Best Method for Tracking a Passage; St Martin to Australia

[sinbad7]

Hi Steve..

Iridium Extreme sounds interesting with it´s WiFi hotspot facility.
Does it accept Android devices paired by Hotspot? or does it ONLY
connect with it´s own Windows based utility?

I am trying to find a satellite phone which can support front end Android navigation apps.

Appreciate your input.

Tore

[Paul Elliott]

Originally Posted by Ozbullwinkle

I now have the Iridium Extreme with the Axcesspoint wifi accessory & have been using it to download Grib files through Saildocs which has worked fine.

I still need to resolve the Yacht Tracking app for my forthcoming Pacific trip though for shore based family & friends to keep track of our progress. I initially thought that such an app was built into the Iridium Extreme but this is not the case as you need an add on portal.

The Iridium Extreme has a built-in tracker using text messaging. I don't recall if it is automatic, but it can definitely be accomplished with just a few button-pushes. It sends a message with your position (using the built-in GPS), and with a link to a mapping website.

[sinbad7]

I just read the following appraisal of the Iridium Extreme:

Iridium’s New AxcessPoint Hotspot Provides WiFi In The Rainforest | TechCrunch

Tore

[Ozbullwinkle]

Tore, Yes, I believe that the Iridium Axcesspoint hotspot works with Android devices as well.

Regards,
Steve

[sinbad7]

Steve..

Yes it does. I have studied the user manuals of both units.
The only thing remaining,(if possible) is to create a link to the
modem from the Bubbler GPS app. so the position uploads can happen automatically at intervals set by the user.

Bubbler GPS in it´s present state,will collect the GPS positions at intervals
set by the user and upload them automatically top SpotWalla for display on their Google Maps as soon as an internet connection is detected. During periods when internet is not available,it will store all the collected GPS positions,creating an un-interrupted track,and upload in bulk as soon as internet connection is regained. You can also download the entire track
from SpotWalla for later study or import to navigation programs.

That presumably means you still have to activate your sat phone manually.
I am hoping through the use of the sat modem,Bubbler will also be able to
activate the internet connection as required.

Bubbler GPS can also upload the GPS data via the telephone cellnet or normal WiFi Internet connections.

Regds

Tore

[Ozbullwinkle]

Hi Tore - seeing that you have just studied the manuals for the Iridium Extreme I wonder if you may know an answer to this question that I have. The manuals for the satphone I will be using are on the boat which is currently in the BVI's.

As I will be using the satphone to send SMS position reports to Bluewatersailingdata.com doing the SMS messages on the satphone itself is very tedious. Do you know if there is an application I can either load on my iPad4 or my Windows XP laptop that would allow me to do the SMS on one of these devices then send it wirelessly through Axcesspoint attached to the Iridium Extreme?

[sinbad7]

Having so far just browsed through the manuals,I would say yes,it should be possible.

You can read about this in the attached part I cut from the manual. I think SMS messages are sent via internet.

I am presently doing an investigation into the connectivity possibilities of the Iridium Extreme and it´s hotspot modem and will keep you informed.

Tore

IRIDIUM EXTREME SATPHONE MANUAL

CURRENT LOCATION

This screen is reached via the Location
Options menu or by pressing the
side Convenience Key which is
programmed to pull up Current
Location (to modify this setting, see
Chapter 13). When Current Location is
displayed:
• If GPS is enabled, the stored location
fix will be displayed immediately
(the position will be left blank if no
stored position is available).
• If GPS and the GPS Settings Lock
are disabled, you will be asked if
you want to enable GPS; if so, the
screen will be loaded with blank
position data and with the message
“Acquiring location” in place of “Age
of fix”.
• If you choose not to enable GPS,
or if GPS is disabled and the GPS
Settings Lock is on, then a “No
location information available”
message will be displayed
temporarily.
If location is available, it will be
displayed in the configured format
including Latitude, Longitude,
Altitude, Age of fix, and number of
GPS satellites. The screen will update
automatically as frequently as you
designated setting.
From this screen, you have the option to
Share your location with other people
by sending it in a message. To Share,
press the left option key, labeled Share.
If Share is selected, the Share Location
Options will appear. The available
options are:
• Quick GPS – to send your location to
your preconfigured list of up to five
(5) contacts
• New message – to append your
location to a new message, allowing
you to add additional text and then
address the message to a new or
existing contact.
To Share your location, use the 2-way
Navi-key to select your desired Share
method and press the left option key,
labeled Select.
Select Back
Enter Number
Enter Email
My Phonebook #1
My Phonebook #2
My Phonebook #3
Recipient

Online Portal Integration with 3rd Parties
Your Iridium Extreme™ also supports integration with 3rd party online
portals using short burst data (SBD). These 3rd party online portals provide
the ability to track your phone’s location online, see location history, twoway
message, set-up geofences, and coordinate scheduled check-ins. This
capability is helpful if you are managing a fleet of phones and need to
monitor workflow and/or safety with a solution that provides more robust
capabilities than standard messaging. For more information about 3rd
party online portal integration, contact your service provider.

[Ozbullwinkle]

Ok, thanks Tore.

Steve

[sinbad7]

Steve..

Working on some interesting possibilities for use with Iridium Extreme and it´s hotspot companion.

Had a very promising email exchange with Iridium´s developments manager
as well as with Bluewatersailingdata. I have also spoken with the developers of SpotWalla.

Lot´s of goodies bound to come out soon to avoid the tedious keying in of data direct from the IE.

Tore

[Ozbullwinkle]

Hi Tore,

That sounds like a great development. Sending SMS messages from the IE is tedious indeed.

Probably won't be in time for our Pacific crossing though as we would be leaving in approx the 2nd week of March.

Steve

[sinbad7]

Steve. Read your PM. Interesting news for your eyes only!

Tore