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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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
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...
Hi all,
Just wanted to share my experience with my recently bought Samsung Galaxy SIII. As it turns out, my GSIII was kind of DOA. As soon as it arrived and I tried it, I realized there was something wrong with the gyroscope. Whenever I was looking at a photo, it would flip back and forth between portrait and landscape.
I didn't pay much attention to this and flashed the latest official JellyBean. All was well until I actually wanted to use the gyroscope and realized it simply wasn't working at all. I tried recalibrating to no luck, went back to ICS also with no luck, and using the service menu (*#0*#) gave me very strange values for the gyro sensor.
Today I brought the phone in to an official Samsung repair shop and after trying the same as me, they took it in for RMA. Not sure if anyone else's had the same (trust me, I searched the hell out of the Internet) but just wanted to share in case other people experience the same. Ultimately, *#0*# is your friend in these circumstances.
Cheers,
Espinha
I have problem about the gyroscope too but not that bad as you have. when I re-calibrate it it will not re-calibrate. I tried some apps and through settings > display > gyroscope I can't set it to other angle than default.
I didn't mind this problem for this wasn't causing me trouble about the rotation of the phone.
bordikun said:
I have problem about the gyroscope too but not that bad as you have. when I re-calibrate it it will not re-calibrate. I tried some apps and through settings > display > gyroscope I can't set it to other angle than default.
I didn't mind this problem for this wasn't causing me trouble about the rotation of the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried to go to *#0*# and have a look at the sensors page? Seems like one of your axis might be stuck... if it is, I would definitely get it in for repair.
That command gives me "connection problem or invalid MMI code". I don't really need repairs because the sensors work, it rotates when i turn the phone horizontally. It works for games that need sensors.
Just that I can't "re-calibrate" it.
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
Hi, my Galaxy S2 PLUS needs the compass to be calibrated after every reboot of the phone.
Once calibrated it works perfectly fine until the next reboot and then I have to calibrate to get it working again.
You can see if the compass needs calibration by dialling *#0*# and then tapping on "sensor"
If it needs to be calibrated the compass at the bottom will be red and it will say "need for calibration" and have a 0 underneath it
To calibrate you do a figure 8 pattern while holding the phone and the indicator will eventually turn blue and have a 3 underneath it to say that it is calibrated.
I'm just trying to figure out if this is a hardware issue and i should send it back or its a software bug.
Can soemone with a S2 plus (or even just a normal S2) comment on this to see if all phones suffer the same problem?
Nobody with a S2 plus or a S2 running 4.1.2 official who can test this?
nathb said:
Nobody with a S2 plus or a S2 running 4.1.2 official who can test this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
s2+ IS running 4.1.2 officially
compass issue
I'm having the same issue. It looks like
all s2+ behaviour is the same. Can't tell if it's a rom issue or hardware issue.
However I'm calibrating mine by rotating the phone on all axes. This way the calibration is pretty fast. I never succeeded to calibrate it using 8 shape movements.
Mine also have same issue, even some time it show wrong direction, and another issue is I tick automatic brightness control but it not work at night, at night it need to controlled by slider, if keep slider at max and then tick auto, still it stay full bright, not decrease with my background light
Sent from my GT-I9105P using xda app-developers app
justexpect said:
However I'm calibrating mine by rotating the phone on all axes. This way the calibration is pretty fast. I never succeeded to calibrate it using 8 shape movements.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, this was insanely useful. Thanks. I couldn't calibrate the compass with the 8 shape movements. Although, even after calibrating the compass acts quite random and has the tendency to deteriorate from the correct magnetic north every few minutes. Not something you'd wish to rely on
Now that I know the right calibration trick and that I'm not the only one suffering I'll check the real-time navigation again.
I own a GT-I9105P with official 4.1.2 rom from Samsung which is up to date JZO54K.I9105PXXAMC2.
nathb said:
Hi, my Galaxy S2 PLUS needs the compass to be calibrated after every reboot of the phone.
Once calibrated it works perfectly fine until the next reboot and then I have to calibrate to get it working again.
You can see if the compass needs calibration by dialling *#0*# and then tapping on "sensor"
If it needs to be calibrated the compass at the bottom will be red and it will say "need for calibration" and have a 0 underneath it
To calibrate you do a figure 8 pattern while holding the phone and the indicator will eventually turn blue and have a 3 underneath it to say that it is calibrated.
I'm just trying to figure out if this is a hardware issue and i should send it back or its a software bug.
Can soemone with a S2 plus (or even just a normal S2) comment on this to see if all phones suffer the same problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a normal S2 and I have never had the need to calibrate it manually, it was always perfect and correct , must be specific to the S2 Plus.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
nathb said:
Hi, my Galaxy S2 PLUS needs the compass to be calibrated after every reboot of the phone.
Once calibrated it works perfectly fine until the next reboot and then I have to calibrate to get it working again.
You can see if the compass needs calibration by dialling *#0*# and then tapping on "sensor"
If it needs to be calibrated the compass at the bottom will be red and it will say "need for calibration" and have a 0 underneath it
To calibrate you do a figure 8 pattern while holding the phone and the indicator will eventually turn blue and have a 3 underneath it to say that it is calibrated.
I'm just trying to figure out if this is a hardware issue and i should send it back or its a software bug.
Can soemone with a S2 plus (or even just a normal S2) comment on this to see if all phones suffer the same problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same problem
+1
same problem with compass