From GpsWiki
Compass Page
The Compass page is divided into two sections: Compass Rose and Info Fields.
For additional Information:
- About the compass - Compass FAQ.
- Calibrating the electronic compass (PN-40 only) - Calibrate Compass.
Compass Rose
The compass rose displays what direction you are traveling (your heading), or if using a PN-40 and standing still, what direction you are facing (provided the electronic compass is enabled and calibrated). The vertical line from the center of the compass rose to the top is used to indicate your current heading. In the above screenshot (left), the Compass Rose is showing a heading of 320°, in the screenshot on the right, the Compass Rose is showing a heading of 45°.
PN-40 while standing still and Electronic Compass is enabled and calibrated : Under these conditions, the Compass Rose will display the direction you are facing. Well, actually the direction the top of the PN-40 is facing. As you turn, the compass rose will rotate until the direction you are facing is at the top of the rose.
PN-40 while standing still and Electronic Compass enabled but not calibrated : When the Electronic Compass of the PN-40 needs to be calibrated, "Poor Accuracy" will be displayed in the bottom right corner of the Compass Rose. Until the Electronic Compass has been calibrated, the Compass Rose will not move (rotate) while standing still. Additionally, the Heading info field will be displayed with a red exclamation (
).
PN-40 while standing still and Electronic Compass is disabled: When the electronic compass is disabled (See Device Setup - Compass & Altimeter), the PN-40 can not determine which way you are facing, therefore the Compass Rose will not move (rotate) as you change directions. Additionally, the Heading info field will be displayed with a red exclamation ().
PN-30 while standing still: Because the PN-30 does not have an electronic compass, the PN-30 can not determine which way you are facing when standing still. Therefore, while standing still (or at least moving slower than 1.5 mph), the Compase Rose will not move (rotate).
PN-30/40 while moving: When traveling faster than 1.5 mph, the PN-30/40 uses the satellite signals to determine your direction of travel. The satellites are used regardless of whether the electronic compass (PN-40 only) is enabled or disabled.
What can happen when PN-40 swtiches from Electronic Compass to using Satellites: There can be a big difference between what is displayed while standing still and while moving. While standing still the PN-40 displays the direction (heading) that it is facing (provided the electronic compass is enabled). While moving, the PN-40 displays the direction that it is traveling. So, if you're sitting in a boat with the PN-40 facing to the west and you're not moving, the PN-40 will display a heading of 90° (west). Now you start the engine and start driving north with the unit still facing to the west. Once your speed exceeds 1.5 mph, the unit will display your heading as being 0° (north), even though the unit is still facing to the west. And once your speed is less than 1.5 mph, the unit will go back to displaying 90° (west).
Magnetic or True North?
The PN-30/40 can be setup to base bearings on either True North or Magnetic North (See Device Setup-Units-Bearing setting). In addition to the Compass Rose, this setting effects the following Info Fields:
- Bearing
- Course
- Heading
When set to True North, the info fields are displayed with a "T" (
). When set to Magnetic North, the info fields are displayed with a "M" (
).
Interestingly, most streets that are arranged in a grid are based on True North.
Bearing Arrow
In Navigation mode, another line is displayed on the Compass Rose, this line is called the Bearing Arrow. Depending on your current mode of navigation (Drive/Road or Hiking), the Bearing Arrow points:
Drive/Road: In the direction needed to get you back on course.
Hiking: Either to the next waypoint/geocache or in the direction needed to get you back on course. See Hiking Route Arrow below.
Difference between Direct to Next Waypoint and Back on Course
The Bearing Arrow can be selected to point to the next Waypoint/Geocache or to a point that gets you Back on Course (See Hiking Route Arrow). So what is the difference?
Direct to Next Waypoint: This option causes the Bearing Arrow to always point to the next waypoint or geocache. In this mode, you want the Bearing Arrow to always be pointing straight up on the Compass Rose. When the Bearing Arrow is straight up, you will be headed directly to your next waypoint or geocache. Basically, the Bearing Arrow acts as a direction finder, always pointing to our next destination.
In the following example, the route is from WP1 to WP2, but being really bad at following a route, we find ourselves at point CP (Current Position). If we were to look at the Compass Page, we would see the Bearing Arrow pointing to the left at a bearing of 327º. By turning to a heading of 327º, the Bearing Arrow will be straight-up, meaning WP2 will now be straight ahead.
Back on Course: In this mode, the Bearing Arrow doesn't point to our destination, but points to a position that is half way to your destination. In the example below, we are using the same route and are in the same current position. But this time, we have switched from "Direct to Next Waypoint" to "Back on Course". This causes the Bearing Arrow to change from 327º to 307º. In the "Back on Course" mode, the Bearing Arrow will point to a location that is halfway between your destination (WP2) and a location on the route that is perpendicular to your current position.
