Hello Developers,
I bought a Galaxy 5.0 for my brother and we love it. One problem we have though, the compass doesn't properly, I hear because of the 2.3 upgrade. I've rooted it with enropy's daily driver and I've played with some roms, (CM9 ) But I'm looking for a rom that has a working compass that is at least relatively stable. I would even consider downgrading to 2.2. A bug fix from Samsung probably wont come, so a fix from here is much more likely.
We tried to use the player as a gps and the map kept spinning because of the compass.
The software we use for the gps is Copilot.
Any ideas?
the compass on google maps/navigation works fine for me on gingerbread. have you tried that?
The map looks fine, but the pointer may spin in many different directions or stay in one direction. The other app I used, spins the entire map based on the compass, so it became unusable for pedestrian directions.
try turning on sensor aiding on the location and security menu in settings. (mine was unchecked, i checked it and got a super fast lock on my location) if its already on, try it without. you may be near some magnetic fields that are screwing with your gps.
Hey, thanks for the tip. I already tried it with both the box checked and un-checked, and still no help. Here's a video I found on youtube with someone with the same problem. youtube.com/watch?v=PnPU4UV_ywI[/url]
that happens to me sometimes but i just put it on a flat surface and wait until the gps icon on the status bar stops flashing and its usually fine.
if your arrow doesn't stop moving or the gps icon doesn't lock after maybe 3mins then the issue might be the whole magnetic field thing.
The compass on other devices I used in the same place worked perfectly well, and putting it on a flat surface doesn't really do much to help it, because it become erratic again when you pick it back up. It's more apparent in any compass app. On my phone, it always points north, even if I spin or move. On the SGP5 it just points to a direction and stays there , then jumps to other directions that are wrong.
I've noticed the same thing. I don't think it's a matter of finding "the right thing to try". I suspect that it's either the device or Samsung's implementation. I hope for a Kies update someday.
Yeah, but I heard it worked before the gingerbread update. I wish I know, but mine came with gingerbread already installed.
so did mine. although i didn't spend much time on stock before i switched to another rom. Right now I'm running my own custom rom that I may release to the public when I think its perfect, you may try that once its released since I told you myself I have no issues. If you want an immediate solution you can try these off the top of my head:
- go to task manager > maps > wipe data
- reflash gapps (20110828 gb version)
- clear cache/dalvik in cwm
I'm probably dumb and maybe that has nothing to do with fixing it but hey, if you haven't tried it already....
Try waving the device around in a figure 8 (Only using your wrist to do the motion) . I know... weird but it helps with the spinning compass issue.
Sent from my YP-G70 using Tapatalk 2
Compass or Gyro?
I think that somewhere in the programming that the compass got mixed up with the gyro because even when left untouched mine still spins rapidly. When it does stop it almost always points the wrong way. Try an app that is supposed to find metal, when device is placed on metal the metal readings fade to zero, but if you stand in the middle of a field and shake the device the sensor will go to maximum.
I have this problem that has been described and haven't had any luck finding a solution. I bought mine in February with gingerbread. Why would Samsung sell these galaxy players without fixing the gps?
Related
Hi
I have a weird problem...
Sometimes (not always, but like once every two days), my Hero just scrolls to the right in like every app... even on the homescreen
For example:
-on the homescreen, he scrolls to the right, so towards the last homescreen.. I scroll back, but de hero has its own will and scrolls to the right again...
- in the browser the Hero scrolls to every link (like I would scroll with the scrollbal to the right and it jumps from link to link)
- in an app with different tabs (like People) my Hero also scrolls to the tab on the right, so he goes from "all contacts", to "faorites", to 'groups", to "updates and events" etc...
- in messages, when I want to begin typing, the button "send" is selected in green (like I would've scrolled to the right)... when I'm typing, it doesn't occur..only before I've started typing...
also, I've noticed that like in the browser, when I hold my phone horizontally, the problem doesn't occur.. and when I hold it back ertically, the problem is gone (I think....) ...
Anyone who knows this problem ? Pretty weird, I know
Thanks in advance !
greets
PS: maybe it has to do with the G-sensor (cfr. holding horizontally: no problem...)
I guess that your problem is the trackball, it may be a bit loose on one side so that it will roll sometimes to the right.
