dirleton

I've read here and elsewhere that the RDX with Nav requires no compass calibration as the GPS knows where you are and which way you're going, etc. But --- my compass is consistently off by a point. Example = driving dead south the compass reads SSE. Other cardinal points off to the same degree. Anyone else have this issue, can it be corrected?

mrgold35

I'm not 100% sure how GPS navi works (min of 24 low orbit satellites sending out a time signal). Since it is converting long/lat coordinates onto a graphical map; I think it is using grid north (top center of the earth as north) compared to magnetic north (just north of the Hudson bay in Canada and it is drifting constantly) or true north of the north star. When I was in the Army back in the early 90s, we always had to convert magnetic north into grid north on our maps by applying the declination % depending on how east or west we were from directly in-line of magnetic north. More declination % to adjust for in Washington state at around 15% east and much less in Kentucky at 4% west. If you try and use just a compass in Washington state, you might end up going in the wrong direction without adjusting for the grid map declination.

I guessing the compass is using magnetic north; which, might be off by 0-15% from the GPS map depending on where you are located in North America. The information it gives may be correct and it is there only for driver FYI (info not applied by the system during navigation). My SWAG...

dirleton

There should be some way for software/GPS to make the proper conversions. What good is a compass if it doesn't show which way you're going?

dirleton

Had the dealer check on this today. After an hour and a half all they came up with is "That's how it is" --- they drove two side by side and they were also off to the same degree. Go figure.

mrgold35

I figured it will always be a little off since the compass uses magnetic north while the Navi uses long/lat grid north. At least we all be going in the wrong direction together.

giovane

Mine does it too.
Only way to calibrate the compass on a 2016 with nav is completing a 360 degree turn (around a cul-de-sac or around a block for example), like you do with smartphones.
It's annoying but so far it's the only way to address the issue.

dirleton

That doesn't work. The bizarre thing is that the compass reads "N" going due north on a dead north/south street but "SSE" going south on the same stretch of road. You would think the reciprocal would apply. Clearly a flaw in the GPS,

YeuEmMaiMai

GPS uses true north vs magnetic north for compass. This is why when you get really far up north it is entirely possible for your compass and GPS to have 2 entirely different readings. Some compasses will need to be calibrated as you travel across the country as well. Most cars with a compass will require a figure 8 or 360 circle to calibrate them. Same for some phones

dirleton

But, my understanding is that with nav you don't have a "normal" compass which can be calibrated and set for zone. What you have is basically a GPS readout. And that's the problem.

mrgold35

I had to always set the vehicle compass to a zone in the good old days depending where in North America you lived. I never really thought about the calibration might be off and just figured the new navi systems should know your zone and adjust automatically. Have you tried comparing a regular compass readout to the Acura compass reading? It would be interesting to see how much of a difference they are off in the four cardinal directions for your location.

dirleton

Clearly an issue with the nav/gps which runs the compass. It reads N when driving due north but SSE when going in the opposite direction on the same stretch of road.

crwmlw

I myself have a 2014 MDX and the compass is showing the same thing for me. I have navigation as well and it doesnt seem the compass can be calibrated. When going North it shows North but going South on same road shows SSE, or when going West it shows SSW. I dont get it. Obviuosly im not the only one

dirleton

Apparently that's just how it is. Bring along your $8 Boy Scout compass when you drive your $45,000 car.