ACRBV2 BIVY STICK 2-way satellite communicator User Guide

: June 5, 2024
: ACR

Table of Contents

ACRBV2 BIVY STICK 2-way satellite communicator
GETTING STARTED
Manage Account
TRACKING/LOCATION SHARE
USING YOUR BIVY STICK WITHOUT YOUR PHONE
FCC INFORMATION
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

ACRBV2 BIVY STICK 2-way satellite communicator

GETTING STARTED

Download the Bivy app for iOS from the App Store or for Android from the Play Store. Create a Bivy account. Bivy Stick Requires a Subscription plan See page 2While in phone service or WiFi, turn on your Bivy Stick by pressing the power button for 2 seconds. The power indicator light will illuminate.On the app menu, select “STICK.”

Your Bivy Stick will now pair with your phone. This will only take a few seconds. Once it is connected you will see the battery life and signal strength icon in the upper right corner on the app. If it does not connect press the power button on the Bivy Stick brieﬂy to re-attempt your Bluetooth connection. Once your phone is connected to the Bivy Stick, select

Manage Account

Follow the steps to activate your Bivy Stick. It will require you to input emergency contact information and credit card info. During this process you will also have the opportunity to purchase a Global Rescue membership for additional coverage in case of an emergency. NOTE: SOS Monitoring and dispatch is a service provided by Global Rescue to all active Bivy Stick users as part of your monthly service fee. A Global Rescue membership provides additional services.More info about membership can be found here: https://ss.globalrescue.com/partner/bivy/ During the activation process you will choose the data plan that best ﬁts your needs. No matter which data plan you choose, the Bivy Stick will be active on the Iridium satellite network for 30 days. Even if you use all your allotted credits, you can still continue to use the Stick at the rate of $0.50 per overage credit. Once your Stick is activated, you will be assigned your own dedicated phone number which will stay the same until you cancel service. You can ﬁnd this phone number on the STICK screen in the app.

USING THE APP
You can see the status of your Bivy Stick and account at any time by using the app. On the HOME screen you can see how many credits you have used and how many you have remaining. On the STICK screen, you will be able to see if your Stick is active, when your active account renews or ends, and your credit status. You can also navigate to many features of the Bivy Stick, including Messages, Weather, SOS, and Check In message setup.

MESSAGING
Make sure you are connected to the Stick via Bluetooth. Enter the Messages screen from the Stick page or by tapping“MESSAGES” on the bottom menu.The Bivy app will ask if you would like to sync your contacts. This can take up to 5 minutes, depending on how manycontacts you have in your phone.Use the New Message button to start a new text chain. Typein the name, number or email address of the person you want to message. You can send one message to multiple people, but each message will go to the recipient individually, and replies will come in their own thread. It does not work like standard group messaging.Once you have picked your recipient, enter your message into the message ﬁeld at the bottom of the screen. Maximum 160 characters.You can also hit the Location button to the left of the message ﬁeld to automatically add your GPS coordinates and a link for recipients to see your location on a map on the Bivy web Check In button to set up or edit the recipients and the site.
When a message is being sent out, the status of the message will say “Sending.” The Status light on the Stick will ﬂash yellow. Once it has successfully been sent, the Status light on the Stick will no longer ﬂash yellow and the message status on the app will change from “Sending” to a timestamp. Use the pre-set message sent when you press the Check In button on the Bivy Stick (see page 6). messages from satellite that may be waiting. If there is an urgent matter, use the Mailbox Check button to check for
messages immediately. You can do 6 Mailbox Checks for 1 credit.
The Bivy Stick automatically listens for incoming messages for 5 minutes after sending or receiving a message. It then goes to sleep to preserve battery life, but wakes up every 15 minutes to check for messages. When the Signal light is on, the Stick is listening for messages. When the Signal light is off, it’s sleeping to preserve battery life. You can manually wake up the Stick to listen for messages for 2 minutes with a very short press of the Power button.

