Database Users

HTC Compass and Magnetic interference

Can't seem to get the compass working. Have tried the 8-gesture several times, but it just wont work.
Tried it both indoors and outdoors in open areas, but no luck.
Anyone else have this problem?

you are not doing it in the right way... try to do it in vertical way...

20mihalko said:
you are not doing it in the right way... try to do it in vertical way...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I've tried it in every possible direction and orientation now.. Did it work instantly for you?

I've seen the calibration screen yesterday on Leo exhibition .. and I totally don't understand what I should do with the phone. Is it somehow better described in manual or something ?
Oh .. found this on YT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP3d00Hr14o
Now it even gives sense.

Dr.Sid said:
I've seen the calibration screen yesterday on Leo exhibition .. and I totally don't understand what I should do with the phone. Is it somehow better described in manual or something ?
Oh .. found this on YT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP3d00Hr14o
Now it even gives sense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't work for me... I can't understand how I can possibly do that gesture wrong
The manual tells me to follow the on-screen instructions

Had the same problem but got it work with vertical gesture
I don't know how many times I have tried to get it working, but thanks to the replies to this thread I have managed to go beyond the interference-message-screen. The tip about gesturing in a vertical direction did the trick.
My sincere thanks

How come our is so slow compared to the one on the iPhone (see youtube link above)

umiss said:
How come our is so slow compared to the one on the iPhone (see youtube link above)
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Click to collapse
It's probably just a crap application. I reckon the compass itself is better than the compass app makes it look.

gonna bump this thread a bit... I'm still having problems.. haven't gotten the compass to work since I got my HD2 in november, and I've tried quite a few different roms aswell...
Faulty device?
Anyone else have this problem?

johncmolyneux said:
It's probably just a crap application. I reckon the compass itself is better than the compass app makes it look.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine is showing between 5 and 10 degrees difference for north, dependant on how much I wiggle the device beforehand.
Can't say it'd be wonderfully accurate anyway.
OP:
If you do the 8 gesture in one fluid motion that isn't too fast (say complete the motion in 3 - 4 seconds, it might work (mine did)

Gotta say I had almost given up on the compass. I had rarely gotten past the 'do a figure 8' screen, until tonight when i read the post about doing teh 8 vertically, not horizontally. Got a fix in about 3 figure 8's, and is as accurate as my Garmin GPSMap 60CSx inbuilt compass.

I'm not having problems with the compass...
sure, now and then it tells to do the eight-thing but I'm pretty having fun with it.....

rp-x1 said:
If you do the 8 gesture in one fluid motion that isn't too fast (say complete the motion in 3 - 4 seconds, it might work (mine did)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the tip, it worked for me too. Becuase I also had problems with the accuracy of the digital compass in the HD2, but this 8-gesture movement did the trick, and for my father's HD2 too... his compass was totally wrong, it showed 225° when the right direction was 310° (I tested it with a real, physical compass)

Have you noticed interference when pressing hardware buttons? Mine completely turn and points downwards when pressing the menu button in all compass apps and it is gradual depending on how firm you press. Seems like the buttons are interfering with the digital compass somehow. Holding down the menu button makes the needle really dance.

[Q] (Q) Why do i get black screen when calling or being called??

i see a few have encounter this problem but yet to find a solution.
Problem: Everytime i make a call or receive a call the screen goes black and only the buttons work but it still useless without any display on screen. I have already tried turning off the auto bright but still doesnt work.
This happen in every android i use but phone doesn't act up when i am using winmo.

I have the same problem, please help !!!!

yascorpion said:
I have the same problem, please help !!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well the answer is simple because the proximity sensor doesn't work properly
and you have to either change your build or i don't know figure something out
for me the proximity sensor works
and i am using nexus one build

Thank you,I will try your build

yascorpion said:
Thank you,I will try your build
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please share with us the result, because I have also tried several builds, and it does not work properly on any. Mostly with Desire HD builds which I'd like to use and it is frustrating. Thanks.

