Thanks. I haven’t purchased a two-way satellite communicator yet, but these are the two final candidates for me. I always carry my smart phone for its camera and navigation functionality. Because I’m a seasonal hiker/backpacker, Bivy’s data plan is likely going to be the deciding factor. Thanks for a look at the smart phone interfaces with each app. There is a lack of this type of information in other on-line resources.
@outdooremergencytech
3 жыл бұрын
I'm glad you liked it. I take a hard look at all of the satellite messengers I own and field test them to make sure I am comfortable with how to use them. I am in the middle of comparing all of the satellite messengers against each other and I will also be buying the Zoleo soon to add to the collection. I appreciate your feedback. Thanks, Rick
@EdwardRaybould
3 жыл бұрын
I’ve had my Garmin InReach Mini for about three years. The fact that you can’t text to it directly, I believe is part of the design. I occasionally get spam text messages on my cellphone. Like most people I don’t like spam, but I’m not paying for each text there, either. If I were to get spam on my InReach Mini, each of those counts against my 40 per month on the Recreation plan that I have. All three InReach plans, by the way, can get weather reports. A basic weather report is considered a message. Regarding the text messaging again, if you share your MapShare page with friends or family and configure it accordingly, they can initiate a message to your InReach without you first having to message them. They do that through the MapShare page, though.
@outdooremergencytech
3 жыл бұрын
These satellite messengers are great to have and I have learned a lot about them but I'm sure I am not using every aspect of them to their full potential. I have certain things I like to use and others I ignore. I appreciate the comments and information. I will continue to research and learn more about them. Rick
@FernandosWildlifeAdventures
2 жыл бұрын
It looks as though the bivy stick is only $199.99 now. With that being said would you still choose the Inreach over the bivy?! Thanks
@outdooremergencytech
2 жыл бұрын
The ACR Bivy Stick is in my top 3 or 4 satellite messengers, and I might go for it if money was an issue, however, if money is not an issue, then I would absolutely go for one of the Garmin inReach satellite messengers. I would go for the Explorer+ if I was going out on longer adventures or didn't want to worry about my cell phone battery life. I would go for the inReach Mini if I was primarily going on day hikes or 1 to 2 day adventures. The Garmin inReach Mini is my favorite satellite messenger as it is so small, yet when synced with my smartphone, it gives almost everything the Explorer+ offers, but I can use my larger cell phone screen to see topo maps, weather and messaging better and messaging with my phone is much more convenient then trying to do it on the Garmin devices. Let me know if you have any other questions. Rick
@ADVRider78
2 жыл бұрын
@@outdooremergencytech I have had used the inreach on a motorcycle backcountry trip in Montana and Idaho and used their map app for navigation. It worked well until one day, out in the boonies, no cell service and the app logged me out for no apparent reason. I was unable see the map or find the route and had to back track until I got back into cell service as with out service, it would not let me log back in. Major flaw.
@outdooremergencytech
2 жыл бұрын
I apologize for not seeing your comment earlier. Interesting that happened to you. Have you had that happen any more to you? I have been using the Mini for the last year and a half and now have upgraded to the new Mini 2. I have never had an issue using any of the inReach devices outside of cell service and I use them all the time here in Colorado. Interestingly enough, the new Mini 2 displays the route on the screen now and gives more information so it's easier to use when not synced with your smartphone. Let me know if that was an issue with your phone, or inReach device and did you contact customer service about it? Rick
@ADVRider78
2 жыл бұрын
I am curious to see a bivy stick / Zoleo comparison as these two devices are very similar.
@outdooremergencytech
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the reminder. I have been meaning to do that comparison, so give me a few weeks to make that happen. Rick
@outdooremergencytech
2 жыл бұрын
I finally have the ZOLEO, so I'll be heading out on Sunday to compare the two satellite messengers. They are similar, but from what I can tell from my initial research and review, the ZOLEO does not have maps that will display on your smartphone. You can only get that if you send a message or tracking information to yourself and then view it, but it doesn't seem to have the interactive maps available as the ACR Bivy Stick does. I will test it and let you know what I find out by Sunday Evening. Rick
@ADVRider78
2 жыл бұрын
@@outdooremergencytech looking forward to it!
