bps data rate. You can also send photos which (by default) will be compressed to 300 pixels making. You can disable the image compression (in Settings) and send larger images files but this will take considerable time. The Iridium Mail & Web app also has other features including Weather downloads. Some of the functions of Iridium Mail & Web do not work well. In particular the Web Browsing feature works but can only be used for very light highly mobile-optimized web sites.

Several third party weather GRIB file apps are available for a small additional cost. We recommend the WeatherTrack GRIB app for iOS users.

All iOS devices can download the apps free from Apple App Store. Android devices download the app free from the Google Play Store. Just search for Iridium GO! and Iridium Mail & Web. Then install them.

The default username and password for the Iridium GO! app is username: guest and password: guest. The username and password for the Iridium Mail & Web app are found in your setup confirmation email.

9. What service plans are available?
Both prepaid and postpaid plans are available. Some of these plans allow unlimited SMS messaging and unlimited GO! internet data. Unlimited SMS messaging can be especially important if you are using the Iridium GO! as a tracking device, since SMS messages are used to transmit GPS position reports. Unlimited GO! internet data is particularly useful for customers downloading large files such as GRIB files.

Also, any other plan available for an Iridium handset can be applied to an Iridium GO!. This includes postpaid, global prepaid, and regional prepaid plans.

One important optional service available on most postpaid plans is a dedicated US phone number for your Iridium GO!. This service makes it easier for your friends and family to call you through the Iridium GO!.

10. I already have an Iridium phone. Does my existing SIM card work in the GO!?
Yes, the SIM card from any Iridium handset can be used in the GO! or vice-a-versa. It is important to realize that some of the special rates available on Iridium GO! service plans only apply to the SIM if it is in an Iridium GO! device. In particular unlimited texting and unlimited GO! internet data are not available if used in an ordinary Iridium handset. Please refer to your service agreement for complete details.

11. If the app on my smart device is not running, how would I know that I had an incoming call?
The Iridium GO! has a built-in speaker which will ring when an incoming call occurs. Just start the app on your smart device and take the call.

12. How does the S.O.S. button work?
The S.O.S. function can be an important safety tool, but it has to be configured before you use it. You need to specify a phone number and a texting address to be contacted in the event the S.O.S. button is pressed. You can configure the S.O.S. button from the Iridium GO! app. The emergency contact phone number and texting address are stored inside the Iridium GO! so if you have an emergency, you can press the built-in S.O.S. button on the Iridium GO! itself to send your GPS location and the emergency message. You can also initiate the S.O.S. message from the Iridium GO! app on and smart device that is connected wirelessly to the Iridium GO!. In this case you can send the emergency preset text message and initiate a voice call to your pre-configured emergency contact phone number.

Another option is to configure the S.O.S. function to use the GEOS service. See your user manual for more information on registering for GEOS service. An active subscription is required for GEOS service. If you do configure the S.O.S. button for GEOS, when the S.O.S. button is pressed, a communication will be initiated to GEOS so that they can provide emergency response coordination for you. You will be billed at standard rates for all communications initiated through the S.O.S. button.

13. How do I perform firmware upgrades on the Iridium GO!?
On the Iridium GO!’s physical control panel, you can access a menu. Press the “Next” function until you have highlighted “Information”. Then select it and press “Next” until you see the firmware version. For instructions on how to upgrade to firmware version 1.4.1 click here

14. How many smart phones can connect to the Iridium GO! and at what maximum distance?
Up to 5 smart devices can be connected simultaneously to the Iridium GO! via Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi range is nominally 100 feet though that range can be reduced by walls and other obstacles blocking the signal. Only one of them can be making or receiving a phone call at any given time.

15. How long will the GO!’s battery last and how do you recharge it?
The battery life allows up to 7 hours of talk time or 16 hours of standby. Extreme cold or hot temperatures can reduce the performance of the battery. The Iridium GO! battery cannot operate the GO! at temperatures under -10°C. You can recharge using the AC adapter from any 100-240 VAC 50/60 Hz outlet. The DC car adapter can be used if you have 12 Volt vehicle power. The USB-to-micro-USB cable can be used to charge from any USB power source such as a computer.

16. Can I connect the Iridium GO! to an external antenna for use in a vehicle or building?
If the Iridium GO! has a direct line of sight with the sky it will not need an external antenna. Often, even if it is inside a tent or backpack or thin fiberglass covering such as the cabin of a small boat, as long as there is no metal that blocks the RF signal, the Iridium GO! will still work. If you need to use the Iridium GO! from inside a building or vehicle the optional External Antenna Adapter lets you connect an antenna cable and external antenna.

17. What is included with the Iridium GO!?
The standard kit includes the following: Iridium GO!, Battery, Micro USB Cable (for charging or firmware upgrades), AC charger (4 int’l adapters: US, UK, EU, AU), DC charger, Protective cover, User Guide and Legal Booklet, and GEOS Brochure. We also have a Marine Bundle for the GO! that includes an external antenna adapter, a 10-meter antenna cable, and a pole-mountable marine-grade mast antenna.

18. Can I browse the web and send email with an Iridium GO!?
Yes, but the data speed of an Iridium GO! is only 2400 to 2800 bps (best case). Outfitter Satellite recommends against attempting web browsing. Email is a better use of the Iridium GO! though for best results you should avoid email attachments larger than 100 KB. If you absolutely need to do web browsing, use only mobile-optimized websites or text-only websites. You can send and receive emails in two different ways. You can send 160-character emails through the Iridium GO! app Message feature. You can receive inbound (160 character) emails on the Iridium GO! app’s Message feature if they are sent to [email protected] (where xxxxxxxxxxxx is your 12-digit Iridium mobile number). To send and receive longer emails and emails with attachments you must use the Iridium Mail & Web app. Unfortunately, because of the slow data speed and frequent call drops, it is usually necessary to press the “Send and Receive” button again and again to get a successful email transmission. You will have better success if you wait until you see 4-5 bars of signal on the Iridium GO! device.

19. What happens if I am on a call using the Iridium GO! and a cellular call comes in on my smart phone?
In this case, the cellular call will preempt the Iridium GO! call. The Iridium GO! call will be disconnected.

20. Can I access myiridium.net email account without paying for satellite airtime?
Though you cannot access your @myiridium.net email without using your Iridium GO!'s airtime, you can use your Iridium GO!'s fetch feature to access a third party email account such as Hotmail etc. Since you can access your hotmail account through either a terrestrial internet connection or the Iridium GO!, you have solved your problem. The trick is to give out the Hotmail address instead of your @myiridium.net email address.

21. How do I send an SMS message to my Iridium GO!?
If you have web access, the easiest way is to use the Iridium SMS Web Portal. You can also send a 160 character email to [email protected] (where you have put in your 12-digit Iridium mobile number in place of 8816xxxxxxxx).

22. What is the benefit of the free GEOS service for my Iridium GO!?
GEOS is an emergency response service that can be used with the Iridium GO! S.O.S. function. For more information, call our Customer Service department at 615-889-8833.