Develop Bugs

Compass issue officially acknowledged

Since the issue has officially been acknowledge, I thought this subject warranted a new thread.
In a nutshell, our Nitro's built-in Compass is screwed-up (at least a bunch of us Nitro owners). It was reported to LG in their official Forum and it seems they've finally official acknowledged the issue exists AND they've been able to reproduce it.
Now, some folks might dismiss this saying they don't do any hiking so the compass isn't that important an issue...BUT you should know the compass does a LOT more than just points an arrow north on a compass app!! Not the least of which is giving you a heading in your GPS app while you're not moving. Or if you like the Google Sky app, it's pretty much hosed without a properly working compass
LG's Official Forum page:
http://support.lgforum.com/lg/topics/lg_nitro_hd_compass_doesnt_work
The issue has been reproduced by support... Now I am wairing to hear what they are going to do next. Hopefully they can roll out a fix in a future update.
[from LG Product Pro]
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Here's a previous thread on the matter:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1407840

My telus optimus lte p935 has the problem too

I hope they come up with something soon... either give us all Optimus LTE 2's, or our money back

hereric said:
I hope they come up with something soon... either give us all Optimus LTE 2's, or our money back
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It's LG, they'll do nothing

any update yet?
is it a software issue? or HW?

I had the weird compass issue too (it was always spinning in circles)
I just downloaded the app: GPS Status & Toolbox from the Google Play store and used its "compass calibration" and "pitch and roll calibration" tools. Now my compass works fine
Note: You might have to do the compass calibration more than once. What I had to do was: compass calibration, pitch and roll calibration, and then compass calibration one last time. Was connected to GPS also if that makes a difference. YMMV

still doesn't work.
calibrate and it work ok for a couple of minutes - then it's back to being 120 to 180degrees off, which makes for a use less compass, very anouying gps (keeps redirecting because of wrong pointing direction), and other apps that use this. just sucks.
thought the new Telus update would fix it, but it kinda made it worse. So I think it is indeed a hardware fault.

mast3rvo said:
I had the weird compass issue too (it was always spinning in circles)
I just downloaded the app: GPS Status & Toolbox from the Google Play store and used its "compass calibration" and "pitch and roll calibration" tools. Now my compass works fine
Note: You might have to do the compass calibration more than once. What I had to do was: compass calibration, pitch and roll calibration, and then compass calibration one last time. Was connected to GPS also if that makes a difference. YMMV
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Tried the app and it worked for me. Still testing to see if it sticks but its worth a shot.
Sent from my LG-P930 using xda app-developers app

[Q] GPS wandering, any one found a software fix?

I've read just about every post in this forum that even mentions GPS trying to find a solution, but no luck, so I'm asking outright in case I missed something or someone has the answer and hasn't contributed it yet.
My One X has horrible GPS.
I'm not talking about how long it takes to find satellites, it does that quickly enough. What I'm talking about is using an app like My Tracks, Endomondo, Run Keeper, etc to record a track. If I sit the phone perfectly still and let one run, the position and track wander all over the map like a drunken sailor looking for a good time. If I actually move in a straight line, the position shows me blocks away from where I really am. If I try to use a navigation app, the directions are meaningless because the phone thinks I'm as much as 1/2 mile away from my actual position. (I should post a video of that, it's hilarious how bad the directions are.)
Please don't respond if the only problem you've had with GPS is that it took too long to find satellites and downloading someone's aGPS fix app or tweak solved your problem. I've tried all that, multiple times.
I suspect it's just bad hardware, maybe bad antenna connection or something similar, and I'm going to need to replace the phone, but before i go through the hassle of trying to get HTC to replace this dev unlocked phone, I want to make sure there's not a software fix possible. I'm past Expansys' 14 day return window, so HTC is my only option, or possibly my American Express warranty service.
Any thoughts?
The pic is a screen capture of the phone sitting in my parked car in an uncovered parking lot for about 10 minutes. Note how much it wanders around.

