Database Users

Digital compass not working properly?

I think I may be having problems with the compass on my Aria. On all apps I've used that utilize the digital compass (sky map, compass, AR apps like wayfinder nyc), the compass movement seems jumpy and will give extremely inconsistent results, most times settling on an inconsistent heading.
Is there some way to check that the compass is properly calibrated?
Has anyone else been having problems?
Sent from my HTC Aria using XDA app

I very much have the same problem. Skymap and compass apps are incredibly underwhelming

Same here, skymap is basically unusable.
update:
Figured out a pretty good way to calibrate it. Launch skymap, then rotate the phone around several times on every axis (ie, rotate around x axis a few times, then y, then z). The magnetometer should reset itself and point in the correct direction.
update2:
After playing around with it for a while, I noticed that there is a difference of about 5-10 degrees between north in landscape mode and north in portrait mode. Pretty disappointing and lesson learned - don't rely on your Aria if you're going to Man vs. Wild it in the jungle for a while.

As with all digital compasses, it needs calibration, rather some sort of reset.. I haven't see true calibration.
See this video on it.. It's very simple to do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP3d00Hr14o
No, it's jot a joke. Compare against a real compass. Without this, I've found my N1 20+ degrees off, after, +/- 2

When i had the backflip you could go into the settings and click on compass calibration, you have to rotate/spin the phone on all it's axis or just do a figure 8 in the air with the phone. I did this yesterday on my Aria on google skymap, told me the sun was underground so I did a figure 8 to calibrate the compass and then it was all good. Just do it when you open any compass using app when you launch it.

Google maps update fixes compass and GPS issues

Hey so I just installed the update for google maps and now the GPS and compass finally seem to be working properly. Anyone else seeing this?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Yes and no. The pointer turns a little smoother in maps but if you go to street view and activate compass mode you will see that the XY axis lags terribly. The vertical axis is fine and very responsive but horizontal is slow like molasses. Compass is IMO still broke.

I installed it, and things seem to be somewhat improved. However, I still consider them to be broken.
Hopefully, this isn't the 'fix' Samsung and T-Mobile was talking about. Spotted nine satellites again, but can only lock onto a single one. The cycle continues.
The Compass is still slow to update and not at all 1:1 with my movement. GPS reception is still poor, and Google Maps still can't decide if I'm in Seattle or Issaquah (hint: I'm not in Issaquah).
Slight improvements, but not fixed.
Thanks for the heads up, though. Anybody else tried it?

I'm pretty sure you're imagining things. The compass problem is strictly a hardware/firmware issue. Simply updating a single app like GMaps isn't going to fix it. But don't take my word for it.
To see the raw sensor data, go to the dialer, and type in *#*#1472365#*#* then press Test Application, then Show Sensor Data. Look at the compass and tell me it's functioning correctly.

My GPS connects faster than heck, but being 30meters off really sucks. I mean my G1 would be 3-9meters off not 30

My vibrant isn't even connecting to a satellite tonight. This ain't no G1.