WEATHER
Navigate to the Weather screen from the HOME or STICK screens. If you are in cell/WiFi service, you can update a weather report for free at any time. When you are off-grid, tap the Refresh button of the Weather screen to get the latest report. You will have 2 options:

Standard 3 day 3-hour-increment forecast for 1 credit
Premium 7 day 2-hour-increment forecast for 2 credits
Each forecast will take a few minutes to update depending on the strength of the satellite signal. You will receive a push notiﬁcation once your forecast is ready to view. The forecast is based on your current location.

You can track and share your location either through the device or through the Bivy Stick itself. If you use just the Bivy Stick, it will save your phone battery and you can still share your location. However, you will not be able to see stats while you track like you can when tracking through the app.
When you are in tracking mode, the Bivy Stick will automatically send your location every 10 minutes.Followers can see the updates to your location by viewing your proﬁle on the Bivy website. The easiest way to share a link to your proﬁle is to send a message which includes your GPS coordinates, inserted by clicking the Location button. The recipient can click this link to view your location on the website. It will not notify anyone of your location while in tracking mode, but will be visible to others that look at your proﬁle. You get one hour of tracking per credit.If you are in phone service and not connected to the Bivy Stick, the Bivy app will share your location much more frequently.
To track using the Bivy Stick, make sure you are connected via Bluetooth. On the HOME screen select “NEW ADVENTURE”. This will take you to the map screen. Push the large “TRACK”button on the bottom center.Choose your activity type.It will ask you if you want to track through Bivy Stick. Select “Enable Bivy Stick Tracking.” It will ask if you want to share your location. Select “Share with Everyone” or “Share with Friends” if you want to be visible to others.
To stop tracking, push the “PAUSE” button and then the Check button. Be sure to turn off your location sharing if you no longer want to be visible.
Your distance, speed, calories burned, and other stats will be recorded and saved to your proﬁle. You can name your tracks or upload them to the Bivy database for others to use if you want.

SOS
In case of emergency you can hit the SOS button on the app and establish 2-Way communication with Global Rescue. You canalso activate an SOS from the button on the Bivy Stick (see pg 6) but using the app allows for communication directly with Global Rescue. They will dispatch and manage all the emergency needs and resources necessary. This service is available worldwide.Touch the SOS button on the Bivy Stick screen. You will be asked to conﬁrm your request and to type in the letters SOS to verify it’s not an accidental SOS call.Once you have conﬁrmed, it will send an emergency text with your GPS coordinates and location to Global Rescue. Be sure to keep your Bivy Stick visible to the sky to ensure satellite connectivity. You will receive a conﬁrmation text letting you know the message has been received. Your Bivy Stick will automatically send your location to Global Rescue once per minute for 10 minutes, and then every 10 minutes thereafter. At this point you can communicate any details with them via text message. Global Rescue will keep you apprised of the rescue plan and status. If you need to cancel the SOS call, you can do so by touching the cancel SOS button on the app. This will send a message to Global Rescue and they will conﬁrm it has been received and cancelled. NOTE: Please be sure to treat the SOS service with complete seriousness. Only use in the case of a real emergency. Depending on your location and needs, you may be responsible for any cost associated with a rescue operation.

USING YOUR BIVY STICK WITHOUT YOUR PHONE

If you do not want to carry your phone, or it is not functioning,your Bivy Stick can be used without it. All of the essential features can be used on the device itself, with the exception of 2-way communication. You are only able to send preset outgoing messages with the Bivy Stick alone. Here is how to use the Stick without a phone.

CHECK-IN MESSAGE
The message is successfully sent. Bivy Stick will send the message you wrote to the recipient(s) you identified in the Check In message setup in the Bivy app. The message will also include your GPS coordinates.

