OPERATION MANUAL

Z 250

DIGITALVEHICLECOMPASS
Making Ordinary Products Extraordinary
CONGRATULATIONS!
You have acquired one of the most
sophisticated compasses available for use in
a vehicle, RV or boat. The Wayfinder Z250
utilizes patented magnetic sensor technology
that was developed for the United States
Military to give you the most accurate
electronic compass headings. The built-in
compasses of GM, Ford, Chrysler and Bayliner
boats all use this same technology. The result
is unsurpassed compass performance.
Features
• Water resistant to a depth of 10 feet.
• Trip Timer logs in hours, minutes, and
seconds.
1
• Programmable automatic compass shut-
off.
• Programmable automatic backlight shut-
off.
• Distortion warning when magnetic
interference from outside sources is
affecting compass accuracy.
• 500 hour average battery life using 1
Lithium battery #2032 (included).
• One-year limited warranty.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Modes, Buttons and Display . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Timer Mode
Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Resetting the Wayfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Steps to use the Timer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Installing the Wayfinder Changing the Battery
Installation guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Steps to change the Battery . . . . . . . .19
Windshield mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Adjusting the bracket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . .22
Removing compass from bracket . . . . 10
Service and Replacement . . . . . . . . . .24
Basic Mode
Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Compass Time-Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Backlight Time-Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

2
MODES, BUTTONS AND DISPLAY
Modes ENT Button (Enter)
The Wayfinder Z250 has 2 modes: Press ENT to select an option or value;
to begin/end calibration; to start/stop the
1. Basic compass: In this mode, cardinal point timer.
and numeric heading readouts appear. The
“BASIC” icon also appears in the upper Display
right corner.
Numeric Heading Readout
2. Timer: In this mode, cardinal point, timer, Heading is displayed in 1° increments from
and numeric heading readouts appear. 0° to 359°.
There is no icon showing for this mode.
Cardinal Points Readout
Buttons Heading is displayed in one of 8 cardinal
ADV Button (Advance) points (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW).
Press ADV to turn the Wayfinder on or to
change from Basic mode to Timer mode.
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MODES, BUTTONS AND DISPLAY
Timer Readout
The Timer is a standard counter that records
a maximum of 99 hours, 59 minutes, and
59 seconds. The Wayfinder can be used
as a timer while still maintaining accurate
compass readings.
“DISTORTION” Icon
The Wayfinder detects when outside magnetic
interference is compromising compass
accuracy and displays the “DISTORTION”
icon in the upper left corner. Distortion
occurs when there has been a significant
change in the surrounding magnetic fields,
such as when you are driving underneath an
4
overpass or over a bridge. The steel in these
structures causes inaccurate readings in any
magnetic compass, but the Wayfinder detects
this interference and alerts you.
Backlight
The Wayfinder uses an electro-luminescent
backlight to illuminate the display, making it
easily visible at night. Pressing the ADV and
ENT buttons at the same time turns the back-
light on or off. The backlight has a program-
mable shut-off, which turns the backlight off
after it has been on for a specified period of
time. To conserve battery power, the backlight
should be turned off when not in use.
 BUTTONS AND
MODES, BUTTONS AND DISPLAY
DISPLAY
“DISTORTION” Cardinal Point Numeric Heading BASIC Mode Icon
Icon Readout Readout

DISTORTION BASIC

ADV button ENT button

5
RESETTING THE WAYFINDER
Resetting the Wayfinder will briefly illuminate. The Wayfinder
A manual reset has been added to the Way- must now be recalibrated.
finder. Resetting the unit erases everything 3. If you decide not to reset the compass,
that is stored in memory including calibra- press the ADV button to exit reset
tion, the automatic shut-off values, and timer mode.
settings. Resetting the Wayfinder should only
be done when you want to completely erase 4. If “rESET” flashes for 30 seconds and
the memory. neither button is pressed, the Wayfinder
will exit reset mode and nothing will be
To reset the Wayfinder: erased.
1. Press and hold ADV and ENT at the
same time for 10 seconds and “rESET”
should flash.
2. Press the ENT button to reset the
compass. All the segments on the display
6
INSTALLING THE WAYFINDER
Installation guidelines fixed after calibration for the heading to
• Choose a place on the windshield that will remain accurate (see illustration).
not obstruct the driver’s view and is within
reach so the buttons are easy to push.
Make sure the windshield surface is clean.
Once installed, the face of the compass

