Calibration of the compass - Hero, G2 Touch Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Is there any way to calibrate the compass ??
Mine seems to mostly point away from where I know north is.

The compass module works a specific way which renders calibration inapplicable.
It basically measures the field strength and direction of the local magnetic field and decides which way is north/south from that field. It's not like a magnet pointing north or south, it's aligning itself with the field direction. Yeh ok that's the same thing kinda, but it also isn't.
You can calibrate a compass by aligning the N and S with the needle when you're out in the open, where you know the compass is aligned with the earth's magnetic field. The compass in the Hero is showing you which way the local magnetic field is aligned, so it's always pointing magnetic north/south regardless of calibration.
I know that sounds vague, sorry. Basically a compass needle always points north/south, regardless of what value you put behind it to indicate north and south. The Hero compass module is the same. It aligns with field direction, and that IS north/south.
If you hold it near to a large metal object which changes the shape of the local magnetic field, you'll notice the Hero gets confused and asks you (in some applications) to wave the handset about until it re-calibrates itself ie. finds a consistent direction/intensity in field strength.
SO... if you are in an area which has a great magnetic variation (where the earth's magnetic field is not aligned with true north/south; here in Edinburgh I think it's about 4 degrees out) then your Hero will never point north. You're in shropshire so aside from local magnetic field anomalies, you may just have a wonky compass module.

Try a different compass apps, some of the others have calibration specific to themselves built in.

@switchbitch - many thanks for the detailed explanation makes sense.
Its does seem to vary a bit so I'll keep an eye on it.
@kiz - I already have a number of apps using the compass so will do a bit of experimenting.
cheers

I had a similar problem. Started looking for a calibration tool for the compass and came accross this video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP3d00Hr14o
It shows the iPhone in the video but it worked for my hero. Now Google SkyMap is actually working, befor it kept getting stuck pointing in one direction and was all jacked up. Even compas programs wouldn't point to any N S orientation. So the figure 8 trick works, and it works every time.
P.s. Sorry for the necro, if this has been resolved already, but it was the first thread that came up with a good search HTC Hero Compass Calibration. Hope it helps.

I use the app "Analog Compass" and that one has a calibrate option. I never tried that though, so don't know exactly if it's accurate and actually gives a good callibration. But it's worth a try (free anyway).
But as said before, if you're in an area where there might be magnetic variations it's not gonna help you. The app will merely 'calibrate' the difference between the value it gets from the sensor and what you set as the new north. So let's say north is couple degrees off (or hell, maybe your north points to south) and you calibrate it's no problem. As long as the magnetic thing keeps pointing to the same point. As soon as it's all over the place and keeps changing, calibration obviously won't help you at all.

Switchbitch said:
The compass module works a specific way which renders calibration inapplicable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, its always wrong. Even Googles skymap is pointing wrong.
Phone: "The moon is there!"
Me: "Eeh, no, the moon is there - 40 degrees to your right"
Since the output is wrong, there should be a way to calibrate it.

p0wd3r said:
I had a similar problem. Started looking for a calibration tool for the compass and came accross this video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP3d00Hr14o
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THANKS
this "8" really helped my hero pointing to north again (instead of east).
for whatever technical reason - it worked

p0wd3r said:
I had a similar problem. Started looking for a calibration tool for the compass and came accross this video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP3d00Hr14o
It shows the iPhone in the video but it worked for my hero. Now Google SkyMap is actually working, befor it kept getting stuck pointing in one direction and was all jacked up. Even compas programs wouldn't point to any N S orientation. So the figure 8 trick works, and it works every time.
P.s. Sorry for the necro, if this has been resolved already, but it was the first thread that came up with a good search HTC Hero Compass Calibration. Hope it helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. This helped with my Desire. Downloaded analog compass app and calibrated compass this way. Problem solved.

very useful
I had been looking for a way to calibrate my htc desire compass for months now, even deleted all apps but did not help. tried the calibration method in your video and now it works absolutely fine .. thanks a million

thx
krazeeshan said:
I had been looking for a way to calibrate my htc desire compass for months now, even deleted all apps but did not help. tried the calibration method in your video and now it works absolutely fine .. thanks a million
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thxxxxxxxx its working