Accelerometer Calibration, Sensor Error, Game Control, Google Sky Maps

First noticed a problem using Google Sky Maps. I couldn't tilt phone to view above the horizon. I was on a 2.2 ROM, but I never tried it on a stock ROM. This position sensor error would effect any app that uses the phones position (pitch, roll, azimuth) as an input, for instance game control. It would manifest as not being able to turn or climb. It also effects horizontal/vertical screen switching.
What I know from testing:
A. Download Sensor Debug from market. The simple program lists the sensor values that are reported to programs: Azimuth, Pitch, Roll, as well as force sensed along X,Y and Z axis. If the system is working properly, values with the phone sitting still would read: Pitch 0, Roll 0, X and Y Forces = almost zero, Z (gravity)= -9.xx. Tilting the phone to the left or right, Roll goes +/- 90. When tilted toward the sky, pitch would smoothly increment from 0 to -90 when vertical, and -180 when upside down. My phone when sitting on the table will read (depending on calibration method): Pitch= 0 or -180, Roll =0, Z axis= either +9 or -9. Rolling the phone is sometimes limited to +/-30 degrees. Pitch increments in the proper direction, but is capped. If I start at 0 when flat, it stops at 90 degrees when vertical. If it starts at -180, it stops at -150.
B. Calibration settings appear to be stored in /data/system/ms3c_yamaha.cfg. Changes are real time. If deleted, it is recreated. Values vary greatly. Settings/display/horizontal calibrate effects the values. There is also a calibration utility available from terminal: su system/bin/sensorcalibutil_yamaha. The terminal method has been reported as more accurate.
C. The problem has persisted with full data wipes, factory resets and ODIN return to stock.
So, is anyone else seeing these kind of problems. Questions:
1. What kind of pitch/roll values do you see in Sensor Debug:
2. What are the values in your /data/system/ms3c_yamaha.cfg? and what kind of calibration did you do if any?
3. I want try going back to stock 18 again, but think my method is not complete. What is the most thorough method?
I used the method described in the "my gps fix for 2.2" thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=869806. It uses Odin 1.3 and SPH-D700-DI18-8Gb-REL.tar.md5.
There's another "Return to Stock" thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=773032. It uses the same version of Odin and SPH-D700-DG27-8Gb-REL.tar, and maybe a different PIT. Not sure what a PIT file is.
It appears that the threads re ODIN for DK28 use a different version of ODIN and or PIT, or no PIT.
4. Is it possible that ODIN isn't writing part of the firmware? If I can verify the problem after a thorough return to stock, well maybe it is a hardware issue and I'll just go down to Sprint and get a new one!
Hey thanks for listening! So looking forward to fixing this issue and appreciate any and all help/comments. Thanks!

I've had the same exact problems that you're having. I've done the same things you've done to try and fix the problem but nothing works. I've really only noticed the problem in sky maps because I haven't played any games that required going above the horizon. Hopefully someone can figure out a fix for this because I'd really like to use sky maps again.

I used the link above, return to stock, last page of that thred. Odin3 ver 1.67, and DI 18 stock with no PIT. Sensor debug values are the same....
What are your sensor debug values? Maybe try the su calibrate if u can.
Went to Sprint store. Nominal debug values on an Epic and an Intrepid...
Not a tech store so walking 1 mi to the other one. I am resolveed that I have hardware issues, or at least issues that ODIN can't fix.
I don't have insurance, but it's only 3 months old...should be covered?

Make a big scene, ask for manager... they may try to refer you to sammy warranty... don't put up with it. But the 7 bux a month is def worth it...

I don't think that the problem is the hardware. Sky maps was working for me before flashing over to the froyo roms. I'm just hoping that once the official froyo is released, it'll be fixed with that.

Update of my journeys....
2 mi walk to the tech store. 45 min later, they say yes the accelerometers are faulty, you need a new phone. Don't know what they did, but the only two things not stock on the phone where Google Sky and Sensor Debug.
So great, I get a new phone! But wait.... "it'll be here in a week." But I don't live in San Francisco, so that does me no good. They say to talk to go to my local store in SC, or call CS to get it mailed. Evidently they won't swap with a retail phone.
CS is no help. Won't authorize a retail swap. Won't have replacement sent to residence or my local store. I'll try calling them tomorrow.
In the meantime, I'm going to ODIN 1.6.1 straight to SPH-D700-DK28-8g-rel.tar.md5 OFFICIAL with no PIT, one click root, and restore my Bonsai system and data. My previous 2.2 upgrades have all been via update zip from DI 18.
So I guess the question remains, does the phone have hardware issues, or did my 2.2 upgrade dork something up that ODIN can't fix. Seems like it will be a while till I can Google Sky....

You cannot use another person's accelerometer values. Each and every accelerometer is different and calibrating will give everyone different values.
To fix the accelerometer you can run the following command in a terminal emulator :
Code:
su
/system/bin/sensorcalibutil_yamaha
The problem is that something has changed from Eclair to Froyo that Samsung hasn't taken into consideration. The update from a DI18 stock to the OTA Froyo should work without a hitch.
Hopefully w/ the official Froyo update we will get a fix. Otherwise, we should confer w/ noobnl or the CMSGS team to figure out how they were able to resolve the issue.

