Digital gizmos

[matt]

Can anyone recommend an accurate digital compass, plus something to give us an accurate altitude angle for our latitude setting for polar alignment?

cheers

[acropolite]

Matt, I don't believe the accuracy that you will get from an electronic compass will be any better than that of a mechanical one. I have a good quality electronic compass, made for yachting, and it is affected in exactly the same manner as any other compass (e.g. pipes, metal roof or railing nearby). Added to that is increased sensitivity to level alignment; the device has to be level to achieve any sort of accuracy. I use a vertical stick at solar noon to calculate north. Solar noon can be calculated at your location from this site. http://www.srrb.noaa.gov/highlights/sunrise/sunrise.html

[ballaratdragons]

You may want to try a GPS. You can pick one up at a reasonable price these days.

[33South]

You could go down the GPS route $$$$$ for example see

http://www.ja-gps.com.au/gpsprod_summit.html

[33South]

I should remember to refresh before posting :nerd:

Anyways must be a good idea !!!

[ballaratdragons]

hahaha! Laugh at Chris!

Matt, also try here! http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-section-04.htm

[RB]

Something no-one has thought of yet.....
Try a G..

Oh sorry........ :ashamed:

[asimov]

:confuse3: @ Andrew....:) :P

[davidpretorius]

what is a GPS, is it like a GPD or a GST.

DP

HA @ ASI @ ROC @ KEN @ Chris

[acropolite]

Sorry fellas a GPS won't give you north...that is unless you're in motion....:lol2:

[davidpretorius]

whats north?

[RB]

No It won't give you north, just your position.
Your method at miday with the stick and shadow is the best way for finding true north Phil.
:thumbsup:

[matt]

Thanks guys.

I already own a GPS unit, so that's handy for entering Long and Lat into my SkyScan hand unit when setting up.

But what it doesn't do is give you the exact direction you're pointing (east/west, or altitude up-down). That'd be handy for polar alignment.

I've discovered a handy little progam which tells me how far East (in degrees and minutes) of magnetic south I need to turn my mount to have it pointing exactly to celestial south.

It'd be spot on if I could mount an accurate compass (preferably digital readout) on the scope and work with it there. It'd also be good to know exactly when you've reached the right altitude based on Lat. The scale on the side of the scope isn't precisely calibrated.

[Howzat]

Jaycar (http://www.jaycar.com.au/) have three different electronic compasses this one (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=XC0298&CATID=&keywords=compass&SPECIAL=&form=KEYWORD&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=) also does temperature

[ving]

you could go down the road of a GPS with a built in electronic compass :)
:P

[Astroman]

for $40 or $50 you can goto Jaycar and get a digital compass

https://secure4.vivid-design.com.au/jaycar2005/productView.asp?ID=QM7282&CATID=&keywords=digital+compass&SPECIAL=&form=KEYWORD&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=