Related

Calibration Sensor G

hi, some have encountered problems in the calibration of sesnsor G of htc hero? When i put my device in a Flatbed the for calibration the sensor is not completely blown. i can see it when i play with Teester. Thank you.
Dude without being rude I didn't understand a work of that
thenewshaft said:
Dude without being rude I didn't understand a work of that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I do the calibration of sensor G this is not accurate
I haven't found it pinpoint accurate but it does work for me. I use a program called bubble which acts as a spirit level & it seems fairly accurate to myself.
In what program are you finding your inaccuracies?
thenewshaft said:
I haven't found it pinpoint accurate but it does work for me. I use a program called bubble which acts as a spirit level & it seems fairly accurate to myself.
In what program are you finding your inaccuracies?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in the Teeter game. It comes with the phone as default. The "board" isn't leveled correctly. Just see for yourself; start the game and place the phone on the table and you will see the ball drifting by itself.
Hmmmm... even the game Labyrinth Lite (fråm the Market) the ball is drifting. I thought it was a software problem at first but when to programs behave the same way there is something going on.
Yeah, mines the same.
The bubbles appear to jump at the end of the calibration.
Whats more if I set the phone down on an angle deliberately, then the calibration doesn't correct it's almost as if its just a bit of animation and theres no actual calibration taking place.
On Teeter, the ball rolls towards the hTC logo and to the right hand side but more slowly.
One of the level apps I downloaded suggests it off by 2 degrees.
I'm running updated Orange firmware, but it was the same in the original.
Vince
yups, this is the same case for mine too. if i tilt it until the spirit level is "level", i can see the earpiece end of the phone will be higher than the speaker end.
The cool little app "Bubble" http://www.cyrket.com/package/bz.ktk.bubble has its own calibration. I think there's a fault in the underlying OS not reading the accelerometer correct or something... but it too isn't still when just having it on the table... the bubble is moving slightly...

[Q] Problem with compass or magnetic sensor

I have my SGS2 since two weeks and very pleased with it. All worked fine, also the compass or magnetic sensor.
I tried some custom ROMs but now use the original KE2 again. Since a couple of day I noticed that the magnetic compass does not work anymore. No movement at all. Also checked it with other apps (Google Skymap etc) but no compass.
I checked the sensor with code *#0*# and then select the sonsor tests. It shows MAGNETIC Sensor "Need for calibration" and the needle is stuck and indicates 0 degrees.
I have been trying to callibrate in many ways described on the net but without luck. Does anybody have an idea? or is the Magnetic sensor bad/damaged and should I send the SGS2 back?
Search works .
http://forum.xda-developers.com/search.php?searchid=74782950
jje
Mine is only a few degrees out. Using Stock KE7 XEU Rom.
Not too fussed tbh.
Magnetic sensor
Well, I read all what has been written on the magnetic sensor or compass on XDA developers and other forums. Learned a lot but nothing helped.
I would like to know a way to check if the sensor is bad.
I downloaded the compass app and checked my sensor.
I tried the program "Sensor Test / Plot" to check the sensors. No values at Magnetic field, Orientation, Gravity Sensor and Rotation Vector Sensor. It just says "Waiting" as the program probably does not receive any data.
Until now I beleive it is a sensor problem and not calibration. It could be a problem in the firmware as it occurred after flashing some ROMs. I tried all origianal Samsung ROMs again but without result, the compass stays stuck and phone doesn't know it's orientation.
erikcornelisse said:
I tried the program "Sensor Test / Plot" to check the sensors. No values at Magnetic field, Orientation, Gravity Sensor and Rotation Vector Sensor. It just says "Waiting" as the program probably does not receive any data.
Until now I beleive it is a sensor problem and not calibration. It could be a problem in the firmware as it occurred after flashing some ROMs. I tried all origianal Samsung ROMs again but without result, the compass stays stuck and phone doesn't know it's orientation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just downloaded the same app and all ok here.
I don't know what happened today but suddenly the magnetic sensor came alife. The test program is now giving readings and senses magnetic influences. Also the compas is showing some movement but is pointing always wrong. North is always down (towards me) and south always up (so compass indicating 180 degr). Rolling the phone causes the heading to change.
I tried calibrating the compass using several described methods and compass programs but without luck. I get tactile feedback of good calibration after figure 8 waving (using a standard compass program). When I start the app it notes that it senses an abnormal magnetic field and needs calibration.
I'm happy that the magnetic sensor seems to work again but I can't get it calibrated.
Problem solves, it was a bad magnetic sensor this time. The phone is under repair and I will get a new board inside. Hopefully I will have it back next week.
Problem indeed solved. Got the phone back with a new magnetic sensor
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Dial *#0*#.. select sensor... then hold ur device and move it in air so that it makes an 8... do it a couple of time... it will solve your problem...

Gyroscope not working

Hey Guys,
Just received my Prime in the UK today. It appears as though the gyroscope is not functioning. The device won't switch between landscape and portrait orientation and it also doesn't register the tilt controls in games like Glowball and Riptide. I've checked and auto-rotate screen setting is set to on. Does anyone have any suggestions or am I going to have to send the device back for an exchange?
Thanks in advance,
befcasr
Try androsensor from market. If the gyroscope graph doesn't show anything when rotating the device, you'll have to send it back.
And when you try it, have a look at "gps test" or "gps essentials" from market too
AndroSensor just says "Waiting for event" under Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetic Field and Orientation. I guess that means it's broke
befcasr said:
AndroSensor just says "Waiting for event" under Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetic Field and Orientation. I guess that means it's broke
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try a Factory Reset. It could be corruption.
Done a factory reset and it's still not working. Also discovered that the keyboard dock appears to be broken too. The tablet recognises that its docked, some of the shortcut keys along the top work but you can't use it to type text.
Isn't Asus cool company?
i'm also having problems with the accelerometer. It seems that mine is stuck moving to the bottom right corner.
I remember back when people use to knock on china made tablets lol, and now pretty much every tablet is made in china (even apple) and people are starting to just accept the horrid defects and lousy customer service.
Its sad really. Id return it if i was you and raise hell while your at it!
another app to use to check that sensor is Elixir2. I believe it can let you cut on and off the sensor also through there. not just cutting auto rotation on and off. its a free app n worth a shot. its the only app that shows the most details ever about any and every component, sensor, and firmware version. very detailed. take a look.
Items can be damaged in transit too. Not defending Asus but have you seen what fedex and ups does to packages sometime?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7Sb_r7BKTc
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201

