Can anyone recommend a decent quality compass?

Dennis79 (Keith) · #1 15-02-2010, 05:56 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to purchase a compass. Can anyone recommend a good brand and/or things to look out for?

Looking to get a reasonable level of quality so the thing will last for some time.

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #2 15-02-2010, 06:44 PM

Pretty much anything from Silva will serve you well. They range in price from about $30 upwards.

stephenb (Stephen) · #3 15-02-2010, 07:57 PM

Yep, thumps up for the Silva brand

- been around for decades and I've used many of them over the years. You can get them anywhere.

Baddad (Marty) · #4 15-02-2010, 08:05 PM

Hi Keith,

Beware boring facts follow

Concept stolen from Jonathon. (Hope he doesn't mind)

The compass operates more accurately in the absence of magnetic materials. Well away from steel sheds, cars, etc.

Military compasses were stored upside down. If it was right side up, a vehicle going past the store would allow movement of the needle and the associated wear on the pivot.

Cheers Marty

Wavytone · #5 15-02-2010, 08:16 PM

iPhone 3GS. The modern swiss army knife. To this, add the "Theodolite" app, which uses the camera to sight through to a target, gives you altitude, tilt and bearing to 0.1 degree.

Use the Location app for terrestrial navigation, or "Starmap Pro" for astronomy. And, via the Emerald Chronometer "Mauna Kea", you have an atomic time standard in your hand. Add the i41CX+ calculator and the surveyors pack, and you have the complete survey station.

Oh, and it does phone calls, SMS, email and surfs the web as well if you need.

Magnetic compasses are so... 18th century.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #6 15-02-2010, 10:53 PM

LOL! Agreed. My iPhone's compass is way better sorted when it comes to calibration within areas containing metal - ie. car parks, fences, etc. Wave it around in a figure-8 and calibration in any given area is swift and easy. Also - BIG plus - because of the built-in GPS, magnetic declination is automatically calculated for wherever you currently are and applied to find true north.

StarMap Pro - check (although I prefer Voyager...

)
Emerald Chronometer - check (brilliant)
i41CX+ - check (use it ALL the time - a great HP-41C emulation)
Theodolite - just bought it - look great!

Thanks for the H/U.

Did anyone mention "iPocket Tools 9 in 1" plumb bob to initially level your mount?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wavytone

iPhone 3GS. The modern swiss army knife. To this, add the "Theodolite" app, which uses the camera to sight through to a target, gives you altitude, tilt and bearing to 0.1 degree.

Use the Location app for terrestrial navigation, or "Starmap Pro" for astronomy. And, via the Emerald Chronometer "Mauna Kea", you have an atomic time standard in your hand. Add the i41CX+ calculator and the surveyors pack, and you have the complete survey station.

Oh, and it does phone calls, SMS, email and surfs the web as well if you need.

Magnetic compasses are so... 18th century.

Octane (Humayun) · #7 15-02-2010, 11:06 PM

Bring on the haters!

H

Jen · #8 15-02-2010, 11:12 PM

Oh man i want one of those IPhones now lol

freespace · #9 15-02-2010, 11:20 PM

another +1 for the iphone here

lacad01 (Adam) · #10 15-02-2010, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freespace

another +1 for the iphone here

ditto

erick (Eric) · #11 16-02-2010, 10:34 AM

My phone is just fine and has been for years - even has one of these new-fangled cameras built in - how about that!

A voice from the 18th century

- yes buy a Silva. But I did buy a different make from the Katmandu shop recently for someone (Hi Jen) and it looked every bit as good as the Silva for a few dollars less. (The Silva outlet in Victoria Street, Melbourne suddenly vanished?)

gmbfilter (Geoff) · #12 16-02-2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wavytone

iPhone 3GS. The modern swiss army knife. To this, add the "Theodolite" app, which uses the camera to sight through to a target, gives you altitude, tilt and bearing to 0.1 degree.

Use the Location app for terrestrial navigation, or "Starmap Pro" for astronomy. And, via the Emerald Chronometer "Mauna Kea", you have an atomic time standard in your hand. Add the i41CX+ calculator and the surveyors pack, and you have the complete survey station.

Oh, and it does phone calls, SMS, email and surfs the web as well if you need.

Magnetic compasses are so... 18th century.

How well does it work out of reception???

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #13 16-02-2010, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmbfilter

How well does it work out of reception???

As a compass, plumb bob, GPS, planetarium? Reception not required!

taminga16 (Greg) · #14 16-02-2010, 11:13 AM

I realise that this is an odd question, What do you want the compass for?

Electronics are only as good as the state of the batteries, Some years ago I crewed a 40ft yacht across Bass Strait, unbeknown to us at the time the owner was using a GPS as the sole form of navigation (he even failed to keep a running log), needless to say it lost power, we were fortunate that the weather was kind and were able to use some basic Coastal Nav, a compass and the lights on King Island and Cape Otway light to get us to Melbourne.

Compasses are so the future.(mine anyway)

Greg.

taminga16 (Greg) · #15 16-02-2010, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omaroo

As a compass, plumb bob, GPS, planetarium? Reception not required!

If they were a bit heavier they would probably make great boat anchors as well.

AstralTraveller (David) · #16 16-02-2010, 11:44 AM

Mine is a Suunto and it's fine. It's 'only' plastic but it seems durable. Adjustable mag dec, mirrored sighting and glow in the dark dial (very handy when trying to polar align at night). If you want really bullet-proof then a metal Brunton might be the go.

Dennis79 (Keith) · #17 16-02-2010, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taminga16

I realise that this is an odd question, What do you want the compass for?

Just for general purpose use mainly, no particular purpose, I just want to know which way is north. I like to have my bearings.

It's first use will be to settle an argument, the missus reckons north is in one direction becasue that's the way the road north goes but I used the southern cross to get a rough idea of south and pointed in a completely different direction. Naturally I'm the idiot, the missus is struggling to understand that roads don't go in a straight line.

taminga16 (Greg) · #18 16-02-2010, 12:54 PM

Dennis,
Check out the Silva and Suunto websites for their complete range, you will also find some useful information on how compasses work as well as some applications.

Good Luck.

Greg.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #19 16-02-2010, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taminga16

I realise that this is an odd question, What do you want the compass for?

Electronics are only as good as the state of the batteries, Some years ago I crewed a 40ft yacht across Bass Strait, unbeknown to us at the time the owner was using a GPS as the sole form of navigation (he even failed to keep a running log), needless to say it lost power, we were fortunate that the weather was kind and were able to use some basic Coastal Nav, a compass and the lights on King Island and Cape Otway light to get us to Melbourne.

Compasses are so the future.(mine anyway)

Greg.

That's a great story Greg, but setting up basic polar alignment on a telescope mount is hardly Bass Strait life and death.

Besides, if you need a phone, and you have to have it with you anyway (I do, I'm on call) then why not have extra features that will do the job? I don't have to carry around my lovely damped Suunto "GPS Plotter" compass anymore, and do I miss it? No. Could I still use it and know how to navigate with it? You betcha.

taminga16 (Greg) · #20 16-02-2010, 01:40 PM

Chris,
Dennis is looking for a compass, not a multi apps lump that happens to be able to make and take phone calls.

Greg.