I've used the utility numerous times. Agreed that individual accelerometers would be somewhat different, but I think the differences wouldn't be very large in the .cfg file. The utility is "fine" calibration.
My device has gross errors.... Z axis prior to running the utility is +9.xx instead of -9.xx, and lay flat pitch is -179. The utility helps a little, but pitch values are referenced wrong, and don't increment properly even after running it.
Obviously there are areas of the phone that don't get reset with ODIN return to stock (Phone remembers the time, account info, etc). Sprint Tech couldn't get the g-sensors working right either with what ever reset procedure they use. Either data is stored on a level ODIN can't reach, or it's hardware failure.

Im a complete noob so correct me if I am imagining this... I had the same problem and fllashed back from froyo. Did the su/system/bin/sensorcalibutil_yamaha fix and it worked. Started restoring all my stuff and the orientation started to dog again.
I messed around and tried changing my launchers. I was using ADW and switched back to TW and the response was much better. I changed to Launcherpro and it is a little slower but not as bad as ADW. Am I high? Please forgive my noobiness.

I have noticed the same problem. The D18 rom was fine and all the games worked good. I checked the horizontal calibration and the sensors seem fine but the games and sky map don't seem to register properly with 2.2. I'm waiting for the OTA to come out b4 I take the phone back for a swap.

I'm actually having the exact problems you all are having with the pitch sensor, ever since I moved to DK28. Right now it is annoying, but I am hoping it will be resolved when DL11 is released. If not, it looks like I'll have to call Sprint and have them get me a new phone, because some programs don't work correctly right now.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

I noticed this problem while using maps, my compass seemed to have East and West swapped (but North and South were fine). I used the calibration tool in the Settings menu under "Display" (horizontal calibration), but I put the phone on the table upside down (hanging off the edge enough for the "calibrate" button to be in reach).
Not ony did this fix my compass, it seems to have improved the auto rotation response time dramatically
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

styles420 said:
I noticed this problem while using maps, my compass seemed to have East and West swapped (but North and South were fine). I used the calibration tool in the Settings menu under "Display" (horizontal calibration), but I put the phone on the table upside down (hanging off the edge enough for the "calibrate" button to be in reach).
Not ony did this fix my compass, it seems to have improved the auto rotation response time dramatically
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow...that seemed to help a ton. The games are off, but I don't really play them anymore so no issue. Sky map actually works now. The auto rotation is much better also. Thanks.
Edit: This fix works. I also started my game prior to doing the fix paused it and did the calibration. The game works great now.

styles420 said:
I noticed this problem while using maps, my compass seemed to have East and West swapped (but North and South were fine). I used the calibration tool in the Settings menu under "Display" (horizontal calibration), but I put the phone on the table upside down (hanging off the edge enough for the "calibrate" button to be in reach).
Not ony did this fix my compass, it seems to have improved the auto rotation response time dramatically
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! This seems to have fixed problem. I'm not exactly sure which part fixed it for me so I'll just go through what I did. I placed my phone face down and did the calibration in display settings, but then my phone wasn't switching to the correct orientation, so I rebooted my phone to see if that would help. It didn't. So I then did the terminal emulator calibration and now it's fixed. So, that makes me wonder if it has something to do with the calibration utility in display settings having some settings that are flipped around.

Woah... that worked. For whatever reason, it actually worked. Hmm...
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

Wow!
I actually tried the upside down trick once before with out success. Thought I had some results this time... then added another step. Voilla!
1. Working on a rooted froyo ROM. Upside down horizontal calibration from system/display/settings/display.
2. Reboot. (Not sure if that step is needed)
3. Connectbot su system/bin/sensorcalibutil_yamaha
At this point, sensor debug showed no success. Pitch and roll both limited to 30 deg.
4. Settings/display/autorotate. Uncheck.
Back in sensor debug, every thing checked out.
Anyone think it's still fixed if you enable autorotate?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

I agree that the calibration in display settings seems to be the problem, sensorcalibutil works fine right-side-up. But sensorcalibutil didn't seem to fix the orientation lag, so it's possible that the display settings' calibration is correct, the internal compass I installed upside down, and sensorcalibutil has been modified to compensate... but I doubt it, the hardware should work no matter what the orientation, so a software problem in the settings' calibration is more likely the cause
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

I've tried everything in this thread and I still can't get google sky maps to tilt up, above the horizon. Anyone word on EB13 resolving this particular issue?
no matter what i do, pitch is never a positive value in sensordebug..

same with sky maps. only other problem i'm having after calibration with the exception of an occasional compass jitter

I also have a problem with Sky Maps.. Pointing up will not register.

