# Analog output fluxgate or other electronic compass **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 4, 2006, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-output-fluxgate-or-other-electronic-compass/375239 "2006-10-04T14:19:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-output-fluxgate-or-other-electronic-compass/375239/1 "2006-10-04T14:19:40Z")
I’m trying to find an electronic compass with analog output. I’m building a sort of trail surveying device that logs distance, direction and GPS data as you wheel it along, but haven’t found the right affordable compass. The digital compasses won’t work because I can’t record their signal. I have 2 channels of RS232 recording ability and they are consumed by a general purpose A/D board and the GPS module. I do have channels of A/D available, and the very common analog output version of these compasses would have been perfect but I can’t find anybody selling them anymore because digital is better or something. Web searches turn up loads of digital systems whose displays are “analog” (actually digital screens showing representations of pointing needles). Of course this won’t do it. I’ve also found a few things that would be perfect but cost $500 up. I’m looking for something around $100 or less. A typical reasonable output would be two or three signals for orthagonal field measurements. I can happily do the transformation into a direction later during data analysis. Anybody know of one? Jeez, there used to be plenty of them for $20, $50 or more. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-output-fluxgate-or-other-electronic-compass/375239/2 "2006-10-04T14:35:14Z")
> **[PNI Sensor](https://www.pnicorp.com/)** > > PNI Sensor is the world’s foremost expert in precision location, motion tracking, and fusion of sensor systems into real-world applications. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-output-fluxgate-or-other-electronic-compass/375239/3 "2006-10-04T14:48:08Z")
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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-output-fluxgate-or-other-electronic-compass/375239/4 "2006-10-04T14:50:22Z")
[QUOTE=Napier] they are consumed by a general purpose A/D board and the GPS module. [/QUOTE] If you’ve already got a handy 5 volt source, can’t you just buy a cheap ADC chip and wire it up to your digital compass output? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-output-fluxgate-or-other-electronic-compass/375239/5 "2006-10-04T14:55:58Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] If you’ve already got a handy 5 volt source, can’t you just buy a cheap ADC chip and wire it up to your digital compass output? [/QUOTE] I think you mean DAC. 😉 I think Napier is trying to minimize the cost and complexity of the system, so the simplest & fastest solution is to use a compass w/ analog output. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-output-fluxgate-or-other-electronic-compass/375239/6 "2006-10-04T14:56:46Z")
And by ADC, I _actually_ mean DAC :smack: ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-output-fluxgate-or-other-electronic-compass/375239/7 "2006-10-04T17:41:44Z")
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