Compass erratic behaviour realised - HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera

After trying a lot of the latest builds the only thing I can't seem to get working properly is the compass. It is not smooth and accurate like the like it is in WM.
After trying a few different compass apps I realised what was happening. Rather than using the compass sensor it seems to be using the g sensor. North actually follows the direction of tilt!
Any ideas?
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App

Yes, compass is a bit shaky.
However, it seems to get better when you play around some time with it or move it in a figure 8 pattern.

hinky said:
Yes, compass is a bit shaky.
However, it seems to get better when you play around some time with it or move it in a figure 8 pattern.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me it is not a calabration issue. No matter how many times I figure of 8 it it never calibrates or aknowledges calibration. North exactly matches the direction of tilt every time regardless of the direction I have standing or rotation of the device.
I can't believe no one else has had this issue.

I'm right there with you. I just hadn't realized the strong correlation with tilt. I also feel the 'figure 8' improves the compass, but it is still unusable.
Hopefully, this is enough to make one of the devs look at the compass driver code, slap his/her forehead, change a '3' to '7', submit to git, and we'll all have perfect compasses within 2 days.
Here's to hopin' !

This might help. Quote is Hastarin's.
NOTE: To get your compass working with r7+ you may need to do the following via adb shell (or GScript Lite), you will need to su:
killall akmd
mv /data/misc/AK8973Prms.txt /data/misc/AK8973Prms.bak
Then restart your phone.
If calibrated g by mistake:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=8526598&postcount=10

Sorry guys I missed your replies as this thread was unsubscribed for me.
Mariad said:
This might help. Quote is Hastarin's.
NOTE: To get your compass working with r7+ you may need to do the following via adb shell (or GScript Lite), you will need to su:
killall akmd
mv /data/misc/AK8973Prms.txt /data/misc/AK8973Prms.bak
Then restart your phone.
If calibrated g by mistake:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=8526598&postcount=10
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think this is on the right lines as the g sensor calibration fix seems to be related.
A couple of days back I nievely calibrated the g sensor. Realising my mistake I looked for the fix. I applied it and it worked. Yesterday I downloaded an app which had a feature that used the compass and it seemed to be working ok. I tried a compass app and low and behold it seemed to be accurate and no tilt behaviour.
Then just out of curiousity I tried to calibrate it and not only would it not aknowledge a calibration the the tilt behavior returned.
I did not try the g sensor reset fix again but I did reboot the phone and calibrate the compass in WM. Booting back into droid I found it was working again!
Interesting?
There is definitely some correlation between the compass and the g sensor and calibration of either.

