Iridium Skylink Checklist Quickstart

  

Below are instructions to help Iridium Certus Skylink users get fully setup and working with the Skylink and Teleport-it email compression.

Before you install the Skylink

After installing the Skylink

  • Familiarise yourself with the Skylink's web portal or control panel - you can do this without an active satellite plan or a 4G/LTE data plan
  • Connect your device (mobile phone, tablet or laptop) to the Skylink's WiFi network. Password is listed on white sticker
  • In the address bar of your web browser, type: 192.168.111.1 and press enter (see our note in the next section about saving this as a bookmark so that you don't have to keep on typing it in!)
  • You will probably need to log in to see the full range of menus (admin/admin)
  • Have a look at the 'status' screen as this is where you can see things like your satellite signal strength and usage counters for both satellite and 4G/LTE

Testing your satellite system if you have a stand-alone Iridium Certus Skylink

Pre Requisites:

  • Activated airtime - see current Skylink data plans here and contact us to schedule your activation (you'll need to return a short airtime form, so allow some time for this when planning your testing)
  1. Turn on Iridium Certus Skylink and wait for it to completely power on (static blue light)
  2. Via WiFi, connect your chosen device with the Skylink. You will need to enter the WiFi password to connect (this can be found on the white sticker on the Skylink - there is also a QR code that you can scan). You will get a message that you have no internet connection - that is expected. (This step can be done via LAN cable if you prefer and if your MAC or PC has LAN port)
  3. Navigate to the Skylink's portal page by typing the following into the address bar of a web browser (do not enter this in a search bar) and save this as a book mark or use the 'add to home screen' option if you are using a phone or tablet to save this as an icon.
    192.168.111.1
  4. Log in (if applicable) and navigate to the 'connection manager'. Set the data routing to 'satellite only' and the firewall to 'Skylink email' and remember to press 'save' on this screen to register these choices.

Final Test

  • Test the satellite service by sending/receiving an email using your previously configured & tested mailasail account (teleport-it)
  • If successful, well done. You are all set up!

Ending a data session

Once you have finished receiving and sending your email, it is important that you now take steps to terminate the ability to send/receive data. You do this by:

  • Going back to the Skylink portal page and setting the data routing back to 'none' and the firewall to 'blocked'.
It is vital that you press 'save' on this screen, otherwise the data connection will remain open!
  • Take a final look at the 'status' screen to be absolutely sure that you have now disconnected the satellite data.

In general, this is a good finishing point, as we recommend that you make a note of the data counters regularly in your ship's logs so that you can quickly identify any blips, especially in the early days of using the system.

Click here to read more about optimising your devices to reduce satellite data costs

Testing your satellite system if you have a Red Box router and an Iridium Certus Skylink

This section only applies to boats that are using their Skylink via a Red Box router. The process of making a data connection via the Skylink is then slightly different, so click here to find out more if you have this particular configuration

Making a satellite phone call

  • Please note that your voice function on the Skylink is separate from the data function. So you can use the phone to make a voice call without having to start a data session.
  • Remember on ALL satellite systems you are effectively calling from a virtual country, so you need to always dial the full international dialling code
  • Imagine you wished to call MailaSail's office. This number is +442070432832 (or could be written 00442070432832)
  • Try calling a number local to you to test success and voice quality
  • Remember that it can be expensive to call in to a satellite phone and some networks actively block such calls. You can always ring our office number and then hang up when you hear our answer machine!

Useful numbers

  • 5555 - test call (you should hear someone say 'please wait while I connect your call' if this test call is successful)
  • 717 - echo test
  • 777 - speaking clock