SOS
The SOS button is located under the red flap on the bottom of the device. To activate, lift the flap and press and hold the button for 5 seconds. Once the SOS is activated, the status light will begin to flash red and an emergency message will be sent to Global Rescue, along with your location, at regular intervals. It will also flash yellow initially letting you know that a message is queued up to be sent. When possible, it’s better to activate an SOS through the Bivy app (see page 5) so you can communicate directly with Global Rescue about the nature of your emergency. To cancel an SOS from the Bivy Stick, press and hold the SOS button for 5 seconds. Once the red light stops flashing, the SOS has been cancelled.

TRACKING
You can start tracking your location by pressing the Check In button for 5 seconds. While tracking, your location will be sent to your Bivy profile on the cloud every 10 minutes. The Status light will flash blue while you are tracking. Stop tracking by pressing the Check In button for 5 seconds. You can later view this track by going to your profile in the Bivy app and then select Tracks.

BIVY STICK MOUNTING SYSTEM
The Bivy Stick comes ready to adapt to any GoPro® mounting system. This is done by using the provided ¼” – 20, 2-prong GoPro® mount adapter. Thread the adapter into the back of the Bivy Stick, then attach to the GoPro® mounting system of your choice.GoPro® is a registered trademark of GoPro, Inc. of Delaware, which is not afﬁliated with the maker of this product and does not endorse this product. NOTE: If attaching to the outside of a vehicle or location that may see high wind speeds, vibrations or force, you should use a secondary tether to ensure you do not lose or damage your Bivy Stick.

CHARGING YOUR BIVY STICK
The Bivy Stick charges using a USB-C cable and can be charged via any USB charge port. Use the supplied USB-C to USB-A cable or any other USB-C cable. Charge time is 2-4 hours depending on power source. Charge time is approximately one half if you use a USB-C charger and a USB-C to USB-C cable.

TEC H SPECS

Battery Type: Lithium-Ion Polymer
Battery Size: 1400 mAh
Battery Life: Up to 120 hrs with standard operation at default setting Optimal Operating
Temperature: 10°F – 105°F
Dimensions: 1 3/4 in / 45 mm wide, 4 5/16 in / 111.5 mm tall, 13/16 in / 20.5 mm thick
Weight: 3.35 oz / 95 g
Ingress Protection Rating: IPX7

UNDERSTANDING THE LIGHTS ON THE BIVY STICK
Power indicator light: The light next to the power button will show the device is on. It will normally be dim to preserve battery life. Pressing the power button quickly will brighten the light for better visibility. Green = 50-100% | Yellow = 20 -50% | Red = 0 – 20% You can charge your device with any USB-C cable by plugging it into the port on the bottom of the Bivy Stick. Signal light: The Signal light indicates satellite visibility status. Green = Strong | Yellow = Medium/Weak | Red = Weak/None The Signal light will turn off after a few minutes to preserve the battery. Quickly push the power button to turn the Signal light back on. Occasionally, you may see the Signal light flashing. This means the device is acquiring a GPS location lock and should only last a few seconds if you are out in the open. It will not get a GPS lock if you are inside. Status light: The Status light can show several different colors.

Yellow = Message is being sent
Green = Message has been received
Blue = Currently tracking and sharing location
Red = SOS has been activated
If the Status light is flashing green, that means a message has been received from the satellites but has not been sent to the phone yet. Make sure your phone is connected to the Stick via Bluetooth and open the Bivy app to receive the message.If the Status light is yellow, a message is on the Stick trying to send to the satellite. Move to a different location with a more open view of the sky or wait a few minutes for a satellite to come into view. Satellites cross the sky over about 2 hours so new satellites can come into or out of view at any time.

