Satellite WiFi Options for the Open Ocean

[SeaInFocus]

Greetings fellow travelers! I am looking for suggestions for a solution that will allow me to (at the very least) send/receive text messages on my iPhone while exploring the open ocean around Tonga. I have seen guests use a simple plug-and-play receiver that allowed them to email and even make phone calls while in the most remote parts of the Solomon Sea (I'm still trying to reach them to get the solution they used), and I have been able to find anything similar in my internet research ... most likely due to user error.

In the interim, any suggestions for solutions that have been used successfully in the past would be greatly appreciated!

Michael
www.immersedimaging.com

 

[tursiops]

Greetings fellow travelers! I am looking for suggestions for a solution that will allow me to (at the very least) send/receive text messages on my iPhone while exploring the open ocean around Tonga. I have seen guests use a simple plug-and-play receiver that allowed them to email and even make phone calls while in the most remote parts of the Solomon Sea (I'm still trying to reach them to get the solution they used), and I have been able to find anything similar in my internet research ... most likely due to user error.

In the interim, any suggestions for solutions that have been used successfully in the past would be greatly appreciated!

Michael
www.immersedimaging.com

First of all, you should change your title on this thread. It is not WiFi you are looking for, it is the internet and/or a cellular connection.
Secondly, the ways you can get texts, versus email, versus phone calls, are all rather different. The Garvin in Reach system will allow texting, but not through your iPhone. Phone calls can be made with a satellite phone, again not using your iPhone. Email is the most difficult. The only way to do all this easily and at reasonable cost is with a "hot spot" that uses cellular service, but you need to be within reach of a cell tower. I am unaware of the satellite equivalent of a hot spot, and imagine that should it exist, it will be very expensive, and/or very slow, and/or very large.

Added - check out WIFI Satellite Hotspots | SatellitePhoneStore

 

[diversteve]

I've seen people use these small portable panels. I think - but do not know - that there would be a way to connect your iphone to it but the roaming charge could be astronomical...lol

There's also portable routers that could be used to generate a local wifi hotspot - actually my non-iphone does - but only to my cellular network which you obviously won't have in the Solomons.

You might look into buying/renting/leasing a sat phone and forwarding your iphone to it - I think that might work for calls but probably not texts.

Also you have to buy a phone plan with a carrier. One of the big satphone companies has a coverage map showing whose the best for that area. I think Iridium works everywhere but I'm not positive.
Iridium also has a device that does text/voice (and I bellieve) e-mail but it's their device - not your iphone.

satphonestore.com has some buyers guides on their site that may be useful

Is it your boat? There's some permanent systems you can install that do a much faster/better connection. I see them on liveaboards - they're a little white dome.

 

[Johnoly]

...send/receive text messages on my iPhone while exploring the open ocean ....

Lots of options,,,,,what is your Upfront out of pocket max budget?

 

[SeaInFocus]

Lots of options,,,,,what is your Upfront out of pocket max budget?

$500ish. I really just want to be able to text family while I'm traveling ... maybe once a day if that.

 

[SeaInFocus]

I've seen people use these small portable panels. I think - but do not know - that there would be a way to connect your iphone to it but the roaming charge could be astronomical...lol

There's also portable routers that could be used to generate a local wifi hotspot - actually my non-iphone does - but only to my cellular network which you obviously won't have in the Solomons.

You might look into buying/renting/leasing a sat phone and forwarding your iphone to it - I think that might work for calls but probably not texts.

Also you have to buy a phone plan with a carrier. One of the big satphone companies has a coverage map showing whose the best for that area. I think Iridium works everywhere but I'm not positive.
Iridium also has a device that does text/voice (and I bellieve) e-mail but it's their device - not your iphone.

satphonestore.com has some buyers guides on their site that may be useful

Is it your boat? There's some permanent systems you can install that do a much faster/better connection. I see them on liveaboards - they're a little white dome.

Thanks very much for the great info! No, not my boat.

 

[SeaInFocus]

First of all, you should change your title on this thread. It is not WiFi you are looking for, it is the internet and/or a cellular connection.
Secondly, the ways you can get texts, versus email, versus phone calls, are all rather different. The Garvin in Reach system will allow texting, but not through your iPhone. Phone calls can be made with a satellite phone, again not using your iPhone. Email is the most difficult. The only way to do all this easily and at reasonable cost is with a "hot spot" that uses cellular service, but you need to be within reach of a cell tower. I am unaware of the satellite equivalent of a hot spot, and imagine that should it exist, it will be very expensive, and/or very slow, and/or very large.

Added - check out WIFI Satellite Hotspots | SatellitePhoneStore

Thanks for your insight! Much appreciated.

 

[Johnoly]

$500ish... maybe once a day if that.

The brand new {May2018} Garmin Inreach Mini will do that.
* About $350 for the unit
* Monthly cheapest sat plans start about $15
* Battery lasts 50hr, but can plug in
* Long text msg's can be slow to type in

 

[Dogbowl]

I’m very interested in this thread as I will be going on a LOB soon and can see myself going more in the future.

I found this via Google search:

Thuraya SatSleeve+

Even better...

Thuraya SatSleeve Hotspot

For iPhone and Android

 

[Johnoly]

Thuraya SatSleeve+

Always check the sat coverage map. That unit doesn't work in all of north America and not south america, that sucks.
Iridium has the best world wide sat coverage.