What people search:
 | Title : PNI V1000 Vehicle Compass with Large Compass Rose Display
Author : PNI, Inc
Release Date : 20001017
Binding : Electronics
Regular Price : $
Amazon.com Price : $59.99
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Editorial Reviews :
Hit the road with confidence. The PNI V1000 electronic vehicle compass uses magnetic sensor technology originally designed for the military. It features a large compass-rose display as a supplement to numeric and cardinal readouts. A trip timer and bearing mode further assist you in navigation. Its easy-to-read display shows the direction traveled with 16 cardinal points and digits with increments of 5 degrees. No manual adjustments are needed for calibration--just press a button and drive your vehicle in two circles. Calibration does not have to be repeated until batteries are removed or the compass is moved to a new location.
The automatic shutoff turns the compass off when the vehicle is parked and no magnetic field is detected for 10 minutes. Distortion detection warns you when magnetic interference from moving objects is compromising compass accuracy. You can mount the unit on the windshield with the included suction cups. The V1000 operates on two lithium batteries (included) for over 200 hours of use, or a 12-volt lighter adapter (included).
Buyer Reviews :
I bought this as a Christmas gift for my wife, and she was very excited about it. But we could never get it to work well in the car (a 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue, nothing exotic). It was worse than just giving inaccurate readings. If the car were turned around exactly 180deg, the compass would not even show a 180deg turn: If it said 90deg, for instance, and we turned around exactly the other way, it might say 255deg (not 270)! This is unacceptable, and is not even systematic (and therefore compensable) error. It showed the same ill behavior out of the car when calibrated & used by hand. I put in fresh batteries just for kicks (although the power cord should have taken care of this). Behold, by hand the compass now worked reasonably well. Back in the car, however, it was consistently off by about 45deg (well, that is at least systematic error, an improvement of sorts).
At this point I contacted the company by e-mail. The company rep said that I might have to move it a few inches to avoid some 'interference' from the car (I thought this was a vehicle compass!?) (and shouldn't this be covered in the installation manual?). I did this, and the only place I could get it to work is in the middle of the windshield right in front of the driver's face. Unfortunately this is dangerous, and illegal in our state.
Clearly, others have a good experience with this product, and you should take this all into account. As for me, I've given up and I'll just try to get my money back. Someone please let me know when a product comes out that really works, OK?
... Update: As it turns out, after more testing my wife has declared it acceptable, so we're keeping it after all. I've placed it up around the driver's visor, and it seems accurate enough going north & east, but may be about 5-10 deg off going west -- well, we won't be making any maps with this! Also, the manufacturer agreed to take the unit back for a full refund if we wished, so I have to credit them for good service. So I've upgraded this to acceptable, and hope other buyers will have a good experience.
(by David McFarlane)
Features/Technical Specs :
* Large compass-rose display supplements numeric and cardinal compass readouts
* Magnetic-sensor technology
* Easy-to-read backlit display with 5-degree numeric digits
* Simple calibration
* Includes 12-volt car lighter adapter
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