The Iridium GO! exec comes with a range of built-in Web/App profiles to allow you to quickly get your internet tasks done and minimize your data usage. There are profiles for many popular activities and applications.
WARNING: You can use a LOT of data if you open up any apps/websites that are not optimised for satellite connections. Please exercise caution!
We highly recommend that you primarily use apps that are optimized for data usage on a satellite connection. Failing to use Apps that are optimized for satellite connections could result in high data usage with bill shock/overages.
As satellite data is more expensive than cellular data, it’s important to only allow the data you want to go over the satellite network. Some app/web profiles set the rules to allow or block traffic from going over the satellite network, so it’s important to choose the right profile for your data connection. These profiles can be accessed from the:
Iridium GO! exec device - On the LCD screen, tap the ‘App/Web Profile’ field to see the list of available profiles. Once a profile and session time is selected, press the Connect button to start the data session.
GO! exec Application – On the Internet screen, tap the ‘App/Web profile’ drop down arrow to see the list of available profiles. Once a profile and session time is selected, press the Connect button to start the data session.
Below the Connect Button on the GO exec App, and also on the GO exec LCD screen you will see the Data Usage. Carefully monitor this usage to ensure you do not get Bill Shock.
NOTE: When a data session is in progress the active profile can be changed at any time from the Iridium GO! exec device or the Iridium GO! exec App.
The device/app will come with preset ‘App/Web profiles’ for some commonly used applications, which are pre-configured firewall settings and also an option for adding advanced custom defined profiles.
Default App/Web profiles include:
1. WhatsApp: The Whatsapp profile opens up the GO exec to all services from the company called Meta. Meta owns Whatsapp, Facebook and Instagram. So if you have have any of these Apps open at the same time as using Whatsapp you can consume a large amounts of data from the Facebook & Instagram Apps. In addition Whatsapp is not optimised for a Satellite connection, and so you need to use this App with extreme caution. Please check the data usage counter on the GO exec when opening and closing the Firewall. As a minimum you need to be 100% sure you have closed all other Apps on your Phone. Please see instructions for iPhone/iPad, and any Android device.
2. Teams (Chat only): Teams is a Microsoft chat tool, and like Whatsapp is not optimized for Satellite connection and so can consume large amounts of data as you open the firewall to all microsoft services.
3. Gmail: The Gmail profile opens up the GO exec to all services from Google. So if you have have any other Google Apps open when using the Gmail App, all these Google Apps will consume large amounts of data. In addition Gmail is not optimised for a Satellite connection, and so you need to use this App with extreme caution. For example sending a 1,500 word email with Gmail uses approximately 0.2MB on the Iridium network. With satellite overages of up to US$5MB, this would cost US$1 per email. PredictMail (via the Datahub) can send the same email using only 0.0002MB. This data saving very quickly pays for the cost of the PredictMail service.
4. Outlook: For the same reasons as Gmail, we strongly advise against using Outlook and recommend using PredictMail
5. Facebook (mobile version): https://mbasic.facebook.com/
6. WeChat: WeChat, like Whatsapp is not suitable for use on the GO exec as the App comnsumes a lot of data.
7. Apple iMessage: iMessage, like Whatsapp is not suitable for use on the GO exec as the App comnsumes a lot of data.
8. All Open: We strongly advise against this option as all Apps have access to the the Internet, and you are likey to use a lot of data that could result in bill shock
9. Browsing: Firefox, Opera, Safari, Chrome: Please closely monitor data usage with this option
10. All Blocked
If you can’t find a suitable profile you can use the application to create a custom profile and it will be saved to your Iridium GO! exec.
Profile Name | Description | Rule Policy | Comments |
All Open | No restriction on internet access | Allow all | This is the default all open profile, all activities will work, but data usage maybe high as all traffic is allowed |
Browsing | Open access to webpages. All other services blocked. | Block all traffic except for rules added | This profile will allow only web browsing traffic. This includes all web pages, browsing and may allow other HTML based applications (like webmail) |
Allow access for facebookbasic.com | Block all traffic except for rules added
| Allow access to https://mbasic.facebook.com. Set your PC or mobile browser to this URL to get efficient access to Facebook content | |
Gmail | Allow access Gmail email | Block all traffic except for rules added
| This will allow access to Gmail for browser and Gmail applications. Note that it may also allow other Google based services. |
Allows access to WhatsApp messaging | Block all traffic except for rules added | This profile allows limited access to WhatsApp messaging using text. Emoticons and images may not work correctly. Voice calls may work. Video calls are not useable. | |
Teams | Allows access to Microsoft Teams messaging | Block all traffic except for rules added | This profile allows limited access to Teams chat. Image and attachments may not be useable. Voice calls may work. Video calls are not useable. |
Outlook | Allows access to Outlook email | Block all traffic except for rules added | This profile provides access for some Exchange/Office365/Hotmail & Outlook.com email services. May not be useable for some mail clients or large mailboxes or with large messages. |
Allows access to some WeChat services | Block all traffic except for rules added | This profile allows limited access to WeChat messaging features. Many secondary features and mini programs will not work. | |
Apple iMessage | Allows access to Apple iMessage | Block all traffic except for rules added | This profile allows limited access to Apple iMessage messaging. Emoticons and images may not work correctly. FaceTime audio may work (FaceTime video is not usable). May also allow iCloud (recommended to disable iCloud sync in OS settings) and iTunes. |
All Blocked | Block all internet access | Block all traffic | This profile will block all traffic, it will only be used by third party application before applying their own additional profile rules. |
From the Application setting: Device Settings menu choose App/web Profiles to see the full list of redefined profiles and user defined profiles.
· Press the ‘+’ button in the top right corner to add a new profile.
o Provide a name and description for the profile.
o Use the Rule policy to set if the rules will allow or block the traffic
o Use the + button in the Profile Rules section to add rules to the profile.
o Each rule added needs to define
∙ An IP address (or range) or a domain.
∙ A set of ports to be allowed or blocked.
∙ Whether the rule impacts TCP, UDP or both types of traffic.
· Up to 20 rules can be defined in any profile.
· Up to 10 used defined profiles can be added.
Additional Notes for Custom Profile Creation
Creating and managing App/Web Profiles
· DNS Blocking
o If Enabled DNS queries from LAN clients will NOT be passed to the satellite network.
o If Disabled DNS queries from LAN clients will be passed to the satellite network.
· Rule Policy
o ‘Allow All except Filters’ = Blacklist - Allow all traffic except the traffic defined in the rules
o ‘Block All Except Filters’ = Whitelist - Block all traffic except the traffic defined in the rules.
· Profile Rules
o Rule IP Address/Domain Name = A single IP address or domain including wildcards. eg 201.130.12.220 or 201.130.12.* or *.facebook.com
o Rule Port = Any port (or range) within the standard ports 0-65535.
o App/web rules can be deleted and copied. Swipe left on the rule to show the ‘Delete’ and ‘Copy’ actions
· Profile management
o The predefined App/web profiles cannot be edited or deleted
o User defined App/web profiles can be
∙ Created - Use the ‘+’ button to add a new profile
∙ Edited - touch the ‘>’ icon on the App/web Profile list to edit an existing user defined profile.
∙ Deleted - Swipe left on the Profile name in the profile list to show the ‘Delete’ and ‘Copy’ actions
· Used defined App/web Profiles shall be retained when the device is reset.
User defined App/web Profiles shall be deleted when the device is factory reset.