I'm looking at getting a Cobra 3 but a little concerned about the digital compass. I currently use an SK7 which is easily readable at almost any angle. Old school but reliable. How does the digital 3D compass in the Cobra 3 compare?
Suunto Cobra 3 3D compass
- Thread starter openhelix
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I have one and it is fantastic. I found with my SK-7 I was forever tilting it and shaking it to stop it sticking. The Cobra 3 gives you a bearing no matter what the tilt. The only problem that I have is the time it stays on. This is adjustable, but once you have turned compass on you can't turn it off ie. back to dive screen,you just have to wait for the time to elapse. I love having one less piece of equipment.
altaskier
Contributor
I have the Cobra 3 too, and am quite happy with how the compass works. You can really tilt it around and it still works quite well. You can switch the screen between compass and dive mode using the up/down buttons (I think); you don't have to wait for the compass display mode to time out. That's described in the manual, which is available for download from Suunto's web site.
By the way, I had a hard time calibrating the compass the very first time. At first I tried it while holding the thing and turning 360 degrees, but could never get that to work (presumably because it wasn't rock-steady level in my hand) and I was contemplating taking it back. What then worked for me was to set it on a wooden table top, away from any iron, and slowly spin it 360 degrees while holding it very flat. The calibration sequence then asks you to tilt it up by 90 degrees, and slowly picking it up by hand worked fine. Once I got the first calibration to work, subsequent recalibrations have been quite easy.
It's a great computer, and MacDive knows how to talk to it! (Version 1.5.1 times out the first time; ignore the error message and try again).
By the way, I had a hard time calibrating the compass the very first time. At first I tried it while holding the thing and turning 360 degrees, but could never get that to work (presumably because it wasn't rock-steady level in my hand) and I was contemplating taking it back. What then worked for me was to set it on a wooden table top, away from any iron, and slowly spin it 360 degrees while holding it very flat. The calibration sequence then asks you to tilt it up by 90 degrees, and slowly picking it up by hand worked fine. Once I got the first calibration to work, subsequent recalibrations have been quite easy.
It's a great computer, and MacDive knows how to talk to it! (Version 1.5.1 times out the first time; ignore the error message and try again).
Thanks altaskier you have taught me something about my computer. The UP/DOWN buttons toggle between the alternative displays, while in Compass mode ie. shows either Current time, depth or tank pressure (Down button) or Bearing, temperature or dive time (Up button), however a short press of the MODE button switches it back to dive mode. Maybe you can help with one other minor issue, I have been unable to work out how to turn backlight on permanently, useful for night dives even if it uses more battery power.
altaskier
Contributor
From my reading of page 12 of the manual, the most you can do is to make it stay on for 60 seconds each time you tickle it. But can't you shine your dive light on the display and make it glow enough to read for a while?
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