compass is a joke!

[Madam ImAdam]

The compass magnetometer on this phone is appallingly bad. No matter how many times I calibrate it, it is always significantly of compared to a real compass. The compass on my iPhone 5 for comparison nearly always matches the actual compass accurately.

Any tips for getting the compass to work properly on this device. I need headings often enough that I end up carrying my iPhone 5 with me to be sure.

 

[gpobernardo]

The compass magnetometer on this phone is appallingly bad. No matter how many times I calibrate it, it is always significantly of compared to a real compass. The compass on my iPhone 5 for comparison nearly always matches the actual compass accurately.

Any tips for getting the compass to work properly on this device. I need headings often enough that I end up carrying my iPhone 5 with me to be sure.

May we know if you're using a case with a magnetic lock for your L1520? This has been a known source of interference to the magnetometer.

I've got the same concern for my L1020, especially during the first week of owning it when I had to calibrate the compass each time I opened any app that uses the magnetometer. But after a week or so I was no longer being prompted as often, but still more than what I think is convenient for most people.

Here's a "shortcut" method for calibrating your compass. Instead of making a figure 8 in the air with a specific wrist twisting action, simply rotate your phone perpendicular to the ground similar to taking a panorama shot. It doesn't matter if your phone is facing up, down, side ways, obliquely; what matters is that you just rotate it along a vertical axis. Most of the time you won't even need to make a full rotation. This allows the magnetometer to adapt to the interference present in your area, effectively calibrating it... minus the attention from the people around you. Let us know if that works for you.

 

[Madam ImAdam]

Thanks, but I see No improvement by calibrating it in the way you've suggested.

 

[RumoredNow]

My 1520.3 seems to be a little sensitive in the compass area as well. (Sounds painful, doesn't it? :grincry

You're in NYC, yes, Adam? Travel on the subway or by rail often? Those huge chunks of ferrous metal + travel seem to confuse the compass easily in my experience. My compass hasn't needed calibration quite so often that I worry about it... If I'm correct in my theory it doesn't come up as a situation too often with how I travel. I don't know if a Firmware fix is applicable... Try and note when the compass goes out of whack and submit it as a Bug.

http://forums.windowscentral.com/windows-phone-8/210383-where-official-report-bug.html#post2388295

 

[gpobernardo]

In addition to RumoredNow's post, every environment (especially in a city) has it's unique magnetic signature - thanks to the different metallic structures embedded in our surroundings (car frame, steel concrete bars, etc.). This means that every time the compass is transported from one magnetic environment to another it needs to "know" and adapt to that environment, hence the "calibration".

Unless the phone finds a way to store calibration data and then intelligently detect and recognize the magnetic signature it is in from stored calibration data, re-calibration will be necessary every time.

As a quick test calibrate your phone in a certain place (e.g. your room). You'll notice that you won't be prompted to re-calibrate your compass (even if you stay there for hours) until you leave your room and go to a place that has a significantly different magnetic signature (e.g. your car).

 

[Mattman86]

I sat outside last night for a few hours using SkyMap Free with no problems at all. It did take a minute to adjust when I first started though.