With my new Explorer+, I'm getting the prompt to calibrate the compass. I follow the directions by facing all 6 sides of the device to the ground, holding each position for a few seconds and continue this process for up to 10 minutes and I never get a confirmation of calibration. In using the compass, I find that it is off about 17 degrees. One of my property lines is less than 1 degree from True North/South. When aligned with this property line, the device shows between 17T and 18T.
The instructions to turn all six sides actually mean to continually rotate and turn the device rather than stopping with each side pointing down. Just keep it moving: spinning and tumbling until it beeps. It should take about 10 seconds.
One other note. If you've calibrated the compass successfully and you still get a bearing that is consistently off, it might have to do with declination. You don't say where you are located. If you are in a location with significant declination (which is almost everywhere), the bearing you see is affected by the Bearing setting under Units. (Main screen > Settings > Units > Bearing). Your choices are True (which means the unit compensates for declination and gives the bearing relative to true north) or Magnetic (which means the unit does not compensate for declination and gives the bearing relative to magnetic north in your location).
If none of that means anything to you, don't feel badly. Just select True :)
I'm a non-active Private Pilot so understand True vs Magnetic and declination. I'm in Pismo Beach on the Central CA coast. Declination looks to be close to 12+degrees. I was successful in calibrating the compass. I played with the True and Magnetic Units but cannot get the compass to indicate TRUE north in either setting when the units' antenna is pointing directly True North. Using the TRUE setting it is indicating 320 degrees. Set to Magnetic, it indicates 310 degrees.
Try calibrating it again. The 10 degree difference between true and magnetic would be about right. Although the sign seems wrong. Would have expected magnetic out there to point east of true north. Of course, I could just be visualizing it wrong. I only have a fifty-chance of getting the sign right unless I draw pictures.
When you calibrate, take the usual precautions. Don't do it inside (particularly inside a steel-framed building), keep it away from large ferrous metal objects, stay out from under high tension lines, etc. Obviously, the same caveats apply when testing the result.
Theoretically, it's a three-axis electronic compass. But you will get the most accurate result by holding it parallel to the ground as you are doing.
OK, I did calibrate it inside so I will try again outside. And you didn't get the sign wrong. My "12+" meant 12 degrees plus or minus a degree, not a positive 12 degrees. It is East, so Minus 12 degrees Declination. I looked at that 12+ before I sent it and thought it might be confusing but sent it anyway.
