Date:         Sat, 27 Jan 2007 15:54:42 -0500
Reply-To:     Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: Target Compass
Comments: To: Oxroad@AOL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <c73.b38d4e7.32ed1211@aol.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I have a cheap "Keychain" type compass that is a ball with the compass
suspended in fluid therein.  It hangs from my rearview mirror.  Very low
tech but it works really well and is small to boot.

Mike


Jeff Oxroad wrote:
> I was in a Target store the other day and in their small automotive section
> there was an electric digital read out compass with lighted LED that clips on
> the interior rear view mirror.
>
> It looks like it runs off a couple of AA or AAA batteries. There is a small
> battery pack that attaches to the rear of the rear view mirror and a small
> "reciever" that is glued to the windshield and attaches to the battery pack via a
> 3" long wire. The Battery pack and reciever seem to mount behind the mirror in
> a way that would not be distracting.
>
> The readout is about the size of a dime (although it's square) and seems to
> clip over the rear view so you can read it's eight settings N, NW, W, SW etc.
> It says it has a motion sensor "on/off" to save battery power.
>
> It sells for about $30. Thing is I've never seen anything this simple that
> offers a compass read out combined with the out of the way mounting in the rear
> view anywhere else. But I generally don't look to Target for automotive
> innovation.
>
> I like the compact design better than those electric compasses that sit on
> the dash and are about the size of a cigarette pack. It's also a lot cheaper
> than the aftermarked rear view mirrors I've seen with a digital compass read out
> like in more modern cars that seem to be about $200 or more. (Also these type
> units generally seem to be an adhesive mount to the windshield which would be
> awkward with the Vanagon interior rear view ceiling-mounting set up.)
>
> Anyone have any experience with the reliability, accuracy, ease of use on
> these "clip on" type electric compasses?  I want to push my on-board navagation
> system up to rival any vehicle manufactured in 1990s. ;)
>
> Any other simple compass ideas. A simple manual compass on my dash does not
> work--there's some kind of magnetic interference that several different
> adjustable compasses won't ignore.
>
> Best,
> Jeff
> 83.5 Westy
> LA,CA
>