Tools & Gear Our Analysts Actually Use
Everything we rely on to track strikes, aircraft, ships and comms outages during the Iran conflict — plus what we tell family and colleagues in the region to carry.
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, War Intel Hub earns a commission at no extra cost to you. This is how we keep the live map, ADS-B feed and casualty database free. We only list tools we use or have tested.
Section 1 Stay Reachable When Networks Fail
Landlines and local carriers are the first thing to go in a strike zone. A second SIM from a different network, plus a satellite fallback, is the difference between “offline” and “checking in”.
Airalo Regional eSIM
Install before you travel; activates in minutes on any unlocked phone. Middle East & Gulf regional plans cover UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi, Jordan, Israel, Türkiye — no local SIM registration.
Get Airalo eSIM →Saily eSIM (by NordVPN)
Cheapest per-GB regional data we’ve tested, with a built-in ad blocker and virtual-location option. Good backup to keep alongside Airalo on a different carrier.
Get Saily eSIM →Holafly Unlimited eSIM
Unlimited-data plans for people who need to stream video calls or upload footage without watching a meter.
Get Holafly eSIM →Garmin inReach Mini 2
Two-way satellite messenger with SOS. Works when every cell tower is dark. This is what NGO field teams and journalists in the region carry.
Check price → On AmazonStarlink Mini / Roam
Portable dish that fits in a backpack; the connection of choice for crews working around Hormuz and northern Iraq. No affiliate program — linked for reference only.
starlink.com →Baofeng UV-5R / UV-82 Handheld Radio
Cheap VHF/UHF radios for short-range family or team comms when phones are useless. Check local licensing rules.
On Amazon →Section 2 Privacy & Getting Past Blocks
Regional governments throttle or block news, maps and messaging apps during escalations. A VPN with obfuscated servers keeps our own sources online — and keeps this site reachable.
NordVPN
Obfuscated servers, Meshnet, Threat Protection. Fastest of the three in our Gulf tests and the one our own team uses.
Get NordVPN deal →Proton VPN
Swiss-based, open-source apps, Stealth protocol designed specifically to beat censorship in Iran and similar environments. Has a solid free tier.
Get Proton VPN →Surfshark
One subscription covers the whole family’s phones and laptops. Camouflage mode hides VPN use from the ISP.
Get Surfshark →Section 3 Track It Yourself
The same open-source feeds behind our live maps. Some are free; the hardware lets you contribute your own ADS-B data.
RTL-SDR + 1090 MHz Antenna Kit
A $40 USB dongle turns a Raspberry Pi or laptop into a live aircraft receiver. Feed Flightradar24 / ADSBexchange and get their premium tier free in return.
Kit on Amazon →Raspberry Pi 5 Starter Kit
Runs your ADS-B/AIS receiver 24/7 on a few watts. Also handy as a home VPN or Pi-hole.
On Amazon →Flightradar24 / ADSBexchange
Our air-traffic panel is built on these feeds. Free tiers are enough for most users; Gold adds history and unfiltered military traffic on ADSBexchange.
flightradar24.com →MarineTraffic / VesselFinder
Tanker and warship AIS positions for the Strait of Hormuz. We overlay these on our Maritime Tracker.
marinetraffic.com →Section 4 Power & Go-Bag Essentials
Grid outages follow strikes on energy infrastructure. Keep phones and radios alive.
Anker 737 / PowerCore 24K
Charges a phone 4–5 times; USB-C PD fast enough for laptops and Starlink Mini in a pinch.
On Amazon →Foldable 20–30W Solar Panel
Keeps radios and a power bank topped up during multi-day outages.
On Amazon →Hand-crank AM/FM/SW Radio
Receives shortwave broadcasts (BBC, VOA Persian) when the internet is cut nationwide, as Iran has done repeatedly.
On Amazon →72-Hour Go-Bag Kit
Pre-packed water filter, first aid, light and blankets. Buy once, forget until you need it.
On Amazon →Section 5 Understand the Conflict
Background reading our analysts recommend for context behind the daily SITREPs.
Frequently asked
Can I make phone calls if landlines are down?
Yes, as long as you have any data connection — 4G, Wi-Fi, an eSIM on a different carrier, or Starlink. Apps like WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram work over data. If every terrestrial network is down, only a satellite messenger (Garmin inReach) or satellite internet (Starlink) will get a message out.
Which eSIM works in Iran?
None of the major eSIM providers officially cover Iran because of sanctions. They do cover neighbouring Türkiye, Iraq (limited), Armenia, Azerbaijan and all Gulf states, which is where most evacuation routes go.
Does a VPN work during a nationwide internet shutdown?
No. A VPN needs an underlying connection. During throttling or app-level blocks it helps a lot (use obfuscated/Stealth modes); during a full shutdown you need satellite or shortwave radio.
How do you choose what to list?
We list what our own team uses to run this site and what we’d hand to a relative in the region. Affiliate commissions never change the ranking — several of our top picks (Flightradar24, MarineTraffic, Starlink) pay us nothing.