12-6033 Digital Compass

Was a bit of a challenge to calibrate, but after three attempts, it finally "Took."I have it mounted on the windshield which may be a better location than the dashboard (of course if you live in CA and some other states, you do not have this option - DUMB, DUMB, DUMB.It is a little slower to react to direction changes than my previous compass, but this may be a good thing in that it does not change spontaneously (i.e. for not reason).It is nicely designed, but if you want a really accurate compass, get a half dome analog model.After using it for 6 months I would change my review to 1 star. The compass was always off by at least 20 - 25 degrees (compared to a professional analog compass) and after 6 months, could no longer be calibrated. So now it is just more trash. Still searching for a decent compass at a reasonable price.Final comment. I discovered that with a little patience it calibrated just fine. Also discovered that it is actually fairly accurate. Turns out my previous compass was off (I had just assumed that IT was correct, not so).

My new car did not have a compass, but with all the outdoor adventures I have, I needed something. I also was hoping for better resolution than the built-in-rear-view-mirror compass, say 16 compass points instead of just 8.I am happy to say this product measured up quite well. It shows degrees as well as 16 compass points. The suction cup is very strong and easy to stick low on my windshield. Since it is battery operated, it is good that it shuts off until I need it. And the night light is great, but I wish it would stay on a little longer.The calibration was not that bad at all, as other reviewers have indicated. About 3 loops and then some driving around did it. Just don't place it near a roof pillar.For the money, not bad, considering the dealer option for a compass is $599.Sometimes the hinge rattles a little for some unknown reason.

When I saw this compass it looked like just what I had been looking for, so in spite of the price(which I thought was a little high), I ordered it. It is a nice looking unit. The instructions tell you how to calibrate it.... basically, you push a button and it starts flashing, you drive the car slowly around in a circle until it stops flashing (usually a couple of driving circles), then the flashing stops, the compass is calibrated and ready to use. I have had several digital compasses and they all work about like this. This compass never stopped flashing, despite multiple attempts, varying the placement, even trying different combinations of turning it on and off when I thought it had been long enough. I tried new batteries, same result. SO I gave up and returned it and asked for an identical replacement, thinking that any product can have a bad one occaisionally. New compass.... same result. So I am returning the second one and I'll look for something similar, but not the same thing. Sorry to say, it just didn't work for me.

All right, I admit it! I've got a lousy sense of direction and get lost easily. So I decided that a digital compass was the way to go since I don't drive that much to warrant a GPS system. Well, my experience with this unit and falling prices on GPS systems make that option more viable. I could never get this unit set up to where the direction I travelled was accurately displayed. There was no good location to mount the unit either on the windshield or dash. It fell off from the windshield and laid on the floor until I finally tossed it in the trunk with all the stuff you carry around in your car that never gets used.

Hard to set up. But if you go slow enough and have the area to make a big circle or U-turn you will get it set up. Other than that it work well.

Easy to read. Was a little difficult to calibrate, picky location in the car, needs to be near the windshield, but once I found the "sweet" spot, it works great. Wish the light would stay on a little longer, but for the price, it's a good deal.

This product works exactly how I expected it to. All I had to do was put batteries in and calibrate it by turning it on, pressing reset and circling my car a few times. Its accurate and simple :)

After a few months testing, I conclude this item is not worth buying.Hard to set up and requiring frequent calibration because it "lost" the direction after a while.The mounting part is cheap-made. It fell more than once in my car.