Compass Mode

In compass mode, the device displays either true heading or magnetic heading at a update rate of 1Hz(every second), 2Hz(twice a second) or 4Hz(4 times a second) depending on device setting. True heading is the direction you are moving in degrees true. Magnetic heading is the degrees you are heading in reference to the local magnetic north. Magnetic heading is calculated by offsetting the True Heading by the user defined local magnetic declination angle. The SC-1 displays heading only when your speed is greater than 1 knot, otherwise it will show a heading of 0 degrees, regardless of which direction you are actually moving.

The difference of the SC-1 to a conventional magnetic compass is that the SC-1 measures the direction the device is moving in rather than the direction it is pointed in.

A major benefit of the SC-1 over a conventional magnetic compass is that it will give you accurate heading information, regardless of the orientation in which it is mounted on your boat. SC-1's compass reading depends only on the direction you are moving, not the direction the device is pointing.

The following figure shows both the upper and lower displays in compass mode, showing a heading of 226 degrees true:

In compass mode, the plus and minus buttons can be used to change the display damping for all the SC-1's modes.