After many long hours of hard work, and waiting for the device registration to clear, we were finally able to send our first test message from the Iridium. It was a difficult setup, made more difficult by the fact that the unit had next to no service inside our workshop. However, once we placed the antenna next to a large window we had all the signal strength we needed, and within seconds of issuing the “SEND” command, Dylan’s iPhone received the email with our data.

The message we sent is an excerpt from the first transatlantic message sent from America. Satellite communications are expensive, so we didn’t quote the entire message, but the rest goes like this:

It is a triumph more glorious, because far more useful to mankind, than was ever won by conqueror on the field of battle. May the Atlantic telegraph, under the blessing of Heaven, prove to be a bond of perpetual peace and friendship between the kindred nations, and an instrument destined by Divine Providence to diffuse religion, civilization, liberty, and law throughout the world.

—President James Buchanan

Our triumph seems pretty glorious, too. Time to celebrate with some donuts!

Our "mission control" TV showing the output of our "conversation" with the Iridium unit

Viewing the received message on Ryan's laptop... it works!