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Thread ID: 104728 2009-11-06 08:25:00 How to read a compass alisam (4427) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
827693 2009-11-06 08:25:00 This is nowhere near a technology thread but I need to ask someome.

I have a basic Silva compass which does not have a rotating bezel.

I really would like simple instructions on how to use it. Yes I have googled but I don't understand the explanation.

The compass has a red and white arrow. It was a large arrow stencilled on the base of the compass. Red points to Magnetic North.

If I align the red arrow and the direction of travel arrow then I must be walking towards magnetic north?

I would like to travel West. What do I do now?
alisam (4427)
827694 2009-11-06 08:48:00 Assume that North is at 12 o'clock, West will be at 9, East will be 3 and South will be 6 o'clock :) Zippity (58)
827695 2009-11-06 09:09:00 If you want to travel West, turn the compass so that the arrow faces 90 degrees anti-clockwise from the needle. Then follow the arrow. ad_267 (6193)
827696 2009-11-06 10:18:00 Did you visit their web site Silva se. (www.silva.se/) Or maybe go to docjax (http:) (search engine for pdf manuals) search, then 100's of hits for pdf's for silva compass... kahawai chaser (3545)
827697 2009-11-06 10:19:00 You must take into account the magnetic declination. A compass needle does not point true north. Dally (6292)
827698 2009-11-06 20:31:00 A compass will indicate that there is something magnetic over yonder. Sometimes the "something" is up in Canada, but ymmv. R2x1 (4628)
827699 2009-11-06 22:57:00 Most important rule dont use compass by any metal, metal watch straps have caused disasters in the past. In the islands they swung an aircraft compass in an unsurveyed area adjusted the datums found later there was a japanese field gun underground and the a/c settings were found to be erroneous.
Throw compass away and get a gps
prefect (6291)
827700 2009-11-07 02:03:00 Have a look down the bottom of this page (www.ampro.co.nz) for some tips. FoxyMX (5)
827701 2009-11-07 02:08:00 Throw compass away and get a gps

And what do you do when the GPS battery goes flat, or there's no reception under the tree canopy, or the thing just plain craps out? :rolleyes:
FoxyMX (5)
827702 2009-11-07 02:26:00 And what do you do when the GPS battery goes flat, or there's no reception under the tree canopy, or the thing just plain craps out? :rolleyes:

Or you can't move :D
TickTech (15391)
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