Related

How To: Froyo Compass fix

Credit to: abrognlie for pointing this out here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=11552644&postcount=163
Figured this would be easier to find in searchs.
Problem: Your compass is backwards and overly erractic and inaccurate.
Solution: Upside down horizontal calibration
How: Plant the phone on a flat surface upside down. A low ceiling, top of a door frame etc. Make sure it's flat and facing upside down. Go to: Settings, Display, Horizontal calibration and calibrate it upside down.
Bingo bango, your broken compass should be fixed. This also cures slow auto rotation
Just tried that. Still as erratic and jumpy as ever.
DiGi760 said:
Just tried that. Still as erratic and jumpy as ever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hardware problem?
The first time I used Google Maps with EB13 it told me that the compass needed to be calibrated and to move the phone several times in a figure 8 manner. I did it, and the compass has been fine. I'd never seen that before. I hadn't used the compass at all before this, so I don't know if it "fixed" a problem or if I just didn't have a problem, but I thought I'd throw it out there for people who are having problems.
edonnelly said:
The first time I used Google Maps with EB13 it told me that the compass needed to be calibrated and to move the phone several times in a figure 8 manner. I did it, and the compass has been fine. I'd never seen that before. I hadn't used the compass at all before this, so I don't know if it "fixed" a problem or if I just didn't have a problem, but I thought I'd throw it out there for people who are having problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same for me but it was still broken. X-Plane was unplayable, auto rotation was slow and sometimes unresponsive because the compass was backwards and jumping direction erratically. (download a compass app and check yours) North was south, etc.
The upside down trick 100% cured the issue. Not the figure 8 or the right side up calibration.
*shrug*
Wow! Best find ever! The upsides down calibration worked for my slow gsensor lanscape bug! All this time, rooted was needed for the
"system/bin/sensorcalibutil_yamaha" code to work! Very nice!
I wish I could claim credit for this (the member who deserves all the credit is styles420), and I wish it worked for everyone, but someone found this back when DK28 first leaked. It seems to help with a group of us with sensor data that gets mapped backwards during the flash. It shows up in the compass or google sky maps, but it seems to be a problem with the g-sensors that affects how the compass works.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
DiGi760 said:
Just tried that. Still as erratic and jumpy as ever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try downloading GPS Status from the market. Open it and do the calibration tools. Should fix this. Also may improve your GPS (if it isn't doing well)
Possible, but it was the same on my previous epic. I haven't put too much effort into it since I don't really need a compass very often, but it would be nice to have it work for once.
djbacon06 said:
try downloading GPS Status from the market. Open it and do the calibration tools. Should fix this. Also may improve your GPS (if it isn't doing well)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already have GPS Status. I did that calibration from that again, and it is still messed up. It jumps a little less, but I can turn the phone 90 degrees and the compass rotates 180. Then I turn the compass 90 degrees the same direction, and the compass jumps backwards 90 degrees. I'm having a really hard time figuring out a reason for the pattern. I might have to sit down and draw some compass diagrams.
Worked for me. Fixed slow auto rotate as well
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
it fixes mine! thanks you for finding a fix!
Fixes mine. Thanks for posting this!
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
SON OF A- I was just about out the door to get a replacement. I tried everything a month ago and gave up.
This fixed it.
Sky maps works perfect again.
Thank you and those who figured this out.
Home run battle 3d just became a hell of alot easier now. Thank you
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
tried all solutions here. no joy
Another issue, maybe?
I wonder if there might be an underlying issue here...
Was doing some research on why my battery life is garbage after EB13.
I hit on this thread because it looks like the compass sensor is consuming a ridiculous amount of CPU... I mean, foregrounded using 7% CPU when nothing else is going on.. like, no compass app or maps being used.
With my Epic pretty much quiescent, top consistently reports it (/system/bin/sensorserver_yamaha) as the highest user. Under DI18, it never even cracked the top ten.
Samsung Epic (EB13 Official) + Clockwork
wow thanks for the tip! i almost returned my epic because of this.
Amazing... how you found this out is beyond me, but it works!

'Compass' sensor Issue

I've just downloaded the Compass app from the market, but it doesn't seem to working correctly. I've tired both 'sensor types' but the direction it shows flickers and is incorrect.
Have any of you encountered the same issue?
you should try another app. I think gps status will work fine.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
sogo87 said:
you should try another app. I think gps status will work fine.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've just tried that GPS Status app and it does work better then compass, but it seems to be about 40 degrees out when the phone is moves and even seems to wobble abit when it's stationary. I've made sure there's no interference before testing it out
Have you calibrated it?
Intratech said:
Have you calibrated it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, I've done the figure '8' waving
I have this problem too. Definitely a sensor issue -- the apps work perfectly on other phones (and indeed I *think* the compass used to work).
This is really damn annoying -- part of the reason I got the phone was so I can make a gyroscope-assisted compass app.
Hmph.
Just installed it from the market and it worked without any settings adjustment on the SGS II.
Timmmmmm said:
I have this problem too. Definitely a sensor issue -- the apps work perfectly on other phones (and indeed I *think* the compass used to work).
This is really damn annoying -- part of the reason I got the phone was so I can make a gyroscope-assisted compass app.
Hmph.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on the phone to O2 getting an exchange.
I'm hoping it's an uncommon problem
Let me know how that goes, I may have to do the same. My compass has since settled down but it is consistently off by about 25-30 degrees...
Maybe this is your problem too
Read this, maybe you have the same problem...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1047894&highlight=compass

Compass weird behaviour.

