If you are experiencing issues with your Android device not connecting to the Iridium GO! WiFi, check the following troubleshooting tips.
Important Note: Xiaomi Android devices are not compatible with the Iridium GO!
Connection issues can be broken down into three parts:
1/ I get the error 'No Internet'.
2/ My mobile device won't connect to the Iridium GO! WiFi
3/ My mobile device connects to the Iridium GO! WiFi, but won't log in.
1. Showing 'No Internet'. (This is normal)
If your Iridium GO! and mobile device are paired correctly, it should show Iridium - XXXX 'Connected- No internet'. This is NOT an error. Your mobile device is alerting you to the connection not being a normal high-speed land based connection.
2. My Android won't connect to the Iridium GO! Wi-Fi
If your mobile device is not picking up the Iridium Wi-Fi signal, check to ensure the Wi-Fi is turned ON in the Iridium GO! unit. You need to do this from the LCD screen on the Iridium GO!
Ensure the Iridium GO! unit is on (antenna raised) and powered up.
Looking at the LCD screen on the front of the Iridium GO! unit.
Press the left-hand button until you reach Power; use the right-hand button to Select Power.
If the WiFi is ON, it will say: Set GPS - on-demand / SET WiFi - OFF / Back.
If it says SET WiFi - ON > then please change it to say > SET WiFi - OFF.
Go to that device's settings> Turn WiFi off. Then on your mobile device, the Iridium WiFi should be visible.
If you continue to have issues connecting to the Iridium GO WiFi, try a factory reset of the Iridium GO. Full instructions on this process can be found here.
TIP, Change the Wi-Fi Channel, once connected and logged into the Iridium GO App
The default is channel 5
Log into the Iridium GO App.
Under Advanced > Wi-Fi Settings > Channel try say 10.
3. My Android Connects to the Iridium GO! Wi-Fi but won't log into the Iridium GO App
If you have tried to log into the Iridium GO! App before being connected to the Iridium GO Wi-Fi it may not let you in even if you use the correct login details. You may see the error message 'Could not communicate with the Iridium GO! Login failed' even though you are now connected to the Iridium Wi-fi.
Go to the Settings on your Android device > Apps > Iridium GO! App > tap force stop.
Then reopen the App and try logging in again.
Always:
Bluetooth must be OFF, and Flight Mode must be ON.
Ensure your device is connected to the Iridium GO! Wi-Fi, not another Wi-Fi source.
Ensure you are connected to the Iridium GO! Wi-Fi first before opening the Iridium GO App.
The default login for the Iridium GO! is username 'guest' and password 'guest'. By default, this login has administrator privileges and should not be changed.
Turn off or uninstall any AdBlocker or web protection software like Norton / McAfree Apps on your device.
Turn off, but ideally uninstall VPN Apps. Uninstalling any VPN is preferred, as we have seen VPN Apps override your earlier choice to turn it OFF in the settings. If you uninstall a VPN, you will need to restart the device and the Iridium GO before attempting to connect again.
Ensure only one device is connected to the Iridium GO! Multiple devices trying to use the Iridium GO! connection can cause problems.
Ensure you have a direct connection to the Iridium GO! Wi-Fi, no other networking devices such as a Wi-Fi or LAN router.
If your Android device automatically connects to the Iridium GO! Wi-Fi, even if Wi-Fi is turned OFF, this is called "Wifi wake up". To disable this feature:
go to your Android Home > Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Wi-Fi Preferences> turn OFF the setting 'Turn on Wi-Fi automatically'.
If your mobile device keeps trying to switch from the Iridium GO! Wi-Fi to another network, ensure all your saved network connections have 'Auto-reconnect' set to not auto-reconnect/ not auto-join. Otherwise, if your device finds another network with a stronger signal than your Iridium GO! it may switch to it. Go to your mobile device > Settings > Connections > Internet or Wi-fi > (right menu) 'Advanced' > Manage networks > [NETWORK_NAME] > 'Auto reconnect' > Uncheck or disable this setting.
Restart your mobile device.
Update your Android device software. To do this go to your Android Home > Settings > System > Software Update then tap Software Updates Your update status version will display, please follow any steps on the screen.
Reset your device's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi settings. Due to a known Wi-Fi port management issue on the device, this has been reported as a fix for the Samsung S5e tablet and XIAOMI Redmi Note 12. It may work for other devices too.
Important Note: this will clear out your device's saved Wi-Fi and paired Bluetooth device data, any saved networks you have on the device will be lost.
To do this, go to your Android Home > System > Reset options > Bluetooth & Wi-Fi > Reset. Next, connect to only Iridium GO! Wi-Fi, ensuring you do not connect to any other Wi-Fi network first.
If your device can now connect to the Iridium GO!, you may need to repeat this step later if you want to connect to it again after using another Wi-Fi network.