Hey Rick, I just found out that you can start tracking with the Bivy by pressing and holding the Check-in button for 6 seconds. The light will then turn blue indicating that it is tracking. You don't need the app or a cellphone. I have not tried this yet, but that is what the Bivy website is saying.
We purchased the Bivy Stick in June 2022 after watching UA-cam reviews for two main reasons: 1. Anyone can connect to this device from their phone as long as they have the Bivy app and logged into it. 2. It is super user friendly and the app is also easy to use and user friendly. We are backcountry horse riders and ride typically in groups of 3 or bigger. If I get hurt, if my my fails, any phone that has the Bivy app downloaded and logged in can connect to this device (one phone at a time). Because of the great monthly subscription ($14.95 a month and all unused data rolls over) and also the dedicated Bivy phone text number, this user friendly device and app was our choice. For myself by myself I would have a dedicated Garmin stand alone device. But I am tech savvy but most of my riding friends are not. Garmin is not easy to learn and is definitely not user friendly under duress unless having practiced it. But anyone can use the Bivy app connected to the Bivy Stivk and it works just like any message app and the map feature though basic will get them home as their is a back track feature once the track is saved. Also, the customer service at Bivy is outstanding! Finally, we have found the battery life is also 6 plus days always on. Remember, Bivy started making these in USA Florida in March 2022. Buy direct from Bivy and pay the $249 to get the made in USA. The cheap web stores still have the others models.
Hey Ken & Suzan. Thank you for sharing your experience with the ACR Bivystick and letting everyone here know how you use it. I agree with you that many people need something simple to use that is user friendly. I do like the ACR Bivystick a lot and I'm glad to hear you also like it. Question: Did you do anything to save on the battery life or are you just using the default settings from ACR? Thanks again for sharing and please add additional comments in the future when you have the time. I always love hearing from you. Thanks, Rick
One disadvantage of the Bivy Stick compared to the Mini2 is that the weather forecasts are only for your current location whereas you can obtain forecasts for any location on the Mini2 from the app.
Garmin shows the compatible devices for the Garmin inReach Mini 2, and it includes the Instinct Watches. You can see the compatible devices by going to this link. www.garmin.com/en-US/p/765374#devices Let me know if you have any other questions. Rick
I watched your Contant last year and decided to go to the Bivy sick which I like but it no longer powers on and they only offering anything but a 30% off purchase of a new one so I started looking at the mini. I’ve used it less than a dozen times and it’s only been a year and four months. I will watch the link that you sent to see if it is worth the extra money since I only need a GPS device for emergencies. I don’t think I need the upgrade, but like the idea of pairing with my watch which I use every time I hike. Thank you again I enjoy your videos
Thank you for the compliments. Honestly, my favorite satellite communicators are the Mini 2 and GPSMAP 67i. If you like an all-in-one device with great navigation features, the 67i is hard to beat. If you want a smaller device that is powerful and less expensive, than the Mini 2 may be better for you. These are the two best satellite communicators for hiking in my opinion. Let me know if you have any other questions. Rick
Question: Can you connect any phone to the mini inreach 2? The Bivy, anyone can connect their phone if they have downloaded the Bivy app and are logged in. (One phone at a time)
You can only connect Android 6.0 or higher, and iOS 9.2 or higher. The following iPhones are affected: iPhone 1st Gen, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPod Touch, iPad 1st Gen, iPad 2 and iPad 3. Let me know if you have any other questions. Rick
You can learn more about the Garmin inReach Mini 2 subscription costs here: www.garmin.com/en-US/p/837461/pn/010-06001-SU, and than you can see the ACR Bivy Stick subscription costs here: bivystick.com/plans/. Let me know if you have additional questions. Rick
Thanks for the info. I'll go out and re-test and make a new video. Let me know if there is anything else you typically use on the Bivystick and I'll add it to my field test when I head back out to review it. Thanks again. Rick
Could my wife and I conect to the same Mini 2? Could she take it on and adventure then I take it on an adventure and just connect to it or would you have to reset the device? Are any new tracks or way points saved to the phone map or mini 2 map and can be found (hypothetically) on my wife's and my phone?
