Wayfinder V100
Questions
Can my Wayfinder vehicle
compass be used as a handheld compass unit?
Currently, only the Wayfinder V700 is designed to be used as
both a handheld and
vehicle compass. Please see our line
of Corsa "handheld" compasses.
How do PNI digital compasses
work?
PNI digital compasses use a patented magnetic sensor
technology that was
developed by PNI Corporation for
the U.S. Military. This technology, called
Magneto-Inductive sensor technology, is the greatest advance
in compass
technology since the fluxgate was
invented 60 years ago. It electronically
senses the difference between the
earth's magnetic field and your vehicle's
magnetic field, and an on-board
microprocessor electronically subtracts your
vehicle's magnetic field from the
total discerned field, resulting in highly
accurate compass readings.
Magneto-Inductive sensor technology has many
advantages over other technologies,
including enhanced performance, less power
consumption and lower cost. These
advantages have made Magneto-Inductive sensor
technology the choice for many
high-profile users of compass applications
including GM, Ford, and
DaimlerChrysler automobiles, Polaris jet skis, Bayliner
boats and Timex watches.
What are the extreme
Operating Temperatures?
The acceptable operating temperatures are 14 degrees to 140
degrees. While the
unit is being stored, it will
withstand temperatures from -40 degrees to 160
degrees.
What is magnetic distortion?
Magnetic distortion is the disturbance of accurate compass
calculations caused
by a sudden abundance of external
magnetic fields. Many objects can generate an
external magnetic field that
results in compass inaccuracy, including railroad
track crossings, metal structures
and electronic door openers. PNI digital
compasses sense any significant
change in magnetic fields and the associated
magnetic distortion that occurs.
Depending on your model, a distortion warning
may display briefly whenever your
vehicle is within close proximity to a strong
magnetic field. Once the vehicle
has moved away from the source of the magnetic
field, the compass readings will be
accurate. If the distortion warning displays
continuously or displays after
compass setup, try setting up the compass again
in a location where there is less
magnetic interference.
What is the difference
between magnetic north and true north?
In most places on earth, true
or map north is not the same location as magnetic
north. This is because the magnetic fields of earth are
always slowly changing.
If you want to find the exact
difference (called declination) between magnetic
and true north in your area, contact the
longitude of your location. To find out your latitude and
longitude in the
go to the US Census Bureau web page that supplies them
based on city and state
or zip code.
Can I place my compass system
somewhere other than my windshield?
The Wayfinder is designed for windshield installation,
though it is possible to
mount it on your dashtop using double sided tape or Dual-Lock™ hook and loop
fastener. For greatest accuracy,
the display screen should be facing the rear of
your vehicle (not the driver) so
that the compass is aligned with the direction
of travel. In addition, the unit
should be mounted at least 6 inches away from
magnetic equipment such as the
radio, speakers or the rear view mirror. This
minimizes the number of magnetic
fields the compass needs to calculate and
ensures greater accuracy.
How can I get my mounting
bracket suction cups to hold more effectively on glass
surfaces?
First, clean the windshield with a glass cleaner that leaves
no residue. Then
spread a very small amount of water
around the outer edge of each suction cup.
This will provide a better seal when you push and hold the
bracket against the
windshield glass.
Can I calibrate the compass
outside my vehicle?
For accurate readings you must install the unit in your
vehicle before
calibrating the compass.
Calibrating the compass after it’s installed enables it
to detect the various magnetic
fields emitted by the vehicle itself and subtract
these from the compass heading
calculations. Dual-mode compasses, such as the
V700, which are designed to be used as both a handheld
compass and a vehicle
compass, need to be calibrated in
your vehicle and in your hand.
What causes my compass to
lose its calibration setting?
Several conditions can contribute to an inaccurate compass
reading:
1. The
batteries have recently been replaced.
2. The
batteries are starting to lose power.