SAFETY AND PRODUCT INFORMATION USAGE REQUIREMENTS

Messaging, tracking, SOS, weather and all Bivy Stick features require an active Bivy Stick base data plan. You will need to pay for a base plan of service in order for your Bivy Stick to communicate with the satellite network. Always test your device before taking it off grid.
Ensure that you have clear view of the sky when using messaging, tracking and SOS.
Battery Warning and Notices : A lithium-ion polymer battery is used in this device. The battery is internal and non-user-replaceable for various purposes. If these guidelines are not followed, batteries may experience a shortened life span or may present a risk of damage to the device, fire, chemical burn, electrolyte leak, and/or injury. Also, failure to heed the following notice could result in personal or property damage, or negatively impact the device functionality.
Do not disassemble, modify, remanufacture, puncture or damage device or battery
Do not remove or attempt to remove any components of the device
Do not expose device to fire, explosions, high temperatures or other hazards.
Do not place in high temperature environments. Such as an unattended vehicle, near a heater, or fire, or in direct sunlight for extended periods of time.
Do not submerge or soak device in any liquid.
Do not operate device outside of the recommended temperature ranges.
When storing the device for extended periods of time, store in a dry environment in temperatures between 35°F and 75°F.
Do not use a power/data cable that is not approved or supplied by Bivy.
Do not place device on dashboard or any other unsecured place in vehicle. Also be sure that it is not located someplace that will be a distraction while operating a vehicle. In the case of accident or crash, an unsecured device could injure driver or passenger.
Do not use the Bivy Stick or Bivy app while driving. Always stop and park vehicle before using cell phone or app.
Bivy uses maps provided by public and private sources and is not responsible for the accuracy of the map. Some data may be inaccurate and incomplete.
Always use your best judgement when navigating off road or participating in outdoor activities.
Bivy Stick and Bivy app is a resource for suggested routes. It should not take the place of research, preparation and experience in the backcountry.
Do not follow route suggested if it directs you into illegal activity such as trespassing, or into a dangerous situation. Know your limits and exposure to risk.
Always defer to posted signs and conditions during navigation.
Always be mindful of inherent risks, environment, weather and other factors before embarking on an outdoor activity.
By using the device you agree to the terms and conditions of the user agreement. To review those terms please visit: https://www.bivy.com/terms
By using the device you also agree to the terms and conditions of the privacy policy. To review those please visit: https://www.bivy.com/ privacy
If disposing of the device, please do so in accordance with local regulations according to Lithium Ion Polymer battery disposal.
The Bivy Stick may experience degraded performance if you use it in proximity to any device that uses a terrestrial broadband network operating close to the frequencies used by any global Navigation Satellite system (GNSS), Such as the Global Positioning Service (GPS). Use of such devices may impair reception of GNSS signals.
The Bivy Stick is a mobile transmitter and receiver that uses an internal antenna to send and receive low levels of radio frequency energy for data communications. The device emits RF energy below the published limits when operating in its maximum output power mode. To comply with RF exposure compliance requirements, the device should be a minimum of 20cm between the device and your body during operation. The device should not be used in other conﬁgurations. This device must not be co-located or operated in conjunction with any other transmitter or antenna.

FCC INFORMATION

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: this device may not cause harmful interference, and this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This device generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and may cause harmful interference to radio communications if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this device does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the device off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one of the following measures:

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the device and the receiver.
Consult dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

This device does not contain any user-serviceable parts. Repairs should only be made by Bivy or an ACR-authorized service center. Unauthorized repairs or modiﬁcations could result in permanent damage to the device, and void your warranty and your authority to operate this device under part 15 regulations. Bivy is an ACR company.

WARRANTY
THIS SAFETY AND WARRANTY SECTION CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR BIVY STICK. HOWEVER, THE TERMS UNDER WHICH YOU USE THE BIVY STICK ARE LISTED AT https://www.bivy.com/terms. YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO ACCEPT THOSE TERMS WHEN YOU ACTIVATE THE BIVY STICK.

