What are the dimensions and weight of the GO exec?
200mm high x 200mm wide x 30mm deep. The GO exec weighs 1.2Kg
Is the DataHub required for tracking with the GO exec?
Yes. The GO exec does not have any tracking features of its own.
Do SIM cards for Iridium GO! work in the GO exec?
No. The GO exec uses a different type of SIM card, made for the GO exec. When you purchase the GO exec, it comes with a SIM card. The good thing is that the SIM card can be activated and deactivated, so you only need one.
What are the charging options for the exec? What plug type does the charge input use, and at what voltage/amps?
A USB-C connector powers the Iridium GO exec and comes with a USB-C, 5 Volt, 3 amp power adaptor. It uses less power to transmit, though. It is around 15 Watts on send/receive and 5 watts on standby. If you already have one on the boat, it can be powered from a good quality 2 amp USB outlet.
The Iridium Go Exec must not be connected directly to house batteries. If you try connecting 12v to the Iridium GO exec, it will blow the charging circuit inside.
Does the GO exec use the same battery as the Iridium GO!
No. The GO exec has a built-in battery, which differs from the Iridium GO! It is not user-replaceable; it must be returned to Iridium for replacement.
Is the GO exec external antenna the same as the Iridium GO!? I already have the old Iridium GO! antenna installed.
No. An Iridium GO! antenna will not work with the GO exec.
The external antenna is spec'd for Certus 100; it has different internals but looks identical to the Iridium GO! external antenna. The cable is 5 meters long, so we recommend mounting the GO exec aft in the boat, closer to the pushpit, if that's where the external antenna is mounted.
You cannot extend beyond 5 meters with the LMR400 cable, as this is the length specified by Iridium. Please review this help article for more information about the GO exec External Antenna.
Is buying or using an external antenna with the GO exec mandatory, or is the internal antenna sufficient for use inside a fibreglass sailboat?
No. It is not mandatory to have an external antenna. However, to get the best coverage, the built-in paddle antenna on the exec unit needs to have a clear view of the sky to connect to the satellites. This means the device will need to be on deck.
Does the GO exec include a speakerphone so a Wi-Fi-connected device is not required to make phone calls? Can calls be made with an external device?
Yes. The GO exec has a built-in speaker and can be used to dial out directly. This makes it ideal as an emergency safety device for a life raft or dead ship situation. The GO exec also has built-in Wi-Fi, which you can connect a mobile phone to and use the GO exec App to make and receive calls.
Does the GO exec have an Ethernet port to connect an external router?
Yes. The GO exec has an Ethernet port to connect to a computer or router. By default, the GO exec acts as a DHCP server on the Ethernet port, so we recommend you connect it to your DataHub or Router WAN Ethernet port.
Are GPS tracking messages sent through the GO exec from a DataHub billed as data, or is this position sent as a free SMS message?
GPS tracking is done by the DataHub connected to the GO exec. It activates the GO exec to connect and send tiny tracking data packets, then turns off the connection.
Tracking is set to hourly by default on the DataHub. This can be adjusted upwards or down to 15 minutes.
How much data will tracking use per month set to 1 hourly tracking?
The amount of data for one position report is 200 bytes. That said, the minimum charged billing increments for an Iridium GO exec connection is 5kb.
For tracking only, hourly, over 30 days, 3.6 MB is used.
This can be adjusted upwards or down to 15 minutes. You can also use the DataHub to check PredictMail every hour and send the tracking reports together to use the 5kb minimum billing increment efficiently.
What are the expected exec upload/download speeds?
The GO exec includes a Certus 100 modem. Download speeds are up to 88 kbps; upload speeds are up to 22 kbps.
Can I buy an extension for the external antenna?
No. We don't recommend extending beyond 5 meters, as this is the length specified by Iridium. Please read here for more information about the external antenna cable length.
Can I cut the external antenna cable to run it through a hole?
Yes. You can do this. The cables can be used when shorter. They cannot be extended longer than supplied. Cutting the cable will void the product warranty. Please bear that in mind before deciding to do it. The end connector is a TNC-M - for attaching a replacement connector.
How long will a battery last in a life raft situation?
The GO exec offers a maximum of 6 hours of talk time and 20 hours of standby.
Without a DataHub, is there any way to send a GPS position for the tracking page from the GO exec except to manually enter and message/send a position read from another device?
No, there is no other way. The DataHub is an affordable and complimentary device for the GO exec to automatically update your GPS tracking page, including your live wind conditions, if you have an NMEA2000 network connected to it on your boat.
Can you post from the GO exec to social media such as Instagram or Facebook? How can I do this?
Yes. You can add posts to most social media platforms using the App if you connect using the appropriate GO exec Web/App profile. For more information about Web/App profiles on the GO exec, please review the help article GO exec Web/App Profiles for data sessions (Advanced).
Please be aware social media apps are not optimized for satellite connections, so you may transfer a lot of data. Please read this help article carefully Step 5 - How to prevent billshock.
With the GO exec, how can I control which Apps can use the Internet connection to manage my data usage?
The GO exec includes a built-in firewall to allow only permitted Internet traffic. Apps like the PredictWind Offshore App can open a firewall pinhole GO exec satellite Internet connection to download only your chosen GRIBs or weather routing data and then disconnect the GO exec.
To open a webpage on your laptop, select the Web/App profile Browsing and connect your GO exec to the Internet, then open your web browser and connect to GO exec or DataHub Wi-Fi.
For more information about using Web/App profiles with the GO exec and creating your own custom Web/App profile, please see this help article GO exec Web/App Profiles for data sessions (Advanced).
Can I connect the GO exec to a 12v or 24v battery directly?
No. The GO exec must not be connected directly to the 12/24v house batteries.
The GO exec is powered by a 5V USB power supply like you would charge your cellphone at home.
If you connect 12v to the Iridium GO exec, it will blow the charging circuit inside it.
The unit has a USB cable, a cigarette lighter adaptor, and a USB socket (5V output). If you have a cigarette lighter socket on your boat, please use this.
However, Cigarette lighter connections are notoriously unreliable on boats for a good connection, so we recommend getting a 12V-powered USB plug installed.
Something like this DaierTek 12V USB-C Car Charger Socket would work well. USB outlets that are powered 12V / 24V compatible, such as this MICTUNING Dual USB Charger Socket 2.1A & 2.1A Power Outlet, would also be suitable.
If you prefer to use the standard USB-A charge port, you will need a different cable than the supplied one, but they are very common in electronics stores if you still need one.
You will also be able to find a USB-C version of the converters, similar to the links above.