3. The unit has
detected temporary magnetic distortion from nearby power
lines, metal framed buildings or
other sources of magnetic interference.
4. The compass
calibration procedure was not completed properly.
Try calibrating the compass again. If it still does not
provide accurate
readings, replace the battery and
calibrate the compass again.
What is compass calibration
and why is it necessary?
Compass calibration is the process used with PNI digital
compasses to separate
the earth's magnetic field from
stray magnetic fields emitted by your vehicle.
Without calibration, a PNI digital compass regards the
entire magnetic field as
from the earth, including your
vehicles magnetic field, resulting in inaccurate
compass readings.
What is required to calibrate
my compass correctly?
1. All PNI
digital compasses need to be calibrated when used for the
first time in a vehicle, when moved
to different locations in the same vehicle,
when moved to a different vehicle,
or when the battery is changed.
2. All PNI
digital compasses require recalibration when there has been a
change to your vehicle, such as the
installation of a new stereo.
3. If you
intend to operate the PNI digital compass with battery and
either 12 Volt adapter or hardwire
kit installed, calibrate after your selected
power source is installed.
4. If you
intend to operate your PNI digital compass with a temperature
tether installed, it should be
calibrated after tether installation has been
completed.
5. If you drive
with your headlights and stereo on, turn these on prior
to calibration.
6. When
calibrating PNI digital hand-held compasses, be sure that you are
not near railroad tracks,
metal-framed buildings, power lines, or audio
speakers.
Why am I getting incorrect
directional headings after calibrating my compass?
Your compass may be affected by magnetic distortion from
electronic or metal
objects within your vehicle (such
as your radio speakers or rear view mirror),
or from the surrounding area.
First, be sure the unit is mounted in a location
that is at least 6 inches away from
any magnetic equipment in your vehicle. If
the unit is properly mounted, check
to see if the magnet icon is flashing in the
upper left corner of the display
screen. If so, it indicates that the unit is
picking up magnetic distortion. If
the icon does not disappear after several
minutes of driving, you will need
to calibrate the compass again. Incorrect
compass headings can also indicate
that the compass has not been calibrated
correctly. If you receive incorrect
or missing compass headings without the
magnet icon flashing, try
calibrating the compass again, using the instructions
in the users guide.
What does it mean when all
segments on the display are turned on and won’t turn
off, even when I press OFF?
This occasionally happens when one of the display buttons is
pressed during
battery installation. For instance,
if you set the unit face down on a tabletop
to insert the battery, it’s likely
that one of the buttons on the display face
will depress, causing the display
to become "stuck" in startup mode with all
segments turned on. To correct the
situation, remove the battery, wait 5 minutes
and then reinsert the battery. If
the display becomes stuck again, replace the
battery with a new battery. Again,
be careful not to press any buttons during
battery installation.
What should I do when there’s
no power in the display unit after inserting the
battery?
Sometimes a new battery will not immediately register with
the Wayfinder unit.
Remove the battery, wait 5 minutes and then reinsert the
battery. If this
happens again, replace the battery
with a new battery.
Why does my compass shut off
when I am driving?
If the compass does not detect a magnetic change in
direction of 15 degrees or
more in a 10 minute period, the
"auto shutoff" feature switches off the unit to
conserve battery power. The lack of
a magnetic change usually means that the
vehicle is parked, though it can
also result from driving on a long, straight
road or sitting in traffic.
Why does my Wayfinder vehicle
compass display an error code?
An error code message is an indication of a low battery, or
a bad battery
connection. Please replace the battery with a new one. If
this does not correct
the problem, and the error message continues to appear,
please contact our
customer service department at 1-888-422-6672, Monday
through Friday between
8-5pm (PST).
Why doesn't the display on my
compass screen ever change?
Please ensure that you have removed the protective film that
covers the face of
the compass.
Why is my compass LCD
displaying two screens?
Please ensure that the protective film that covers the face
of the compass has
been removed.