ld
hie
20° maximum up tilt

s
nd
must be pointing toward the rear of the

Wi
20° maximum down tilt
vehicle.
• The unit can be tilted up or down a
Dashboard
maximum of 20° from the horizontal
plane. If tilted more than ±20°, the
heading information after calibration • The accuracy of the Wayfinder will be
may not be accurate. The selected angle diminished by a strong magnetic field,
from the horizontal plane must stay such as that found in proximity to an
7
INSTALLING THE WAYFINDER
audio speaker. It is recommended that
the unit be mounted 5 or more inches
away from stereo speakers.
Windshield Mounting:
1. Install the suction cups into the mounting
bracket by sliding them into their holes
2. Press the suction cup base firmly against
the windshield. If necessary, apply a
thin layer of petroleum jelly to improve
suction cup grip.
3. Adjust the bracket angle to ±20° as shown
in the diagram on page 7.
8
Adjusting the Bracket
The Wayfinder has an adjustable bracket
which rotates 180°. To adjust the bracket,
press the two buttons on the back of the
compass. Pressing the two buttons squeezes
the arms of the bracket together allowing it
to be rotated. After adjusting the angle of
bracket, let go of the buttons and the bracket
will lock into place.
Removing Compass from Bracket
To remove the compass from the bracket, press
the two buttons on the back of the compass,
which squeezes the arms of the bracket. This
INSTALLING THE WAYFINDER
allows the compass to be gently pulled out Do not leave the Wayfinder in a parked
of the bracket. Removing only the compass vehicle that is likely to be exposed to
and not the bracket assures the compass will extremely hot or cold temperatures.
be mounted in the same location as it was
previously. When reinstalling the compass,
make sure the angle of the Wayfinder in the
bracket is the same as it was before iremoval in
order to avoid recalibrating the unit.