I tried more than 7 builds but it didn't work,I spent like 5 hours to fix it but nothing worked and it's really frustrating. cauz I can't know who call me sometimes and see how many minutes I spent. please share if you have any results.
thank you very much !!!!

yascorpion said:
I tried more than 7 builds but it didn't work,I spent like 5 hours to fix it but nothing worked and it's really frustrating. cauz I can't know who call me sometimes and see how many minutes I spent. please share if you have any results.
thank you very much !!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the issue is less sensitivity with the proximity sensor. Three reasons which I saw:
1) mechanical reason for less sensitive sensor could be screen protector which is covering left top side of the device. Remove protector from this area where you see two dots.
2) dust between sensor and screen. Blow some air between screen and plastic cover of the device. Perhaps with vacuum-cleaner.
3) this is not your problem apparently, but generally European type HD2 is less sensitive on light according the YouTube video I saw, comparing with TMOUSE device. On the other hand current kernels are the same for both devices. In this matter, put your device during call under the direct light and you will see.

Screeb lite +Android assistant +Brightness Auto off did the trick for me .
Try it ,it might work with your device ....

[Q] Screwy sensors?

I've just started with Android apps and having a tiny little device like this Flipout, the most obvious first app for me to try was a compass.
I tried several of the free ones, all of which worked fine on my Desire Z, but were 'screwy' at best on the Flipout.
Supposedly, the Flipout has Accelerometer, Altimeter, Digital Compass and GPS sensors, yet the compass apps not only are strangely oriented but plain don't work - They don't point North and even away from all possible interference sources just jump around.
Are Flipouts normally just screwy, or is there something I can do to fix this issue?
Thanks,
Dylan.

Also now finding the tilt mechanism is reversed, ie left & right functions only happen when I tilt the device forward and back.
Can anyone please help with this?

DylanKeyne said:
Also now finding the tilt mechanism is reversed, ie left & right functions only happen when I tilt the device forard and back.
Can anyone please help with this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The sensors appear to be screwed up because the default orientation of the flipout/charm is landscape whereas most other phones have portrait mode as default orientation. Hence most applications are built for portrait orientations.
Hence there although the display might be shown in portrait mode, the sensor values are obtained from the landscape orientation.
Some application detect this issue and assign sensor values appropriately but that only a small minority.
I would suggest that you use a Display Orientation Changer available on Google Play and hence force the application to run in landscape mode.
Regards
HSR

My thanks to you HSR, but alas I have no luck so far.
Are there any particular orientators you'd recommend? I've tried four different orientator apps on all available settings. None have fixed the issue and one just outright crashes.
I'm using Smart Compass and Penguin Skiing as test apps, as I know they work perfectly and precisely on my Desire Z
Is this a hardware issue?
Using the orientators seemed to change not only the screen orientation, but the sensor's as well. In short, it turned everything 90º, rather than just the bits I needed.

DylanKeyne said:
My thanks to you HSR, but alas I have no luck so far.
Are there any particular orientators you'd recommend? I've tried four different orientator apps on all available settings. None have fixed the issue and one just outright crashes.
I'm using Smart Compass and Penguin Skiing as test apps, as I know they work perfectly and precisely on my Desire Z
Is this a hardware issue?
Using the orientators seemed to change not only the screen orientation, but the sensor's as well. In short, it turned everything 90º, rather than just the bits I needed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, try this. it seems to work for me.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=28022264&highlight=orient#post28022264
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=24844428&postcount=953

Nope... :crying:
I've tried that one, both the version here and the one on Google Play.
Tried two more this evening as well. No luck.
Some of them do turn the display but the sensors alter with them, so whichever way the screen is, the compass moves North 90º from where it should be and the game controls are still twisted.

From the links I posted, try the one from the forum and force the display to landscape. Try the free version of doodle jump and check if it alters properly.

Doodle Jump - Este elemento no es compatible con tu dispositivo...
Is there another that is compatible?
Really starting to regret this Flipout - Tried 4 different unlocking shops in town today and none have been successful!

