Digital Compasses?

White95Max · 12-30-04, 09:43

I was thinking about getting a digital compass like the one in the link below for long trips, or when I'm driving to/around an unfamiliar area. Does anyone have one of these...this model or otherwise?

http://www.autoanything.com/products...igital_compass

MaThGr82 · 12-30-04, 11:18

I would actually spend a few extra bucks and pick up a handheld GPS unit like this one

http://www.garmin.com/products/etrex/

My father in law got me one for Christmas and it is pretty cool. You can enter in the GPS coordinates and let it get you there. Also, you can mark spots and use the GPS unit to find your way back to that original spot. It tells you your speed and has a compass as well.

MorBid · 12-30-04, 11:53

My '05 Audi A4 has a digital compass in the rear view mirror (direction only N,S,SW, etc)

Outside temperature is given on a readout in the Intstrument cluster.

never really used it for finding my way though. Haven't had the need,

kempie · 12-31-04, 03:06

On Ebay you can get a rear view mirror w/compass & with or without a temp. reading for less than the cost of the seperate compass. I have done two installs for friends and it isnt too bad.

Pondscum · 12-31-04, 03:28

One advantage to having the compass in the rear view mirror is most of them are electrochromatic also. I never really realized how great electrochromatic rear view mirrors were until I drove a rental car at night that didn't have one. I thought I was going to need sunglasses.

White95Max · 12-31-04, 08:44

Quote:

Originally posted by kempie
On Ebay you can get a rear view mirror w/compass & with or without a temp. reading for less than the cost of the seperate compass. I have done two installs for friends and it isnt too bad.

I like that...I'll have to check that out.

White95Max · 12-31-04, 06:46

How do you get power to the rearview mirror? Hardwire? How difficult is it to hardwire a mirror? Is there any special equipment needed?

Setec Astronomy · 12-31-04, 09:10

Maxy, my SSE has a factory compass. I can only remember one time when it was any value, where I was lost and knew I was heading the opposite direction from where I should be. I thought it would be really helpful, but the reality is if you are on a westbound road, for instance, it usually winds all over the place, and if you look at the compass you will make urself crazy as it changes...hardly ever pointing "west".

THIS IS MY OPINION. No hate mail because I don't use my compass as much as you do!

White95Max · 12-31-04, 09:16

Well I frequently go to places for work that I'm not familiar with. I use my WI state atlas, and it is very helpful, but sometimes I'll know what road I'm on...just not which way I'm heading. If I'm near Lake Michigan or Green Bay, the direction is very easy to figure out. But when I'm farther inland in an unfamiliar area, that's when a compass could really come in handy.

TW85 HHI · 12-31-04, 09:58

Don't you love it when you get directions that say "Go north on 'insert road'" and you have no idea which way is north? A compass is handy to have in your car, handheld GPS even better.

Corey Bit Spank · 12-31-04, 10:47

Quote:

Originally posted by TW85 HHI
Don't you love it when you get directions that say "Go north on 'insert road'" and you have no idea which way is north? A compass is handy to have in your car, handheld GPS even better.

This is why you look at the clock, look where the sun is, and judge which direction is north on that road.

White95Max · 12-31-04, 11:04

Oh yeah...what if it's cloudy?