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Does the 396 have a compass on it? I want to travel and know which is West

A couple of things based on my quick review of 2 days of ownership.

Lower right corner of map display window, there is a wrench for settings and a button just to the left. Touch and hold that button and a menu will show to change the options view in the button.The first option is Direction, this will show like NW, SE, etc what ever direction you are traveling.

The other option is from the main screen select Settings, Map & Vehicle, Driving Map View, there are three options one of those may help. Select Track Up and a small north arrow will show in lower left of map view.

Press the buttons and see what happens. I don't think you can really break anything.

twowheelstom wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 4:28 pm Does the 396 have a compass on it? I want to travel and know which is West

All garmin devices I have Streetpilot 2610, Nav IV, 340, 390 and XT can tell you what direction you are traveling in and have a compass. According to Page 19 of the manual for the 396 it has a compass app as well. But like all the rest you need to be moving for it to give you a heading as it relies on the satellite signals to determine your direction of travel rather than a magnetic compass.

I would buy a handlebar compass but some sites say that the compass won't work when it's next to steel handlebars

Any of the devices will tell you what direction you are going in. If you want to know what direction you are about to head when stationary why not take a hiking compass and stick it in your pocket?

Mzokk wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 6:22 pm If you want to know what direction you are about to head when stationary why not take a hiking compass and stick it in your pocket?

not to look at a compass when stationary, but when riding a motorcycle down the road and coming to a corner, left is South? right is North? dunno, reach into the pocket and pull out a compass to check? I can hear a truck horn behind me making me nervous being stationary in the middle of the road, meaning, pocket compass is not practical

No but your sat nav will tell you what direction you are going in when you are moving as mentioned above. I thought you might want to know what direction you were pointing when stationary. The Sat Nav can't tell you that...... until you move. To be fair if you want to head west in the morning then sun will be at your back at midday to your left and in the evening in your face

twowheelstom wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:43 pm

Mzokk wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 6:22 pm If you want to know what direction you are about to head when stationary why not take a hiking compass and stick it in your pocket?

not to look at a compass when stationary, but when riding a motorcycle down the road and coming to a corner, left is South? right is North? dunno, reach into the pocket and pull out a compass to check? I can hear a truck horn behind me making me nervous being stationary in the middle of the road, meaning, pocket compass is not practical

To me, I wouldn't be looking for a compass. I'd be looking for the XT's "touch screen, then touch arrow". That tells me what direction I'm facing, moving or not.

I fully understand the desire for knowledge of North, South, East, and West when riding and driving. It is so strong in me that I keep my XT map in North Up mode. I admit that sometimes, when riding South, I will mindlessly follow the magenta line and turn the direction the line goes on the map. Fortunately that is rare, and a little scary since it is an indication that my mind was not fully engaged. I'm OK with it happening though. My sense of direction need far outweighs the inconvenience of an occasional turn in the wrong direction.

I see no problem to look at the screen and see where I'm going to. So, if it says W, then I know that North is on right, and South is on left. If it says NW I know that South is not fully behind me to the left, and the North is just a bit to the right... And so on.
If you want to see a full round compass - Apps/Compass