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Iridium Hotspot Devices

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Iridium GO with its antenna flipped up on a boat's coaming or a rock ledge, a smartphone beside it showing a messaging screen, wide open hor

Iridium Hotspot Devices

Iridium GO and GO exec: Global Satellite Hotspots for Your Phone

Two hotspots, one network that covers the whole planet. The Iridium GO fits in a pocket and handles calls, texts, email and weather. The GO exec adds Certus 100 speed, a touchscreen and two voice lines.

Buy Iridium GOCompare with GO exec

Who the Iridium GO and GO exec are for

Buy an Iridium hotspot when you need your own phone to keep working where no cell network reaches, and when 'working' means calls, messages, email and weather rather than browsing. Sailors on passage, guides on multi-day trips, geologists and linemen at remote sites, and families who want one unit for a hurricane outage all land here.

Iridium is the reason to choose this pair over any other hotspot. Its low-earth-orbit satellite network covers the entire Earth, including both poles and every ocean. There is no footprint map to check and no region where the device stops working. If your trips take you across Alaska, the Canadian north, the Southern Ocean or simply anywhere far from a tower, Iridium is the network that follows you.

Neither device is satellite internet. They will not load a web page, stream or run video calls; that is a separate class of equipment at /buy/satellite-internet.

Iridium hotspot devices

In stock in San Diego, activated on an Iridium plan before shipping.

Iridium GO! exec marine antenna kit — box with antenna and cables
Special offer
Iridium Go! Exec Marine Antenna Kit
$679.99
Iridium GO! exec portable satellite access device with antenna raised
Special offer
Iridium GO! exec: Portable Wireless Access Device
$1,799.00
Iridium GO! satellite Wi-Fi hotspot with antenna raised
Special offer
Iridium GO
$889.00

Iridium GO: the pocket-sized original

The Iridium GO measures 114 x 82 x 32 mm and weighs 305 g, small enough for a jacket pocket or a pack lid. Flip the antenna up, and it creates a Wi-Fi network with roughly a 30 metre radius that up to five phones or tablets can join. Through the Iridium GO app your phone makes and receives voice calls and SMS; through Iridium Mail and partner apps it handles optimized email, compressed weather and GRIB files, GPS tracking and photo sharing.

Iridium rates the battery at 5.5 hours talk time and 15.5 hours standby. In practice that means a day of check-ins, a forecast download and a short call on one charge, so plan a power bank or vehicle charger for anything longer. The unit carries an IP65 rating and meets MIL-STD 810F, so dust, spray and knocks are not a concern. Operating temperature is rated 10 to 50 C, worth knowing on winter expeditions where the unit may need to stay inside a jacket.

A programmable one-touch SOS button sits on the unit itself, so an emergency alert does not depend on your phone being awake and paired. Set it up and test it before you leave; our help centre walks through the steps.

Who it is not for: anyone expecting to open a browser, sync photos or hold a video call. If you need email with attachments for several people, or two calls at once, look at the GO exec.

Hand holding an Iridium GO with antenna raised against sky, phone in the other hand.

Iridium GO exec: Certus 100 speed and two voice lines

The GO exec is a tablet-sized terminal, 203 x 203 x 25 mm and 1,200 g, built around the Iridium Certus 9770 module. It runs on Iridium Certus 100 service, which Iridium rates at up to 88 kbps receive and up to 22 kbps transmit. For the tasks a hotspot is meant for, that is a big step: email with attachments arrives, weather models refresh faster, and light work apps stop timing out.

It supports two simultaneous voice lines with a built-in speaker and microphone, so it works as a speakerphone on a table as well as through the app on two different phones. A colour touchscreen shows status and lets you manage the connection without a phone. Alongside Wi-Fi it has dual USB-C and an ethernet port, which matters when a laptop or a router needs a wired connection.

