Compass August 12, 2019, 01:35:10 pm I would like to have a compass somewhere in or on my dashboard. However, according to the reviews for such devices on various websites they all seem not to work well (or rather just lousy) in cars, probably because metall and speaker magnets influence them.Can anybody here recommend a compass that actually does work in vehicles like our RV's?Klaus
Re: Compass Reply #1 – August 12, 2019, 07:11:05 pm "I would like to have a compass somewhere in or on my dashboard."Do you not have a GPS? Many GPS units have a feature that will tell you where you're headed. I have a Garmin 7" that shows directions if I program it to provide that function. Fortunately I have a pretty good sense of direction. I believe the sun rises in the east and the rest is common sense! 2 Likes
Re: Compass Reply #2 – August 13, 2019, 12:05:34 am I have a Garmin RV 770 but I don't remember that it shows cardinal directions (like a compass) - for sure not when the rig is not moving. Is yours doing that? Is there a setting for that (I could not find it)?Klaus
Re: Compass Reply #3 – August 13, 2019, 02:18:58 am "Many GPS units have a feature that will tell you where you're headed."The key phrase there is "where you're headed." A GPS receiver by itself can tell which way you're moving, but when you're standing still, it doesn't know which way you're facing. Most cell phones can, because in addition to a GPS receiver, they have electronic magnetic-field sensors that allow them to act as magnetic compasses. But skimming the Garmin RV 770 manual, it doesn't appear to have this capability.As you noted, accessory compasses for vehicles can be unreliable. The instrument is inside a steel cage, which may have a magnetic field, and there are various magnetic sources such as speakers. To some extent a good auto compass can be calibrated to "null out" these constant fields, but then there are variable ones. Even turning on the windshield wipers can throw the compass off.From what I've seen, the most workable vehicle compasses are built into rear-view mirrors, presumably because those are furthest from variable magnetic fields. (In the case of the wipers, it's the motor that is the culprit, and it's mounted forward of the dashboard.) So if I were you, I'd look for a compass in a mirror, or that can be attached to one.
Re: Compass Reply #4 – August 13, 2019, 10:11:04 am Quote from: Andy Baird - August 13, 2019, 02:18:58 amI were you, I'd look for a compass in a mirror, or that can be attached to one.I did look at mirrors with compass and I'm a little shocked about the prices ($130-$180). But I like the idea to stick a not so expensive compass to the existing mirror! Great idea, thanks.
Re: Compass Reply #5 – August 13, 2019, 11:57:54 am A good, marine grade compass can be bought for less than that and give excellent service for a long time. In the old days (pre GPS), we made long passages with a compass and hit offshore islands without any drama. I keep a Suunto handheld and it has been a reliable instrument for years. I like being able to point at landmarks and get bearings. Being able to use paper maps and a compass is a valuable skill not practiced much anymore.When the Wizard moves out of Oz and the flying monkeys descend, my handheld compass will still work just fine. And I'll find the Yellow Brick Road... 3 Likes
Re: Compass Reply #6 – August 13, 2019, 12:22:53 pm We don't use it much, but our iPhones have a built in free compass app that seems pretty high tech and is beautiful to look at. It can be connected to the Google Map app, too.Here on the Apple Support website is a picture and information:https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/compass-iph1ac0b663/iosI don't know if that helps, but I thought I'd mention it just in case you didn't know about it,Jim & DebSanta Cruz, California
Re: Compass Reply #7 – August 13, 2019, 01:00:41 pm "iPhones have a built in free compass app.."---I use this app frequently, but outside, not inside the motorhome; the reading is very different inside the rig from the reading outside. For example, sitting in the driver's seat and using the iPhone compass generated a reading of 62°NE; the reading was 102°E when standing in the "same" position outside in front of the rig. Even if my position inside and outside were slightly different, I don't think that would account for the wide discrepancy in readings. Thanks for that link; I will read it to see if there is a way to "calibrate" the app compass for use inside the rig. 1 Likes
Re: Compass Reply #8 – August 13, 2019, 02:15:33 pm I am OLD SCHOOL use a bubble compass which has a build in clip to the dashmate, 10 yrs old, $10.00 and works wellBob 1 Likes
Re: Compass Reply #9 – August 13, 2019, 09:03:52 pm "I will read it to see if there is a way to 'calibrate' the app compass for use inside the rig."This article describes three ways to calibrate the iPhone compass. I tried method 2, but can't be sure whether it worked, as I'm sitting indoors in my Airstream. Might be worth a try, anyway.
Re: Compass Reply #11 – August 14, 2019, 12:12:37 am Earth's magnetic field is very weak, especially when surrounded by iron in the chassis and magnets of different sorts on the motorhome. GPS's rely on successive location readings. Nothing to do with magnets, they have internal speakers! The GPS can't tell what direction you are looking, only which direction you are moving. RonB
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