Re: Garmin 60csx question

Ted Edwards <Ted_Espamless@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Do you know how it does this calibration? If it is from a table of
local variation, that would ignore minor local magnetic anomolies such
as a small ore body. I forget where but I read that it is very common
to see variation of a few degrees from the value on the printed topos.

The calibration is wholly self-contained, and is the same for all of this
style compass, embedded in a GPS, standalone, or as a factory option in a
car. You rotate the compass a couple of times, and the only moving
magnetic field should be the earth. All of the fixed fields that are part
of the immediate environment will rotate with the GPSr.

I presume that this means that if you have the GPS in a car, you should
drive the car in a tight circle a couple of times, which was the calibrate
procedure for my car's built-in compass. I think some of the automotive
units also have a training feature, where they compensate for their
environment over time.

You might consider an external antena. I got a GA25 BNC for my GPS-V
(you would want the GA 25MCX) for only about $30. It has a magnetic
base so I can just stick it on the roof of my vehicle.

I prefer not to advertise the presence of my GPS. I take it down from the
dash as I near my destination, so that it's not visible to cretins hanging
around a parking lot, and I carry it with me when I get out of the car.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5
.

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