+duncanhoyle Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Whilst on a caching trip over the weekend I was having issues with the compass calibration and was wondering if anyone else has similar problems Over the course of a 15 miles walk looking for 6 caches I had to calibrate the compass over 10 times. I had accidently left the case at home so whilst walking the device was carried in my right trouser pocket. When I first noticed the need to repeatedly calibrate I wondered if it was because my keys (with electronic fob) were stored in the zip pocket behind the GPS. However, the problem continued after I moved the keys to my left side. Is the compass in the Etrex30 so sensitive that it can't be subjected to the movement caused by walking? In some instances it was pointing me in the opposite direction to where I needed to go (which I could confirm on a map). This was happening whether I held the device vertically or horizontally and was incredibly frustrating. Luckily I was out in good visibility. I've contacted technically support asking for a comment but have heard nothing yet. Thanks Duncan Quote Link to comment
+dfx Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 What kind of batteries are you using? Quote Link to comment
+duncanhoyle Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share Posted November 7, 2011 What kind of batteries are you using? 2450 mAh rechargeable NiMH fully charged before the walk and if I press the light button they show as still fully charged. Quote Link to comment
+dfx Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 What kind of batteries are you using? 2450 mAh rechargeable NiMH fully charged before the walk and if I press the light button they show as still fully charged. Interesting, I'm using the exact same batteries (among others) and I've never seen that problem on my Oregon 450. I would've thought that the new eTrexes have at least a very similar (if not the same) compass chip in them. Anyway, unless you carry a magnet somewhere on you, there shouldn't be anything that throws the compass off that much and that often. Maybe somebody else can provide more insight. Quote Link to comment
+duncanhoyle Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share Posted November 7, 2011 What kind of batteries are you using? 2450 mAh rechargeable NiMH fully charged before the walk and if I press the light button they show as still fully charged. Interesting, I'm using the exact same batteries (among others) and I've never seen that problem on my Oregon 450. I would've thought that the new eTrexes have at least a very similar (if not the same) compass chip in them. Anyway, unless you carry a magnet somewhere on you, there shouldn't be anything that throws the compass off that much and that often. Maybe somebody else can provide more insight. Problem solved I think. Whilst out I also had a bum-bag around my waist with the compartment towards the front. In that bag I had my phone it's a case and my pda it's case. I use both of these devices for caching and have used them both together since last year. Both cases contain a magnet to hold them closed but neither appears strong enough to affect the other. They are strong enough though to affect the magent inside the Etrex in the tests which I've just done. Thanks for the magnet suggestion Quote Link to comment
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