Well, no replies, so I guess that means a big NO to any one actually finding a software fix to this particular problem.
For what it's worth, I installed CM9 in the phone and the GPS is still unable to hold an accurate location, so I'm sure it's a hardware issue at this point.
That's a real pisser, since they told me the turn around time on fixing my phone will be 3-4 weeks at the HTC Warranty Repair center in Houston, TX.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

I hate to say it, but it must be your unit.
I use GPS navigation very frequently (SoCal, USA) - and coming from a flawless GPS on SGSII, I have to say that HOX GPS is even better. It's more precise - it can even correctly show which side of the road I'm on. Also, driving past intersections is spot-on, which shows how on-the-spot it is.
Did you install any cases, or keep it somewhere where antenna signal may get blocked?

DarkDvr said:
I hate to say it, but it must be your unit.
I use GPS navigation very frequently (SoCal, USA) - and coming from a flawless GPS on SGSII, I have to say that HOX GPS is even better. It's more precise - it can even correctly show which side of the road I'm on. Also, driving past intersections is spot-on, which shows how on-the-spot it is.
Did you install any cases, or keep it somewhere where antenna signal may get blocked?
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I didn't want to believe it, but I concur it's got to be a hardware issue. No case in it, nothing blocking the antenna. I have same issues even laying it on a patio table out in the open.
I'm also in SoCal...San Fernando valley and the west side of Los Angeles. The one time I tried to use the GPS for navigation it was like getting affections from the three stooges.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Mine does exactly the same. Calibrating the compass an turning wifi off while using gps solves it for me. Gsp is spot on whe wifi turned off... turn it on while navigating and it wonders off road....

I had the same problem, I downloaded GPS Test Plus from the Market, went into settings, selected Clear AGPS and then selected Update AGPS - seems to have been tons better since I did that.
Found this via an Internet search so Kudos to those who discovered it although I apologise I can't remember where I found it!

breugiek said:
Mine does exactly the same. Calibrating the compass an turning wifi off while using gps solves it for me. Gsp is spot on whe wifi turned off... turn it on while navigating and it wonders off road....
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Yop this I remember even from the iPhone. Accuracy +50m when Wifi or Mobile network assisting with the position. Without max 5 . and not much wandering
Just turn it off in the location. As the breugiek above me suggested.

Thanks for the responses.
As stated in the original post, this is not an aGPS issue. I've tried many aGPS type fixes..Faster fix app, crypted fix and a few others.
I didn't mention it, but I've already tried turning of wifi; it makes no difference.
I suspect bad hardware, specifically something wrong with the antenna.
Annoys me no end to be HOX-less for a month. I've only owned the damn thing for 4 weeks.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Kinda meant the settings > location > Googles location service = un-check. But I guess you already tried that one :/ (but mentioning it just in case)

PAGOT said:
Kinda meant the settings > location > Googles location service = un-check. But I guess you already tried that one :/ (but mentioning it just in case)
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Yeah, tried that too, but thanks for the follow up.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

I'd posted a wandering track from a parked vehicle in the OP, but for those interested, here's a two-minute video of the HTC One X GPS in action while trying to use it for Navigation with the Google Navigation app.
http://youtu.be/_nxptMIPuIE

Mine is the same but only when I stop the car at lights etc. Sat nav shows me going rallying across field and drowning in the sea when near the coast, sorts itself out when on the move again tho.
Sent from Bindroid

I may have found a fix (it works for me so far anyway) - see my post here...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=27266275&postcount=145

Thanks for the suggestion, I've already seen your post in the other GPS is messed up thread. I tried it and it doesn't fix my phone. Clearly bad hardware.
Cheers!
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

GPS now working fairly well on this phone. It's not perfect, and requires WiFi off, but other than some initial wandering at startup I'm getting accurate tracks on it.
The fix was to install ARHD 7.0. No idea what changed from earlier versions but it works well enough to put up with until I can get a shorter repair time quote from the warranty center.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Compass workaround for Telus ICS ROM on Tmo T989

If you have the Telus Rom running on your Tmo GSll, I found a compass with an adjustable azimuth that can be manually calibrated to correct for the polarity issue we seem to be having with this setup.
It is in the market (play store) called smart compass. there are several apps by the same developer in a group called smart tools. There are free and paid versions available so cost isn't an issue. I installed a paid one to support the dev. In the settings is an azimuth adjuster (just like a real compass), and I was able to fix the compass for that app. good enough until a permanent solution comes along.