DylanKeyne said:
Doodle Jump - Este elemento no es compatible con tu dispositivo...
Is there another that is compatible?
Really starting to regret this Flipout - Tried 4 different unlocking shops in town today and none have been successful!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:s oh, try any motion sensor app which runs only in portrait mode, in forced landscape mode using the app in the 2nd link I posted.
By unlocking you mean carrier unlocking?

I tried several more with the forum orientator you linked to - Same result, I'm afraid.
The screen orients back and forth just fine, but when you change that, the tilt sensor maintains the same crossways alignment.
Sorry, yes I meant Carrier Unlock (Orange UK).
The first 3 shops came back with 8 digit codes of failure. The 4th one got a 16 digit code but it also failed to work. They're trying something else which will take 2-3 days, apparently...

DylanKeyne said:
I tried several more with the forum orientator you linked to - Same result, I'm afraid.
The screen orients back and forth just fine, but when you change that, the tilt sensor maintains the same crossways alignment.
Sorry, yes I meant Carrier Unlock (Orange UK).
The first 3 shops came back with 8 digit codes of failure. The 4th one got a 16 digit code but it also failed to work. They're trying something else which will take 2-3 days, apparently...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1376037
This is for Charm but you could try this for sim unlock.
Regarding orientation issue, have your tried with the keyboard opened and with keyboard closed.
Any difference then?
Sorry that some things I told do not work, its probably because im a moto charm user and the keyboard swivel must be invoked in different ways.

No, no difference with the phone open or closed. Tried that each time I changed something else as well.
Will try that unlock when I get back home, though.

Update - Phone is SIM unlocked. The helpful shop texted through a code that they guaranteed would work, which it clearly did.
No closer to resolving the sensor orientation issue though.
Is it just me being stupid/missing something/having this problem on the Flipout, or does anyone else have it?

[Q] Compass calibration?

Can anyone please tell me how to do this on the S5 in a way that sticks? I can do it through the GPS status app, but if the phone is restarted, the calibration is lost. I know some phones have a test menu, but the old *#0*# doesn't seem to be working on the S5.

megapleb said:
Can anyone please tell me how to do this on the S5 in a way that sticks? I can do it through the GPS status app, but if the phone is restarted, the calibration is lost. I know some phones have a test menu, but the old *#0*# doesn't seem to be working on the S5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I managed to get the test menu working, but there doesn't seem to be a calibration option for the compass. Anyone have any ideas?

I just registered to reply you on this.
I have similar issue and found it is caused by the magnetic flip cover. When I remove phone from the cover and recalibrate compass it works well for long time. Also when I move the cover close to phone the compass is distracted and shows wrong direction to north.
My phone is new and I changed from S3. I have no such issue there.
Try your mobile without cover.

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, I'm having this problem despite having no cover on the phone

Magnetic Sensor / Compass problem?

Similar to this problem for the S6 Edge:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s6/help/magnetic-sensor-compass-problem-t3109583
When reboot the device, the compass/magnetic sensor is not calibrated. Once I dial the *#0*# and then chose the sensors, and rotate the phone on the 3-axis, the magnetic sensor becomes calibrated, the number 0 and red line becomes number 3 and blue line in the black circle. However, if I decide to reboot, have to do it all over again, have to rotate the phone on the 3-axis to recalibrate the magnetic sensor.
It seems like the problem still persists on the S7 Edge, am I the only one?
Thanks,
JP

I have exactly this same problem on my S7 edge in Australia from Optus - compass re calibrated then when off and on again it needs doing again every time. It looks to me as if at least some S7 edge may have inherent compass sensor or software issue. I will try and replace it via shop but they said it may take many weeks to get a replacement once returned if out of stock as they would need return it to somewhere to check it...

Shaun123 said:
I have exactly this same problem on my S7 edge in Australia from Optus - compass re calibrated then when off and on again it needs doing again every time. It looks to me as if at least some S7 edge may have inherent compass sensor or software issue. I will try and replace it via shop but they said it may take many weeks to get a replacement once returned if out of stock as they would need return it to somewhere to check it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm wondering if they are not all the same the S7 Edge, seems as if this was the case with my S6 Edge, almost everyone had this problem and Samsung wasn't doing much for it.
It seems as of this is the case for my wifes S4, my S6Edge and now my S7Edge.
Can anyone else confirm this? It's as easy as rebooting, then dialing *#0*# and then under Sensor...

