Radio Shack Digital Compass User manual

Owner’s Manual Please read before using this equipment.
Digital Compass
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2
ˆ
Contents
Features ...................................................... 3
Preparation ................................................. 5
Attaching the Suction Cups .................... 5
Mounting the Compass ............................ 6
Operation .................................................... 7
Programming the Compass ..................... 9
Calibrating the Compass .................... 9
Setting the Automatic
Shut-Off Time ................................... 11
Setting/Using the Backlight
Shut-Off Time ................................... 13
Clock Mode ............................................ 15
Replacing the Battery ............................ 17
Resetting the Compass ......................... 19
Entering the Diagnostic Mode ........... 21
Care ........................................................... 22
Specifications ........................................... 23
©1999, 2000 RadioShack Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack and RadioShack.com are trademarks
used by RadioShack Corporation.
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3
Features
ˆ
Features
Your RadioShack Digital Compass
conveniently provides the current time
and accurate heading information inside
your vehicle. It incorporates the same
magnetic sensor technology that is used
in factory-installed vehicle compasses.
This magnetic sensor technology allows
the compass to electronically separate
the earth’s magnetic field from the
magnetic fields generated by your
vehicle, thereby providing accurate
compass headings.
The compass’ other features include:
Built-In Clock — lets you see the time at
the touch of a button in either 12- or 24-
hour format.
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4Features
Electro-Luminescent Backlight — lets
you view time and heading information
easily at night.
Automatic Shut-Off — saves battery
life.
Magnetic Distortion Detection — alerts
you when outside magnetic interference
is affecting compass accuracy.
Liquid Crystal Display — clearly dis-
plays the digital time and heading infor-
mation.
Water Resistant Design — lets you use
the compass on a boat.
Three Supplied Suction Cups — let you
mount your compass firmly on your vehi-
cle’s windshield.
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5
Preparation
ˆ
Preparation
ATTACHING THE SUCTION
CUPS
The compass comes with three suction
cups for secure mounting. Insert the
small ball head of each suction cup into a
larger hole (shown here) on the bottom of
the bracket and slide each toward the
bracket’s smaller hole so they fit tightly.
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6Preparation
MOUNTING THE COMPASS
Choose a clean mounting location on the
vehicle’s windshield where:
• the compass will not obstruct the
driver’s field of view
• the display can swivel up to 30º
• the compass will be at least 5 inches
away from any stereo speakers
Press the compass’ base against the
windshield so the suction cups take hold.
The compass has an adjustable bracket
that rotates backward or forward so you
can view the display more easily. To ad-
just the bracket, firmly grasp the display
and rotate it to the desired angle.
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7
Operation
Caution: If you use a reflective sun
shade, do not leave the compass be-
tween the sun shade and the windshield.
The temperature extreme might damage
the compass.
Note: The compass must be calibrated
before you use it the first time and any
time you move or reset the compass or
adjust the display angle.
ˆ
Operation
The compass has two modes — clock
mode and compass mode. In the clock
mode, you can view the current time.
When the compass automatically shuts
off, it returns to the clock mode. In the
compass mode, you can easily view your
current heading or program the desired
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8Operation
compass features. The compass displays
the numeric heading in 1° increments
from
0° to 359°. The cardinal points on
this compass are N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W,
and NW.
When DISTORTION appears, this
means the compass is detecting outside
magnetic interference that compromises
its accuracy. Distortion occurs when
there has been a significant change in
the surrounding magnetic fields, such as
when you are driving underneath an
overpass or over a bridge. The steel in
these structures causes inaccurate read-
ings in any magnetic compass, but unlike
other compasses, this compass detects
this interference and alerts you.
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9
Operation
PROGRAMMING THE
COMPASS
The compass mode displays the current
compass heading and lets you calibrate
your compass to automatically compen-
sate for magnetic fields, program the
compass’ automatic shut-off time, and
program the backlight automatic shut-off
time.
Calibrating the Compass
Calibration helps the compass to better
separate the earth’s magnetic field from
the magnetic fields generated by external
influences (such as your vehicle, for ex-
ample), providing more accurate head-
ing information.
Calibrate the compass any time you
move or reset the compass, adjust the
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10 Operation
display angle, or whenever DISTOR-
TION continuously appears.
Note: When calibrating the compass, you
will need to drive your vehicle in two com-
plete circles. Be sure your vehicle is on
level ground, in an open area, such as a
parking lot.
See “Mounting the Compass” on Page 6
and make sure the compass is securely
mounted, then follow these steps to cali-
brate your compass.
1. Press ADV so BASIC appears.
2. Hold down ADV until CAL flashes.
3. Press ENT so Hold and StILL
appear briefly. CAL appears again
and
TURN TWICE flashes.
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