@outdooremergencytech
2 жыл бұрын
Correction to an earlier comment. I'm in the process of field testing the Zoleo right now, and I do need to add that it does have topo maps. You get to the maps by selecting the Check-In & Location Share+ that you send out to your contacts. When you click on the map, you can see some good information, including trails, but as far as I can tell, you don't have access to an aerial map. I will be testing the Zoleo in WIFI, Cell Service and with Satellite Coverage when outside of cell service today. I'm curious how it handles all three situations. Plus I have downloaded some maps for when offline and have purposefully not downloaded maps for every place I'll be going today to see what happens when outside of cell service in an area that I did not download maps. I'll have all of the video today but I may not have the review and field test uploaded to KZitem until Monday. Rick
@outdooremergencytech
2 жыл бұрын
I finally uploaded the ACR Bivy Stick vs ZOLEO field test comparison. It took me longer then expected as I've been really busy. Let me know what you think or if you have any questions. Rick
@clifftrinkofsky9192
2 жыл бұрын
you can send texts between devices not sure why you have to initiate with garmin but thats not the case. I asked the people at bivy and they confirmed
@outdooremergencytech
2 жыл бұрын
Hey Cliff. Thanks for the feedback. I personally have had many issues with this, but I will go back out and re-test it this weekend. Thanks for the heads up and if I still have issues, I'll contact customer service. Rick
@outdooremergencytech
2 жыл бұрын
Cliff, I finished a thorough test this weekend and confirmed that you have to initiate messages from the Garmin inReach satellite messengers if you want to communicate with other satellite messengers. I even received a message from Garmin stating that during the test. See the link for the video here: kzitem.info/news/bejne/s6Wh3YSZpIOml34. I hope this helps and leave another question or comment if you have one. Thanks, Rick
@kellyt1853
2 жыл бұрын
Sorry if I missed it in the video, but does the Bivy app suck a lot of phone battery since it's connected via bluetooth?
@outdooremergencytech
2 жыл бұрын
I have not pushed the ACR Bivy Stick to it's limits to test the battery life but that gives me a good idea for another field test. The specifications show that it will last 5 days on default settings and with all of my testing, I have not been alarmed at how fast the battery life drops. The Bivy Stick is a good satellite messenger and I wouldn't let the battery concern you. I would only recommend that you take a portable charger along with you for both the satellite messenger and your phone. The phone will be the problem, long before the Bivy Stick. Let me know if you have any other questions. Rick
@outdooremergencytech
2 жыл бұрын
Hey Kelly. I just finished a week long test in Southwest Colorado where I ran the ACR Bivy Stick as long as possible. I did turn off the Bivy Stick at night but other then that, I ran it all week. I was able to get 6 days of use out of the satellite messenger, which falls exactly in line with the Bivy Stick specifications which says it will last up to 120 hours or five days. I made a short video of the field test that you can find here kzitem.info/news/bejne/tW6empx9jH9ngZw. Let me know if you have any additional questions. I hope that helps. Rick
@TheBenny1683
2 жыл бұрын
Will these messengers still work in case the cell towers go down? Like would 2 bivy sticks or in reach minis be able to message each other without cell towers?
@outdooremergencytech
2 жыл бұрын
Hey John. Absolutely! These work off the satellite system, so as long as there's not a massive CME coming off the sun or a space war where everyone blows up each other's satellites...we're good. Rick
@booniebuster4193
2 жыл бұрын
I just purchased the Bivy Stick for $199.99. that is the new price.
