So, the wording on either side of the card's bottom reads "At the start of the activation phase, you may flip this card." I'm unclear on whether this means I have to decide whether to flip for all of my ships with the card equipped at the start of the entire activation phase, or if I can decide the moment I activate each individual ship.

6 minutes ago, Wedgeismyhero said:

So, the wording on either side of the card's bottom reads "At the start of the activation phase, you may flip this card." I'm unclear on whether this means I have to decide whether to flip for all of my ships with the card equipped at the start of the entire activation phase, or if I can decide the moment I activate each individual ship.

The beginning of the phase itself.

"At the start of the activation phase" means just that. At the start of the phase. So everyone equipped with it has to decide at that time. If ships on both sides have it then player with initiative goes first.

If it was supposed to be each ship as their turn came up then it would say something like "when you become the active ship during the activation phase" or "before you reveal your dial"

It basically follows the same timing window as Decloak or Intelligence Agent. As soon as the planning phase is over and dials are down, those abilities come into effect, and are (presumably) resolved in initiative order.

EDIT: As stated below, Decloak happens after all other start-of-activation abilities. Thanks, @joeshmoe554 !

8 minutes ago, emeraldbeacon said:

It basically follows the same timing window as Decloak or Intelligence Agent. As soon as the planning phase is over and dials are down, those abilities come into effect, and are (presumably) resolved in initiative order.

Same timing as Intelligence Agent, not quite the same timing as Decloak.

"At the start of the Activation phase, after players have resolved all other abilities that trigger at the start of the Activation phase, each ship may spend a cloak token to decloak" - Rules Reference "Cloak"