LIMITED WARRANTY
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY HAVE OTHER LEGAL RIGHTS, WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE (OR BY COUNTRY OR PROVINCE). BIVY DOES NOT EXCLUDE, LIMIT OR SUSPEND OTHER LEGAL RIGHTS YOU MAY HAVE UNDER THE LAWS OF YOUR STATE (OR COUNTRY OR PROVINCE). FOR A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR RIGHTS YOU SHOULD CONSULT THE LAWS OF YOUR STATE, COUNTRY OR PROVINCE.
We warrant this device to be free from defects in materials or workmanship for one year from the date of purchase. Within this period, Bivy will, at its sole option, repair or replace any components that fail in normal use under normal conditions. Such repairs or replacement will be made at no charge to the customer for parts or labor, provided that the customer shall be responsible for any transportation costs. This Limited Warranty does not apply to: (i) cosmetic damage, such as scratches, nicks, and dents; (ii) consumable parts, such as batteries, unless product damage has occurred due to a defect in materials or workmanship of the product; (iii) damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, water, ﬂood, ﬁre, or other acts of nature or external causes; (iv) damage caused by service performed by anyone who is not an authorized service provider of ACR; or (v) damage to a product that has been modiﬁed or altered except by speciﬁc written instruction from Bivy.
This device is intended to be used only as a travel aid and must not be used for any purpose requiring precise measurement of direction, distance, location or topography. Bivy makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of map data. This Limited Warranty also does not apply to, and Bivy is not responsible for, any degradation in the performance of this device resulting from its use in proximity to any handset or other device that utilizes a terrestrial broadband network operating on frequencies that are close to the frequencies used by any Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) such as the Global Positioning Service (GPS). Use of such devices may impair reception of GNSS signals.
THE WARRANTIES AND REMEDIES CONTAINED IN THIS LIMITED WARRANTY ARE IN LIEU OF, AND BIVY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS, ALL OTHER WARRANTIES AND REMEDIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, STATUTORY REMEDY
OR OTHERWISE. IF IMPLIED WARRANTIES CANNOT BE DISCLAIMED UNDER THE LAWS OF YOUR STATE OR COUNTRY, THEN SUCH WARRANTIES ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE DURATION OF THIS LIMITED WARRANTY. IN NO EVENT SHALL BIVY OR ACR BE LIABLE IN A CLAIM FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER RESULTING FROM THE USE, MISUSE OR INABILITY TO USE THIS PRODUCT OR FROM DEFECTS IN THE PRODUCT. IN NO EVENT SHALL BIVY’S LIABILITY EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID FOR THE PRODUCT TO WHICH ANY CLAIM RELATES.
If during the warranty period you submit a claim for warranty service in accordance with this Limited Warranty, then Bivy will, at its option: (i) repair the device using new parts or previously used parts that satisfy Bivy’s quality standards, (ii) replace the device with a new device or a refurbished device that meets Bivy’s quality standards, or (iii) exchange the device for a full refund of your purchase price.

SUCH REMEDY SHALL BE YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR ANY BREACH OF WARRANTY
Repaired or replaced devices have a 90-day warranty. If the device sent in is still under its original warranty, then the new warranty is 90 days or to the end of the original 1 year warranty, whichever is longer. Before seeking warranty service, please access and review the online help resources available on
www.bivy.com. If your device is still not functioning properly after making use of these resources, contact Bivy at
support@bivy.com to obtain warranty service. If you are in the United States, you can also call 1-385-955-0998. Warranty service is only available inside the United States.