I'm having the same problem on my S7 Edge.
Optus, Australia.

Maybe it's Exynos only, and SD don't have this issue?

My compass wasn't calibrated when I checked. Now is. Need to check if GPS works better now.

jsamuels said:
My compass wasn't calibrated when I checked. Now is. Need to check if GPS works better now.
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Click to collapse
You'll loose your calibration once you reboot the phone...

How do you calibrate the sensor?

Rickyw324 said:
How do you calibrate the sensor?
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Click to collapse
You rotate your phone along the 3-axis until it's calibrated

I do not believe this is a problem or issue! You need to calibrate each time you reboot. The same thing applies to the iPhone (blah!)

chippyuk said:
I do not believe this is a problem or issue! You need to calibrate each time you reboot. The same thing applies to the iPhone (blah!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You think? It could be the case, as my S6E as well as my S4 do the same thing...

jproy12 said:
You rotate your phone along the 3-axis until it's calibrated
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Click to collapse
That was simple, thank you. :good:

chippyuk said:
I do not believe this is a problem or issue! You need to calibrate each time you reboot. The same thing applies to the iPhone (blah!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never had to recalibrate on any of the three iPhones I owned. And certainly not on the 6s Plus I used before getting the s7.

jsamuels said:
Never had to recalibrate on any of the three iPhones I owned. And certainly not on the 6s Plus I used before getting the s7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you are right about the 6s as I just tried it. I don't think I even opened the compass on my 6 but after every restart on my 5 and 5s I definitely had to re-calibrate after a restart. Might be because I was jail-broken though. No idea then, hopefully someone who knows about the actual electronics may chip in...

Hi. Has anyone had an issue with the compass being very jittery after it has been calibrated?
When I reboot the phone, the compass works fine and is stable unless I calibrate it again. It is my second S7 Edge and I have had the exact same problem on both devices...

i've read the s6 thread and did the *#0*# thing and works!
(for those too lazy to read the link, basically press *#0*# on the call screen and it will bring up the "tests" screen
press the sensor
and will see the bottom, the status of the magnetic sensor
if it's not blue and has number 3 , than it's not "calibrated"
to calibrate, do the 3-axis thing (rotate the phone on 3 axis: turn it upside down height-wise, flip from side to side length-wise, twist it depth-wise) and the sensor will turn to number 3 and colored blue line)
(to exit which ever screens, just double press "back" button on the phone)
but my question is... (for those who've done it) seems like it has to be done (calibrate) on this "test" screen? can't calibrate if it's not this test screen?

Same here. Frustrating to need to recalibrate after reboot. Was the problem ever resolved with the S6 or should I just accept and learn to live with the issue?

this (calibration loss after reboot) was the case for every android device i owned so far since years!
so this is normal, and cant and wont be fixed!

TML1504 said:
this (calibration loss after reboot) was the case for every android device i owned so far since years!
so this is normal, and cant and wont be fixed!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did not have any issues with my original HTC One, G3 or OnePlusOne. But, I guess it's going to be a fact-of-life.

Galaxy s7 edge
So i found the answer guys to fix searching for gps and gps not working. Running samsung galaxy s7 edge, also with optus but that doesnt matter. Soball you need to do is calibrate your phone, now you can download apps but if you use the built in app that comes with the s7, it works better
Step 1. Swipe the edge notifacations to bring up side display.
Step 2. Go into the settings, by touching the clog on the bottom left.
Step 3. Tick the widget for the compass, ruler.
Step 4. Go back to the home screen and swipe to bring up the side display.
Step 5. Go to the compass widget and in there, there is a calibrate button to click on and complete the calibration by spinning your phone on a axis as displayed and your done.
You wont have to redo it each time you restart like the other ways i have seen. I have contacted samsung about this, hopefully they fix this stupid issue.