We got up at our normal time, about 7:30 or so. I checked the weather and our Iridium Go Satellite stuff. I checked our messages and found the battery for the device was down at 21%. This was not a good sign as it has been plugged in for the about a week. So, I looked at the charging port, and found that it was broken.
Bottom line, the satellite device to get weather when we don’t have cell service is dead. We also don’t have a way to get text messages or email while out of cell service. All in all this really not a good thing.
We were planning to head north to go to San Carlos and leaving this morning. But now I am not sure we want to leave this morning.
Need two of everything, didn’t Nuclear Power teach you that. Ha Ha
What I learned by going to a BWR, a better answer is not two of everything, rather two ways of doing everything. So, two Iridium GO! Devices is not really the answer.
The Iridium GO! Was the backup communications plan for an emergency. I have been using it as a non required (nice to have) system, but it’s main purpose was as an emergency notification system to get help no matter where we are.
Currently, we have:
1. VHF radio (range about 25 miles or so) with a DISTRESS call feature that sends our gps coordinates and shouts for help.
2. SSB radio (longer range, not sure how far) with a DISTRESS call feature that sends our gps coordinates and shouts for help
3. EPIRB, which transmits our gps coordinates (not sure of the range) and shouts for help.
4. CURRENTLY NOT WORKING the Iridium GO! Which has a distress signal and uses satellite to send a signal to a company that has our information and is supposed to send help. (Might be the weakest link in the set).