The Wayfinder must be calibrated upon

initial use, as well as recalibrated
anytime the compass has been moved
to a different location or the angle
adjusted.
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HEADER
BASIC MODE
The Wayfinder must be in Basic mode to use
any of the features described in this section.
Features
The Basic mode provides the current com-
pass heading and allows you to program your
compass.
Within the Basic mode there are three
programmable functions:
1. Calibration: the compass is calibrated to
compensate for magnetic fields.
2. Compass Shut-Off: the compass shut-off
value is selected.
3. Backlight Shut-Off: the backlight shut-off
10
value is selected.
Calibration
Calibration allows the unit to separate the
earth’s magnetic field from the magnetic
fields generated by external influences, such as
your vehicle, and therefore provide accurate
heading information.
Before beginning calibration, the unit must be
mounted in the location where it will be used
in your vehicle. Calibration is best performed
on a level section of pavement, such as an
empty parking lot or a non-busy street. With
a marine vehicle, calibration is best performed
in a calm harbor or a marina.
BASIC
HEADERMODE
When to Calibrate :
The Wayfinder must be calibrated when:
1. It is being used for the first time.
2. It is being used in a different location
than it was previously calibrated in.
3. The “DISTORTION” icon displays con-
tinuously.
4. The battery is removed or replaced.
Steps to Calibrate :
1. Press ADV until the ”BASIC” icon is
displayed in the upper right corner.
2. Press and hold ADV and “CAL” will
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flash. This indicates you are now in
Calibration.
3. Press ENT, the backlight will
momentarily flash. Then the message
“TURN TWICE” will blink in the lower
right corner of the display.
4. With the compass mounted in your
vehicle, drive in two complete circles
and then press ENT. Calibration is
now complete and the compass heading
should be displayed.
The size of the circles, and the direction
your vehicle is pointing when beginning
or ending the circles does not matter.
HEADER
BASIC MODE
The circles do not need to be perfect
circles but must be completed in the
same direction and must be completed
in less than 2 minutes.
Compass Automatic Shut-Off
The Wayfinder has a programmable compass
shut-off feature. The default value for the
compass shut-off is 5 minutes, meaning
that after the compass has been on for 5
minutes without a button press, it will time-
out to a blank screen. The shut-off value is
programmable and can be set for 5, 15, 30,
60, or 90 minutes. You may also choose to
have the compass never shut-off by selecting
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“OFF” as the time-out value.
Steps to select the compass shut-off:
1. Press ADV until the “BASIC” icon is
displayed in the upper right corner.
2. Press and hold ADV and “CAL”
flashes.
3. Press ADV and the default value “C 05”
flashes. (C stands for compass and 5 is
five minutes.)
4. Press ENT, the numbers next to the “C”
should flash.
5. Press the ADV button to move through
the time-out selections: 5, 15, 30, 60,
HEADER
BASIC MODE
90 or OFF. Stop at your desired selection
for the compass time-out.
6. Press the ENT button once to set your
selected time-out and “C” and the select
time-out value should flash.
7. Press ADV twice to exit out of
programming mode. The display should
now be in Basic mode.
While in programming mode, you can
also set your backlight time-out. See the
Backlight Automatic Shut-Off section.
If at any time during programming no
button is pressed for 30 seconds, the
unit exits out of programming mode.
13
Backlight Automatic Shut-Off
The Wayfinder has a programmable time-out
for the backlight. The default shut-off value
is 10 seconds, meaning that after 10 seconds
the backlight will turn off. The shut-off can
be set at 10, 30, or 60 seconds. You may also
choose never have the backlight shut-off by
selecting “OFF”. The backlight can be turned
off at anytime by pressing both the ADV and
ENT buttons simultaneously.
The backlight uses significantly more power