@outdooremergencytech
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the price update. I'll add that to the description in the video. Rick
@joeglennaz
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for a great video. I would caution you not to have these attached to your backpack, but have them attached to your person. If, for some reason, your backpack comes off and goes over a cliff or sinks in the middle of a lake, the beacon will do you know good. And I know you may think there’s no way this backpack is coming off, but anyone who has ever died gotten lost or otherwise lost their life thought there’s no way that’s going to happen. So Murphy’s Law says if it can it will what I do with my ACR personal locator beacon as I loop the lanyard through my belt loop. That’s why it’s on my person. What if you take your backpack off set it down and you walk 20 feet away to relieve yourself and you fall and break your leg and you can’t even crawl 20 feet back to your backpack it’s possible and may not be likely but it’s possible, anyway, thank you again for the video I look forward to watching your other videos.
@outdooremergencytech
Жыл бұрын
I appreciate the tip and that's not something I had give much thought to in the past. How does looping the device through your belt affect satellite reception? Has that been a problem? I'm just thinking through the best way to carry the device on myself rather than the pack. I would love to hear more thoughts on this from you if you have the time to respond. Rick
@abcdwxyz9365
2 жыл бұрын
Pls comment on new Garmin Mini 2 vs Bivy stick vs spotx. thx
@outdooremergencytech
2 жыл бұрын
Where to begin? The Bivy Stick is a great communicator, but has trouble tracking, depending on how it's located on your pack. Actually, it's the largest satellite communicator and one of my least favorite devices. The Bivy Stick, or, now the ACR Bivy Stick is one of my favorite satellite messengers and shows incredible detail on the maps and allows you to filter by things such as hiking trails, snow shoeing, jeep trails, and much more. It's small but powerful, as long as you sync it to your smartphone. The older Garmin inReach Mini was my favorite satellite messenger, as I do mostly day hikes, but now that the Mini 2 has come out, it has quickly taken over my top spot as the best satellite messenger. I have to add though, that I have heard about the Garmin GPSMAP 66i Series that may beat out both the Mini 2 and the Garmin inReach Explorer+, and I'm about to buy it and test it over the next two months. The bottom line is that the Garmin inReach Mini 2 is currently my favorite satellite messenger, but I believe it will lose out to the the Garmin GPSMAP 66i soon. I'll let you know as soon as I field test it. I hope that helps. Rick
@rokroll
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks, this was good info
@outdooremergencytech
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful! Let me know if you have any questions. Rick
@allseeingI5
2 жыл бұрын
I recently got the bivy, extremely disappointed in how terrible the app is
@outdooremergencytech
2 жыл бұрын
I'm sorry to hear that. I have tested most every satellite messenger and my favorites are the Garmin inReach devices. I compared both the Mini and Mini 2 yesterday, and my advice to you is to look hard at them when you have some extra money in the future. The Garmin inReach Mini use to be my go-to satellite messenger, but has recently been replaced by the Garmin inReach Mini 2. Let me know if you have any questions and I'll do my best to offer you solid advice on the Bivy or another one in the future. Rick
@kellyt1853
2 жыл бұрын
Hi there. I'm looking at purchasing the bivy stick due to its lower price point. Can you tell me why you think the app is bad?
@outdooremergencytech
2 жыл бұрын
I apologize if I have given anyone the idea that the ACR Bivy Stick app is bad. It's a great app. It's just not as good as the Garmin Explore app, in my opinion. Other than several of the Garmin products that I would rate higher, it is one of my favorite, next level down satellite messengers. One thing I really like about it is the functions it offers in such a small device. I prefer satellite messengers that are small and don't seem bulky on my pack. Let me know if you have any other questions. Rick
@thomasdupont1931
2 жыл бұрын
Bivy stick is $ 199
@outdooremergencytech
2 жыл бұрын
You are correct, but at the time I created that video it did cost about $350. It's about half the cost of the new Garmin inReach Mini 2. Thank you for the comment and updated price. Rick
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