PNI V550 User manual

Operation Manual
V550/V600 DIGITALVehicleCompass

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONGRATULATIONS............................................................................................... 1
Compass Features ......................................................................................... 1-2
DISPLAY AND BUTTONS...................................................................................... 3-5
STEP I - INSTALLING (REPLACING) THE BATTERIES .......................................... 6
STEP 2- MOUNTING THE COMPASS .................................................................. 7-8
Mounting Guidelines.......................................................................................... 7
Mounting the Compass................................................................................... 7-8
STEP 3 - CALIBRATING THE COMPASS ...........................................................9-11
When to Calibrate.............................................................................................. 9
Calibration Guidelines ....................................................................................... 9
Calibrating Model V550 ................................................................................ 9-10
Calibrating Model V600 .............................................................................. 10-12
Car Mode Calibration (V600 only) ...................................................... 10-11

Hand Mode Calibration (V600 only) ...................................................11-12
SETTING AND USING THE COMPASS FEATURES ........................................13-15
Clock Feature .................................................................................................. 13
Bearing Point Feature...................................................................................... 14
Trip Timer Feature ........................................................................................... 14
Alarm Clock Feature........................................................................................ 15
BACKLIGHT INFORMATION AND PROGRAMMING ............................................ 16
Backlight Auto Shut-off .................................................................................... 16
Changing the Auto Shut-off Value.................................................................... 16
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ................................................................ 17-20
SERVICE AND REPLACEMENT.......................................................................21-22
WARRANTY INFORMATION............................................................................. 23-24
TABLE OF CONTENTS

You have acquired one of the most
sophisticated compasses available for use
in a vehicle. This unit incorporates pat-
ented magnetic sensor technology that
was developed for the United States Mil-
itary to give you the most accurate elec-
tronic compass headings.
Compass Features:
• Works in Any Vehicle: accurate in
cars, trucks, SUVs, or RVs.
• Removable Compass Unit: easily
slides off from its holding bracket to
be used outside the vehicle as an alarm
clock or to prevent theft.
• Adjustable Holding Bracket: easily
mounts to any windshield with heavy-
duty suction cups (included).
• Handheld Mode (Model V600 only):
The V600 model can also be used as
a handheld compass in a horizontal
position without the need to recalibrate
everytime the compass is removed
from the vehicle.
• Easy to Read Display: compass head-
ing is displayed with 16 cardinal points
(N, NNE, etc.) and 1° numeric digits.
• Electronic Calibration: just press a
button and perform two circles. Cal-
1
CONGRATULATIONS!

ibration doesn’t have to be repeated
until the batteries are removed or the
compass is mounted elsewhere.
• Bright Backlight: illuminates the LCD
for easy viewing day or night.
• Digital Clock: displays in 12-hour or
24-hour time format.
• Alarm Clock: compass can be used as
an alarm clock.
• Trip Timer: includes a timer that counts
up in hours, minutes and seconds.
• Bearing Point: stores and displays one
bearing point into memory.
• “Smart” Auto Shut-Off: shuts off auto-
matically (to clock mode) to save bat-
tery power when no magnetic eld
change is detected for approximately
10 minutes.
• 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 backlight
usage.
• Wide Temperature Range: -14°F to
140°F operating temperature; -40°F to
160°F storage temperature.
2
COMPASS FEATURES

DISPLAY AND BUTTONS
3
DISTORTION
[1] LCD Display
Showing:
a. Compass
Heading
Mode
[5] Alarm
Bell
Icon
Numeric
Heading
[2] ADVANCE
Button
[4] Distortion
Message
[3] LIGHT
Button
Cardinal Point
Heading
PM
b. Clock
Mode or
Off Mode
c. Bearing
Mode
d. Timer
Mode
AM
e. Alarm
Mode

[1] LCD Display: The compass has
various LCD display modes:
a. Compass Heading Mode - displays
heading information in cardinal points
(N, NNE, NE, etc.) and numeric digits
(325°, 326°, etc.).
b. Clock Mode - used to set and display
the clock in a 12-hour or 24-hour
format. Clock mode is also equiva-
lent to shut-off mode.
c. Bearing Mode - used to store and
display bearing point information.
d. Timer Mode - used to set and start
trip timer feature.
e. Alarm Mode - used to set and view
alarm clock settings.
[2] ADVANCE Button:
Used to turn the unit on, to step through
the various compass modes, to toggle
between various options in programming
mode, and to begin and end calibration.
[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
DISPLAY AND BUTTONS

DISPLAYS AND BUTTONS
5
[4] “DISTORTION” Message:
The compass detects when outside mag-
netic interference is compromising com-
pass accuracy by displaying the word
“DISTORTION” on the LCD. Distortion
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.
[5] Alarm Bell Icon:
Indicates if the alarm feature is enabled
(icon showing) or disabled (icon not
showing).
Note:
The V600 model also displays a “ CAr ” or
“ HAnd ” message for the rst 10 seconds of
Compass Heading Mode. This indicates
which calibration settings the compass is
using: car mode or hand mode (i.e verti-
cal or horizontal position). These mes-
sages do not appear with model V550.
Important Note:
When in “off mode”, your compass dis-
plays the clock, not a blank screen. This
is normal and consumes minimal battery
power. To turn the power back on, press
any button.

The compass uses two “AAA” size bat-
teries.
Installing the Batteries:
1. Remove the compass from its bracket.
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 the battery
cover. The compass 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 the
batteries.
• Every time the batteries are removed
or replaced, you must calibrate the
compass and reset all features (clock,
alarm, bearing point, etc.).
• The compass has an auto-shut off fea-
ture. When no magnetic eld change
is detected for 10 minutes, the com-
pass automatically switches to clock
mode (off mode). To turn the power
back on, press any button.
STEP 1 - INSTALLING (REPLACING) THE BATTERIES
6

Mounting Guidelines:
• The compass 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 buttons can
be easily pushed.
• For maximum accuracy, the compass
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 up or down, up to 20° from
road level and still remain accurate. If
it is adjusted more than 20°, the head-
ing information may not be accurate.
Mounting the Compass:
1. Install the suction cups (included) onto
the base of the holding bracket by t-
ting them into their holes.
2. Adjust the angle of the holding bracket
so that the face of the compass is
pointing towards the rear of the vehi-
cle. Loosen the screw on the holding
bracket stem by a quarter turn. Make
STEP 2 - MOUNTING THE COMPASS
7