PNI V500 User manual

V500 DIGITALVehicleCompass
Operation Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONGRATULATIONS .......................................................................... 1
V500 Features ............................................................................ 1-2
DISPLAY AND BUTTONS................................................................. 3-4
STEP I - INSTALLING THE BATTERIES ............................................. 5
STEP 2- MOUNTING THE V500.......................................................... 6
Mounting Guidelines...................................................................... 6
Mounting the V500...................................................................... 6-7
STEP 3 - CALIBRATING THE V500.................................................. 8-9
When to Calibrate.......................................................................... 8
Calibration Guidelines.................................................................... 8
Calibrating the V500 ................................................................... 8-9

STEP 4 - SETTING THE CLOCK....................................................... 10
BACKLIGHT INFORMATION AND PROGRAMMING........................ 11
Backlight Auto Shut-off ................................................................ 11
Changing the Auto Shut-off Value................................................ 11
CHANGING THE BATTERIES ...................................................... 12-13
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ........................................... 14-16
SERVICE AND REPLACEMENT .................................................. 17-18
WARRANTY INFORMATION ........................................................ 19-20
TABLE OF CONTENTS

You have acquired one of the most
sophisticated compasses available for
use in a vehicle. The V500 incorpo-
rates patented magnetic sensor technol-
ogy that was developed for the United
States Military to give you the most
accurate electronic compass headings.
The V500 offers advanced features
such as an extra bright backlight dis-
play for night driving as well as a
built-in digital clock. The compass
unit can also be easily removed from
its holding bracket to be used outside
the vehicle as a clock or to prevent
theft.
V500 Features:
• Works in Any Vehicle: accurate in
all types of vehicles - cars, trucks,
SUVs, or RVs.
• Removable Compass Unit: compass
easily slides off from its holding
bracket to be used outside the vehicle
as a clock or to prevent theft.
• Adjustable Holding Bracket: easily
mounts to any windshield with heavy-
duty suction cups (included).
• Easy to Read Display: compass head-
ing is displayed with 16 cardinal
points (N, NNE, NE, etc.) and 5°
numeric digits (345°, 350°, etc.).
1
CONGRATULATIONS!

• Electronic Calibration: no manual
adjustments are needed, just press a
button and drive your vehicle in two
circles. Calibration doesn’t have to be
repeated until the batteries are removed
or the compass is mounted elsewhere.
• On-Screen Help: short instructions
appear automatically to make program-
ming and button handling easier (ex.
“Hold to set”, “Distortion”, etc.).
• Bright Backlight: illuminates the LCD
for easy viewing day or night.
• Digital Clock: displays in 12-hour or
24-hour time format.
• “Smart” Auto Shut-Off: turns off auto-
matically to save battery power when
the vehicle is parked and no magnetic
eld change is detected for ten min-
utes.
• Magnetic Distortion Message: alerts
you when magnetic interference from
outside sources is affecting the accu-
racy of the compass.
• Low Power Requirements: operates
on 2 “AAA” batteries (included) for
over 200 hours, depending on back-
light usage.
• Wide Temperature Range: -14°F to
140°F operating temperature; -40°F to
160°F storage temperature.
• Accuracy of +/- 5° and resolution
of 5°.
2
V500 FEATURES

DISPLAY AND BUTTONS
3
DISTORTION
Cardinal Point
Heading
[3] LIGHT
Button
[2] ADVANCE
Button
Numeric
Heading
[4] DISTORTION
Message
[1] LCD
DISPLAY
2:53:37
PM
Clock Mode
Display

[1] LCD Display:
The V500 has 2 modes:
1. Compass Heading Mode - displayed
in 16 Cardinal Points Headings
(N, NNW, ENE, E, etc.) and in 5°
numeric digits (325°, 350°, etc.) with
a resolution of 5°.
2. Clock Mode - displayed in a 12 or
24-hour format
[2] ADVANCE Button:
Used to turn the unit on, to step through
the various compass modes, to toggle
between various options in program-
ming mode, and to begin and end cali-
bration.
[3] LIGHT Button:
Used to turn the backlight on or off, to
enter backlight programming, and to
select an option or value in program-
ming mode.
[4] “DISTORTION” Message:
The V500 detects when outside mag-
netic interference is compromising
compass accuracy by displaying the
word “DISTORTION” on the LCD. Dis-
tortion occurs when there has been a
signicant change in the surrounding
magnetic elds, such as when you are
driving underneath an overpass or over
a bridge.
4
DISPLAY AND BUTTONS

