compass stuck

My new instnict 2 solar seems to have an issue with its compass. I can calibrate it (sometimes takes many failed attempts) then it will be ok for a brief time before it will get stuck pointing same direction until I calibrate it again. We have an instinct 1 also in the house and its got no such issue...never needs calibrating.

Seems like garmin is trying to say this is normal and you just have to recalibrate every few hours to have an accurate compass...which is nonsense.

I 1st bought a fenix7 which got stuck in a constant re-boot cycle. Returned to garmin now my new instinct has an untrustworthy compass. What the heck is going on Garmin?

If I was not invested in garmin heavily already (multiple gps units, bike computers etc) Id be shopping a different brand.

0 trux over 3 years ago

There are often similar cases reported here, and usually it is due to the springbars holding the wristband. When they get magnetized, it decalibrates the compass. New calibration will only hold as long as the springars do not rotate. Some people fix it by demagnetizing the springbars, others by gluing them in place to prevent the rotation, and you can also replace them with new springbars and hope that they will be more resistant against magnetization. Avoid keeping the watch near strong magnetic fields, like chargers, loudspeakers, etc.

0 cascaderider over 3 years ago in reply to trux

I did some experimenting...pulled band and springbars. Compass definetely reacts to springbars getting near it.

Watch is only a couple weeks old. Seems weird already having issues. My gals 2 year old instinct 1 has never needs calibrated. Hmmmm cant smash springbars with a hammer to de-mag...off to google to find a non destructive method!

Any ideas or links to non-magnetic springbars that will work? Pretty dumb that garmin is leaving this to us to figure out.

0 trux over 3 years ago in reply to cascaderider

cascaderider said:
Hmmmm cant smash springbars with a hammer to de-mag...

I think it could work, if you are not too violent. But better having some spare ones ready, just in case

0 trux over 3 years ago in reply to trux

I posted some links in the past in this forum, but I am a bit lazy to search them again. You can also get new anti-mag springbars for a buck or so. May be easier to get them, than waiting for Garmin replacing theirs. Apparently they got some bad quality batch for the Instinct 2. Personally I have no problems, though. And did not have any with Instinct 1 either. It concerns only some users.

0 trux over 3 years ago in reply to cascaderider

You could ask in a local watch repair shop - most likely they have a demagnetizer there.

0 cascaderider over 3 years ago in reply to trux

I found a gizmo on amazon for 11 bucks that is made to de-mag watches....got one ordered. My google search for anti-magnetic springbars turned up nothing at all. Just anti-mag watches. Maybe I can order some instinct 1 bars as those dont seem to have a problem on my gals watch.

0 trux over 3 years ago in reply to cascaderider

cascaderider said:
My google search for anti-magnetic springbars turned up nothing at all.

Hm strange. Did you try this query:

https://www.google.fr/search?q=non-magnetic+quickfit+22mm+springbars

Also searches at Amazon, eBay, AliExpress, etc. show some hits

0 cascaderider over 3 years ago in reply to trux

Cool...I was putting springbar in as 1 word guessing thats why I was not getting anything. Ordered a couple pairs of the fat seiko SS bars off amazon.

0 cascaderider over 3 years ago in reply to cascaderider

made a quick vid...calibrated within last 30 minutes.

acts same inside or outside