Gyroscope issue on nexus 7

Has anyone had any issues with the gyroscope? Is there anyway to recalibrate it?
When playing games I notice it veers to the left, for example temple run on a flat surface, character is running along left wall. I guess this could be an app issue.
Anyone else experience this?
Thanks

Does it use the accelerometer at all? If so, completely close the app, hold the tablet in the perfect "Centered" position, and re-launch. This will re-calibrate the app to the accelerometer.

I get an issue in Modern Combat 3 were within about a minute of play the character ends up looking at the ceiling very annoying. Tried recalibrating in app etc. but to no avail. Anybody else experiencing this?

Similar issue, I have to hold my device completely straight up before the screen rotates. Problem with the gyroscope maybe? But when I play games like Rip Tide GP, it works perfectly, senses every single movement, no matter how slight. I'd hate to have to return it, since this unit has no other issues .

flexwong said:
Similar issue, I have to hold my device completely straight up before the screen rotates. Problem with the gyroscope maybe? But when I play games like Rip Tide GP, it works perfectly, senses every single movement, no matter how slight. I'd hate to have to return it, since this unit has no other issues .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm having the same issue!
Everything works fine except the screen rotation, which I have to hold the device completely vertical (or toward me) to make it rotates.
In games, it seems to work fine though.
I have no other issues, and would hate to return it back too.
Is there anything we can do to calibrate this?

satanicsurferz said:
I'm having the same issue!
Everything works fine except the screen rotation, which I have to hold the device completely vertical (or toward me) to make it rotates.
In games, it seems to work fine though.
I have no other issues, and would hate to return it back too.
Is there anything we can do to calibrate this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto here.
My case with stand sits at angle of 15-20 and when a new app is launched it fails to detect that it should be in Landscape mode?
Here's a demo of the issue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIYzn54uN9Y

I had to recalibrate my compass to make it work right. There are instructions on youtube -- open an app that uses compass, etc. and spin it three times around on three different axes.
Don't know why, but some apps seem to have compass issues when others do not.

BaronInkjet said:
I had to recalibrate my compass to make it work right. There are instructions on youtube -- open an app that uses compass, etc. and spin it three times around on three different axes.
Don't know why, but some apps seem to have compass issues when others do not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But it's not a compass issue. I downloaded a compass app for my N7, it works perfectly. Just can't get the screen to rotate unless it's held at a perfectly vertical angle.

I don't know if this is just me, but I'm so used to just kinda giving the device a little shake to point the gyro in the right direction (for landscape or portrait), so I haven't noticed anything weird.

flexwong said:
Similar issue, I have to hold my device completely straight up before the screen rotates. Problem with the gyroscope maybe? But when I play games like Rip Tide GP, it works perfectly, senses every single movement, no matter how slight. I'd hate to have to return it, since this unit has no other issues .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also have this. I've gotten used to the fact that I need to just quickly hold ot vertical. On a positive, I find my phone is too sensitive, and when I lay it flat on the table it sometimes switches orientation when I don't want it to, but obviously my Nexus 7 does not have this 'issue'.

I'd say mine rotates automatically at anything beyond say 30-40' from horizontal and while very slowly tilting it to that angle. I definitely do not have to bring it to anything near 90' for this to happen. I am not sure that I'd call it not rotating at 15-20' an issue other than one of sensitivity, and if it becomes overly sensitive it has a tendency to flip at the smallest movement/vibration, which occurs in a number of phones on different roms.

if anyone else is still having this problem I figured out how to fix it. Close the app/ game, then restart with tablet flat on a table or surface. That should reset it at center.

I have been having this problem since day 1. In temple run if i hold my nexus straight he runs down the right wall, i have to hold it about 25-30 degrees to the left to center it. Other games and apps exhibit the same problem. I have yet to find a solution. I have tried all the tips suggested here and even flashed back to stock. No luck yet.