The V500 uses two “AAA” size batteries
(provided).
Installing the Batteries:
1. Remove the compass from its holding
bracket and place it on a solid surface
with the LCD facing down and the
back of the compass facing up.
2. Slide open the battery cover on the
back of the compass housing.
3. Install the two batteries, noting the
polarity as shown inside the battery
compartment. Replace battery cover.
Once the batteries are inserted, the V500
will go through a self-test pattern until
the clock starts.
Notes:
• If nothing happens, or if the display
becomes “stuck” with characters,
remove the batteries, wait approxi-
mately 1 minute, and then reinsert
them. Make sure the batteries are posi-
tioned correctly.
• If the batteries are removed or replaced,
you must recalibrate the compass and
set the clock (see pages 8-10).
• The V500 has an auto shut off power.
When you have parked your vehicle
and no magnetic eld change has been
detected for approximately 10 minutes,
the compass automatically times out to
clock mode. To turn the power back
on, press any button.
STEP 1 - INSTALLING THE BATTERIES
5

Mounting Guidelines:
• The V500 should be mounted on the
windshield.
• Choose a place on the windshield
that will not obstruct the view of the
driver and is within reach so the but-
tons can be easily pushed.
• For maximum accuracy, the V500
should be mounted at least 5 inches
away from strong stereo speakers.
• Once installed, the face of the com-
pass must be pointing towards the
rear of the vehicle. The compass can
be adjusted vertically, up to ±20°
from road level and still remain accu-
rate. If it is adjusted more than 20°,
the heading information may not be
accurate.
Mounting the V500:
1. Install the suction cups (included)
onto the base of the holding bracket
by tting them into their holes.
2. Adjust the angle of the holding
bracket so that the face of the com-
pass is pointing towards the rear of
the vehicle. Loosen the screw on
the holding bracket stem by a quar-
ter turn. Make your up and down
adjustments, then tighten the screw.
STEP 2 - MOUNTING THE V500
6

3. Press the holding bracket base rmly
against the windshield, until the suc-
tion cups securely take hold (clean
surface of windshield and suction
cups, if necessary).
4. Readjust the angle of the holding
bracket, if necessary.
Feature: The compass easily slides
out of its holding bracket without
having to remove the bracket mecha-
nism. This is useful if you want to use
the compass outside of the vehicle as
a clock or to avoid theft. Removing
the compass without disrupting
the bracket mechanism eliminates the
need for recalibration, since the unit
will be repositioned in its holding
bracket the same way as when origi-
nally calibrated.
You are now ready to calibrate your
compass.
7
STEP 2 - MOUNTING THE V500

Calibration allows the V500 to sepa-
rate the earth’s eld from the mag-
netic elds generated by your vehicle,
and therefore provides accurate head-
ing information.
When to Calibrate:
• When the compass is used for the
rst time in a vehicle.
• When the compass is used in a differ-
ent location than where previously
calibrated.
• When the magnetic “ DISTORTION ”
message is continuously displayed.
• When the batteries are removed or
replaced.
Calibration Guidelines:
Before you begin calibration, the V500
must be mounted on the windshield in
the location where it will be used in
the vehicle.
Calibrating the V500:
1. Press the ADVANCE button until
the compass heading is displayed or
the “ CAL ” message ashes. “ CAL ” will
ash if there is no calibration cur-
rently stored.
2. If the compass heading is displayed,
press and hold for 2 seconds both
the ADVANCE and LIGHT buttons
until the “ CAL ” message ashes.
STEP 3 - CALIBRATING THE V500
8

