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Compass gimbal lock

My compass sometimes goes into gimbal lock. Usually when it is most inconvenient, either before the dive or when in the water.
Only a reboot of the device seems to fix this, the re-calibration fails every time. I find this issue very concerning.
The Compass is set to magnetic north and the firmware was updated to 2.50
There is no interference from other magnets or steel/iron in the vicinity.

0 Milosherman over 6 years ago

I have discovered that I have the same problem. The compass locks and doses not rotate. Both in the the compass widget and the dive mode. Only way to release it is to restart the watch. I have no idea what causes it to do so, it just happened two times to me as I tried to use the compass just to discover that it did not work. I am on v 2.60 and both times it locked was on this version.
Garmin, I can provide you my files if you tell me where to send them...

0 Flacer over 6 years ago

My Descent have the same problem , the compass change only between 300-310 degrees.
Seems that gyroscope have problems on one axes.
I will try to restart.
Also discover that my firmware is 2.5 and the new one was avaiable but not installed.
Auto Update was ON and found that update was already inside the watch but not auto installed. I will try to force from inside the SYSTEM menu.

0 Arne over 6 years ago

My Descent MK1 still has the gimbal lock problem. Its a nice looking watch but without a reliable compass this it all it is. I went for a replacement that works terrific as a compass and I never get lost anymore. My guess (although it's a long-shot) is that it has something to do with the smoothing algorithm, maybe it uses euler angles instead of quaternions which would explain the behavior. What cannot be explained though is that this issue has not been fixed yet although it can be easily reproduced with a magnet and turning and twisting the watch into gimble lock.

0 atj777 over 6 years ago

I've never had problems with the compass on my Mk1. I'm guess that all devices don't have the problem which would make it more difficult to fix.

0 Mark_H20 over 5 years ago

While I have seen some compass issues when using GPS Navigation on the surface, I have not run across any issues underwater when I have tried using it. Though I will caveat that with I do not use the Descent as my primary compass, or primary dive computer. I usually use a Suunto SK8 compass as my primary, then use the compass in my primary dive computer which is a Perdix. So for me using the Descent as a compass would mean I have suffered two other gear failures and would probably be looking to end the dive.