I had an issue where the gyroscope endlessly turns towards one direction. Going to erase the tablet and see if that fixes the issue. Will report soon.
--update
erase and reset resolved the issue for me

I got my new one today (already have one with bad screen) and it has this problem.
Have to hold the tab directly facing me to rotate, games veering off to the right etc.
Calibrating with compass makes everything work until I remove it, then all screwed up again.
Been on to Google for a replacement

i'm developing a 3d augmented reality app and i tried it on my nexus 7 and after a few other apps that i tried that use the gyro it looks like google swapped the x and y axis or something. so it's not really a hardware error, but more on the software side...
edit: or maybe not. but there's definitely something going on with the gyro.
edit2: on further research it seems that the timestamp of the gyroscope sensor is broken, somehow i end up always getting the same timestamp. on my other android devices (galaxy nexus and galaxy s 2) this is not the case. if this is true (and my findings are correct) then this is definitely a bug that needs to be filed to google. can some other developer confirm this?

Hi,
I just started having this problem :crying: :crying: very sad with it.
It worked perfect since I received it a few days ago, then I locked (on the top bar) to use in an app and after I unlocked it it stopped working.
The behavior/test goes as follows:
- on the home screen, click on Chrome (or any other app that is supposed to rotate freely)
- turn landscape CCW, the app turns
- turn it back to portrait, the app does not turn
- back to home screen, open the app again
- opens in portrait
- turn landscape CW, the app goes landscape but upside-down (to be viewed as if it was turned CCW)
- tries rotating the app, it doesn't ever rotate again.
I would hate having to return it, but if it stays like that, I don't have other option.
------
edit:
I've just checked for games that uses the gyro:
Temple Run: the character is always on the right-hand side of the screen.
Highway Rider: although it's possible to turn the moto left, if I center the screen it will go to the right hand side

that's it,
just gave back to Carphone Warehouse (UK) and now I have to patiently wait for them to receive a new one so I can go pick it up.
I installed this https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=imoblife.androidsensorbox app that left me without any questions that the accelerometer was not working horizontally on the screen (if you holding in portrait) :crying:
let's just hope that the replacement doesn't have any of the faults that we've been reading around the forum.

I found a "workaround". I installed the "Compass" application from Google Play and use the "Calibrate" option... and it solved the problem.
However, I need to re-do the same steps when I shut down and start my tablet again.
That's the best I found so far...

There is an app called GPS Status & Toolbox https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2&feature=search_result
It has a calibration tool and I had to run it a few times but once it got things working, it did stay that way even after shutting down the Nexus 7.
It even stayed that way after removing the app altogether but after altering the DPI to try tablet mode, it knocked the gyro off again so had to reinstall the app.
Such things really are just workarounds though and I certainly wouldn't consider keeping the device and having to keep messing like that.
Fortunately, my replacement has a perfectly working gyro.

Is the compass/magnetometer supposed to be this inaccurate?

Hey all,
Recently got this phone, and I discovered it doesn't have a gyroscope (Kinda took that for granted, should have researched before purchase).
I like to do VR stuff once in a while, so I found the option of using the Xposed module VirtualSensor.
It seems to work, only it's horribly inaccurate. I understand that combining the accelerometer with the compass/magnetometer will never be as accurate as a gyroscope, but I don't think it should be this bad.
I looked further into it, and it appears that my magnetometer is not as accurate as I would like it to be. I found multiple sources that don't even list the compass/magnetometer as a real sensor, is this true?
Anyway, using Sensor Kinetics (app) I monitored the magnetometer (it shows the same behavior using different apps). I wanted to post screenshots but as a new member apparently I can't.
I've calibrated my sensor by using the 8-motion and I measured at different locations, but the z-axis is always weird. There's some sort of disturbance in a pattern, it could be hardware or software. Every second or so there's a significant peak in the z-axis, jumping from -43 microT to -30 microT or even higher. (The magnitude of the graph is of course orientation dependent, but the accuracy shouldn't be this bad). The peaks in the z-axis match up with sudden yanks while using VirtualSensor (my accelerometer is stable).
Could anybody with a P9 Lite please confirm if they have a similar disturbance on their magnetic sensor as well, or do I have a faulty phone?