FAQS
How do I know if my Bivy Stick is working? There is a satellite indicator (Signal) light near the top of the Bivy Stick. When it is green, it means you are connected to at least one satellite inorbit. If it is red, you probably need to get into a spot with a better view of the sky or wait for orbiting satellites to pass overhead. You can also see how strong of a satellite signal you have on the map screen of the app. On the left side there is a satellite icon. If you see green, that means you are connected. Below that you can see the battery life of the Bivy Stick as well. (Quick clariﬁcation- Flashing green is obtaining GPS coordinates. Flashing red is SOS.)
My Bivy Stick will not connect with my phone. Make sure you have turned on the Bluetooth on your phone. More recent versions of Android OS require the user to also turn on the GPS for Bluetooth to pair. Open the Bivy app and choose Stick in the menu. Then push the Bivystick power button and hold for 2 seconds to turn it on. Your phone should automatically connect. If not, press Connect Now and tap the Power button on the Stick. (It works better if the app is running and then you turn on the Stick.)
How do credits work? When you activate your Bivystick, you are given credits to use. Each credit is basically one action of the Bivystick. One credit = 1 message sent. And 1 credit = 1 message received, or 1 location share, or 1 weather report, or 1 hour of tracking. Your credits are valid for as long as your Bivystick is active. If you use all credits and are way off-the-grid out of service, your device will still work great and you will be charged $0.50 per additional credit used. If you do not use all of your credits by the end of 30 days, and you pay the monthly Base plan to keep the device active, all unused credits will rollover and are available to use later.Why do my messages not go through? Sometimes your friends reply quickly, but if you are not in view of any satellites, the message won’t come through yet. Just keep moving or get out to a more open area and they will eventually show up. Also, make sure that your contacts know to reply to the Bivy Stick number, as well as your actual cell phone number. Satellite messaging is not like cellular messaging. With cellular, it’s almost always instantaneous when you have service. With satellite messaging, we don’t maintain a constant connection. We rely on brief connections to send small bursts of data. Sending a satellite message involves ﬁnding a visible satellite in the sky, transmitting the message, relaying the message through other satellites down to terrestrial Iridium servers, then to our servers, then SMS providers, and then the recipient. The whole process is generally fairly quick, but it can take several minutes even in good sky visibility. The biggest time consumer in sending and receiving messages is ﬁnding and connecting to a satellite. Our low orbit satellites are not in a ﬁxed position like the high orbit satellites used for television. They are constantly moving across the sky. It takes about 2 hours for each satellite to cross. This is why the Signal LED is constantly changing from Green, to Yellow, to Red. This is normal. When the LED is green, it generally sends or receives pretty quickly, but it will often take a few minutes. You can increase the signal strength by orienting the device straight up and by not covering
or obstructing it with anything. If there is no Signal LED then the device is in standby to preserve battery. That does not mean there are no satellites visible. The device will wake up when you send a message or press the power button once quickly. Every 15 minutes it will wake up to check for new messages. You can also check for messages manually.
How do you control incoming texts like spam? The Bivy Stick uses a designated phone number that you can give to others and text others from. They have to know your number to send you a text. You just have to make sure to let your family and friends know that you are getting charged per text. Just let us know if you get an unsolicited spam and we will credit you back. When I share my location with friends, do they have to download the Bivy app as well? If you are sharing your location and tracking information through the Bivy Stick, they do not need to download the app. They will be sent a text with a link to a website that will bring up a map with your GPS Location. Your location will update every 10 minutes while you are tracking or sharing your location.

Is there an insurance plan offered that covers rescue fees in the case the SOS function is used? Yes! You can learn more about the Global Rescue memberships that we offer Bivy Customers at: www.globalrescue.com/bivy How to cancel/deactivate my account? Simply connect your Stick to the Bivy app, then go to Stick, and tap on Manage Account. From there, choose Account Settings, and Cancel Service. Your Stick will still work for the remainder of your billing cycle.
How can people see my live tracks. When you start tracking an adventure with your phone, you’re given the option to share your location. Choose Share with Everyone, then send a link (either with a Check-In or through Share my Location) and the recipient can click on that link to see your track and your current location. You can also share your adventure if you’re tracking with just your Stick. Press and hold the Check-In button for 5 seconds to begin tracking. The Status light will start ﬂashing blue. Press the Check-In button again to send a Check-In with a personalized link to the recipients in your Check-In list. They can then watch your progress. Updates are sent every 10 minutes. Can it be used by multiple phones at different times or must it stay dedicated to one phone. The Stick can be used by different phones, as long as each phone has the Bivy app. It works best if each phone has their own Bivy account. It can only be connected to one phone at a time, though, so make sure to disconnect from the Stick before attempting to
connect with a different phone. NOTICE: Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of satellite communications devices. It is the responsibility of the user to know and follow all applicable laws in the jurisdictions where the device is intended to be used.