Frequently
Asked Questions
- I already have BiM Active on my phone; how do I link the phone to my web account?
- Which mobile phones work with BiM Active?
- Which wireless carriers does BiM Active work with?
- How do I carry a phone while I run or bike?
- Do I need to open the phone flip to see my progress during my activity?
- Can I listen to music while running BiM Active on my phone?
- Can I take a picture or make a phone call while running BiM Active on my phone?
- What happens if I'm recording an activity when I receive a phone call or text message?
- How long will my battery last when running BiM Active?
- How much does BiM Active cost?
- How do I get BiM Active for my mobile phone?
- How accurate is BiM Active in tracking my distance?
- Does BiM Active work even when I am out of cell coverage?
- Does BiM Active use my minutes or my data plan while recording?
- Do I need to have a data plan to use BiM Active?
- Can people see where I am when I use BiM Active on my mobile phone?
- Can I use BiM Active to measure speed and distance for skiing or snowboarding?
- Can I get directions from BiM Active to follow a route?
- How long does it take to get a GPS fix with BiM Active?
- My mobile phone says it is E911 compatible. Will BiM Active work on this phone?
- I use two mobile phones; one business and one personal. Can they both work with my BiM Active ONLINE account?
- When I change wireless carriers or upgrade to a new mobile phone, will I lose any of my activity data on my BiM Active ONLINE account?
- How well does BiM Active work under dense tree coverage or in areas with tall buildings?
- If I drop my phone or the battery dies while using BiM Active, will I lose all my recorded activity up to that point?
- How is a BiM Active-enabled mobile phone different from a Garmin or other GPS fitness device?
- Does BiM Active work with Bluetooth GPS devices?
BiM Active ONLINE - FAQ
- I have a Garmin or other GPS fitness device. Can I use that with the free BiM Active ONLINE service?
- How does BiM Active ONLINE calculate a difficulty index for my activities and what can this be used for?
- I see that BiM Active ONLINE supports blogging and RSS. What does this mean?
- What if I already have a blog? Can I post directly to that?
- Can anyone see my personal data stored on the BiM Active website?
- I am a member of a running/cycling club. Can I see what each of my teammates are doing using BiM Active ONLINE?
- How is BiM Active ONLINE different from other online activity journals?
- I have a spreadsheet that I keep for my running/cycling log. Can I import this into BiM Active ONLINE?
- Will the BiM Active ONLINE service always be free?
- How does BiM Active ONLINE calculate my caloric burn rate?
- Does BiM Active ONLINE work with heart rate monitors?
- What is the source of your elevation data?
BiM Active MOBILE - FAQ
I already have BiM Active on my phone; how do I link the phone to my web account?
If you have not yet set up your web account, click here. Be sure to follow the instructions to enter the Activation Code from your phone.
If you already have a web account and have now started using BiM Active on your phone, sign in to your web account. From the Dashboard screen, click the "Link Phone" menu choice at the upper left of your screen. Follow the instructions to enter the Activation Code from your phone.
Linking your phone to your web account allows for activties recorded on your phone to automatically appear in your web account when you wirelessly save the recording at the end of your workout!
Which mobile phones work with BiM Active?
BiM Active is compatible with Assisted GPS mobile phones (aGPS) available from most of the major manufacturers. As wireless service providers continually offer new phones, click here to see the current list of supported phones.
Which wireless carriers does BiM Active work with?
Click here to see the current list of wireless service providers offering BiM Active.
How do I carry a phone while I run or bike?
Many runners prefer to wear an arm band. This offers high GPS accuracy, makes it easy to hear the phone mileage marker beeps, and keeps your hands free. Others like to carry the phone in their hand so they can easily check out their stats on the external display.
For cyclists, the rear jersey pocket works great (just keep the phone away from other metal objects). Or, maybe you've found a cool handlebar mount that allows you to see the external display.
No matter how you carry the phone, you should click here to learn the best way to orient your phone in order to minimize interference with GPS reception.
Do I need to open the phone flip to see my progress during my activity?
No. When the flip is closed your current progress is always displayed on the phone's external screen.
Can I listen to music while running BiM Active on my phone?
While some BiM Active compatible phones do have music players, not all of these phones will run BiM Active and the music player at the same time.
Click here to see if your wireless carrier/phone model will let you listen to music while recording with BiM Active.
Can I take a picture or make a phone call while running BiM Active on my phone?
Sure, if you want to make a call or snap a photo in the middle of a distance recording, you can suspend BiM Active then resume when you're done by simply restarting the application.
Some phones even let you make a phone call while continuing to record your path. Click here to see if your wireless carrier/phone model will let you make a phone call while continuing to record your path.
What happens if I'm recording an activity when I receive a phone call or text message?