Hey guys
Need your help in here. I have a problem with my Samsung Focus. The compass points south instead of north in every app I've tried, even in diagnosis mode.
The compass is very erratic, moving randomly as I move it with me but always pointing south instead of north. I've tried several hard resets, the 8 figure calibration with no luck at all. I've read some posts regarding this in other forums, but I didn't find any solutions.
Any help will be greatly appreciated
sounds uncalibrated to me. The only compass app I've been able to get to calibrate correctly is the one called simply "compass" by Hani Atassi. I've only tried a few, but of the ones I've tried, it's the only one that actually tells you when it needs calibration... and when you're doing it, it tells you when it's done. I'd imagine there are others but, like I said, I've only tried 3 or 4. The good news is calibration seems to be system wide, so if there's an app you really like, you could calibrate with this one, and then switch to the other.
thanks for the reply. It's not a calibration issue, I've already tried that. I think there's a problem with the drivers or something. Any of you guys having the same problem?

Quick question re Accelerometer

Good day XDA. I just noticed that my N7 is having problems with its accelerometer. I was playing temple run and mutant road kill and the characters always veer to the right.
Question is: is this a software or a hardware issue?
also, is there a fix/app if this is indeed a software issue?
thanks
well, i know that there is apps for calibrate the accelerometer, i can´t remember now the name, sorry, but i´m sure that you can find it on the market o google.
Anyways, did you try in diferents places? i mean, maybe the surface where you try wasn´t flat...
thanks for the reply man.. anyway, i already found a way to fix it and it's been holding up.
juanito05 said:
thanks for the reply man.. anyway, i already found a way to fix it and it's been holding up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's the fix?
What did you do to fix the issue?
Sent from my Paranoid Nexus 7
well first you have to confirm that you indeed have the gyro/accelerometer problem. you guys could download an app for that (i used Android Sensor Box). once that is confirmed, download the app "GPS Status". Run it and go to tools, then calibrate pitch and roll and just follow the instructions. I suggest you guys do this while your device is lying flat on a surface.
after trying this fix, i uninstalled GPS Status, rebooted my device and it held up. played temple run and the character started right smack in the middle lol. also tried checking the sensors using Android Sensor Box and it was calibrated. i just reinstalled GPS Sensor just in case i might need it down the road but im hoping this fix will be permanent. if it isnt, im pretty sure that this is a software problem and an update could give a permanent solution.
let me know if you guys get the same result i had with this.
Thanks
juanito05 said:
well first you have to confirm that you indeed have the gyro/accelerometer problem. you guys could download an app for that (i used Android Sensor Box). once that is confirmed, download the app "GPS Status". Run it and go to tools, then calibrate pitch and roll and just follow the instructions. I suggest you guys do this while your device is lying flat on a surface.
after trying this fix, i uninstalled GPS Status, rebooted my device and it held up. played temple run and the character started right smack in the middle lol. also tried checking the sensors using Android Sensor Box and it was calibrated. i just reinstalled GPS Sensor just in case i might need it down the road but im hoping this fix will be permanent. if it isnt, im pretty sure that this is a software problem and an update could give a permanent solution.
let me know if you guys get the same result i had with this.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was amazing man. I have been swearing over this accelerometer issue ever since I got the device, and now it's perfect. :beer:
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda app-developers app
Had exactly same issues on all three units I have purchased. GPS Status app does fix the problem. Thanks for the solution.
GPS status did nothing for me.
Same problem veering to the right
Held n7 landscape
Reboot
After reboot accelerometer is working fine
Sent from my Nexus 7
bagofcrap24 said:
GPS status did nothing for me.
Same problem veering to the right
Held n7 landscape
Reboot
After reboot accelerometer is working fine
Sent from my Nexus 7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This didn't do the thIng for me neither
But I did the job like this.
Open an app that uses the compass. You can use GPS Status, Android Sensor Box or whatever app you like that uses a compass.
twist/turn your device 3 times around each of all the three axes
FINISH
Even after a reboot it works great.
But if you flash a new rom this fix will be broken

