What does the IP Rating of a Satellite Phone Really Mean?

The IP Code is often called Ingress Protection Rating is actually the International Protection Rating a product. This classification indicates how well the product resists intrusion of solids such as dust or liquids such as water. Read this article to learn more...


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Removing the SIM PIN on an Iridium GO!

Removing the SIM PIN on your satellite device is a necessary procedure in some cases because they are equipped with security features that enable the locking of the device to protect against unwanted use.  Often times though, many satellite device owners only use their devices for emergency purposes and setting a lock on their device can leave the device unusable in an emergency if the passcode is forgotten.

For the GO! device, the process is a little different than on a standard Iridium handheld device.  Follow these instructions below, depending on your device, for unlocking and removing the SIM PIN on an Iridium GO!

For Android:

  1. Connect to the Iridium GO! Wi-Fi network with your device
  2. Open the Iridium GO! app
  3. The GO! will ask for you to login.  Use the username: guest and the password: guest
  4. Tap the Submit button
  5. The GO! will ask for you PIN.  Enter 1111 (This is the default PIN.  If it has been changed, you may be prompted to enter the Pin Unlock Code (PUK).  You will need to contact your service provider to obtain your PUK code) then tap OK.
  6. Press "Settings"
  7. Scroll down to and tap on "Security"
  8. Tap on "Disable SIM lock" then on "Existing SIM PIN"
  9. Enter 1111
  10. Hit "OK"
  11. Press the back button on your Android device
  12. A dialogue box with the statement "Do you want to save?" will appear, tap on the "Save" button.

For Apple iOS:

  1. Connect to the Iridium GO! Wi-Fi network with your device
  2. Open the Iridium GO! app
  3. The GO! will ask for you to login.  Use the username: guest and the password: guest
  4. You will be challenged for a PIN.  Enter 1111 (This is the default PIN.  If it has been changed, you may be prompted to enter the Pin Unlock Code (PUK).  You will need to contact your service provider to obtain your PUK code) then tap OK.
  5. Press the "Submit" button
  6. Tap on "Settings" then "Security" then "SIM Lock Status"
  7. Press "Disable SIM Lock"
  8. Tap on "Enter Number" to the right of "Existing SIM PIN"
  9. Enter 1111
  10. Tap anywhere on the screen (away from the on-screen keyboard).
  11. Press the "Save" button.

As mentioned above, if your PIN is entered too many times, your SIM will become Blocked.  Contact your service provider to obtain your PUK (Pin Unlock Code) to unlock your SIM, then you can remove PIN protection. If your PUK is entered too many times, the SIM will become permanently unusable and you will have to contact your service provider to obtain a new SIM.

At Outfitter Satellite, customer service is our primary concern.  We provide 24/7 tech support for our customers.  If you have a SIM lock or blocked situation with your GO! or any of the devices we support, current customers can contact us for tech support at any time, 615-889-8833, option 7.  And if you need airtime service and need a service provider to rely on, contact us at 615-889-8833 and we'd be happy to assist you in obtaining service for your GO! device.

#NoCellService

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Important Firmware Upgrades for Iridium and IsatPhone Handsets

**IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR IRIDIUM DEVICES- April 25, 2019 - There is now updated firmware beyond what is posted below for the Iridium 9555, Iridium Extreme and Iridium Extreme PTT.  See the new article for those devices here - https://www.outfittersatellite.com/iridium-firmware-04-2019.htm

Keeping up-to-date firmware on electronic devices is crucial for functionality and ease of use.  Recently, both Iridium and Inmarsat have released firmware upgrades for many of their handset models.  While some of these upgrades are optional, we recommend moving to the latest firmware to ensure your device functions as the manufacturer intends.  See below for your model of phone and exactly what you need to do to keep up-to-date.

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Update: Iridium GO Mail & Web App

New Improvements to the Iridium GO Mail & Web App:

The new Iridium GO Mail & Web features being released at the time of this writing include:

  1. Improved web browsing environments for both Android and iOS platforms.
    1. iOS:  The application auto-detects the GO! firmware version and provides instructions for your browsing configuration based on your current firmware version.
    2. Android: Users on Android 5.0+ platforms need to download the latest XWeb app from the Google Android store to enable browsing support.
  2. There is an improved email composition window that removes restricted editing and supports extended text compilation -- even when an attachment is added to the email.

Though the improvements to the Iridium GO Mail & Web app being discussed here clearly improve the web browsing capability offered by the Iridium GO!, Outfitter Satellite considers the 2400-2800 bps data rate of the Iridium GO! too slow for most web browsing applications.  Only highly mobile-optimized web sites should be browsed via the Iridium GO! and even some of those have proven very difficult to download and browse using the Iridium GO!.   Based on that, Outfitter Satellite does not recommend web browsing for Iridium GO! users, but we have found the Iridium GO Mail & Web app effective for email and photo-sharing applications, as long as attachments are kept under 100 KB.

Do you have the most recent Iridium GO! firmware?

Some features of the new Iridium GO Mail & Web app version require that you have an Iridium GO! firmware version that is 1.4.1 or later.  To determine what firmware you have now, on the Iridium GO!’s physical control panel, access the Menu and then press the “Next” function until you have highlighted “Information”. Then select it and press “Next” until you see your Iridium GO!'s current firmware version.

If you need to upgrade your firmware, you can get the latest Iridium GO! firmware and the firmware upgrade tool by contacting us

You will need a USB data cable with a Micro-USB connector on one end to perform the upgrade.  This cable is included in the Iridium GO! standard kit.   If you are uncomfortable doing a firmware upgrade yourself, Outfitter Satellite can perform the firmware upgrade for you for a small labor fee plus shipping costs.

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