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Online Help > AlpineQuest 1.4

Orientation and Compass

The compass feature uses the magnetic sensor of your device (if available) to give you helpful orientation information.

This feature is composed of a sub-menu providing a fast access to few controls and settings, and a dedicated window with more details and information.

submenu.jpg

To turn on the compass feature, you can either:

  • Long-press the “Compass” menu button ;
  • Click on the sub-menu toggle .

The compass sub-menu

Click on the “Compass menu button to display the sub-menu, composed of the following items:

  • The “Compass details item opens the compass details window;
  • The “Compass toggle lets you turn on or off the compass feature easily;
  • The “Display compass check-box controls either or not to display a compass on the map;
  • The “Rotate the map check-box controls either or not to rotate the map based on the compass north to match the real direction you are looking at;
  • The “Current heading check-box controls either or not to display an information box on the map with your current heading.

You can un-check both “Display compass” and “Rotate the map” check-boxes to display a small current heading arrow .

on-map-items.jpg

The compass details window

compass_view.jpg

The compass view

The “compass view is a graphical representation of the true (geographic) north direction, pointed by the red arrow.

It also gives you the following information:

  • The precise heading arrow , when this one is between -20° and +20°, including mils graduation;
  • The heading value , which is the angle between the geographic north and the current direction you are looking at (the direction of your device);
  • A pitch and roll level , helping you to keep the device flat;
  • The magnetic declination at your current location , which is the difference between the magnetic north and the geographic north. The application uses either the last known location of your device if any, or the screen center location. This value is computed each time you activate the compass.

The compass settings

Click on the compass “Settings button to open the settings dialog.

If desired:

  • Click on the “Sensor list to request orientation updates from another sensor, if your devices has various sensors. Depending on the device, each sensor can be more or less precise, responsible and noisy;
  • Un-check the “Moving rose and graduations check-box to display the compass with a fixed background rose and moving needle .

compass_settings.jpg

The target finder

The “target finder is a graphical representation of the direction toward the targeted waypoint. Once the green arrow is at the center of the target finder, you are currently looking at direction of the target.

The application uses the screen center location as your current location. You can lock this screen center point on the current GPS location to get updated directions, based on your real location.

It also gives you the following information:

  • The bearing of the target, in degree, which is the angle between the geographic north and the targeted waypoint, at your current location;
  • The direction of the target, in degree, which is the angle between your current heading and the bearing of the target, at your current location;
  • The distance of the target, from your current location.

When your heading is equals to the target bearing, it means that you are currently looking at the target direction (direction of 0°).