A method for measuring an external field by a plurality of magnetic sense elements (202, 203, 204, 205, 212, 213, 214, 215), the method comprising: applying a first reset current pulse to a first current line (414, 424) adjacent to each of the magnetic sense elements (202, 203, 204, 205, 212, 213, 214, 215)in a first group for creating a first reset magnetic field pulse; applying a first stabilization current to the first current line (414, 424) adjacent each of the magnetic sense elements (202, 203, 204, 205, 212, 213, 214, 215) in a first group for creating a first stabilization field; determining an external field component in a direction as sensed by circuitry coupled to the magnetic sense elements (202, 203, 204, 205, 212, 213, 214, 215) in the first group; characterized by determining, on the basis of the determining the external field component, at least one of a second reset current pulse and a second stabilization current for creating a second reset magnetic field pulse and a second stabilization field, respectively, for application to a second group of sense elements (202, 203, 204, 205, 212, 213, 214, 215) as compared to a default reset magnetic field pulse and a default stabilization field, respectively; applying to a second current line (414, 424) adjacent to each of the second group of sense elements (202, 203, 204, 205, 212, 213, 214, 215) at least one of the second reset current pulse for measuring external field direction and magnitude, or the second stabilization current while measuring an external field direction and magnitude utilizing the second group of magnetic sense elements (202, 203, 204, 205, 212, 213, 214, 215); and measuring the external field direction and magnitude utilizing magnetic sense elements (202, 203, 204, 205, 212, 213, 214, 215) in a second group; wherein some or all of the sense elements (202, 203, 204, 205, 212, 213, 214, 215) in the first group may be in the second group. applying a first reset current pulse to a first current line (414, 424) adjacent to each of the magnetic sense elements (202, 203, 204, 205, 212, 213, 214, 215)in a first group for creating a first reset magnetic field pulse; applying a first stabilization current to the first current line (414, 424) adjacent each of the magnetic sense elements (202, 203, 204, 205, 212, 213, 214, 215) in a first group for creating a first stabilization field; determining an external field component in a direction as sensed by circuitry coupled to the magnetic sense elements (202, 203, 204, 205, 212, 213, 214, 215) in the first group; characterized by determining, on the basis of the determining the external field component, at least one of a second reset current pulse and a second stabilization current for creating a second reset magnetic field pulse and a second stabilization field, respectively, for application to a second group of sense elements (202, 203, 204, 205, 212, 213, 214, 215) as compared to a default reset magnetic field pulse and a default stabilization field, respectively; applying to a second current line (414, 424) adjacent to each of the second group of sense elements (202, 203, 204, 205, 212, 213, 214, 215) at least one of the second reset current pulse for measuring external field direction and magnitude, or the second stabilization current while measuring an external field direction and magnitude utilizing the second group of magnetic sense elements (202, 203, 204, 205, 212, 213, 214, 215); and measuring the external field direction and magnitude utilizing magnetic sense elements (202, 203, 204, 205, 212, 213, 214, 215) in a second group; wherein some or all of the sense elements (202, 203, 204, 205, 212, 213, 214, 215) in the first group may be in the second group.