H918 Compass Problems

I am relatively new to this device, coming from Samsung. So different hardware, newer Android. Trying to work through everything. The phone is rooted and I have been making some mods including Xposed.
My latest problem is that the compass seems to be stuck pointing North (at least on some apps). This affects GPS Status and HereWeGo, both of which I have used for years now without problems. Interestingly, this does not seem to affect GPS Test app which I have also used for years.
I have seen a few posting elsewhere mentioning this same problem. Those were for Verizon models, if I recall. But even those posting said it happened before rooting, etc.
Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!
Try this?:
Another method I've used is to lay the phone on a flat surface face up and rotate it slowly 3-5 times clockwise and counterclockwise. Then do the same with it face down (on a cloth to avoid scratching).
I've only had to do this when I noticed my magnetic sensor picking up a false reading (I use a sensor reading to launch a Tasker profile when it reaches a certain level).
Good luck.
pistacios said:
Try this?:
Another method I've used is to lay the phone on a flat surface face up and rotate it slowly 3-5 times clockwise and counterclockwise. Then do the same with it face down (on a cloth to avoid scratching).
I've only had to do this when I noticed my magnetic sensor picking up a false reading (I use a sensor reading to launch a Tasker profile when it reaches a certain level).
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, should have mentioned that I did all the calibration stuff. It is as if the nav apps do not see there is a compass available. On my old phone, for example, Here Navigation shows a compass icon. On the LG V20 it does not. Cheers
whitedavidp said:
Sorry, should have mentioned that I did all the calibration stuff. It is as if the nav apps do not see there is a compass available. On my old phone, for example, Here Navigation shows a compass icon. On the LG V20 it does not. Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know this sounds stupidly simple and you have prolly already done it but there seems to be a bug in my H918 where sometimes my phone doesn't detect certain sensors like proximity and accelerometer hence no compass and screen won't turn off during a call also can't use phone in landscape since it can't detect when phone is sideways but basically the only solution I've found is to just reboot phone and it solves it. It does it very rarely but figured I'd suggest it just in case.
Also can't remember if you said in OP but does this happen without Xposed? Xposed had quite a few bugs still and it's suggested to remove entirely when troubleshooting issues.
KUSOsan said:
I know this sounds stupidly simple and you have prolly already done it but there seems to be a bug in my H918 where sometimes my phone doesn't detect certain sensors like proximity and accelerometer hence no compass and screen won't turn off during a call also can't use phone in landscape since it can't detect when phone is sideways but basically the only solution I've found is to just reboot phone and it solves it. It does it very rarely but figured I'd suggest it just in case.
Also can't remember if you said in OP but does this happen without Xposed? Xposed had quite a few bugs still and it's suggested to remove entirely when troubleshooting issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi and thanks. I am not sure of other sensors but if true, that makes things even worse. I do notice, however, that after several reboots, the compass is back and working again. Obviously, rebooting is NOT a solution for most folks. I am in the process of removing xposed to see if that has any impact. Cheers!
whitedavidp said:
Hi and thanks. I am not sure of other sensors but if true, that makes things even worse. I do notice, however, that after several reboots, the compass is back and working again. Obviously, rebooting is NOT a solution for most folks. I am in the process of removing xposed to see if that has any impact. Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When it happens test to see if you can rotate your phone into landscape mode. Mine rarely happens for me and it only happens upon rebooting. It won't just happen while the phone is on

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