Info Fields
The info fields are displayed on the bottom half of the Compass Page. The info fields can be arranged and/or changed, but unlike the Map Page, they can not be disabled (hidden). The screenshots below show the default arrangement and values displayed in Tracking Mode and Navigation Mode:
 |  |
As shown above, the values being displayed change depending on which mode you are in (Tracking or Navigation). This also applies to how the fields are arranged. This means you could setup the info fields to display 4 narrow fields while in Tracking mode and 2 wide fields while in Navigation mode. The PN-40 will remember the arrangement and values that have been selected for each mode.
NOTE: To change the arrangement/values displayed in Tracking Mode, you must be in Tracking Mode. To change the arrangement/values displayed in Navigation Mode, you must be in Navigation Mode.
For more information about info fields, see Info Fields.
The MENU Page
Pressing the MENU button from the Compass Page displays one of the following screens depending on whether you are in Tracking mode (left) or Navigation mode (middle and right). The top portion is a list of actions related to the Compass page. The bottom portion of the menu is a list of pages that can be accepted directly from the menu. Note that only the pages not current enabled in Page Order are listed.
 |  |  |
Note: The above screenshots are for the PN-40. When using a PN-30, the "Calibrate..." option will be missing as shown in the following screenshot:
Again, the "Calibrate..." option is missing because the PN-30 doesn't have an electronic compass or Barometric Alitimeter sensor.
View Comment Details
NOTE: Only available while in Navigation mode
[Add details here]
Log Your Geocache Find
NOTE: Only available while in Navigation mode to a geocache.
[Add details here]
Route Options
NOTE: Only available while in Navigation mode
This option has 3 sub-options:
- Stop Navigating - This disables Navigation mode and returns you to Tracking Mode.
- Back on Track - [Add details here]
- Switch to Hiking/Driving - If currently road routing (driving), then this option allows you to switch to Hiking (direct) mode. If currently in Hiking (direct) mode, then this option allows you to switch to Driving (road) mode.
Calibrate
This option only applies to the PN-40, as the PN-30 has nothing that needs to be calibrated (no electronic compass or barometric altimeter sensor). No fact, the "Calbrate..." option does not appear on a PN-30.
Allows you to calibrate the Compass or the Altimeter. See Compass/Altimeter Settings for details.
Hiking Route Arrow
Allows you to select whether the Bearing Arrow points directly to the next Waypoint/Geocache or points in a direction to get you back on course. See Bearing Arrow above for details.
Info Fields - Arrange
While the info fields can't be hidden/disabled, you can change how they are displayed:
| |  |  |
NOTE: The arrangement of the info fields in Tracking Mode can be different from the arrangement while in Navigation Mode.
NOTE: To change the arrangement of the Tracking Mode info fields, you must be in Tracking Mode. To change the arrangement of the Navigation Mode info fields, you must be in Navigation Mode.
NOTE: In the middle screenshot above (4 Narrow), the Elevation: Alt info field is displayed with a red exclamation. This indicates that the automatic altimeter calibration logic has not calibrated the Altimeter. Once the auto calibration logic has finished calibrating the Altimeter, the red exclamation will disappear. The red exclamation also disappears if Auto Calibrate Altimeter is turned off (See Compass & Altlmeter for details)
For more information about info fields, see Info Fields.
Info Fields - Change
Once you have selected Change Info Fields..., use the rocker pad to select the info field you want to change, then press ENTER. This will bring up a list of possible values. Use the UP/DOWN rocker pad to select a value from the list, then press ENTER. The new info data will now be displayed. See Info Fields for a complete list of possible info field values. If you need to change any of the other info fields, repeat the above procedure. If you are done making changes, press the QUIT to exit the change mode.
NOTE: The values displayed in Tracking Mode can be different from the values displayed while in Navigation Mode.
NOTE: To change the values displayed in Tracking Mode, you must be in Tracking Mode. To change the values displayed in Navigation Mode, you must be in Navigation Mode.
Here is an animated GIF showing how to change the bottom left info field from Speed to Speed: Moving Average
NOTE: In the animated GIF above, the Heading info field is displayed with a red exclamation and "Poor Accuracy" is displayed in the bottom right corner of the Compass Rose. This indicates that the electronic compass may need to be calibrated. See Compass/Altimeter Settings for details.
NOTE: The red exclamation will also appear when the electronic compass is disabled and your speed is below 1.5 mph. This lets you know the Heading info field isn't displaying a reliable value because you aren't moving.
For more information about info fields, see Info Fields.
