4 Steps to Ensure Iridium Equipment is Ready for Hurricane Season

Hurricane Season is fast approaching, beginning in just under 30 days. These 4 steps will make sure you and your Iridium equipment are prepared in a disaster relief situation. 

Step 1. Select the Right Equipment 
 

Selecting the right equipment is the all-important first step. MetOcean Telematics is a leading Iridium^® Value Added Reseller offering a wide array of in stock and ready to deploy transceivers and hardware for the Iridium^® global satellite network. Some options to consider when selecting equipment are:

• Iridium 9555 Handset – A sleek portable handset that is voice and circuit switched data capable
• Iridium Extreme 9575 – A rugged portable handset that you can take anywhere
• Iridium GO! – A hotspot creates the first ever reliable global connection for voice and data communications on your smartphone or up to 5 mobile devices
• More Iridium solutions to keep you connected in the most extreme situations

Step 2. Make Sure Batteries are Charged
 

The right equipment is key during hurricane season, and so are the batteries that power those devices.  Ensure that your batteries have a full charge and that you have extra in case of an emergency situation. If you need to charge multiple batteries or replace your existing batteries contact sales@metocean.com for replacement battery options and charger kits. In addition to traditional charger kits, MetOcean Telematics provides solar charging solutions that ensure your Iridium equipment is always charged and ready to go. 

Step 3. Activate SIM Cards and Air Time
 

Active SIM Cards and Air Time are essential to make sure you can connect in emergency situations. You can purchase post-paid SIM cards and airtime plans or go with the pre-paid SIM card option. If using pre-paid SIM cards make sure the minutes are valid and you have enough for emergency situations. MetOcean Telematics offer Iridium airtime for every type of Iridium equipment.  

Since April 1, 2017, the expiration date of Iridium prepaid SIM cards is now 270 days, not 90 days as it was previously.

Step 4. Test the Equipment
 

If you are all setup with active SIM cards and a postpaid airtime or pre-paid SIM cards make sure you test your Iridium phones. Test calls are FREE so you won’t be using any of your airtime when testing a phone on the Iridium network.

When testing your Satellite equipment follow the steps below:

• Go outside with a clear view of the sky, 360 degrees around you and with visibility down to 8 degrees above the horizon. This is the ideal user location but if that isn’t possible you can still test, but you may have intermittent signal at times.
• Extend the Iridium satellite antenna
• Turn on the phone
• Hold the phone in the correct way with the antenna pointing straight up at the sky – vertical

Go outside, with a good clear view of the sky as shown:  Open Sky 360* around you and with visibility down to 8* above the horizon. That’s the ideal user location.  It is not always possible to have the perfect view of the sky, and that’s ok, but realize you may have intermittent signal at times.

Do not hold the phone in this way, the antenna mostly horizontal, which will not give you the best reception. 

• Wait until the phone Registers to Iridium Network 
• Dial the following FREE Test Your Phone Number:   +1 480 752 5105 and push the SEND/Green Button
• Test FREE e-mail to the screen of the phone, a ‘fix-to-Iridium’ e-mail.  
• Email text only with no attachment, no signatures.  160 bytes (alpha numeric) from a smart phone, tablet or PC as follows:
  • 1st you need the Iridium telephone number or 8816 xxxxxxxx number
  • Then address the email as shown: 8816xxxxxxxx@msg.ridium.com (no spaces)
  • type the 160 bytes in the body of the email
  • Send

If you have any questions on how to make sure your Iridium equipment is ready for Hurricane season, please contact sales@metocean.com.