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I don't need GPS route finder but would find a compass very useful. Can anyone recoomend a reasonably priced, no-frills GPS one please, preferably running on torch batteries? Those I have checked online cost at least £60 and £20 is nearer my budget
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270140636050
on fleabay, currently less than a fiver and posts worldwide. Good idea though.
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A GPS one will be expensive as it needs a lot of processing power. Those using magnetism and a compass chip may not be as absolutely accurate, but good enough for driving.
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I don't think GPS can "do" compass function, other than by plotting direction of travel ("differentially") which requires you to be moving (though in units with a gyro like the one in my car it can "remember" which way it's pointing when it's stopped).
My hiking GPS also has an "electronic" compass so it can tell you the direction when it's not moving. This depends on a magnet, and the unit has to be held level for it to work. As with the electronic compass on ebay, it has to turn two circles to calibrate. When it's moving at sufficient speed, it reverts to differential operation so it's not necessary to hold it level.
I suppose it's quite possible that there are low cost GPS compasses that us magnetic and differential operation, but I can't see the point in not displaying positional info, bearings and distances as the information is already there. That would make it akin to a non-map displaying hiking GPS which can be had for £80 is upwards, though with differential direction finding only at that price level.
Note that the Silva "GPS compass"at £40 or so is actually just a magnetic compass with a scale on the baseplate for using with a handheld GPS
Some background info here:
www.tracklogs.co.uk/cgi-bin/publ/user.cgi?obj=supp...5
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