Looking for a sensitive magnetometer (breadboard compatible)

[Obin]

Wow it's been ages since i've been on this forum! It looks like i'm searching for something that's pretty hard to find, so I thought to use the collective EEVbrain to help me in this endeavour.

For my students (basic course for the first year of college) I'm making some basic analog circuits for them to build and become familiar with different concepts. I had the idea to let them build a compass, that lights an LED when they point their board north, roughly. But to achieve this, I need a PDIP (or something breadboard compatible, prefferably) magnetometer with an analog out, capable of measuring the earth's magnetic field.
I've tried one in a TO-92 package from TI, but it appeared to be a normal hall effect sensor. (Amplifying the cr*p out of the output to make it more sensitive didn't work, worth the try  )
Anyone familiar with a component that could work for this?
I was thinking of something like Power supply -> magnetometer -> comparator -> LED (again, first years)

Thanks!

[ledtester]

But to achieve this, I need a PDIP (or something breadboard compatible, prefferably) magnetometer with an analog out, capable of measuring the earth's magnetic field.

If you find an SMD component how about making your own through-hole adaptor using breakout boards like:

https://www.amazon.com/KeeYees-Adapter-SOT223-TQFP100-2-54mm/dp/B085L8SK7Z/

There are flying lead devices like:

https://www.wuntronic.de/en/fluxgate-magnetometer-with-analog-output.html

but I suspect they are going to be expensive.

[Obin]

Yes, ideally the component would not be very expensive (<5 euros/piece). The destructive nature of electronics students can be unforgiving 

[eugene]

Since they started putting one of these in every cell phone, they've become inexpensive and plentiful. The problem is that most of them are in tiny packages and use a digital interface (I2C or SPI) though I know that analog versions do exist. Fortunately, the maker community likes things like this, so the vendors that support makers with Arduinos, etc make break-out boards with them installed. The largest in the US is Adafruit, but there are others, probably in your country. Or at least someone that retails things like this.

EDIT: not all of these are sensitive enough to use as a compass. Make sure you know what you're buying.

[rooppoorali]

You can consider Adafruit LSM9DS0 https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-lsm9ds0-accelerometer-gyro-magnetometer-9-dof-breakouts