Please help me with compass reading!!

ElRazur

ElRazur

ElRazur

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I am going crazy trying to do this myself. I have tried the manual but it i still dont get it...

Ok let me explain how im going it. First i hold the compass (away from metal and electronic devices etc) on a flat surface so it indicates north as shown below




Sorry about the blurry image, kinda hard to take using the flash. The big red N is the north. Anyhow, i turned the knob on the compass so i have the big red N directly infront if the red indicator/hand.

Now, this is where im kinda confused. Im trying to set the compass at 19.5 degrees East (19.5E) so i turned the knob to the east so has to have a reading of 19.5 (which is just slightly of the big red N) and then i read off the bearing on the long blue arrow. So i have this



The thing is, im not even sure if that bearing is right. Can anyone please explain to me where im going wrong or explain how to use a compass in simple plain english. Thanks.
 
Sorry to sound like a retard! I read that before i post and i just didnt get it.. :o

EDIT
Like i said above, i read that before and it only appears to give example of using a much simpler location e.g NW. What im after is how to do the readings with actual figures like i mentioned above.

The calibrations is in units of 10 (i.e 10, 20, 30 40 etc). If im gonna use the compass for 22degrees East, do i move calibration to 22 and do the readings or turn the knob to East and then do the calibrations to 22? :confused: This is the confusing part!!
 
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First it would be easier if you try and tell us what you are doing, there are two main uses of compasses 1) To determine a baring from a map/planned course or to determine the direction of a baring in real life. ( sorry if you did explain, I’m afraid it’s not very clear in your OP, you say you are trying to set the compass to 19.5 degrees east, do you mean from a different baring or 19.5E?)


If it is the latter; swizzle the housing until the scale reads 19.5 aligned with the blue line, hold the compass to your chest, then rotate your body (don’t move the compass from your chest) until the north arrow is in the orienting arrow (in the red arrow). The direction you are facing is the baring you have taken.

Sorry if this isn’t what you’re asking but to be honest i'm a little lost with what you want :confused:

Edit: Also it's been a very long time since I've done this but are you sure mean 19.5 rather than 195?
 
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eLbot

Thanks man, Im trying to set a satelite (the dish) to face a particular direction. The sat dish have to face 19.5E....Sorry if i didnt made that clear in my OP.
 
Ah ok; I’m still slightly confused about 19.5E which is also the point you seem most confused at. My best guess is your first suggestion. Set the baring directly on E, hold the compass to your chest with the blue arrow facing outwards in the direction you are looking then stand behind the dish( which I assume is metal which isn’t going to help things), rotate your body until the Red, north facing arrow is aligned with the red 22(on the scale either side to the north arrow housing) , the direction you are facing (and the blue arrow is facing) at this point, I’m hoping is 19.5E. But then that really doesn’t make sense because presumably the red numbers go up from 0 on either side so which side do you align the arrow to? Left or right of the north point? Cmon guys someone put us out of our misery! :(

But I really don’t know, I have only ever dealt with degrees in compass reading and 19.5E sounds more like a… Ok I’m really showing myself up here, one of those lines on the globe you use for global positioning, If nobody can offer an improvement on my suggestion then id just go for it and see what sort of signal strength you manage to muster up. Hope I’ve been of some help.
 
Thanks man, gonna do dat tomorrow...too dark now. How i wish i have a digital compass where you enter the coordinantes and bang..bob is your uncle.
 
19.5E sounds like a Longitude reading!

If you are after 19.5 degrees then move the bezle to that number then line up the needle with the blue arrow.

Either that or it means 109.5 degrees... but why it would say 19.5E instead of 109.5 is anyones guess.

Same goes for the decimal really. The divisions around the vast majority of compasses are whole degrees.

SiriusB
 
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