Operation Guide 3134 3205
4
Digital Compass
A built-in bearing sensor detects magnetic nor th and indicates one of 16
directions on the display . Direction readings are performed in the Digital
Compass Mode.
•Y ou can calibrate the bearing sensor if you suspect the direction reading is
incorrect.
•See “ Using the Digital Compass While Mountain Climbing or Hiking” for
some real-lif e examples of how to use this f eature.
To enter and exit the Digital Compass Mode
1. While in the Timekeeping Mode or in any of
the other sensor modes, press C to enter the
Digital Compass Mode.
•At this time, the watch will start a Digital
Compass operation. After about two
seconds, letters appear on the displa y to
indicate the direction that the 12 o’ clock
position of the watch is pointing.
•
The direction reading on the displa y is
updated each second f or up to 20 seconds ,
after which measurement stops automatically .
2. Press D to return to the Timek eeping Mode.
Current time
12 o’ clock position
T wo seconds
▲
To take a direction reading
1. While the watch is in the Digital Compass
Mode, place it on a flat surf ace, or if you are
wearing the watch, mak e sure that your wrist
is horizontal (in relation to the horizon).
2. P oint the 12 o’ clock position of the watch in
the direction you want to measure .
3. Press C to start a Digital Compass
measurement operation.
•After about two seconds, the direction that the
12 o’ clock position of the w atch is pointing
appears on the displa y .
•Also , four pointers appear to indicate magnetic
north, south, east, and west.
•After the first reading is obtained, the watch
continues to take direction readings
automatically each second, for up to 20
seconds.
Direction
indicator
Nor th pointer
12 o’ clock position
NW
0°
WNW
W
WSW
SW
SSW
S
SSE
SE
ESE
E
ENE
NE
NNE
N
NNW
90°
180°
270°
Angle value (in degrees)
•While the watch is taking compass readings , it displays a direction angle, a
direction indicator , and four direction pointers , all of which change
dynamically when the watch is mo ved. The direction angle, direction
indicator and direction pointers all disappear from the display after the
compass reading operation is complete. Use the direction indicators
imprinted on the bezel to record the indicated direction. For details, see
“Using the Digital Compass While Mountain Climbing or Hiking” .
Digital Compass Precautions
This watch f eatures a built-in magnetic bearing sensor that detects terrestrial
magnetism. This means that nor th indicated by this watch is magnetic north,
which is somewhat diff erent from true polar nor th. The magnetic north pole is
located in norther n Canada, while the magnetic south pole is in souther n
Austr alia. Note that the difference between magnetic north and true nor th as
measured with all magnetic compasses tends to be greater as one gets
closer to either of the magnetic poles. Y ou also should remember that some
maps indicate true nor th (instead of magnetic nor th), and so you should make
allowances when using such maps with this w atch.
Location
•T aking a direction reading when you are near a source of strong magnetism
can cause large errors in readings. Because of this, you should av oid taking
direction readings while in the vicinity of the following types of objects:
permanent magnets (magnetic necklaces, etc.), concentrations of metal
(metal doors, lock ers, etc.), high tension wires, aerial wires, household
appliances (TVs, personal computers, w ashing machines, freezers , etc.)
•Accurate direction readings are impossible while in a train, boat, air plane ,
etc.
•Accurate readings also are impossible indoors , especially inside ferro-
concrete structures. This is because the metal framework of such structures
picks up magnetism from appliances, etc.
Storage
•The precision of the bearing sensor may deteriorate if the watch becomes
magnetized. Because of this, you should be sure to store the watch a way
from magnets or any other sources of strong magnetism, including:
permanent magnets (magnetic necklaces, etc.) and household appliances
(TVs, personal computers, washing machines , freezers, etc.)
•Whenev er you suspect that the watch ma y hav e become magnetized,
perform one of the calibration procedures under “Calibrating the Bearing
Sensor” .
Calibrating the Bearing Sensor
Y ou should calibrate the bearing sensor whenev er you f eel that the direction
readings being produced by the w atch are off. There are three diff erent
calibration methods a vailable: magnetic declination correction, bidirectional
calibration, and norther ly calibration.
•Magnetic Declination Correction
With magnetic declination correction, you input a magnetic declination
angle (difference between magnetic north and true nor th), which allows the
watch to indicate true nor th.
Y ou can perform this procedure when the magnetic declination angle is
indicated on the map you are using.
Note that you can input the declination angle in degree units only , so you
may need to round off the v alue specified on the map . If your map indicates
the declination angle as 7.4° , you should input 7° . In the case of 7.6° input
8° , for 7.5° y ou can input 7° or 8 ° .
•Bidirectional Calibration and Northerly Calibration
Bidirectional calibration and norther ly calibration calibrate the accuracy of
the direction sensor in relation to magnetic nor th.
Use bidirectional calibration when you want to tak e readings within an area
exposed to magnetic f orce. This type of calibration should be used if the
watch becomes magnetized f or any reason. With northerly calibration, you
“teach ” the w atch which wa y is nor th (which you hav e to determine with
another compass or some other means).
•F or fur ther information, see “ Important!” under “Time Calibration SIgnal
Reception” and “Radio-controlled Atomic Timek eeping Precautions” .
Note
•Note that taking a measurement
while the watch is not horizontal
(in relation to the horizon) can
result in large measurement error .
•The margin of error for the angle v alue and the direction indicator is ±11
degrees. If the indicated direction is nor thwest (NW ) and 315 degrees, f or
example , the actual direction can be anywhere from 304 to 326 degrees.
•Any ongoing direction measurement operation is paused tempor arily while
the watch is perf or ming an alert operation (daily alar m, Hourly Time Signal,
countdown timer alarm) or while illumination is turned on (by pressing L ).
The measurement operation resumes f or its remaining duration after the
operation that caused it to pause is finished.
•The following tab le shows the meanings of each of the direction
abbreviations that appear on the displa y .
•See “ Digital Compass Precautions ” for other impor tant information about
taking direction readings.
Direction
Meaning
Direction
Meaning
Direction
Meaning
Direction
Meaning
NNE
ESE
SSW
WNW
NE
SE
SW
NW
North-
northeast
East-
southeast
South-
southwest
West-
northwest
Northeast
Southeast
Southwest
Northwest
East-
northeast
South-
southeast
West-
southwest
Nor th-
northwest
ENE
SSE
WSW
NNW
North
East
South
West
N
E
S
W
What you should do
•Check to mak e sure the
watch is in a location
where it can receive the
signal.
•
Change the DST setting
to Auto DST .
•Select the correct Home
City code.
Prob lem
A uto receive is
turned on, but
the settings
updated
indicator ( )
does not
appear on the
displa y .
Time setting is
incorrect
follo wing signal
reception.
Probable Cause
•
Even if receiv e is successful, the
settings updated indicator ( )
disappears from the displa y
each day when the first auto
receive oper ation of the da y is
performed.
•
Time data (hour , minute,
second) only was receiv ed
during the last receiv e operation.
The
settings updated indicator
()
appears only when time
data and date data (y ear , month,
day) are both receiv ed.
•If the time is one hour off, the
DST setting may be incorrect.
•The Home City code setting is
not correct f or the area where
you are using the watch.