Denali Calling: Testing the Iridium GO! Satellite Hotspot on North America’s Tallest Mountain

We huddled in the cook tent at 14,000 feet on the West Buttress of Denali as temperatures plummeted to near 0 degrees F. Do we stay and rest at 14K camp? Or push to high camp at 17K and try for the summit? As mountain guides, it was our responsibility to make the call, and thankfully, we had an Iridium GO! satellite device to connect with the outside world and gather data. 

Having flown into the Alaska Range five times in the past few years to climb remote mountains and guide Denali, I’ve been in a number of situations that required time-sensitive information while days away from reliable service. Through these experiences, I’ve become familiar with different satellite comms, and as an all-in-one device, the GO! is tough to beat.

Combining voice calling, high-character-limit texting, and even some limited web-surfing ability, the Iridium GO! is the satellite phone for the new era. While I more often rely on the Garmin inReach Mini for alpine assaults, the GO! is the device that I grab every time I’m headed up the High One with guided groups.

In short: Although larger and heavier than other popular communication devices and requiring a smartphone for use, the Iridium GO! ($855) is a contender for the most versatile tool for maintaining a high level of connectivity in the backcountry. It is an all-in-one solution that — for a price — will keep you plugged into mission-critical information when it counts.

To see how the Iridium GO! compares to the rest of the satellite communicators on the market, check out GearJunkie’s Best Satellite Phones and Best Satellite Messengers Buyer’s Guides.

Iridium GO!

$899 at AmazonCheck Price at Blue Cosmo

8.7

How we rate products ⓘ

Specifications

• Network: Iridium
• Satellite coverage: Global
• Antenna: Flip-up, omnidirectional
• Text messaging: Yes, through Iridium GO! app
• Battery life: 5.5-hour talk, 15.5-hour standby
• Display: Monochrome
• Waterproofing: IP65 and MIL-STD 810F
• Size: 4.5" x 3.2" x 1.2"
• Weight: 10.7 oz.

Pros

• Voice calling and SMS texting with high character limit
• Email capabilities
• GPS tracking
• Programmable one-touch SOS button
• Stowable antenna for more compact design

Cons

• Inconsistent connection can make it difficult to convey adequate amounts of information effectively
• Heavy and large compared to other satellite communication devices
• Necessitates smartphone for functionality
• Relatively limited battery life

Eli Spitulnik

Iridium GO! Review

A Look at the Scene: Satellite Communication Devices

When venturing beyond cell service, reliable communication is crucial. This could be as simple as notifying someone of your expected return time or, for more remote and demanding expeditions like those in the Alaska Range, arranging an alternate pick-up time and place.

Among the devices available, the Iridium GO! stands out as a versatile and powerful option for remote communication. It offers two-way messaging, voice calling, and SOS capabilities, combining these features into a single device that functions as a hotspot for your smartphone. This makes it highly adaptable, allowing for texting, calling, and emergency location services — all through your mobile phone.

In contrast, simpler devices, like personal locator beacons (PLBs), only offer one-way emergency communication. These devices are more affordable, have longer battery life, and work well as basic emergency tools but don’t allow for back-and-forth communication or other useful features like weather updates.

Though other satellite messengers like the Garmin inReach Mini 2 offer two-way messaging, weather updates, and emergency services at a lower cost in price, size, and weight, they are limited by slower information exchange and character-constrained text messages. For those who need more immediate, voice-based communication, the Iridium GO! surpasses the inReach Mini in terms of speed and capability.

Compared to more traditional satellite phones like the Iridium 9555, which offers voice communication, the GO! is more versatile because it integrates voice, text, SOS, and GPS functionality into one device. While the 9555 may be useful for those solely needing voice calls, the GO! is ideal for users seeking a comprehensive solution that maximizes connectivity in the backcountry, without being tied to a single communication method.

App-Based Functionality

If we’re not talking about dinner or how heavy our sleds are on Denali, we can certainly be found talking about the weather. The Iridium GO! is essentially a Wi-Fi hotspot allowing your phone to connect to the internet via satellite connection. Though the internet connection is limited to satellite-ready apps, the functionality is impressive, especially for gathering weather data. 

The SMS messaging app through the Iridium GO! app, downloadable to your phone, allows for text exchange with a 1,000-character limit per text. This is significantly better than the inReach Mini text character limit, which cuts you off at 160. Undeniably, texting or receiving weather updates with the GO! is much more efficient. 

The GO! app also allows for emailing, posting to Twitter, voice calling like a satellite phone, GPS tracking, and includes an SOS button for life or limb emergencies. While guiding Denali expeditions, we use the voice calling capabilities to record daily voice blogs, which then get posted to an expedition blog website that anyone can access. Families and friends of the expedition team members get to enjoy our daily updates and follow along with the climb.

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Design and Features

The Iridium GO! is shaped like a small brick with a foldable antenna and is larger and heavier than other satellite devices. For the extremely weight-conscious, this might be a downside. However, the weight, size, and battery life should be no issue for a larger expedition that has the capacity to bring extra power banks and a solar charging apparatus. 

Unlike other true satellite phones, the device works with a smartphone through the downloaded app. Without the smartphone, it’s essentially useless and unable to make calls or send texts independently. This increases the overall weight and battery needed to use the system. However, smartphones have many other uses in the backcountry, so this setback shouldn’t necessarily be a deal breaker.

One setback is the reliability and time of satellite connectivity. Through testing on the glaciers of the Alaska Range, I found that it took a significantly longer amount of time for the Iridium GO! to connect with a satellite than it did to fire off inReach messages. Sometimes, calls would drop after a few minutes, and occasionally, a strong enough connection to send texts couldn’t be obtained.

Outsized Value, Even for the Price

Priced at $849, the Iridium GO! is more expensive than many other satellite texting devices, but its multi-functionality makes it a valuable tool for serious backcountry expeditions. With its ability to send text messages, make voice calls, provide GPS tracking, and offer SOS capabilities, it stands out from simpler satellite communicators like the Garmin inReach Mini 2 (which can be had for $400 — half as much).

The GO! allows for greater flexibility and communication options, which can be critical in remote areas where real-time updates and detailed weather data are necessary. For those who require robust connectivity in the backcountry, its range of features justifies the higher price.

Room for Improvement

As mentioned previously, the need for a smartphone to operate the GO! is a bit of a bummer, but it’s honestly something almost all of us carry anyway — even on remote expeditions — so it’s hard to call it a serious ding.

The battery life on the device, however, is a bit more of an issue. The 5.5 hours of talk time can quickly be gobbled up when used by a group, so having a solid battery on hand is essential to keeping it going.

Finally, while still a few years out, anyone considering the GO! should also keep an eye on in-phone satellite capabilities on the horizon. Many carriers are developing the ability, and while having a dedicated device is always superior, there may come a time when our phones really will do it all.

Iridium GO! Conclusion

The Iridium GO! delivers an impressive level of satellite communication, making it a go-to device for expeditions that require consistent connectivity. While it may be bulkier and pricier than simpler alternatives, the versatility and high level of functionality it offers — texting, calling, GPS, and SOS capabilities — make it a great investment for those embarking on long, remote journeys.

It isn’t perfect, but it is good enough to carry us to the summit of Denali and back with a solid understanding of what was on the horizon. While the size and bulk will keep it out of the packs of casual weekenders, climbers and adventurers headed into the unknown for weeks will find many reasons to keep the GO! on the packing list.

While it could be said that true satellite phones are fading into obscurity, the Iridium GO! remains, providing peace of mind and ensuring that you remain in touch, no matter how far off the grid you venture.

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