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My Android phone/ tablet will not connect to the Iridium GO!
My Android phone/ tablet will not connect to the Iridium GO!

Troubleshooting tips for when your Android device will not connect to the Iridium GO!

Keryn McMaster avatar
Written by Keryn McMaster
Updated over a week ago

If you are experiencing issues with your Android device not connecting to the Iridium GO! WiFi, check the following troubleshooting tips.

NOTE: Xiaomi 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/ I get the error 'No Internet'. (This is normal)

If your Iridium GO and mobile device are paired correctly, it will show Iridium - XXXX 'Connected- No internet'. This is NOT an error. It is simply your mobile device alerting you to the fact the Iridium GO does not a have high-speed connection. This does not mean the Iridium GO is faulty or will not work. The Iridium GO has a data speed of 12kb/ minute. Normal internet is upwards of 23,000 kb/ minute.

2/ MY ANDROID WON'T CONNECT TO THE IRIDIUM GO! WIFI

If your mobile device is not picking up the Iridium WiFi signal, check to ensure the WiFi is turned ON in the Iridium GO! unit. You need to do this from the LCD screen on the Iridium GO!.

  1. Ensure the Iridium GO! unit is on (antenna raised) and powered up

  2. Looking at the LCD screen on the front of the Iridium GO! unit

  3. Press the left-hand button until you reach Power; use the right-hand button to Select Power.

  4. If the WiFi is ON, it will say: Set GPS - on-demand / SET WiFi - OFF / Back.

  5. If it says SET WiFi - ON > then please change it to say > SET WiFi -OFF

  6. Go to that device's settings> Turn WiFi off. Then on your mobile device, the Iridium WiFi should be visible.

  7. Change the Wi-Fi Channel , Log into the Iridium GO App,

    Try changing the Wi-Fi channel, the default is channel 5

    This is found under Advanced > Wi-Fi Settings > Channel, try say 10

  8. 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

3/ MY ANDROID CONNECTS TO THE IRIDIUM GO! WIFI 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 Wifi it may not let you in even if you use the correct login details. You may see ' could not communicate with the Iridium GO' even though you are now connected to the Iridium Wifi.

Go to Settings on your Android device > Apps > Iridium GO App > select force stop

Then try logging in again to the Iridium GO App.

  1. Bluetooth must be OFF, and Flight Mode must be ON.

  2. Ensure your device is connected to the Iridium Wifi, not another Wifi source.

  3. Ensure you are connected to the Iridium GO! Wifi FIRST before opening the Iridium GO App.

  4. 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.

  5. Turn off or uninstall any AdBlocker or web protection software such as Norton/ McAfree Apps running on your device.

  6. 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 Iridium GO before attempting to connect again.

  7. Ensure you only have one device connected to the Iridium GO!, Multiple devices trying to use the Iridium GO! connection causes problems.

  8. Ensure you have a direct connection to the Iridium GO! Wifi - no other networking devices such as a Wifi or LAN router.

  9. If your Android device automatically connects to the Iridium GO! Wifi, even if Wifi 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> switch OFF the setting "Turn on Wi-Fi automatically"

  10. If your mobile device keeps trying to switch from the Iridium GO! Wifi to another network, ensure that all of your saved network connections have "auto-reconnect" set to not auto-reconnect/ not auto-join. Otherwise, if your device believes there is a "better" network available than your current network, it may decide to switch to it. Go to your mobile device > Settings > Connections > Wifi > (right menu) 'Advanced' > Manage networks > [NETWORK_NAME] > 'Auto reconnect' > Uncheck this box.

Finally, remove the battery from the Iridium GO unit, and set it aside for 5 minutes.

At this time, remove the SIM card and check the contacts are clean and intact. Ensure the SIM card is inserted correctly. After 5 minutes, reassemble the unit, power it up and test again.

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