Iridium verus starlink

[Oldwheels]

Iridium go marine package GO! Unlimited GO! Unlimited Plus

Go unlimited, $150 month , unlimited data, 150 minute voice, unlimited text
Up front $1100



Starlink roam. Up front $600, unlimited data $150/m . the other forums says this works fine.

From what I see the starlink works better for data.
I always feel this is an impossible choice until I commit and the grumbling starts.
Opinions????\

[wholybee]

They are different, for different uses. Starlink for general Internet access, web browsing, Streaming, working remotely. Iridium for emergency communications, weather info, basic text and phone.
You can not use Starlink in a life raft. If you are in a storm, Starlink might not work, or might be damaged, but the Iridium will work normally. Iridium will work off an internal battery when the power goes out. And Iridium has an SOS button that will send your location to search and rescue organizations.
A common setup now is Starlink, with a cheaper Iridium based device, such as an inreach, but not the more expensive Go. But you really need that 2nd device for safety if you are getting Starlink. If you get the Go, you will be extremely limited in what you can do. But it will cover what you need for safety, and Starlink will not.

[fxykty]

PredictWind are pushing their new Iridium GO! Exec product as a Starlink killer for offshore safety https://www.predictwind.com/starlink...gn=19713894927

However, the Exec is ridiculously expensive, so a cheaper alternative such as inReach or even the regular GO! is necessary as a Starlink backup for offshore if you lose mains power on your boat for whatever reason.

We’ve got a GO! (and Starlink), but the GO! is a pain to activate/deactivate (new SIM card needed each time) and you have to pay for at least a month before you can cancel the service, making it very expensive as a backup for short passages. We’re thinking of selling the GO! and getting an inReach instead.

What we really want is a Motorola Defy https://www.motorola.com/us/motorola...tellite-link/p, but coverage is pretty limited so far https://bullitt.com/coverage/.

[Eder]

Starlink kicks Iridium unless of course you don't have an epirb.

[CarlF]

The difference is the GO! Is really slow - 2.4kbps (that’s .0027 Mbps). Starlink is over 100Mbps - ten thousand times faster.

If you transmitted continuously at 2.4kbps for 24 hours you’d have sent 4 standard 8Mb IPhone pictures. So unlimited data doesn’t mean much.

The GO! Is great for sending text messages, short emails, phone calls and downloading weather - but that’s about it..

With Starlink you’re making unlimited calls on your cell phone using free Wi-Fi calling while watching a football game on TV at 4k - and everyone on the boat is using internet like at home.

I also sold my GO! after getting the Starlink and keep an inexpensive InReach for distress and backup (and an EPIRB as a backup to the backup).

[Jammer]

Different products for different purposes:


Starlink = High power, large antenna, high-speed data, works when it wants, voice fiddly but can be made to work



Iridium go = lower power, smaller antenna, lower speeds, works most of the time, voice doubtful at best



Iridium certus = lower power, smaller antenna, lower speeds, works always, voice always there, expensive


Inreach etc = self contained/very low power, smaller antenna, short text messages, no voice, works always.

Originally Posted by Eder

Starlink kicks Iridium unless of course you don't have an epirb.

If you push the button they copter you out and sink your boat, and you can't get insurance for the next ten years. There could be situations where you need help or advice but don't want to do that. I seem to recall a boat. Rhymes with Treble Part.

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by Jammer

Different products for different purposes:


Starlink = High power, large antenna, high-speed data, works when it wants, voice fiddly but can be made to work

icw starlink could you please elaborate on why you think "voice fiddly but can be made to work" ?

fyi we have starlink and use voice comms all the time, via various VOIP systems such as whatsapp or skype. it's as easy as being on land...just pick up the phone and dial

what's fiddly / needs to be made to work please ?

cheers,

[Jammer]

Glad it works for you!

[RenoNV]

Iridium GO worked well for me. Yes, its limited, but I found most nearby cruisers who have Starlink will share their password. So its not necessarily required to own one.

Cruising for many is about getting away from normal life. An Iridium device gives you what is needed for safety. Starlink is a bonus.

However, if you intend to work remotely, Starlink is required. For safety, so is Iridium.

[Oldwheels]

Thanks guys, about what I was thinking.

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by Jammer

.

If you push the button they copter you out and sink your boat, and you can't get insurance for the next ten years. There could be situations where you need help or advice but don't want to do that. I seem to recall a boat. Rhymes with Treble Part.

Wow, I didn't know rescue helicopters carried missiles.
Must be an American thing.

People get rescued around the world and quite often, the boat is recovered or makes it to land by itself.

[Paul Reading]

I think Starlink has limited its audience by it pricing model. The average yachtie is not a live a board and not a mega yacht owner. The average yachtsman probably has a 38-40 foot yacht. Only the very wealthy are going to pay 250 per month, the fact that is it cheaper than iridium is irrelevant to most users because they don't buy iridium either.

The big market is to make it cheap enough for weekend sailors, then they will become really standard and people will be happy to pay the subscription even though the boat is used for only 60 days a year. For Starlink they would have a ton of subscribers who are not actually using the system very much.

[wholybee]

Originally Posted by Paul Reading

I think Starlink has limited its audience by it pricing model. The average yachtie is not a live a board and not a mega yacht owner. The average yachtsman probably has a 38-40 foot yacht. Only the very wealthy are going to pay 250 per month, the fact that is it cheaper than iridium is irrelevant to most users because they don't buy iridium either.

The big market is to make it cheap enough for weekend sailors, then they will become really standard and people will be happy to pay the subscription even though the boat is used for only 60 days a year. For Starlink they would have a ton of subscribers who are not actually using the system very much.

Weekend sailors would do fine with the $150 plan, as weekend sailors don't cross oceans. And you can pause service.

Also, the big market isn't Satellite at all. The Starlink network has limited bandwidth, and thus a limit to the number of users. Starlink is basically at max capacity, with waiting lists in many areas and capacity added slowly, but not indefinitely. There isn't any reason to reduce price to attract more uses, because there isn't enough room for that many more users.

[CarlF]

Originally Posted by chrisr

icw starlink could you please elaborate on why you think "voice fiddly but can be made to work" ?

fyi we have starlink and use voice comms all the time, via various VOIP systems such as whatsapp or skype. it's as easy as being on land...just pick up the phone and dial

what's fiddly / needs to be made to work please ?

cheers,

We don't even use VOIP for phone calls - our Verizon cell phones all consider the Starlink wifi as OK for Verizon "Wifi Calling" (like you use with hotel wifi). We make and recieve calls anywhere in the world over Starlink completely normally under our Verizon US "unlimited" phone plan at no extra Verizon charge. Works with SMS too.