For Americans, international travel is currently all but impossible. Because of this, more and more of us are choosing to travel by car, go camping, and explore the great outdoors. Off-grid living is healthy for the soul, but it may also be risky. Although they are necessary in an emergency, cell phones aren’t always functional. Hence, if you intend to travel extremely off the beaten road, you must find a suitable satellite messenger and turn your phone into a satellite communicator. The brand-new Stick from Bivy claims to transform any smartphone into a reliable, portable satellite communication tool. The Stick delivers up-to-date weather forecasts, two-way messaging to phone numbers and email addresses, single-location sharing, and real-time monitoring when used in conjunction with Bivy’s specialized smartphone software. Upon arriving at a particular area, users can “check-in” and send prepared greetings to family and friends. Anyone on Earth with a sky-view can access all of these characteristics.
The ACR Bivy Stick is made to function optimally when connected to a smartphone. Nonetheless, Bivy cleverly included buttons for the most important functionality in the layout. The dedicated check-in button enables users to rapidly update loved ones even without a phone, and a comparable SOS button calls for help in an emergency. The total package weighs less than 100 grams and is about half the size of most conventional cellphones. It measures around 4.5 inches by 1.8 inches. Everything is protected by an IP67-rated case that is extremely sturdy, weatherproof, and made to survive the worst conditions. It can also be put on a bike, a car windshield, or a backpack using normal GoPro mounts. The Bivy Stick’s more adaptable pricing policy, however, is what really sets it apart from its rivals. Comparable products have monthly fees and activation costs that often total more than US $100 annually. Instead, Bivy chooses a credit-based approach. The lowest-cost Basic bundle is only $17.99 for 20 credits, while the most expensive Unlimited package costs only $49.99. Credits have a 30-day expiration date after purchase. This ensures infrequent users only pay when they genuinely intend to use the system by going outdoors.
Of course, personal locating beacons and two-way satellite messengers are nothing new. Nonetheless, they have significantly shrunk, become more transportable, and improved with time. For serious wilderness explorers, Garmin’s inReach and inReach Mini—possibly the industry’s gold standard—are nearly a necessity. Several rivals of Spot in recent years have introduced comparable substitutes. Another such choice is Bivy’s own Bivystick Orange, however it never attained the level of popularity as its rivals.
Reference
Richard, M. (2020, August 5). Turn your phone into a global satellite communicator with the bivy stick. The Manual. Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://www.themanual.com/outdoors/bivy-stick-satellite-communicator/