Battery is rated at 6 hours talk and 24 hours standby, the ingress rating is IP65, and the operating range is -20 to 50 C, wider on the cold side than the original GO. Registered users get 24/7 SOS monitoring through the International Emergency Response Coordination Center, and the app's Connection Manager tracks airtime so background traffic on connected phones does not run away with your plan.

Who it is not for: solo hikers counting grams, and anyone who reads 'up to 88 kbps' and pictures video. It is the most capable portable Iridium hotspot made, and it is still not a broadband terminal.

Iridium GO exec on a camp table or truck tailgate with its touchscreen lit, a laptop connected by cable, remote landscape behind.

Iridium GO exec Marine Antenna Kit: below deck or indoors

Satellite hotspots need clear sky, and a GO exec at a chart table or in a cabin loses signal. The Marine Antenna Kit solves that with a dual-mode external antenna that mounts on a vessel or a building and feeds the terminal inside. Iridium describes it as extending both satellite service and location services to the GO exec indoors or below deck, which also gives a more precise position in an emergency.

Buy it if the GO exec will live on a boat, in a remote cabin or in a vehicle where the unit stays inside. Skip it if you carry the GO exec on foot and use it outdoors. The kit fits the GO exec only; the original GO uses its own antenna adapter from the Iridium accessories range.

Iridium GO vs Iridium GO exec

Figures from iridium.com and the satmodo.com product pages. Speeds are network maximums.

Iridium GOIridium GO exec
ServiceIridiumIridium Certus 100
Data speedNarrowband, app-optimizedUp to 88 kbps receive, up to 22 kbps transmit
Voice linesOne, through the appTwo simultaneous, plus built-in speaker and mic
Connected devicesUp to 5 over Wi-FiWi-Fi, dual USB-C, ethernet
ScreenStatus indicatorsColour touchscreen
Battery5.5 hr talk, 15.5 hr standby6 hr talk, 24 hr standby
Size114 x 82 x 32 mm203 x 203 x 25 mm
Weight305 g1,200 g
Ingress and durabilityIP65, MIL-STD 810FIP65
Operating temperature10 to 50 C-20 to 50 C
SOSOne-touch button on the unit24/7 IERCC monitoring on registration
External antennaVia GO antenna adapterMarine Antenna Kit
Web browsing or streamingNoNo

Sources: iridium.com/products/iridium-go, iridium.com/products/iridium-go-exec, satmodo.com product pages. The GO's data rate is not published by Iridium and is omitted.

How to choose between the GO and the GO exec

Three questions settle it for most buyers.

1

How much will you send?

Short texts, a call a day, a forecast and plain-text email: the GO. Email with photos or documents, several people online, or a laptop doing real work: the GO exec. If the answer involves a browser, neither, and you want satellite internet.

2

How will you carry it?

On foot or on a motorcycle, the 305 g GO is the only sensible choice. On a boat, in a vehicle or at a base camp, the GO exec's weight is irrelevant and its screen, ports and two voice lines earn their place.

What you need alongside an Iridium hotspot

A few additions turn the box into a working kit.

An Iridium plan matched to the device; GO and GO exec run on different service types.
The Iridium GO app or Iridium GO exec app on every connecting phone, installed and logged in at home where you have cellular data.
Power for multi-day use: vehicle charger, AC charger with international adapters, a spare GO battery, or a small solar kit.
An external antenna if the unit will sit inside: the GO antenna adapter for the GO, the Marine Antenna Kit for the GO exec.
Background sync, app updates and cloud backup switched off on every connected phone so they do not consume airtime.

Want a hands-on recommendation?

Describe the trip or the site and how many people will connect. A specialist will tell you GO or GO exec, buy or rent, and which plan fits.