I think x said to just calibrate your gyro and it fixed it for him..haven't tried it
Sent from my SGH-T989D using xda premium

Teo032 said:
I think x said to just calibrate your gyro and it fixed it for him..haven't tried it
Sent from my SGH-T989D using xda premium
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+1 Calibrating fixed it for me as well.

Did not work for me. Calibrated using GPS Status and still getting North as East.

sbug206 said:
Did not work for me. Calibrated using GPS Status and still getting North as East.
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Same thing happened for me as well. The Calibrating didn't seem to work. Maybe I did it wrong? But I tried multiple times with the same result.

The sensor in the phone is backwards. I couldn't calibrate it either. Thats why I suggested this app. It has manual calibration that goes beyond the software limitations of the device. It doesn't fix the phone, but it gives you a working compass until we can figure out the problem with the phone.

pjim said:
The sensor in the phone is backwards. I couldn't calibrate it either. Thats why I suggested this app. It has manual calibration that goes beyond the software limitations of the device. It doesn't fix the phone, but it gives you a working compass until we can figure out the problem with the phone.
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It's funny, I just tried this compass and didn't have to configure or calibrate anything. It worked perfectly right away. I am keeping this compass. Only one that has worked correctly so far. Thanks.

Here's a *possible* solution to bad compass...

If your Nitro is like mine, then its' compass couldn't find North to save its' life. Or worse yet it might be in the vicinity, but is very sporadic...Makes it just about impossible to use apps like Google Star Maps or get a proper bearing on direction in Nav when you're at a stop.
If you're also like me, you've tried doing the compass calibrations with the whacky waving your phone in a figure 8 to calibrate. But this hasn't fixed my issue.
But then I tried the rotate-all-axis calibration method and now my compass is much better! Here's what to try:
1. Install GPS Status from the Play Store:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2
2. Open the app, then bring up the Menu and choose: Tools > Compass calibration
3. Rotate the phone along the 3 axises a couple of times, like in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNJJPeoG8lQ
4. Press okay and your compass *should* be better
NOTE: I just noticed that when I went to test on another phone to compare (I also have a Nexus One), that my Nitro went out-of-whack again and only after a short while from previous calibration! Another calibration and it's working again, but that sucks that it lost its' bearings so quickly like that.
Give it a try and good luck!

Didn't really work for me. I really think this is a hardware issue. Do you think we should demand some kind of rebate for this or something? I know (its somewhere on the threads) that LG officially acknowledged the problem and have yet to come out for a fix. They are knowingly selling a defected phone.

anybody test the phone with any of the new official software?

After calibration compass works correctly.

Wlld1 said:
After calibration compass works correctly.
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For how long? Work after a reboot?
After flashing a new ROM?

Yes, it works after reboot. But calibration will be lost after flashing new ROM. I dont know where its data is stored.

Wlld1 said:
Yes, it works after reboot. But calibration will be lost after flashing new ROM. I dont know where its data is stored.
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still sucks. all jumpy and not accurate.
I calibrated mine acouple of times yesterday. The compass worked, but it was very sluggish or spun too fast, and unless I put it on a table, wouldn't stop spinning.
I tried today, and it worked but was very slow to catch up to my movements.
Tried some sky map apps, and it just sucks. Same with the augmented reality apps.
wish there was a fix - or we at least new the problem.
thinking I may go back to stock and send it in to telus and see if there is a fix. Anybody have a working compass after a hardware swap? or repair?