Mine does this from time to time. I think it is dirt under the trackball. I just sping the trackball round a few times and it goes away.
HTC support instructed me to send the device to warranty repair due to this issue. Haven't done so yet, though.
Same here, also i think that is a only dust.
After re-spining TB it goes back to normal state
This has been demonstrated a common problem with the Hero. They told me to restore the firmware which is bull. Something's broken, hardware or software we don't know but I should think hardware.
Yeah, I'm still not sure whether this issue is software or hardware related. The whole dust thing seems a bit weird. Especially when my Hero accidently did this -right- after I got it out of the box and started it for the first time.
It's annoying though, but a flick of the scrollwheel always fixed it so far. (or reset)
Ah... I posted previously about this- My fault. Looks like a common problem.
Has anyone found a solution that works?
I also have this problem, for a while I thought it was only me...
I have same problem from time to time, not very frequently.
It's not a "dirt" problem, it has something to do with magnetic fields, which affect the trackball's logic. That's why you see this from time to time, at special areas.
Since a couple of days I have a new problem... the automatically scrolling to the right doesn't seem to appear anymore, but now I can't scroll anymore to the right with the trackball... all the other directions work... could this be software-related then (it cannot scroll anymore in the same direction it used to scroll automatically to...) ??
if it is just dirt... nay idea how to clean that? I've tried rolling with the TB a lot in different directions and even tried with a light moist cloth...
Pr0sper said:
It's not a "dirt" problem, it has something to do with magnetic fields, which affect the trackball's logic. That's why you see this from time to time, at special areas.
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What, the Earth's magnetic fields?!
Actually that would explain a lot! I followed the textbook advice, and re-flashed the ROM. All was ok until this morning, and the screen started leaping left, rather than right!
...So I've reset the device, and downloaded the ROM again, and reflashed.
I have to say, I'd be surprised if it was a "dirt" problem, because every HTC I've ever owned has been very well sealed. (Unlike my Nokias!)
Is there any way to test if it's magnetic? (I guess "with a magnet...")
Ths has been discussed in greater detail here.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=546206
Hmmm... no closer to an answer though. I'll see if my re-flashing helps and will let you know.
I'm not sure it's worth returning my unit: sounds like it's a generic defect.
My network definately alters a lot as I travel a great deal. And I'm often in/out of Wireless zones.
Yesterday I tried the simple solution I turned off the device... put it back on.... and everything seems to work properly now even the trackball scrolls great again... don't know about you guys, but this solved the problem for me sometimes, the answer is just around the corner...
It happened on mine today (this morning when I came in to work) but it went away after it warmed up. It was cold this morning (2 degrees C or so).
It's not associated with WiFi, and I've tried resetting, reflashing and even switching off.
The problem keeps coming back though. It's completely random and really annoying...
singing hound said:
It's not associated with WiFi, and I've tried resetting, reflashing and even switching off.
The problem keeps coming back though. It's completely random and really annoying...
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I am convinced this is a software issue. The problem is easy to reconstruct:
It is as simple as this: If there is data traffic in the background while on Edge network, this happens. I cant see how this could be a hardware problem. I have found this since I am on a train 3 hours every day and has had a lot of time to figure this out.
Sadly I havent found a way to disable edge network.
raskall said:
I am convinced this is a software issue. The problem is easy to reconstruct:
It is as simple as this: If there is data traffic in the background while on Edge network, this happens. I cant see how this could be a hardware problem. I have found this since I am on a train 3 hours every day and has had a lot of time to figure this out.
Sadly I havent found a way to disable edge network.
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Click to collapse
That's useful: I also commute daily and I think yours is a likely solution.
I just wonder if this is a problem with a batch of Heros... otherwise you'd think everyone would be suffering. It sounds like if I exchange my unit, there's every chance the new one would have the same problem.
I configured the reader with two fingers, and it worked fine. Spent a couple of hours messing around with the new phone, downloaded some market apps, ditched some of them, poked around some more...
Fingerprint reader went AWOL. Didn't say the prints were bad, just didn't respond at all.
Wouldn't reconfigure either. Two power reboots later...it allowed me to reconfigure it and it is working again. For now.
