Database Users

Is my compass dead?

I've been having alot of trouble with my compass lately. Atleast I think its the compass anyway. In Google maps when I use compass mode I can only tilt and look up/down. I can no longer turn. Same thing applies in skymaps. GPS works fine. Tried a compass app, doesn't seem to work either. Could this be a software issue or will I have to rma my unit? I'm running prime 1.7 now but I've had this problem for a month now with multiple roms.
Ideas?
Sent from my Transformer TF101

How to fix magnetometer

I just fixed the magnetometer on my Vibrant, using advice found on another site. It took me a long time to find it, so I thought I should post it here to help other Vibrant users find it more easily. There is similar advice in forums for other Galaxy S variants, but nothing here.
About a week ago, I noticed that my phone was no longer sensing its position. The screen would not rotate, and the compass was not working. I ran the sensor test using the *#0*# code, and both the accelerometer and magnetic sensor were stuck on one reading regardless of phone position. Rebooting had no effect.
I found the following procedure on a different site. I would post the link to give proper credit, but I don't have sufficient forum privileges because this is my first post. It was on the dp.nonoo.hu blog.
Your Samsung Galaxy S phone’s compass is not working? Auto rotation is faulty? Check your hardware by dialing *#0*# – this is a factory test app for the phone.
If the compass is broken there too, here’s how you can fix it: delete /data/system/ms3c_yamaha.cfg, and if there’s a backup file, delete it too, then reboot.
If it won’t help, make sure the files are deleted and then run /system/bin/sensorcalibutil_yamaha from a root shell, follow the instructions and then reboot your phone.​
I deleted the file using RootExplorer and rebooted. The accelerometer and magnetic sensor were working perfectly.

Lol I fixed mine by simply flipping the phone a few times. Basically I first downloaded and installed the compass app from the market. Then in the app, I calibrate it normally (wave in a figure 8 pattern) a few times. It will still be pointing incorrectly so next all I do it flip the phone on it's vertical axis a few times then repeat with the horizontal axis. Then it will be correct. This always works for my phone, I do it every time after a factory reset since it uncalibrates the magnetometer every time. I've never had problems with the accelerometer though, only the magnetometer. It would always be out of whack no matter what until I figured out what to do.

Cheers Blue,
This fixed it for me.

I cannot find neither the .cfg fila and or the configuration app.

+1
These files do not exist in ICS AOKP on my Vibrant and my magnetometer still points in the wrong direction lol.
Trying everything I can find on the Internet.
Edit: Removing the battery does not work even after 15 minutes. However, flipping the phone end over end worked immediately. Seems strange that this is not mentioned by any of the Compass apps yet they tell you to draw figure 8's in the air which does nothing on my Vibrant. lol
Thanks to the individual who shared that tip.

same here, a few vertical and horizontal flips did the trick for me. (on ics passion)

Didn't find the "/data/system/ms3c_yamaha.cfg" on my GalaxyS running Slim ICS 3.2. Seems like ICS doesn't have this file. And some vertical/horizontal flips almost did the trick. Now the compass is moving, before it wasn't moving at all. It not showing very good direction like it used to when I first purchased the device almost 15 months ago.
And one more question, does anyone know, what is the testing code for ICS? Because *#0*# isn't working on ICS. I used this code while on gingerbread and it worked before. I thought this code is universal, but now it seems like, its not.

blueguitarbob said:
I deleted the file using RootExplorer and rebooted. The accelerometer and magnetic sensor were working perfectly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Doest it still work when the phone is:
- touched with a little magnet like in a standard vertical flip-case (with little magnet) or
- travelling by car/bus/train or
- plugged in headphones
In the one I had (I don't have it any more) while plugging in headphones, or travelling by car/bus/train, or putting it in an flip-case with a little magnet the arrow In Google Maps pointing the direction which a device is currently facing simply freezes. Compass app also freezes at the same time. The app called Android Sensor Box in the scale for magnetometer reaches its maximum level. While moving the little magnet, from mentioned before filp-case, around a phone the arrow travels with it. Move it away and it freezes. It simply won't move. While sticking S4 to the metal part of laptop table the arrow immediately points opposite direction. Only making 8s in the air helps but only for a bit. Neither S3 9305 nor S5 have this problem. Even when stuck with a magnet their arrows in GM works just fine.
2. Does deleting the file fixes the GM's arrow issue also?

Danstek said:
Lol I fixed mine by simply flipping the phone a few times. Basically I first downloaded and installed the compass app from the market. Then in the app, I calibrate it normally (wave in a figure 8 pattern) a few times. It will still be pointing incorrectly so next all I do it flip the phone on it's vertical axis a few times then repeat with the horizontal axis. Then it will be correct. This always works for my phone, I do it every time after a factory reset since it uncalibrates the magnetometer every time. I've never had problems with the accelerometer though, only the magnetometer. It would always be out of whack no matter what until I figured out what to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
**** this worked

few issues

Hey all, have a few issues I am hoping to get figured out.
First, I am wondering if there is a way to re-calibrate the screen/tablet? When I take a picture, the tablet needs to be at about a 5-10* angle for the picture to be level.
Next, I know there have been quite a few GPS issues, but are there any "fixes" yet? I have downloaded and installed GPS test and I can get a lock after about 3 or 4 minutes, but Maps has NEVER found my location. The little GPS icon on the top left corner shows it is on and "locked" (not flashing), yet Maps always says "waiting for location" It never finds me though. It has been this way since I bought it.
Brew

no one else is having gps problems? I know many posted about them when the tablet first came out, surprised no one else is still having the problem. Maps still doesn't ever work for me. Never does find my location.
Next, I think the camera itself is not set correctly. When I use the level feature of the camera, the table shows level, but the picture itself is way off. Like the camera itself is twisted in the opening.

