View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
starcrafttom
Joined: 07 Nov 2003 Posts: 7878 City/Region: marysville
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1984
C-Dory Model: 27 Cruiser
Vessel Name: to be decided later
Photos: Susan E
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
thataway
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 20779 City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
|
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 10:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Tom,
Bivystick was purchased by ACR a couple of years ago, and become more "mainstream". The competition is Spot Messenger and Inreach Mini (now owned by Garmin). All of these have satellite rescue notification to private services rather than SatSar as utilized in an. EPIRB or PLB. There seems to be more experience with the EPRIB and official government services as a rescue agent.
The Bivy advertises 5 days use on a full battery--most are getting 3 to 4 days, It does have several buttons, and LED's which indicate if it is sending/recieving/tracking and distress has been sent. With the mated smart phone, there are multiple services both of sending and receiving text and weather graphics. etc. The Garmin Inreach explorer can be used stand alone, but with a screen less size than smart phones. The Garmin Inreach Mini will allow minimal texts to be read and basic communication. The Spot Messenger series also has an LCD screen, which will be useful (but not allow all applications) with a smart phone.
All of these require "plans" to be used. The basic "plans" are in the $10 a month up to $50+ a month depending on what amount of service and messages (up to unlimited)
The Bivy apparently will retire your "phone number" if you drop the plan, and you will not be able to get the same phone humber when you re-activate. Apparently Bivy does not have an activation fee, but you loose your credits (basic is 20 credits a month and a credit is one weather report,
They also all allow tracing from 2 minute intervals to 10 minute intervals. Most have free pre set basic messages. Like: " I am ok" or "Back at the dock".
Bivy Stick plans
Garmin plans.
Spot Messenger Plans.
These all can take the place of a Satellite phone, if you are only interested in texts and somewhat limited data. The are all cheaper than a satellite phone and the plans associated with them. There is a cheaper Spot transceiver and plan, but more limited.
Bivy Stick and Garmin Inreach use Iridium satellites; Spot uses Globalstar satellites. _________________ Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
|
|