3. Press the ADVANCE button - The
“ WAIT ” message will display for a
second, the backlight will turn on
and off, and then the “ TURN TWICE ”
message will ash.
4. Turn your vehicle in two circles (see
Note below).
5. Press the ADVANCE button -- Cali-
bration is now complete and the com-
pass heading should be displayed.
Note: Calibration should be per-
formed on a level surface. The size of
the circles or the direction your vehicle
is pointing when beginning or ending
the circles does not matter. The circles
do not need to be perfect circles, but
must be completed in the same direc-
tion.
Feature: Pressing the LIGHT button
during programming cancels the pro-
cess without disrupting your previous
calibration settings. However, if no
previous calibration is stored, pressing
the LIGHT will not cancel calibration.
9
STEP 3 - CALIBRATING THE V500

The V500 displays time in either military
format or standard time format (24-hour
clock format or 12-hour clock format).
The default time format is standard time.
Setting the clock:
1. Press and release the ADVANCE button
until the clock is displayed (you must
be in clock mode in order to set the
clock).
2. Press and hold for 2 seconds the
ADVANCE button. The default
number “ 12 ” will ash.
3. Press the ADVANCE button to toggle
between the 12 and 24 hour formats.
4. Press the LIGHT button to select the
hour format you desire. The clock
appears with the hour digits ashing.
5. Press or hold the ADVANCE button to
change the hour digits.
6. Press the LIGHT button to select the
desired hour.
7. Repeat the above 2 steps to store the
minutes, and to set the seconds to “ 00 .”
The digit(s) ashing is the digit being
changed.
The 2 steps below are required only if
the 12-hour format is selected:
8. Press the ADVANCE button to toggle
between A or P (AM or PM)
9. Press the LIGHT button to select A or
P (AM or PM)
STEP 4 - SETTING THE CLOCK
10

The V500 uses an electro-luminescent
backlight to illuminate the display, making
it visible at night. Pressing the LIGHT
button turns the backlight on or off. The
backlight has a programmable auto shut-
off feature, which shuts the backlight off
after it has been on for a specied period
of time.
Backlight Auto Shut-off:
The V500 has a programmable auto
shut-off for the backlight. The default
auto shut-off value is 10 seconds, but
30 seconds can also be selected. Auto
shut-off can also be disabled com-
pletely by selecting 00 seconds. This
means the backlight will stay on con-
tinuously until the LIGHT button is
pressed again, or when the vehicle is
parked and no magnetic eld change is
detected for ten minutes.
Changing the Auto Shut-Off Value:
1. Press and hold the LIGHT button for
2 seconds and the default value of
“ 10 ” (or the last selected value) will
appear and ash.
2. Press the ADVANCE button to select
the desired value of 10, 30, or 00
seconds.
3. Press and hold the LIGHT button for
2 seconds to select the value. The
display returns to compass or clock.
BACKLIGHT INFORMATION AND PROGRAMMING
11

The V500 uses two “AAA” size
batteries.
It is time to change the batteries in the
V500 when the display ickers or is
dim, when you turn the backlight on
and the display goes blank or when the
unit will no longer turn on.
Changing the Batteries:
1. Remove the compass from its hold-
ing bracket. Place it on a solid sur-
face with the LCD facing down and
the back of the compass facing up.
2. Slide open the battery cover on the
back of the compass housing. The
batteries are stored underneath the
cover. Remove the old batteries and
discard appropriately.
3. Replace with two new “AAA” bat-
teries, noting the polarity as shown
inside the battery compartment.
Replace the battery cover.
Once new batteries are inserted, the
V500 will go through a self-test pat-
tern until the clock starts.
If nothing happens, or if the display
becomes “stuck” with certain char-
acters, remove the batteries, wait
approximately 1 minute, and then
reinsert them. Make sure the batter-
ies are positioned correctly.
CHANGING THE BATTERIES
12

Note: Since the batteries have
been removed, it is necessary to recali-
brate the compass and reset the clock
(see pages 8, 9 and 10).
13
CHANGING THE BATTERIES