You can re-assign the device to someone else, but I would do it several days in advance to make sure the change goes through. I will test this with one of my Garmin's that is in my son's name and will give you better information in a day or two. The tracks show up on the device and on the website under the user's login information but again, I'll test this and get back to you. I will probably make a video of it, then upload it and leave a link here so you can see exactly what happened. Rick
This is a great question and I just talked to Garmin so I have some information for you, however, please test this before heading out on your real outdoor adventure. The Garmin Tech said they don't recommend doing this but you can. What you would do is go to your "PLANS & DEVICES" on the Garmin Explore website. Next go to "MANAGE DEVICE." Select "REASSIGN." "UNASSIGN" it from you, then your wife could assign it to her account. The Garmin Tech said that you won't lose any of your settings but you and your wife need to have separate accounts so that emergency services knows who their looking for if the SOS is triggered. Here's another problem though. If you unassign the Mini 2 from you, I would think your subscription would be cancelled, then when your wife activates it, she would have to pay for her subscription. This is turning into a more difficult question because I'm sure you both don't want to have your own subscription. Honestly, I wouldn't do this. I would have a satellite messenger for both of you as you may separate on a hiking trip to see different things and then would want to communicate yourselves. This is such a personal choice that I recommend you contact Garmin Customer service and talk this through with them. I talk to them all the time and they are always knowledgeable and helpful. Let me know if you have additional questions. Rick
I like the display side screen that you added on the left to show us a clear image of what's happening
I'm glad you liked it. It does make it much easier to see what's going on.
Rick
Hey Rick,
I just found out that you can start tracking with the Bivy by pressing and holding the Check-in button for 6 seconds. The light will then turn blue indicating that it is tracking. You don't need the app or a cellphone. I have not tried this yet, but that is what the Bivy website is saying.
Perfect Don. I was about to head back out to test the ACR Bivy more so that is really helpful and I'll definitely get that in the video. Thanks.
Rick
@@outdooremergencytech I still don't know how well the Tracking feature works on the Bivy. I don't use it. Maybe you could give it a
real test.
Thanks for the heads up. I'll check out the tracking.
Rick
We purchased the Bivy Stick in June 2022 after watching UA-cam reviews for two main reasons:
1. Anyone can connect to this device from their phone as long as they have the Bivy app and logged into it.
2. It is super user friendly and the app is also easy to use and user friendly.
We are backcountry horse riders and ride typically in groups of 3 or bigger. If I get hurt, if my my fails, any phone that has the Bivy app downloaded and logged in can connect to this device (one phone at a time).
Because of the great monthly subscription ($14.95 a month and all unused data rolls over) and also the dedicated Bivy phone text number, this user friendly device and app was our choice.
For myself by myself I would have a dedicated Garmin stand alone device. But I am tech savvy but most of my riding friends are not. Garmin is not easy to learn and is definitely not user friendly under duress unless having practiced it. But anyone can use the Bivy app connected to the Bivy Stivk and it works just like any message app and the map feature though basic will get them home as their is a back track feature once the track is saved.
Also, the customer service at Bivy is outstanding!
Finally, we have found the battery life is also 6 plus days always on.
Remember, Bivy started making these in USA Florida in March 2022. Buy direct from Bivy and pay the $249 to get the made in USA. The cheap web stores still have the others models.
Hey Ken & Suzan. Thank you for sharing your experience with the ACR Bivystick and letting everyone here know how you use it. I agree with you that many people need something simple to use that is user friendly. I do like the ACR Bivystick a lot and I'm glad to hear you also like it. Question: Did you do anything to save on the battery life or are you just using the default settings from ACR? Thanks again for sharing and please add additional comments in the future when you have the time. I always love hearing from you. Thanks,
Rick
Fantastic review. Full of great info and insights.. 👍👍
Exactly what i was chasing. Thankyou.
Glad it was helpful! Let me know if you have any questions.
