Why no compass or altitude on Rider 550?
Powerful Pierre
Registered Users Posts: 6 
Master Traveler
Master Traveler
I've been using my rider 550 for a year now and I'm generally pleased with it and over time I've learnt how to use it as the tool I require rather than have it dictate routes etc. It has never been as intuitive as the unit it replaced, which had IGO software and none of the gimmicks I can happily live without eg the 'plan a thrill' option. But what I am missing tho' is the compass and altitude functions - why aren't these basic functions included, surely such fundamental info should have been included on a GPS navigation tool? Even the basic satnav in my car has these functions included.
2
Comments
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Hi
@Powerful Pierre
It’s not a Compass as such, It's a Direction of travel indicator
It works on exactly the same principal as the one that Captain Jack Sparrow uses to navigate the Black Pearl
When you are driving the small Arrow head chevron, above the plus and minus signs points to your Direction of travel
If you imagine you are looking at a Paper Map of the World and your located in the UK
The North-Pole.... Is at the top & the arrow points Up
You're heading North
The South-Pole.... Is at the bottom & the arrow points Down
You're heading South
Canada.... Is on the Left (West) & the arrow points Left
You're heading West
China.... Is on the Right (East) & the arrow points Right
You're heading East
And obviously, all points of the compass in between, as in the example
Greenland....Is halfway between Up and Left & the arrow points 45 degrees between Up/Left
The arrow is pointing 45 degrees Up/Left
You're heading North West
ATB YFM1 -
Well now, there's a thing! Learn something new every day....can't say I'd ever noticed that arrow moving but just run a track and can now see what it does.....but why are they so coy about it? Its pretty crude but better than nowt!
So that one's solved, now how about the altitude? Don't tell me that's hidden somewhere as well!
Cheers mate!1 -
Altitude is missing on all Tomtom model!1
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Is that it?
Seems like a glaring omission of a basic function on a satnav device!0 -
GPS derived altitude is something that is certainly of interest to motorcycle riders ('cause we're out there exposed to the elements, and temperature changes with altitude), but it's not something that is of interest to very many automobile drivers.
It's also something that is of no interest at all to Dutch people, because the altitude is always either 0 or something below zero when riding in Netherlands
(OK, maybe Limburg excepted), and as we all know, TomTom is a Dutch company.
My guess is that all TomTom devices use a common software package for the user interface and drawing the screen, and it might be cumbersome to modify the software for just one device (the motorcycle-oriented Rider) in order to display altitude.
Michael1 -
I need help regarding the compass feature. I have the tomtom model 4GD00 for motorcyle. The compass arrow moves as described (around depending upon which direction I am going. So, if I am heading south the arrow would point the opposite directon etc. My problem is - i am blind. I cannot read that tiny little arrow while operating my bike. I want to enlarge it in some way so that I can just glance and travel which ever direction based upon view. What would be even better is if there was an option to just view a compass. Do you know if it can be enlarged or if i can buy this kind of option?0
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Hi
@RodgersThat
Welcome to the site....
Sorry but you can't change the size the direction of travel pointer....
I have varifocal lenses in my glasses....
I can easily see Rider 550 Compass and the Road Ahead....
Stay Safe... ATB YFM1