than the compass itself, therefore it is
recommended the backlight be turned off
when it is not needed.
HEADER
BASIC MODE
Steps to select the backlight shut-off :
1. Press the ADV button until the “BASIC”
icon is displayed in the upper right
corner.
2. Press and hold the ADV button and
“CAL” flashes.
3. Press the ADV button two more times
(In this case “L” stands for light and 10 is
ten seconds.)
4. Press the ENT button. The numbers next
to the “L” should flash.
5. Press the ADV button to step through
the shut-off selections: 10, 30, 60, or OFF.
14
Stop at your desired selection for the
backlight time-out.
6. Press the ENT button once to set your
selected time-out and “L” and the select
time-out value should flash.
7. Press ADV twice to exit from
programming mode. The display should
now be in Basic mode.
If at any time during programming no
button is pressed for 30 seconds, the unit
exits out of programming mode.
The unit must be in Timer to use any of
the features described in this section.
HEADER
TIMER MODE
Features
The timer is a standard counter that logs a
maximum of 99 hours, 59 minutes and 59
seconds, “99:59:59”. The Wayfinder can be
used as a compass while still using the timer.
When counting, the timer starts at “00:00:00”.
If the timer reaches its maximum, it resets to
“00:00:00” and begins to count up again. The
counter can be paused, and restarted at any
time.
15
Steps to use the timer :
1. Press the ADV button until “00:00:00”
is shown in the center of the compass
display.
2. Press the ENT button to start the timer.
3. Press the ENT button to pause the timer.
4. Press the ENT button to restart the timer
from the paused position. The timer
starts counting where it previously left
off.
5. Press and hold the ENT button from
the paused position to reset the timer to
zero.
HEADER
TIMER MODE
The timer can be paused any number of
times. The timer will continue to run even
though the Wayfinder is in a different mode
or has timed-out. The timer will continue to
run until it is paused or reset.
Battery life of the Wayfinder is dependent
upon usage, but on average the battery life is
500 hours. The battery should be changed
when the display is dim or blank, or when the
backlight flickers. Using the backlight drains
significantly more power than the compass
alone. Therefore, to maximize battery life,
use the backlight only when necessary.
16
The Wayfinder uses one Lithium coin cell
battery (3 volt), #2032. These can be found
at most major retailers who carry batteries.
Removal requires the use of a small Phillips
screwdriver (PH 1 or #1 Phillips)
Steps to Change the Battery :
1. Place the compass on a solid surface with
the display facing down.
2. Hold the compass firmly, and completely
remove all four screws from the case
rear.
3. Remove the case rear and set aside. This
exposes the printed circuit board (PCB)
HEADER
CHANGING THE BATTERY
and the battery. Do not disturb the
rubber seal that is resting on the case
front.
4. Remove the battery. Do not remove the
PCB; it is held in place with friction pins
and must be left in the case front to
maintain proper alignment with other
components. This is necessary to ensure
a water-tight seal.
5. Insert a new battery over the large (1/2”
round) gold pad on the PCB. Note
polarity as shown on PC: positive (+)
side of battery must be facing up/away
from the PCB. Three pins protrude
17
through the PCB and hold the battery in
place. Make sure these are intact and the
battery is situated inside these pins.
6. Replace case rear onto the case front.
Make sure the screw holes are aligned
properly since they are not symmetrical.
7. Press case halves firmly to inspect around
the rubber seal. There should be a
smooth, gap-free interface between the
plastic and rubber parts.
8. Insert case screws and tighten until the
rubber seal produces a slight bulge; this
ensures that you have applied enough
HEADER
CHANGING THE BATTERY
pressure to maintain a water-tight seal.
9. The display should function properly at
this point. If it does not, remove the
battery, wait several seconds, and reinsert
the battery.
Back Cover
10. Since the battery has been removed, it is
necessary to re-calibrate the Wayfinder.

