Review of the ACR Bivy Stick satellite communication device
Introduction
I’ve been testing the ACR Bivy Stick during numerous winter climbs in the Alps and I will be taking it on several expeditions to the very remote corners or the Arctic in the coming season. I can already state at this point that the Bivy Stick is a remarkable satellite communication device that ensures connectivity even in the most remote locations. It can operate on its own, but also is able to seamlessly transform your cell phone into a reliable means of communication. With its wide range of features and compact design, the Bivy Stick offers adventurers the increased levels of safety, messaging, and tracking capabilities.
Facts & Brief Summary
The ACR Bivy Stick is a compact and lightweight satellite communication device designed for outdoor enthusiasts and remote workers. It offers global coverage through the Iridium satellite network, enabling users to send and receive messages, access weather forecasts, and utilize SOS monitoring via satellite through Global Rescue. The device supports location tracking, map display, and navigation with offline maps. It features a one-touch check-in function, allowing users to share their location and exchange messages with other Bivy Stick users. The device includes a dedicated phone number and email, along with a personal profile for tracking and stats. With a rechargeable battery and a weight of 100 grams, it offers up to 120 hours of battery life (more details on it below) and has a water rating of IPX7. Optional accessories include mounting kits, solar panels, and bike handlebar mounts. The ACR Bivy Stick is manufactured in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA and comes with a one-year warranty.
Advantages
Let’s jump to the advantages of the device.
100% Satellite Coverage
The ACR Bivy Stick leverages the power of the Iridium satellite network, providing users with the 100% global coverage. No matter where your adventures take you, as long as you have a clear view of the sky, you can rest assured knowing that you can communicate through the Bivy Stick. This extensive coverage ensures that you are never out of reach, offering peace of mind to both professional and recreational users.
Ultralight Weight
Weighing in at a mere 100 grams, the ACR Bivy Stick is exceptionally lightweight, making it an ideal companion for ultralight adventures. Whether you are an avid backpacker, mountaineer, or cyclist, the Bivy Stick’s minimal weight adds no burden to your gear. It seamlessly integrates into your equipment, enabling you to focus on your journey without compromising on safety or functionality.
Extended Battery Life
The ACR Bivy Stick excels in providing long-lasting battery life, crucial for extended expeditions. With efficient energy utilization and the option to extend the battery life using the portable solar panel accessory, you can confidently venture into the wilderness without worrying about running out of power. The specification says that the battery time is up to 120 hours when in the default 10-minute tracking mode. Thus, using it in a more common 60-minute tracking intervals (for long expeditions) easily multiplies the battery life. That is enough for even many months out in the wild at a time, with the appropriate device management.
Reliable Messaging
The Bivy Stick offers two-way text messaging capabilities, allowing users to communicate efficiently through satellite connectivity. This reliable messaging feature enables seamless communication with emergency services, friends, and family, when cellular networks are unavailable. The Bivy Stick ensures that critical information reaches its destination promptly, providing a lifeline in emergency situations. I never had any delays when communication with my family using this device.
Spot-On Tracking
One of the standout features of the ACR Bivy Stick is its spot-on tracking functionality. With the Bivy App, users can accurately track their pace, mileage, altitude, and more. The device’s precise GPS tracking ensures that you always know your location, enhancing safety and allowing you to navigate confidently in unfamiliar territories.
No Activation Fees and Flexible Subscription Plans
The ACR Bivy Stick offers the advantage of no activation fees, providing cost-effective satellite communication solutions. While a monthly subscription is required, users have the flexibility to choose from Plus or Unlimited plans, ensuring that the device aligns with their communication needs and budget. Moreover, any unused credits will roll over to the next month. Finally, the feature that is especially crucial for long expeditions, tracking, is quite affordable. For example, even in the 6-minute interval tracking mode, it takes 1 credit point per 6 hours only. This transparency and freedom from additional charges make the Bivy Stick an affordable option for adventurers.
Weather Forecasts via Satellite
With the ACR Bivy Stick, you can receive detailed weather reports directly to your cell phone via satellite. This feature is invaluable for outdoor enthusiasts who depend on accurate weather information to make informed decisions about their expeditions.
One-Touch Check-In
The Bivy Stick offers a convenient one-touch Check-in feature, accessible directly from the device or via the app. This functionality allows you to send quick status updates to your designated contacts.
Dedicated Phone Number and Email
Unlike many other satellite communicators, the ACR Bivy Stick provides users with a dedicated phone number and email. This feature enables unsolicited incoming messages, allowing people to reach out without the need for you to initiate contact.
Personal Profile with Tracks and Stats
With the Bivy App, you can create a personal profile that encompasses all your adventures, for tracking your progress, or recording stats such as pace and elevation gain. This personalized profile acts as a digital diary, allowing you to share your adventures with fellow enthusiasts. It also makes maintaining your online portfolio more time effective.
Other Advantages
Among other advantages that are less relevant for me personally, but may be more useful for others, is access to detailed offline maps worldwide, extensive database of mapped climbing, hiking, biking, paddling, and skiing routes, and a wide variety of mounting options, making it adaptable to any bicycle, backpack, or any other mode of transport.
What Could Be Improved?
I don’t really have any specific strong points here, except for one. I would recommend ACR to provide more detailed specification on the battery life of the stick, in connection with the tracking mode selected. While they do provide the info on the battery life in the standard 10-minute mode, it would be great to have this info upfront about other modes as well. I often use the 60-minute tracking interval, and while I can infer this info myself based on my activity, it would be more productive for planning to have it right away.
A Single Communication Device, or Pair with a Satellite Phone?
On one hand, the ACR Bivy Stick offers compelling reasons to be used as a standalone communication device, effectively replacing a full-fledged satellite phone. Firstly, with its global satellite coverage via the Iridium network, it ensures reliable communication anywhere with a clear view of the sky. The device’s two-way text messaging capability allows for effective communication, while the dedicated phone number and email enable unsolicited incoming messages, eliminating the need for initiating contact. Additionally, the Bivy Stick provides a comprehensive feature set, including SOS monitoring, location tracking and sharing, and one-touch Check-in, ensuring safety and peace of mind in emergency situations. The device’s lightweight design, weighing only 100 grams, makes it highly portable and suitable for ultralight adventures. With these advantages, the ACR Bivy Stick emerges as a versatile and practical alternative to a full-fledged satellite phone, offering reliable communication capabilities in a compact and lightweight package.
That said, I would in any case recommend to use the Bivy Stick (and any other such messager device) in tander with a full-fledged satellite phone. There are two specific reasons for this.
First, It’s really about having a backup in case the other device fails. In the past, I used SPOT Gen3 – it did fail for no apparent reason while climbing in remote mountains in Yakutia. Then, a year before that, my Iridium Extreme also broke down. When in very remote locations, you do want a backup device, but you don’t want to take two phones, because they do weight a bit.
Second, the location sharing / tracking is much more convenient in Bivy than in most satellite phones. For example, while Iridium Extreme enables tracking, it is not optimized for it, and you really want to save the battery of the phone for conversations and contact. Bivy is optimized for tracking, and is the device of choice for that sort of feature. For example, they take little battery life for this (e.g., when you send every 60 minutes). With the phone, you’d need to keep it turned on all the time for this.
Conclusion
The ACR Bivy Stick excels at provising a reliable, lightweight, and versatile satellite communication device. It is my device of choice for any upcoming expeditions and shorter trips.
More information
You can order the stick and get more info under the Apollo Satellite website:
https://apollosat.space/products/acr-bivy-stick-tracker-messenger
