Antenna for Iridium Go

[Dockhead]

Any recommendations? I already have LMR400 cable run to my pushpit (for my Globalstar phone), but I need the antenna. Don't think I want to buy the marine kit, because I don't need the cabling.

And I suppose that an indoor antenna is no good, even though I have only a GRP coachroof above?

Grateful for all tips.

[CarstenWL]

... any antenna intended for the Iridium GO!, Iridium 9500, 9505, 9505A, ... will work.

E.g.

Aero Fixed Mast Antenna

https://www.expeditionstechnik.de/ir...winderohr.html

https://www.expeditionstechnik.de/ir...UaArzoEALw_wcB

And any outside mounted antenna will normally outperform the antenna on the GO! because of the 'better view towards the satellite'.

Regards,

Carsten

[hlev00]

I was very disappointed with the results of the marine kit. I didn't get as far as installing it but in testing in an open area I didn't think it really added to the performance. The guy that owns this place www.mjsales.net seemed to be pretty knowledgeable. I was going to try an antenna recommended by him but ultimately just used it from our nav station. If signal was sketchy like when I was trying to down load a large weather data set, I put it under the dodger. That worked fine for us. I also never had much success using the voice calling mode. Maybe that was due to not having a good external antenna. Again, it wasn't something we really needed.


Harry
s/v Juno
juno423.blogspot.com

[ilenart]

when I did the Fremantle to Bali a few years ago we had a Iridium Go mounted at the nav station with no aerial and it worked fine. Was a beneteau oceanis 42 CC. We were downloading grib files, sending texts and the occasional phone call no problem.

Maybe test it out first without the aerial and see what results you get.

Ilenart

[Marathon1150]

We used our IridiumGo for several years in the Sea of Cortez without an external antenna. We often lost the signal when using apps like PredictWind, Sailmail, etc., even if we put the unit in the cockpit under the dodger or on top of a solar panel.

We installed the IridiumGo external antenna in 2018(worst piece of cable that I have ever had to run in the boat because of its diameter and weird lack of flexibility).

The installation was worth it. Connections never drop and upload/download times are faster.

[Davo1404]

Originally Posted by Marathon1150

We used our IridiumGo for several years in the Sea of Cortez without an external antenna. We often lost the signal when using apps like PredictWind, Sailmail, etc., even if we put the unit in the cockpit under the dodger or on top of a solar panel.

We installed the IridiumGo external antenna in 2018(worst piece of cable that I have ever had to run in the boat because of its diameter and weird lack of flexibility).

The installation was worth it. Connections never drop and upload/download times are faster.

Just finished installing the external antenna. You are so right about the cable. Lots of swearing when running it through lockers & behind bulkheads. Then trying to loop the excess!!!