Iridium and/or InReach

[Sailing Partner]

Does anyone have experience with an Iridium satellite phone or an InReach? We are thinking of purchasing the InReach, but information on which one to buy and how to use it is hard to come by. Any input would be appreciated.

[jmackay]

I have an Iridium 9505 that I have been using for about 8 years. I use it for email and voice communication offshore and am very happy with it. Contrary to what you see on TV an the movies all SAT phones need to have a clear view of the sky and will not work indoors or below deck. I use an external antenna mounted on the stern rail but can't justify the expense of a docking station.

[LakeSuperior]

We used a Iridium 9555 for two years on a docking station. We were able to download GRIBs and talk to family anytime anyplace. I would recommend getting a subscription to XGATE compression and file downloading software.

I also recommend programing in marine emergency phone numbers...US Coast Gaurd and MRCC Falmouth in the UK. They are then available with a couple clicks of a button. Have a waterproof bag available in case you need to take it with you into the life raft.

As a consequence of having the Iridium we never bothered with our brand new SSB.

You will really only need your Iridium offshore. WIFI was available at 99.9% of the anchorages and marinas that we used circumnavigating the North Atlantic.

[barnakiel]

Iridiums are OK. Pretty slow if you want data. Their OpenPort device is OK for data.

Inmarsat Isat phone an alternative to Iridium.

b.