Rick
One disadvantage of the Bivy Stick compared to the Mini2 is that the weather forecasts are only for your current location whereas you can obtain forecasts for any location on the Mini2 from the app.
Good point. I'm not sure if I knew that, and if I did, than I forgot. It always goes to show that there is more to learn. Thanks for the info.
Rick
Do you know if it can link to your Garmin instinct watch?
Garmin shows the compatible devices for the Garmin inReach Mini 2, and it includes the Instinct Watches. You can see the compatible devices by going to this link. www.garmin.com/en-US/p/765374#devices
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Rick
I watched your Contant last year and decided to go to the Bivy sick which I like but it no longer powers on and they only offering anything but a 30% off purchase of a new one so I started looking at the mini. I’ve used it less than a dozen times and it’s only been a year and four months. I will watch the link that you sent to see if it is worth the extra money since I only need a GPS device for emergencies. I don’t think I need the upgrade, but like the idea of pairing with my watch which I use every time I hike.
Thank you again I enjoy your videos
Thank you for the compliments. Honestly, my favorite satellite communicators are the Mini 2 and GPSMAP 67i.
If you like an all-in-one device with great navigation features, the 67i is hard to beat. If you want a smaller device that is powerful and less expensive, than the Mini 2 may be better for you.
These are the two best satellite communicators for hiking in my opinion.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Rick
Question: Can you connect any phone to the mini inreach 2?
The Bivy, anyone can connect their phone if they have downloaded the Bivy app and are logged in. (One phone at a time)
You can only connect Android 6.0 or higher, and iOS 9.2 or higher. The following iPhones are affected: iPhone 1st Gen, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPod Touch, iPad 1st Gen, iPad 2 and iPad 3. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Rick
What about cost of usage? Activation/subscription costs?
You can learn more about the Garmin inReach Mini 2 subscription costs here: www.garmin.com/en-US/p/837461/pn/010-06001-SU, and than you can see the ACR Bivy Stick subscription costs here: bivystick.com/plans/. Let me know if you have additional questions.
Rick
It does back track! But you have to save the track first; then there is an option to back track.
Thanks for the info. I'll go out and re-test and make a new video. Let me know if there is anything else you typically use on the Bivystick and I'll add it to my field test when I head back out to review it. Thanks again.
Rick
Could my wife and I conect to the same Mini 2? Could she take it on and adventure then I take it on an adventure and just connect to it or would you have to reset the device? Are any new tracks or way points saved to the phone map or mini 2 map and can be found (hypothetically) on my wife's and my phone?
You can re-assign the device to someone else, but I would do it several days in advance to make sure the change goes through. I will test this with one of my Garmin's that is in my son's name and will give you better information in a day or two. The tracks show up on the device and on the website under the user's login information but again, I'll test this and get back to you. I will probably make a video of it, then upload it and leave a link here so you can see exactly what happened.
Rick
This is a great question and I just talked to Garmin so I have some information for you, however, please test this before heading out on your real outdoor adventure.
The Garmin Tech said they don't recommend doing this but you can. What you would do is go to your "PLANS & DEVICES" on the Garmin Explore website. Next go to "MANAGE DEVICE." Select "REASSIGN." "UNASSIGN" it from you, then your wife could assign it to her account.
The Garmin Tech said that you won't lose any of your settings but you and your wife need to have separate accounts so that emergency services knows who their looking for if the SOS is triggered.
Here's another problem though. If you unassign the Mini 2 from you, I would think your subscription would be cancelled, then when your wife activates it, she would have to pay for her subscription. This is turning into a more difficult question because I'm sure you both don't want to have your own subscription.
Honestly, I wouldn't do this. I would have a satellite messenger for both of you as you may separate on a hiking trip to see different things and then would want to communicate yourselves.
This is such a personal choice that I recommend you contact Garmin Customer service and talk this through with them. I talk to them all the time and they are always knowledgeable and helpful. Let me know if you have additional questions.
Rick
track back = "back track" OP uses his local colloquialism I guess 👍
The official term from Garmin is TracBack, without a "K".
Rick