Anyone else seen problems with the reader? I'm guessing one of the apps stomped on it, but I'd have expected ANY security feature to be more robust than that.
A guy in the AT&T store mentioned that Motorola had said something about this. I haven't seen it myself. The solution was basically what you did, keep rebooting until it works again.
Same problem. Very annoying.
meh haven't had a single problem with it. It's incredibly accurate...not once have I had a problem with scanning my finger outside of flying my finger across it much too quickly or *trying* to get it to not work (seeing how accurate it was).
I had the same problem twice.......i unistalled my task manager both times and the issue has not returned. I beleive my 3rd party taskkiller was the blame. I had it set to kill all when screen goes out.
I had no issues with finger print scanner for the first two days. Installed startup auditor today to manage apps to increase battery life, but it messed up the finger print scanner, it wouldn't respond to my fingers. It is working fine after uninstalling that app.
Mine has now started acting up this morning. Don't think it was related to any app install as I didn't install anything over the past 36 hrs and it just started. It wasn't reading any fingerprint swipes, and then I got something on the screen later that said "Initializing Fingerprint Reader", which didn't go away or fix itself. I've rebooted and it seems to work again, but that's really annoying. I'm not looking to reboot my phone every few days to work around something like this.
That fingerprint thing is pretty slow and annoying. Moto really needs to patch this phone on the stat.
Well, mine has behaved throughout Day Two.
And it doesn't matter if you pick the phone up upside down, i.e. swipe your finger from the top OR bottom first. As long as the finger is dragged from the joint to the fingertip (i.e. drag your finger "down" the scanner) it doesn't matter if the phone is rightside up.
The scanner is smart enough to read the finger even upside down BUT you can't "push" your finger over it, tip first. That smart it isn't.<G>
Had this happen last night, one reboot fixed it. Very annoying!
Had the phone for about 5 days now and it's done this to me on 2 separate occasions. First time it happened was after I'd owned/used the phone for a day. Rebooting the phone a few times didn't fix it. Had to go in and disable/re-enable the fingerprint sensor security lock. Happened again for a second time today (5th day I've owned it). Rebooting my phone fixed it. This is really starting to worry me. If it's a software issue, I'll probably keep the phone in the hopes that a software update will fix it (if not an official update from Motorola, hopefully some of the skilled developers from XDA will fix it, or just release a custom rom with fewer bugs). But if it's a hardware issue, I'd like to know now while I'm still able to return the device. I'm assuming it's a software issue since rebooting or disabling/enabling the fingerprint scanner seems to fix it, but it's still incredibly annoying to not be able to reliably use one of the unique security features of your device.
I'm about to contact Motorola to complain about this defect and I'd recommend everyone else who's experiencing it do the same. They're much more likely to address the problem if they see it's upsetting a large portion of their customer base. Also, if this problem is enough of a nuisance that you're considering returning the phone because of it, definitely make sure to tell them.
psufan5 said:
That fingerprint thing is pretty slow and annoying. Moto really needs to patch this phone on the stat.
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Think they can patch the power button? and by patch I mean raise it by a 1/2mm?
Bricked (and fixed) my razr yesterday thinking reverting to .211 would fix my compass. Didn't work. Seeing that it seems to be common. I'm wondering if anyone else has had issues with their compass, and if there's been a fix.
Just passed to ics and compass doesn't work. Any idea?
Sent from my XT910 using xda app-developers app
osmand work like a charm, gps status doesn't work sometimes, google maps simply refuse to turn. don't know what's going on.
I had this issue on gb and ics, has something to do with the magnetic field sensor getting stuck or the metal trim around the edge of the phone getting magnetised. I was able to get it to work again by pulling my sd card, doing a hard reboot (vol - and the power button, keep holding after the screen shot), reboot, open a compass app, I used smart tools, take something magnificent (be sure you have removed the sd card and not to use a very powerful magnet) then start moving the magnet circular around the phone at a great distance, moving closer until you see the compass start to move. I wouldn't touch the magnet to the phone or get closer than 1 1/2". It's risky. But if it's stuck, it may work it loose. You may also try degaussing your phone. Just do your research, because this is all very dangerous for your phone, and can render it useless.