Don't have any problems with the camera, works fine for me.
GPS isn't really working for anybody - for some it helped to go outside and let it get the first fix. after that it works much better - for example for me.
but compass is still not usable =)

Thanks, I did a complete wipe last night and now maps will at least acknowledge that I exist. The camera is definitely installed crooked.

The Tegra Note has eight magnets in it, I'm not sure the compass will ever work properly

Ouzo said:
The Tegra Note has eight magnets in it, I'm not sure the compass will ever work properly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Been playing with my new toy, one of the reasons I picked this was the compass, I like the idea and one works well on my phone. Also have an interest in the night sky - but google sky map and sky safari type apps cannot figure out what direction to show, I was starting to think the magnets were a problem, quite good magnets - I can stick the tab to the fridge !! guess I will have to live without this function until my next tablet.
Magnets have anything to do with the speakers ? anybody know.

mickjack said:
Been playing with my new toy, one of the reasons I picked this was the compass, I like the idea and one works well on my phone. Also have an interest in the night sky - but google sky map and sky safari type apps cannot figure out what direction to show, I was starting to think the magnets were a problem, quite good magnets - I can stick the tab to the fridge !! guess I will have to live without this function until my next tablet.
Magnets have anything to do with the speakers ? anybody know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd noticed that the compass is problematic too. I guess it would be possible to open it up and pop them out, but I'm not brave enough to try.

Ouzo said:
I'd noticed that the compass is problematic too. I guess it would be possible to open it up and pop them out, but I'm not brave enough to try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had those thoughts to........ may give it a go when the tab is old and not quite so loved, just popped the back off a semi bricked pipo m7pro, can see the edge of the screen now and the switches don't sit properly.
Google sky map not so bad last night, just a quick test but it seemed to find its way around the sky, big moon found easy etc, still jumpy if you know what I mean. And the compass sometimes works - but seems to be 15deg off from my smartphone, need to get a propper compass and check then out!

Camera too
I have the same camera issue on my son's TN7 and my brand-new TN7 I got this week. Rear camera is tilted by about 10 degrees (checked with a real spirit level). Messes up some apps that need the device to be straight and use the camera.
Anyone else got this problem? Front camera is fine.

compass wont work with any ROM

Hi, I have a problem with the compass on my UMI zero. When I use google maps or any compass app the direction pointed by the arrow is always the same whatever direction i rotate my smartphone at. Only sometimes it points in the right direction but slowly rotating to the same wrong one. What's going on? I tried to install different ROM but the problem was never solved, and at the beginning it was working, i cannot say flawlessly but at least acceptably.

Compass problem
i was facing the same issues as you are with UMI Zero's compass especially on its stock firmware (update 3.10), but i went ahead and got the rom from this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/and...-miumizero-miuiv6-umi-zero-t3050090?nocache=1
and installed the firmware available on it.
i also made sure that all GPS settings were on before using the compass because without it (try using it with the data on for the first few trys), it kept telling me to wave the phone in the shape of an 8 to recalibrate it. it works now much better than before but it is still not completely accurate. i think the problem is within the hardware rather than the software.

P9 lite Compass issue

Hi,
I have been using P9 lite (model L31) for the past few months and found that the compass has some issues. Even if I calibrate the compass using figure 8, it does not stick to one point. For example, if I use google maps walking navigation, the map keeps on rotating so much that its hard to find the actual direction. Though the same does not happen in car navigation mode.
I have experienced the same thing in other apps as well. The compass does not stick to one position and it keeps on rotating.
Does anyone experienced this issue?

WAQ28 said:
Hi,
I have been using P9 lite (model L31) for the past few months and found that the compass has some issues. Even if I calibrate the compass using figure 8, it does not stick to one point. For example, if I use google maps walking navigation, the map keeps on rotating so much that its hard to find the actual direction. Though the same does not happen in car navigation mode.
I have experienced the same thing in other apps as well. The compass does not stick to one position and it keeps on rotating.
Does anyone experienced this issue?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even granting location access to the default compass app of the phone does not help. Does anyone has any clue why is it behaving like this?

Same problem on a L21.
Compass used to work fine, but since a few weeks ago it does not point to magnetic N... not even to a point with a certain deviation (if I rotate the phone, the "north" also rotates with it).
My good old N8-00 compass still works fine...

After A LOT of 8 shaped calibrations (with and without GPS enabled), the compass seems to work again...