Vista HCx - Compass Question

[jmundinger]

I asked this question of Garmin. They advised me of the compass page issue in 2.30, but never did ask the related question.

 

If the compass is left on, how often does it have to be calibrated? Does the calibration hold when the unit is turned off, or does the procedure have to be repeated every time the unit is turned back on?

[dogwalkers2]

I don't know for sure, but it does last beyond turning the unit off and back on. I'm kind of lucky since the street I live on runs perfectly north-south, true. The calibration also seems to survive the changing of batteries. I guess the short, ambiguous answer would be to calibrate it when it doesn't seem right, based on the info you have. If you have no external frame of reference, it does only take less than a minute to calibrate...

 

I guess all this to say, if in doubt, calibrate...

[+RRLover]

Perhaps if you travel to an area w/ significant declination change it would be warranted, me thinks that's what it's all about (calibration).

 

Norm

[SergZak]

From what I remember on my old eTrex Vista (it may say so in the user's manual), I think the calibration should hold with each new/freshly recharged set of batteries (depending on which you use). I think the recommendation is to calibrate which each battery change.

Edited September 27, 2007 by SergZak

[Smac999]

From what I remember on my old eTrex Vista (it may say so in the user's manual), I think the calibration should hold with each new/freshly recharged set of batteries (depending on which you use). I think the recommendation is to calibrate which each battery change.

 

what they are talking about the is compass warning in 2.3. everytime you turn the gps off and on, or turn the compass off or on. a warning would pop up and say the compass needs to be re calibrated.. really anoying. the warning screen wasn't there in 2.2 and has been removed again in 2.4

[+admo1972]

I have the Vista, and the manual states that it needs to be recalibrated with each battery change. I calibrate it more often, usually when it just seems a bit confused, or when I know I am going to do a series of caches. It only takes a few seconds to calibrate, and is great to be able to point towards the general direction of the cache when standing still.

[+apersson850]

The reason for recommending a calibration at each battery change, is that different brands/types of batteries have different magnetic characteristics. To avoid the debate over whether this or that type is similar enough to that or this type, they just recommend a calibration when you replace the batteries.