Edit: you may want to check if just the hard reboot fixes it before you try anything else.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using xda premium
Degaussing?
I may have to give the magnet trick a cautious try as I already damn near bricked my phone trying to reflash the firmware.
n8w said:
Degaussing?
I may have to give the magnet trick a cautious try as I already damn near bricked my phone trying to reflash the firmware.
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Click to collapse
If the magnetic trick doesn't work, if you could find a tv repair shop or something similar that have the tools for degaussing (de- magnifying) and have them do it for you. There are tutorials online that show you how to build degaussing tools, but it's not a job for the faint of heart or something you should do with out understanding what you're doing.
The magnet trick worked for me, I used a magnet I use to magnify/demagnify screw drivers. Laid my phone on a table and went around my phone at about 1/2 foot away from it brought it in to about 3/10ths of a foot and all the sudden the compass started spinning with the magnet and my compass has worked ever since. Your biggest danger is 1. Magnetising the metal trim around the screen or 2. Corrupting the flash memory. Our phone should be shielded, but obviously not too well if were having this problem.
Let us know what happens, what you try and what ends up working /not working. Good luck!
Sent from my DROID RAZR using xda premium
The magnet trick kind of, worked but not really. I used a fairly strong magnet that I had on my fridge, and got it close enough where I could feel it tugging on the phone. Then, and only then did the compass move a bit, but it wasn't loosened into working. Did a reboot, no change.
Edit: I gave this a few more tries using the phone tester app to see if the values would register, then some more hovering my magnet over the compass app. It finally dawned on my that my pc speakers, which were no more than 8 inches away from the phone might be interfering. I moved to the middle of my room, and kept hovering the magnet around while using the smart tools compass this time. It registered a couple times, but nothing promising, then at some point it just started freaking the f*** out, and kept doing so even if I backed out of the app. Opened the other compass app, and whatduya know...it works! Went back to smart tools, reset that, and all is well there too.
n8w said:
The magnet trick kind of, worked but not really. I used a fairly strong magnet that I had on my fridge, and got it close enough where I could feel it tugging on the phone. Then, and only then did the compass move a bit, but it wasn't loosened into working. Did a reboot, no change.
Edit: I gave this a few more tries using the phone tester app to see if the values would register, then some more hovering my magnet over the compass app. It finally dawned on my that my pc speakers, which were no more than 8 inches away from the phone might be interfering. I moved to the middle of my room, and kept hovering the magnet around while using the smart tools compass this time. It registered a couple times, but nothing promising, then at some point it just started freaking the f*** out, and kept doing so even if I backed out of the app. Opened the other compass app, and whatduya know...it works! Went back to smart tools, reset that, and all is well there too.
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Click to collapse
Glad it worked!
Sent from my DROID RAZR using xda premium
Hello, I was using GPS a lot during summer on official ROM, but after summer, when I stopped using it, I've managed to switch to custom ROM. I wasn't using GPS, so I didn't know that it isn't working. Now, I tried many ROMs, including the official one flashed via KDZ. Nothing is working, so what should I do? I have fast fix, but when I start moving, even if it is 2-3meters the GPS goes nuts and lose the signal:crying:. Any advice please?
I had this. Unfortunately, was not software related in my case (although I also flashed a lot of ROMs). The sat fix was fast, but very unstable in movement, rendering navigation software useless.
Turned out the culprit was bad contact between GPS antenna and the mainboard.
The workaround: removing the battery cover, apply pressure over the GPS antenna (like trying reseat it). I made it several times, but if you try this (at least, you will see if your issue is the same as mine), please be VERY careful, or you will end up with a broken screen glass, or mainboard.
The stability improved 90%, but the precision is not the same as new (but I can use Google Navigation and tomtom again).
I downloaded the service manual, the correct is disassembly the unit and check the contacts, but I don't have that tiny philips screwdriver. Time to leave the unit in a Service Center, and get the contacts cleaned/checked.
PS: The GPS unit in this litle beast is very sensitive, but LG's quality control in assembly probably is to blame.
Thank you, I will try it when I will have a chance .
EDIT: Didn't worked, I will try it again tommorow... or send it to the service
Molitann said:
Thank you, I will try it when I will have a chance .
