On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 21:18:04 +0100, "Malcolm Stewart"
<malcolm_stewart@megalith.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:

>If you get a liquid filled compass, complete with the adjustment screws (+
>instructions) and have access to true N-S, E-W roads or tracks on which to set
>it up, it should be OK. Mine took me about 30 minutes of fiddling with the
>screws and re-checking, before I was satisfied with the adjustment. After that
>it was fine until the next summer's heat screwed up the liquid fill.
>
>I now use a Garmin GPS12 - it's OK providing that I'm moving or have recently
>come to a halt.

Good advice if you want accuracy.

On the other hand if it's just a rough idea of direction you want when
lost in one of those spaghetti twisted streets in a residential
subdivision, a cheapo will serve. Two things to watch are heat and
location. I keep a good sized spherical compass in that little storage
container in the armrest. I only take it out when i need it and then I
jam its suction cup against the windshield directly above the
instrument panel so it's in my line of sight and away from magnetic
influences of the instrument panel.