How does the V500 work?
The V500 uses a patented magnetic
sensor technology that was developed
by PNI Corporation for the US Military.
This technology is called Magneto-
Inductive and is the largest advance in
compass technology since the uxgate
was invented 60 years ago. The earth
generates a magnetic eld, and through
a mathematical calculation, compass
heading is determined. The Magneto-
Inductive technology is able to electron-
ically sense the difference in the earth’s
eld from your vehicle’s magnetic eld.
The V500’s microprocessor electron-
ically subtracts your vehicle’s mag-
netic elds, displaying highly accurate
compass readings. Magneto-Inductive
sensor technology has many advantages
over other technologies including better
performance, consuming less power and
being less expensive. These advan-
tages have made Magneto-Inductive
sensor technology the choice for many
high prole compass applications
including GM, Ford, and Chrysler
automobiles, Polaris jet skis, Bayliner
boats and Timex watches.
Where can the V500 be used?
The V500 can be used in any type
of vehicle including cars, trucks, vans,
SUVs, and RVs.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
14

How do I read the display?
The V500 displays direction in 2 dif-
ferent formats (1) cardinal points (N,
NNE, NE, ENE, E, etc.) and (2) numeric
digits (325°, 330°, etc.) The 16 cardinal
points of a compass (N, NW, NE, NNE,
NNW, E, ENE, ESE, S, SW, SE, SSE,
SSW, W, WSW, WNW) give you a gen-
eral sense of direction. The numeric
digits show your exact direction down
to the nearest 5 degrees.
What is calibration and why is it
necessary?
Calibration is the process whereby the
V500 separates the earth’s magnetic
eld from externally generated mag-
netic elds such as those generated by
a vehicle’s steel body or electronics.
Without calibration, the V500 thinks
the entire magnetic eld it is reading
is from the earth and therefore
displays inaccurate compass readings.
When do I need to calibrate the V500?
The V500 needs to be calibrated when
it being used for the rst time, when it
is being used in an environment with a
different magnetic eld or when the bat-
teries are removed or replaced. Using
the V500 in a different environment
includes moving it to a new position
in the same vehicle, installing it in
a different vehicle, or when there
15
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

has been a change to your vehicle such as
installation of a new stereo.
What happens when the batteries are
removed?
Removing the batteries from the V500
erases all the information that was stored
in memory including the time, as well as
calibration information. After removing
the batteries, the V500 must be
recalibrated.
What is magnetic distortion?
Many things generate external magnetic
elds that can cause a compass to be
inaccurate, such as metal and electron-
ics. Unlike all other compasses, the
V500 senses when there has been a sig-
nicant change in magnetic elds and
displays the “ DISTORTION ” message. This
may occur when driving over a bridge,
under an overpass, over railroad track
or within close proximity to something
with a strong magnetic eld. Once the
vehicle has moved away from the source
of interference, the V500 will be accu-
rate again. If the “ DISTORTION ” message
is continuously displayed, it is usually
a sign that there has been a signicant
change in magnetic elds and recali-
bration is necessary.
al magnetic elds that can
cause a compass to be inac-
16
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For the fastest service, contact or return
your V500 to the place of purchase.
If you wish to return the unit for
replacement or repair to PNI, please
follow the following procedures:
1. Obtain a Return Merchandise Autho-
rization (RMA) number by contact-
ing PNI:
• By Phone:
1-888-422-6672 (Toll-Free within
the US only) or at 707-566-2260
• By Fax:
707-566-2261
• By E-mail:
[email protected]
2. Provide a proof of purchase, such as
a mechanical reproduction or carbon
copy of a sales receipt. If you send
your original receipt, it cannot be
returned. Proof-of-purchase must
show printed date of purchase, model
number, and place of purchase.
Once you have acquired an RMA
number, pack the unit securely to pre-
vent damage in transit. If possible,
use the original packing material and
box. Be sure to send the entire product.
3. Ship prepaid and insured by way of
a traceable carrier: such as United
Parcel Service (UPS), Roadway
Parcel Service (RPS), or First Class
SERVICE AND REPLACEMENT
17