There's two or more discussions going on here under this topic but just wanted to mention that if anyone is thinking about that one from Northern Tools on sale for $29 - it looked kind of neato at first but in reading about them it didn't seem like something I'd want for the panel. Maybe for an emergency supply kit if flying in bush country though.
To read it you have to hold down a button. It doesn't give a constant readout unless you hold down the button and, at night, maybe two buttons, and as I think Brian said it is subject to surrounding metal and electrical fields and there's probably no way to do calibration so it's useless as a panel device - if that's what was originally in mind. I think it would be great for a survival kit along with an extra couple batteries but a regular boy scout compass is simpler, lighter and more reliable. It could happen someday that GPS gets knocked out. A corona mass ejection such as what hit us in 1859 (some of us may remember that one) that completely knocked out telegraph lines could happen again at any time. That would knock out the telegraph again. And power grids and satellites. Could put us back in the stone age in eight minutes. Unless we have an RV with full tanks with a generator sitting in our driveway (like I do hehe). My Hamilton vertical card compass that came with the plane works really well. I have a very small brass screw driver (Sporty's) velcroed to the canopy frame that I've used over time to make adjustments and although I've never actually used the compass for anything it's always (after many adjustments early on) within a few degrees of my GPS heading. Wet compasses I've had in the past leak and become useless given enough time. This Hamilton keeps on ticking. ____________________________________________________________ Buffett???s New Enemy Buffett just confirmed his worst fear. Click here for his warning. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/55fef9591782579592065st01vuc
