Digital compass for bike

[GeoffK]

Hi everybody.

I am looking for a digital compass that can be mounted on a motorbike. The compass must have the ability to give the true heading rather than magnetic, and it should be able to correct for the influence of 200 kgs of steel sitting underneath it.

Digital compasses on steel boats can correct for the resultant compass error by circling slowly through 720 degrees, which allows the compass to figure out the error due to the steel of the boat.

Such compasses usually are largish affairs consonant with the fact that it is sitting on a boat. I am looking for something small enough to sit easily on a bike.

Anyone have any experience of such a device?

Thanks

Geoffrey

[jbmoto]

Wayfinder make an assortment of Digital Compasses, the VT220 is an off-road shock resistant model.
Check here CT Global

Unfortunately its US based company but may sell Internationally.

JB

[mudmaps]

What about using a Navigation system? - my Zumo has as digital compass in it.

[GeoffK]

Thanks to Jbmoto and Mudmaps for your replies. I had found the CT Global site before, but the links on the compass page to get details on the individual compasses seem to be broken. Whoever built their website was not paying attention.

Why just a compass and not a GPS which has a compass feature on it? Simply a matter of battery life. GPS receivers use up a lot of current. I could plumb it into the bike's electrical system, but in principle I do not want to rely on the bike's electrics. Bike electrics - exposed as they are - are notoriously unreliable.

I have a bike where I can sling the battery away and I can still start, run and stop the bike, which I consider a good survival strategy. (Being able to run the bike - not slinging the battery away). A digital compass should be able to last a whole trip on one set of batteries and so, like a digital watch, be inherently reliable.

Geoffrey

[Redboots]

Try Alc Alert VT220 Auto/Marine Digital Compass

John