[Q] Samsung galaxy s2 i9100 magnetic sensor needs calibartion

hi ,
i am on android 4.1.2 leaked version
i purchased a mobile phone with broken screen and replaced it so it has been falled earlier i dont whether the magnetic sensor was working earlier or not
on android ics the autorotation feature was also not working and in jb it is also not working
before writing this thread i have already looked 50-60 of similar threads havings problems with different sensors and autorotation but didnt got solution anywhere
in *#0*# test under sensor everything is giving reading except magnetic sensor it is saying it needs calibration but where and how i dont know
if the hardware has fault in my phone than any one can please tell me where is magnetic sensor in the motherboard so i could do change it
under the motion>sesitivity in jb there is gyroscope calibration option in which its ball is not moving anywhere while moving the phone on the different axis but it is saying calibrated on putting it on flat surface and saying some file missing if we do calibrtion by putting phone in hands.........
in the application gps status each thing is showing readings only the magnetic field and the centre ball in the middle not moving
so is there is any real solution for this problem.............
irbaaz said:
hi ,
i am on android 4.1.2 leaked version
i purchased a mobile phone with broken screen and replaced it so it has been falled earlier i dont whether the magnetic sensor was working earlier or not
on android ics the autorotation feature was also not working and in jb it is also not working
before writing this thread i have already looked 50-60 of similar threads havings problems with different sensors and autorotation but didnt got solution anywhere
in *#0*# test under sensor everything is giving reading except magnetic sensor it is saying it needs calibration but where and how i dont know
if the hardware has fault in my phone than any one can please tell me where is magnetic sensor in the motherboard so i could do change it
under the motion>sesitivity in jb there is gyroscope calibration option in which its ball is not moving anywhere while moving the phone on the different axis but it is saying calibrated on putting it on flat surface and saying some file missing if we do calibrtion by putting phone in hands.........
in the application gps status each thing is showing readings only the magnetic field and the centre ball in the middle not moving
so is there is any real solution for this problem.............
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To ur last statement:
It seems like it's not working any longer, that's why the "ball" while calibration don't move.
After a few seconds it says calibrated because that it set the actual position as default.
That's why while a normal calibration u lay the phone on a table or kind of it - next time the point is in the middle of this position.
Hope this makes a bit clear why it seems to be defect.
Because changing anything in hardware, I can't give any reply, sorry.
CHEERS
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Hannibal226 said:
To ur last statement:
It seems like it's not working any longer, that's why the "ball" while calibration don't move.
After a few seconds it says calibrated because that it set the actual position as default.
That's why while a normal calibration u lay the phone on a table or kind of it - next time the point is in the middle of this position.
Hope this makes a bit clear why it seems to be defect.
Because changing anything in hardware, I can't give any reply, sorry.
CHEERS
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
didnt get exactly
is hardware defect according to you????????????
irbaaz said:
didnt get exactly
is hardware defect according to you????????????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep for me it seems to be a hardware defect.
U just try to point out why
But anyway I can't help u then, sorry.
CHEERS
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
if any one has repair solution for this than please let me know because i had visited the samsung service center and they are saying its motion ic has to change and the charges are 30$
so i am looking for a cheap way to sort it

[Q] Problem with Compass / Magnetic Sensor

Hello!
Since about 2 weeks i own a new Samsung Galaxy S II i9100.
Everything is working good except the compass.
With any compass app or the GPS Test app the compass just seems to do whatever it wants.
On Google Maps app it seems to sometimes show east and west correctly but inverted, and north and south don't work at all. If i point the phone for example from east to north its just not moving or directly jumping to south. Sometimes its turning quite correctly but the other way around, for example when i turn to left, the arrow in google maps turns right.
Now i just found out that if i hold the phone above my head with the display pointing to the ground, the compass in Google Maps and all compass apps work perfectly.
In the sensor check at *#0*# the Magnetic Sensor has a "3" and seems to work good. Also whenever i hold a magnet near it, it points in that direction. No matter wich way i hold the phone.
I made hundrets of 8's in the air already to calibrate it.
I factory resetted it alot of times and used other firmwares without success.
I have this issue with stock roms of 2.3 GB, ICS and the new spanish official Jelly Bean.
I already tried to use libraries from other firmwares without sucess (/system/lib/libakm.so and /system/lib/hw/sensors.xxx.so).
They all work but they work as explained above.
I have no custom phone cases and nothing is made of metal or magnets, everything is original as it came out of the box. I didnt change a thing.
Any ideas or is it a hardware problem?
Thanks in advance for any useful answers.
Econvoil actions
No ideas?
I had a simillar problem like with accelerometer sensor .
Just go with your phone at a service and ask for a recalibration of gyroscope.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

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