Call (800) 279-2366

Keep reading

Frequently asked questions

Can the Iridium GO browse the internet?
No. The Iridium GO does not load web pages. It provides voice calls, SMS, optimized email, weather and GRIB files, GPS tracking and SOS through apps designed for it. For web browsing you need satellite internet equipment from /buy/satellite-internet or /buy/starlink.
What is the difference between the Iridium GO and GO exec?
The GO exec runs on Iridium Certus 100 at up to 88 kbps receive and 22 kbps transmit, has a colour touchscreen, two simultaneous voice lines, ethernet and dual USB-C, and is rated to -20 C. The GO is a fifth of the weight at 305 g, connects up to five devices and covers calls, texts, email and weather. Pick GO for portability, GO exec for data and crews.
How many phones can connect to an Iridium GO?
Up to five devices can join the Iridium GO's Wi-Fi, within roughly a 30 metre radius. The GO exec adds wired options with an ethernet port and dual USB-C alongside Wi-Fi.
How long does the Iridium GO battery last?
Iridium rates the GO at 5.5 hours talk time and 15.5 hours standby. The GO exec is rated at 6 hours talk and 24 hours standby. Both are designed to be recharged daily on longer trips, so carry a power bank, vehicle charger or solar kit.
Does the Iridium GO work everywhere?
Yes, anywhere with a view of the sky. The Iridium network covers the whole planet, including both poles and all oceans, so the GO and GO exec work in Alaska, the Arctic, mid-ocean and the Southern Hemisphere alike. Indoors or below deck you need an external antenna.
Can I make voice calls with an Iridium GO exec?
Yes. The GO exec supports two voice lines at the same time, either through the Iridium GO exec app on two phones or using its built-in speaker and microphone. The original GO supports calls through the app on one connected phone.
Does the Iridium GO have SOS?
Yes. The GO has a programmable one-touch SOS button on the unit itself. The GO exec provides 24/7 SOS monitoring through the International Emergency Response Coordination Center once registered. Set up and test either before you travel.
Do I need the Marine Antenna Kit for the GO exec?
Only if the GO exec will sit inside a boat, cabin or vehicle. The kit's dual-mode external antenna mounts outside and extends satellite and location services to the terminal below deck or indoors. Used outdoors on foot, the GO exec's own antenna is sufficient.
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Iridium Go! Exec Marine Antenna Kit
Special offer
Iridium Go! Exec Marine Antenna Kit
$679.99
Iridium GO
Special offer
Iridium GO
$889.00
Iridium GO! exec portable satellite access device with antenna raised
Special offer
Iridium GO! exec: Portable Wireless Access Device
$1,799.00

Expert Tip: Getting the Most from Your Iridium GO!

The Iridium GO! is engineered for global reliability—not high-speed data. It excels at satellite messaging, compressed voice calls, weather GRIB downloads, GPS tracking, and essential email communication. Streaming and high-bandwidth applications are not practical, but the advantage is unmatched coverage anywhere on Earth—including extreme latitudes and open oceans.

To maximize performance, disable automatic app updates and background data refresh on your smartphone before connecting. Satellite bandwidth is limited, and every kilobyte matters. Always position the device with a clear view of the sky. Because Iridium satellites operate in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), they continuously pass overhead—but buildings, vehicle roofs, and dense foliage can obstruct the signal.

FAQs:

  • What is the difference between Iridium and Thuraya hotspots? Iridium provides true global coverage, including the polar regions and all oceans. Thuraya covers Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia but does not cover the Americas or the poles. If you require worldwide connectivity, Iridium is the more comprehensive solution.
  • How many devices can connect to an Iridium hotspot? The Iridium GO! supports up to five simultaneous WiFi connections, making it suitable for small teams sharing access across smartphones, tablets, or laptops.
  • Can I make voice calls using an Iridium hotspot? Yes. The Iridium GO! enables voice calls through its dedicated mobile app. Call quality is compressed but reliable for field and remote communications.
  • What data speeds does Iridium provide? Standard Iridium data speeds are approximately 2.4 kbps. While slow compared to terrestrial networks, this supports email, text communication, weather data downloads, and GPS tracking.
  • Does the Iridium GO! require a service plan? Yes. An active Iridium airtime plan is required for voice and data usage. Plans are available in monthly and prepaid formats depending on your usage needs.

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