- Verizon Wireless - If you're using a Verizon phone, an incoming text message does not interfere with your recording. If you receive a phone call, the phone may or may not record your path while you are on the call. Click here to see if your phone model continues to record while you are on a phone call.
- Sprint - If you're using a Sprint phone, an incoming call or text message pushes BiM Active to the background so you can handle it. Until you finish, BiM Active may or may not temporarily suspend recording. Click here to see if your phone model continues to record or not. Upon completing your call or dismissing the text message, BiM Active automatically returns to the front and continues recording if it was suspended.
- Nextel - If you're using a Nextel phone, an incoming call or text message pushes BiM Active to the background so you can handle it. While you're on the call or handling the message, BiM Active continues to record your activity.
Once you've finished the call, you can bring BiM Active back to the front in one of two ways. Use the Java menu to navigate to the "Suspended Apps" folder, select the "Suspended Apps" icon, then select BiM Active in the list. Or, if you have a flip phone, activate BiM Active from the external screen; repeatedly press the button at the top of the phone that has the square on it. Each time you press the button, the phone cycles to the next application. Keep pressing until the line, "BiM Active", appears in the external display and then press the button on the top of the phone to bring BiM Active back to the front. - Alltel - If you're using an Alltel phone, an incoming text message does not interfere with your recording. If you receive a phone call, the phone may or may not record your path while you are on the call. Click here to see if your phone model continues to record while you are on a phone call.
- BlackBerry - If you're using a BlackBerry, an incoming call or text message does not interfere with your recording.
How long will my battery last when running BiM Active?
Your mileage will vary here depending on the phone type, battery condition, state of charge etc. However, according our tests you can expect a range between 6 to 9 hours, which is more than adequate unless you are Forest Gump running from coast to coast.
How much does BiM Active cost?
BiM Active on a mobile phone costs $5.99 per month, which is conveniently added to your phone bill. Note that some wireless service providers require a data plan that may include text messaging and other bundled services in addition to your voice usage.
Some carriers may also offer a $1.99 per day option, or limited-time free trials. Check with your carrier for availability.
How do I get BiM Active for my mobile phone?
Click here to get a guided tour of supported wireless service providers and compatible phones.
How accurate is BiM Active in tracking my distance?
BiM Active compatible phones are typically accurate to within +/- 3% on distance measurements. For the greatest accuracy, click here to learn the best way to carry your specific phone model to maximize GPS reception.
If you have a Verizon phone, here's a tip to improve your cell reception and gps accuracy. Using the keypad on your mobile phone, press "*228" and hit the green send key to place a call. Listen for an automated response and press the "2" key to "Update your roaming capability". You will hear music play until your phone is updated. Technically, what this does is update your phone with the latest information about the cell towers closest to you. If you travel, it's also a good idea to repeat this process when you arrive at your destination.
Does BiM Active work even when I am out of cell coverage?
For all wireless service providers you can initiate an activity while in coverage and your route will be tracked except for any gaps in coverage. We can not record during these gaps, but your overall activity will be preserved if you come back into coverage prior to stopping BiM Active.
Some phones can even record while outside of cell coverage. Click here to see if your wireless carrier/phone model will record while outside of cell coverage.
Does BiM Active use my minutes or my data plan while recording?
No, that would be a huge phone bill! Instead, the phone briefly accesses the network at the start of an activity to determine position and is off-network for the entire recording. Uploading your activity data to the BiM Active web site requires another brief network access. In practice, this equates to about 2-3 minutes of air-time per uploaded activity (20-30k of data).
Viewing maps & charts on your phone requires additional minutes/data usage.
Do I need to have a data plan to use BiM Active?
It depends upon your wireless service provider. Verizon does not require any data plan; rather, it uses air-time minutes instead. For other carriers click here to see the detail stated under each phone model.
Can people see where I am when I use BiM Active on my mobile phone?
No, BiM Active acts only as a recorder during your activity. When you finish recording your activity you save the results to web account. You may then allow others to publicly view it through features built into the web site, such as your personal blog.
Can I use BiM Active to measure speed and distance for skiing or snowboarding?
Sure! It's really cool to see your elevation drop and speed profile as well as your path on a satellite map. Brag at the apres ski and watch out for those trees.... You can also go cross-country skiing, hiking, rowing, or just about any other outdoor sport where speed, distance and position is worth recording and sharing with others.
Can I get directions from BiM Active to follow a route?
No, but we do provide a "My Location" feature which shows your current location on a map to help if you get lost.
How long does it take to get a first GPS fix with BiM Active?
This varies by wireless service provider and phone type, but typically it takes less than a minute and in most cases less than 30 seconds.
My mobile phone says it is E911 compatible. Will BiM Active work on this phone?
BiM Active uses a more accurate version of this technology which is available on a growing list of really cool phones.
I use two mobile phones; one business and one personal. Can they both work with my BiM Active ONLINE account?