PCB Board

Lithium
Battery

Front Cover

18
HEADER
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How does the Wayfinder work?
The Wayfinder uses a patented magnetic sensor
technology that was developed by PNI Corpo-
ration for the U.S. military. This technology is
called “magneto-inductive” and is the largest
advance in compass technology since the flux
gate was invented 60 years ago. The earth gener-
ates a magnetic field, and through a mathemati-
cal calculation, compass heading is determined.
The magneto-inductive technology is able to
electronically sense the difference in the earth’s
field from your vehicle’s magnetic field. Mag-
neto-inductive sensor technology has many
advantages over other technologies including
better performance, consuming less power, and
19
being less expensive. These advantages have
made magneto-inductive sensor technology the
choice for many high-profile compass applica-
tions including GM, Ford, and Chrysler auto-
mobiles, Bayliner boats, and Timex watches.
How do I read the display?
The Wayfinder displays direction in 2 dif-
ferent formats: cardinal points and numeric
digits (325º, 330º, etc.). The 8 cardinal points
of a compass (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW)
give you a general sense of direction. The
numeric digits show your exact direction in 1
degree increments.
HEADER
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When do I need to calibrate the Wayfinder?
The Wayfinder needs to be calibrated when
used for the first time in a vehicle, when used
in a different location in the same vehicle,
when moved to a different vehicle or when the
battery was removed. The Wayfinder requires
re-calibration when the “DISTORTION” icon
displays in the upper left corner or when there
has been a change to your vehicle, such as the
installation of a new stereo.
What does it mean when the “DISTOR-
TION” icon displays in the upper left
corner?
“DISTORTION” indicates magnetic distor-
20
tion. Many things generate external magnetic
fields causing compass inaccuracy, including
metal and electronics. The Wayfinder senses
any significant change in magnetic fields. “DIS-
TORTION” may display briefly when driving
over a bridge, under an overpass, over railroad
tracks, or within close proximity to something
with a strong magnetic field. Once the vehicle
has moved away from the source of interfer-
ence, the “DISTORTION” icon dissapears. If
the “DISTORTION” icon is continuously dis-
played in the upper left corner, it is usually a
sign that there has been a significant change in
magnetic fields, and calibration is necessary.
HEADER & REPLACEMENT
SERVICE
Customer Service
Please e-mail customer service department
at customerservice@pnicorp.com or call us
between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
(PST) Monday through Friday, with your
questions.
Warranty Service
For the fastest service, it is best to contact
or return your unit to the place of purchase
within 30 days of the purchase. After the first
30 days of purchase, you may return the unit
to PNI Corporation for repair or replacement
by following these instructions:
1. Obtain a return merchandise authoriza-
21
tion (RMA) number by contacting PNI
Corporation.
• By phone: (888) 422-6672 (toll-free
within the U.S.A. only) or at (707)
566-2260
• By fax: (707) 566-2261
• By e-mail: returns@pnicorp.com
2. Provide a proof of purchase, such as
a mechanical reproduction or carbon
copy of a sales receipt. If you send your
original receipt, it cannot be returned.
Proof of purchase must show printed
date of purchase, model number, and
HEADER & REPLACEMENT
SERVICE
place of purchase.
Once you have acquired an RMA number,
pack the unit securely to prevent damage
in transit. If possible, use the original
packing material and box. Be sure to send
the entire product.
3. Ship prepaid and insured by way of a
traceable carrier, such as United Parcel
Service (UPS), Roadway Parcel Service
(RPS), or First Class Mail to avoid loss in
transit.
4. Write the issued RMA number on the
outside of your package and send your
22
proof of purchase and description of the
problem to the following address:
PNI Corporation
5464 Skylane Blvd., Suite A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403-1084
Type or print your name and address
where the replacement should be
delivered. After receipt of your documents
and unit PNI will test it and, depending
on the severity of the problem, either
repair or replace the unit. Please allow 2
to 3 weeks from receipt of your returned
product to delivery of your replacement.
HEADER WARRANTY; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
LIMITED
PNI Corporation manufactures its products
from parts and components that are new
or equivalent to new in performance and
warrants to the original user that this product
will be free of defects in workmanship and
materials for one (1) year from the date
of purchase. This warranty does not cover
wear and tear due to normal use, or damage
to the product as the result of improper
usage, neglect of care, alteration, accident, or
unauthorized repair.
If the product is found by PNI to be defective
and you have provided proof of purchase
acceptable to PNI, PNI’s entire liability and
23
your exclusive remedy for breach of warranty
shall be that PNI, at its option, will replace or
repair the product and return the replacement
or repaired product to you at no charge,
provided that you ship the product to PNI
at your expense. PNI warrants the repaired
or replaced product to be free from defects
in material and workmanship for a period of
the greater of: (i) ninety (90) days from the
date it is shipped to you; or (ii) the period of
time remaining on the original one (1) year
warranty.
THE FOREGOING WARRANTY IS GIVEN IN
LIEU OF AND PNI DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER
HEADER WARRANTY; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
LIMITED
WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS,
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, IN FACT OR IN
LAW, WITH RESPECT TO THIS PRODUCT,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
(1) THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND OF FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR (2)
THAT USE OF THE PRODUCT WILL BE
UNINTERRUPTED AND ERROR FREE.
PNI shall have no liability for any indirect
or speculative damages (including, but not
limited to, consequential, incidental, and
special damages) relating to the use of or
inability to use this product, whether arising
24
out of contract, negligence, tort, or under
any warranty theory, or for infringement of
any other party’s intellectual property rights,
irrespective of whether PNI had advance
notice of the possibility of any such damages,
including, but not limited to, loss of use,
revenue, or profit. In no event shall PNI’s
total liability for all claims regarding the
product exceed the price paid for the product.
PNI neither assumes nor authorizes anyone
to assume for it any other liabilities.
PNI Corporation www.pnicorp.com

11188 R02 1000063