EDIT: I think that I overpressed it, because it can't find any satelites and when I start any app that is using GPS, the gps icon doesn't appear... I'm so stupid . So, only chance now is to buy a new antena or go to the service.
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My god! Sorry about that...
But are you sure the gps hardware is activated (in Settings?).
In software (ex: GPS Test), status is showing "No GPS"?
I've just edited my post, it's ROM issue (stock ROM shows the icon and about 5 satellites, but the CM doesn't show the icon and I can't get any satellite), the gps still sucks
Apps reporting "strange magnetic field". Compass(es) shaking vigourously. Physics toolbox(es) reporting magnetic fields in xyz directions in the -120 to +120 uT range. Thats all about 4x the expected values. Resulting B calculated somewhere in the 20 to 130 uT range, varying with phone position in a reproducible way. Should have been constant and not influenced by phone orientation. Rotating phone along xyz produces qualitative results roughly as expected, but obviously with some serious quantitative errors.
Do you have a working magnetometer on the Xperia 5 IV?
Do you have any thoughts on how I might proceed to determine if this is a hardware issue, a driver issue or an issue with Android 13? I am having a hard time imagining how the magnetometer chip could produce this and thus suspect some firmware issue.
I use the Compass frequently, - but obviously not on my current phone.
Your ideas mutch appreciated.
Thanks!
Its hardware issue. I have that problem too .
I ve noticed it while my google maps couldnt get my compass to calibrate no mater how or how many times i would twist the phone . I ve tried with alternative apps sane thing happened.
This was noticed as soon as i got the phone ,that means it is ruled out as software issue. My phone was on android 12 ... Now it has few firmware upgrades and nothing has been changed.
Viper, - thanks. Saves me a lot of speculating!
I found a test menu in Settings / Support / Troubleshoot / XPeria Tests. Interestingly the magnetometer sensor seems to be the only one not listed. Could mean Sony is well aware of the issue and dont want it exposed. I then only need to know if a firmware update can fix this, or if it will never work on this phone. In the latter case I will probably return an otherwise very fine product.
I think they fckd up with wireless charging coils on assembly line and now they are interfering with that sensor or sensor itself its not working at all . Software upgrades didn't do anything so i dont think they will be able to fix that by software.
Its not a deal breaker for me, navigation still works fine. So in my case i dont think i will be sending my phone to sony ..
My compass works fine, but magnetometer is still missing in the support app. You can use a thirdparty app called DevCheck to chek if your magnetometer is working.
What do you think compass is and how it works.. compass does work relatively fine but it aint accurate
I was recently on a trip in Europe, and used my phone extensively for walking navigation. This is when I noticed the compass issue on my phone. Verified it with another phone next to it, and the compass readings were off by 130 degrees.
My GPS was also slow to acquire often times.
Sony said to do a software repair, which didn't fix it. So I'm not in the process of sending it in for repair. Hopefully they'll get is sorted out.
k_basara said:
My compass works fine, but magnetometer is still missing in the support app. You can use a thirdparty app called DevCheck to chek if your magnetometer is working.
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Click to collapse
Hey which variant do you have?
XQ-CQ72.
After a comparison with my iPhone and Suunto watch, I think @viper. might be right, maybe the compass on the 5IV isn't very accurate after all.
Thought I would give an update.
I have had lengthy discussions with local Sony support about the original issue of this thread. They have replaced the phone. Same problem. I conclude that they do not understand, and have no intention of fixing.
The compasss does not work. Anything using the compass is close to useless.
The underlying problem is the magnetometer. Where I live the field is 45 uT and other phones return values between -45 and +45 along the xyz axes, and produce a vector pointing to magnetic N of length 45uT. (Use e.g., physics toolbox to view this)
This phone returns
-200 to 0 (X)
-100 to +100 (Y)
0 to +200 (Z)
The values are reproducible and use each of these scales fully, - so the sensor seems to work just fine.
However, If putting that into the formulas to calculate the vector, things will go seriously wrong.
Thats why I believe its firmware, and quite easy to fix. Just getting all 3 to return -100 to +100 would fix the direction and most apps would work as intended. The length of the vector (absolute strength of field) is not much used.
Above is about the XQ-CQ54 model.