Yes, you can use BiM Active on multiple mobile phones from different carriers in different countries, all linked to the same web account. Whew! Actually the different country thing is forward-looking but keep your eyes open.
When I change wireless carriers or upgrade to a new mobile phone, will I lose any of my activity data on my BiM Active ONLINE account?
No, once uploaded to web account your data will not be lost regardless of which phone you are using. However, any historical activities recorded on the old phone will not be viewable on the upgraded phone. But you can always view all your historical activities from your web browser.
How well does BiM Active work under dense tree coverage or in areas with tall buildings?
Unlike stand-alone GPS receivers, mobile phones use Assisted GPS that provides much better sensitivity in these areas resulting in more accurate routes.
If I drop my phone or the battery dies while using BiM Active, will I lose all my recorded activity up to that point?
We've added a never-lost feature that keeps a copy of your activity in non-volatile memory so in the unfortunate event that your battery fails or falls out, all data recorded up to that point is stored and is ready to be saved to your online web account as soon as power to the phone is restored.
How is a BiM Active-enabled mobile phone different from a Garmin or other GPS fitness device?
Everyone has a mobile phone. Music is delivered on your mobile phone. If you could carry only one device which records and monitors your performance, allows you to listen to music, and provides security while you run alone, what would it be? Also, having a one-click save to your online web account without installing software or hooking up cables to your PC is pretty sweet as well.
Does BiM Active work with Bluetooth GPS devices?
No. Carrying around two devices goes against the grain of the convenience we are trying to provide with BiM Active.
BiM Active ONLINE - FAQ
I have a Garmin or other GPS fitness device. Can I use that with the free BiM Active ONLINE service?
You sure can. BiM Active ONLINE lets you import activities from Garmin Training Center, Garmin Forerunner Logbook, Timex Trainer (w/Data Recorder 2), and GPX or NMEA exchange files, so if your device works with any of these options then you are all set.
How does BiM Active ONLINE calculate a difficulty index for my activities and what can this be used for?
Without revealing the actual secret formula, we take a look at the beginning elevation of the route, how far the route goes and what the changes in incline and decline are. That gives us a difficulty index for the route by itself. We then take a look at the actual environmental readings on the day the route was recorded. Having a high heat index or chill factor or heavy winds modifies the difficulty for the overall performance. Now you can go out and compare what you did with others and have a way to compete on equal footing even though you were in different places on the globe. Pretty cool huh?
I see that BiM Active ONLINE supports blogging and RSS. What does this mean?
It means you can publish your activities and routes for the world to see without knowing anything about blogging. With one click you can turn any private activity into a public webpage that anyone with a browser can view and comment on. RSS simply means others can subscribe to your blog webpage and be notified each time you publish a new activity.
What if I already have a blog? Can I post directly to that?
Sure, no problem. BiM Active ONLINE also lets you post your activity results and routes directly into your existing blog. Supported blogs are: TypePad, Live Journal, Blogger, Movable Type, and Wordpress.
Can anyone see my personal data stored on the BiM Active ONLINE website?
Only if you allow them. By default, all of your data is kept private. It is up to you to share your performance and your favorite routes with others using our one-click to blog feature and the route publisher.
I am a member of a running/cycling club. Can I see what each of my teammates are doing using BiM Active ONLINE?
You can each publish your activities to a blog for all to see. If you want just your team members to be able to view each others performance then you will need to wait until that feature is added.
How is BiM Active ONLINE different from other online activity journals?
The BiM Active ONLINE service is free and can receive activity data from mobile phones, from Garmin and Timex devices, from standard formatted GPS files, through manual route creation using a Google maps custom interface, and by sharing activities with others in the community.
I have a spreadsheet that I keep for my running/cycling log. Can I import this into BiM Active ONLINE?
At this time, only GPS related fitness information is supported for import. If importing spreadsheets is important to you, send us a feature request by clicking on the feedback link located in the footer of this page.
Will the BiM Active ONLINE service always be free?
We may offer new premium services for a fee but access to your personal journal and the community features will remain free.
How does BiM Active ONLINE calculate my caloric burn rate?
During registration for the free BiM Active ONLINE service, you may optionally include your gender, height and weight. If you choose to include this information then it is used to calculate calories burned depending on the activity type, speed/pace and duration of the activity.
Does BiM Active ONLINE work with heart rate monitors?
Yes, BiM Active imports heart rate and can display heart rate over the course of your activity along with the time and distance spent in each heart rate zone. Currently, the Garmin Forerunner 301, 305, and Edge 305 are supported via Garmin Training Center file imports. We will be adding support for other heart rate monitors soon.
What is the source of your elevation data?
BiM Active uses United States Geological Survey (USGS) elevation profiles for routes created in the United States. All other routes use the elevation data collected by the GPS device when available.