The Bivystick was bought out by ACR and is now called the ACR Bivy but here is what I found out when I took my Bivy Stick Blue out for a field test.
Bivy Stick Field Test
The first thing to notice is how small and easy the Bivystick is to carry on your pack. It’s stylish and well-made.
The Bivy Stick comes with a USB data cable, a carabiner, nylon rope to attach the Bivystick to your pack, two GoPro attachments so you can secure the device to your bike, kayak, jeep, etc. and a sticker. I made a mistake when I headed out into the mountains the first time with it, thinking that no contract meant I could immediately access the Bivystick. Wrong. You have to go through a setup process while in cell service or with WiFi in order to give them your emergency information and pay for a subscription plan. The plans do not have an annual contract and it’s nice for most people as you only have to pay for the months you plan on using it. See the images below for one of the setup screen shots and the subscription plan.
The setup was easy enough but is much more enjoyable when your sitting at local Colorado restaurant, high in the Rocky Mountains.
Bivy Stick Maps
I found the Bivy maps to be simple to use and had a lot of great information. For example, the maps show campground, hiking trails, biking trails, ATV trails, rivers to kayak, etc. You can also see a thumbnail with basic information about the location.
You can also see more details and trails when you zoom in on the map.
As you can see, there is a lot of information available with the Bivy map that is helpful in finding everything from outdoor activities and places to sleep. I compared the Bivy maps to the Garmin maps and there are some significant differences but each one has a lot to offer.
Messaging
My next area of interest was the messaging. I took a lot of time to confirm how well messaging worked between the Bivy Stick and phones and from the Bivy Stick to other Satellite messengers. I’ll quickly tell you that the messaging takes somewhere between 3 to 5 minutes to send a message. It’s slow but it’s better than nothing.
Messaging from Bivy Stick to Cell Phone
Messaging from the Bivy Stick to any cell phone a tried, and I sent messages to four different people, worked perfectly. See some of the images below.
Nothing more to add here as the messaging worked extremely well.
Messaging from Bivy Stick to Garmin inReach Mini
A significant problem was messaging from the Bivy Stick to my Garmin inReach Mini. I tried several times messaging from my Bivy Stick to my Garmin inReach Mini, even using my Garmin inReach email and nothing worked. I checked many times over several hours, even trying again when in cell service and I was never able to make it work.
I would really like to message between different satellite messengers, so if anyone has a solution and has had success, please add a comment below.
Messaging from Garmin inReach Mini to Bivy Stick
The one thing that has always worked for me is when I initiate a message from either my Garmin inReach Mini or my Explorer+ to the Bivy Stick. Here is an image to show you a successful message.
One solution is for a person with a Garmin inReach satellite messenger to initiate a message periodically so that groups can communicate, but you may have to do this once each day or several times a day to ensure other satellite messengers can communicate with the Garmin satellite messengers. This is something I am not a fan of so my recommendation is for large groups to use one type of messenger so communication is never a problem.
Additional Bivy Stick Features
See the image below for other additional Bivy Stick features.
You can see the additional features include New Adventures, Offline Maps, Community, Waypoints, Weather and Settings, in addition to the maps and messages.
Final Thoughts
I am impressed with all the options the Bivy Stick included in their satellite messenger. The features are easy to access and is easily understandable. It only took me testing the Bivy Stick on two different hiking trips to understand the abilities of this messenger. I highly recommend this Bivy Stick and I would love to hear any comments you have if you own a Bivy Stick.
See the YouTube video below of my field test.
Here is a link to the Bivy Stick if you want to learn more about it.
- GLOBAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATOR & SATELLITE PHONE ALTERNATIVE - 100% global Iridium satellite coverage for two-way SMS text messaging + Email, GPS tracking, maps & navigation, emergency SOS, weather reports, and location sharing. Compatible with iOS & Android apps. Subscription required. Monthly: (Basic $19.99 | Plus $34.99 | Unlimited SALE $39.99). Annual: (Basic $14.99 | Plus $29.99 | Unlimited SALE $38.99). One time 3-month commitment per device, then month-to-month. Plans available globally.
- SOS EMERGENCY RESCUE - Feel safe with Global Rescue's round-the-clock SOS monitoring. Activate SOS with the dedicated button or through the app, communicate with emergency services, and share your GPS location when you need it most. Get rescued anywhere in the world.
- UNLIMITED CHECK-IN MESSAGES & GPS LOCATION SHARING - Effortlessly send unlimited & customizable check-in messages that include your GPS location with this advanced outdoor communication device. Use the dedicated check-in button on the device or through the app to keep your loved ones updated on your whereabouts. A shareable webpage displays a map with your GPS coordinates and a check-in breadcrumb trail, allowing others to follow your journey.
- GROUP MESSAGING & TRACKING - Keep your crew connected with GroupTrack, featuring group messaging and location sharing for up to 12 people. Monitor your team off-grid using the Bivy Stick and app or in-network via a web browser. Ideal for search & rescue, guiding services, remote workers, outfitters, adventure racing, overlanding groups, and more.
- OFFLINE MAPS & NAVIGATION - Download detailed maps from around the world to ensure you're never lost, even without cellular service. Easily navigate and track your location off the grid using device-based GPS with this satellite messenger. The Bivy app offers over 50,000 adventures to explore, with 20 different adventure types available. Monitor your pace, mileage, altitude, and more on your journey.
- TRI-NETWORK COVERAGE & APP-TO-APP MESSAGING - Benefit from least-cost routing with priority given to Wi-Fi, followed by cellular, and then satellite. Effortlessly connect with others using app-to-app messaging, your dedicated phone number, or email. Choose ACR Bivy Stick, the leading alternative to satellite phones for unrestricted two-way communication, and the freedom to initiate and receive messages confidently.
This product was presentation was made with AAWP plugin.
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