GPS and compass

[+foam follower]

i have a garmin etrex legend...i also have a small compass (say half an inch in diameter)...

 

i'd like to take that compass and stick it, glue it, velcro it onto the GPS right over where i think the GPS sensor is, ie right at the top, on the same side as the lcd display...

 

would that be a bad thing?

 

would the compass be off or would the compass bugger the reception of the gps?

[+briansnat]

I don't know about reception. I guess you can test it using tape.

 

But if its one of those small, dime store compasses, they aren't very accurate.

 

moving to appropriate forum

[+apersson850]

Anything you place there would, to some extent, attenaute the signals. But it may be little enough not to matter. Have to see you compass live to be able to guess about that.

[+DustyWalker]

I can't resist asking- why you want to do such a thing?

[+pickNgrin66]

The presence of metal and/or changing electrical fields (such as those produced in the receiver) will throw off your compass readings. Try experimenting by looking at the compass needle as you bring it near your GPS receiver. If the needle deflects, as I suspect it will, then you are better off keeping your compass separate from your GPSr.

 

-matt

Edited August 16, 2006 by pickNgrin66

[+edscott]

The presence of metal and/or changing electrical fields (such as those produced in the receiver) will throw off your compass readings. Try experimenting by looking at the compass needle as you bring it near your GPS receiver. If the needle deflects, as I suspect it will, then you are better off keeping your compass separate from your GPSr.

 

-matt

 

Way separate.. just Duct tape the compass to your arm and throw away the GPS