The calibration did fix (even after reboot) the compass but I've noticed it takes sometime to settle after starting an application that use the compass.
At first it looks like the infernal spinning madness is about to start over again but after a few spins it stops at the correct position and stay there.
Weird...
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

[Q] Gyroscope, Accelerometer & Compass Won't Work

So at some random point my Gyroscope, Accelerometer AND compass all stopped working. I first realized web pages weren't changing orientation so I tried turning Smart Rotation on and off. No luck. Auto rotate is turned on. I also tried recalibrating my Gyroscope in the settings and still no luck. Everything from games to the browser and even apps to show info on all 3 of these things will not work and the compass reads North/NW all the time. I can't find a decent app that just says yes/no the gyroscope/accelerometer are/are not working, but I can flip my phone around and move it fast, etc etc and the readings don't change on the apps I have found. I wouldn't think it's a hardware issue unless all 3 of these are on the same part? I'm no too keen on the hardware end so I'm kind of blind, but I wouldn't be posting for help if I didn't try everything I could think of. Any help or suggestions would be incredible!
Oh, and also good to know: I even tried full wipe and changing to the AT&T CleanROM coming from v6? of the Jedi ROM thinking it could just be some random thing I missed... Although I did use Titanium Backup to restore everything... Anyways, I'll try any and all ideas. Thanks in advance!

Bliznade said:
So at some random point my Gyroscope, Accelerometer AND compass all stopped working. I first realized web pages weren't changing orientation so I tried turning Smart Rotation on and off. No luck. Auto rotate is turned on. I also tried recalibrating my Gyroscope in the settings and still no luck. Everything from games to the browser and even apps to show info on all 3 of these things will not work and the compass reads North/NW all the time. I can't find a decent app that just says yes/no the gyroscope/accelerometer are/are not working, but I can flip my phone around and move it fast, etc etc and the readings don't change on the apps I have found. I wouldn't think it's a hardware issue unless all 3 of these are on the same part? I'm no too keen on the hardware end so I'm kind of blind, but I wouldn't be posting for help if I didn't try everything I could think of. Any help or suggestions would be incredible!
Oh, and also good to know: I even tried full wipe and changing to the AT&T CleanROM coming from v6? of the Jedi ROM thinking it could just be some random thing I missed... Although I did use Titanium Backup to restore everything... Anyways, I'll try any and all ideas. Thanks in advance!
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Download https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=zausan.zdevicetest&hl=en and see what is and isn't working. :good:
hope this helps
Edit: btw if you use APEX Launcher, did you enable "lock desktop" option by any chance? Don't know if that keeps your screen from rotating or anything... just a thought!

*#0*#
Then select Sensor and see if they display readings.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium

Get into the diagnostic screen by typing *#0*# into the dialer screen and check the sensors if they are gathering the right data.
Sent from the Rabbit Hole

Okay, I did the number thing and a bunch of different things came up...
"UPC-A
EAN-13
EAN-8
Code 39
Code 128
Interleaved 2 of 5
Codabar
GS1 Databar"
Do I need to do something here? Thanks for the responses!
*UPDATE*
So it must be a software thing. I used the app retrorom posted about and it seems like the compass doesn't work. But the accelerometer and gyroscope work on both the green and red axis but the blue seems to stay in position.. Not sure which is which (x/y/z). Still unsure if this is a software or hardware issue... I'm running Nova Launcher, by the way.

Bliznade said:
Okay, I did the number thing and a bunch of different things came up...
"UPC-A
EAN-13
EAN-8
Code 39
Code 128
Interleaved 2 of 5
Codabar
GS1 Databar"
Do I need to do something here? Thanks for the responses!
*UPDATE*
So it must be a software thing. I used the app retrorom posted about and it seems like the compass doesn't work. But the accelerometer and gyroscope work on both the green and red axis but the blue seems to stay in position.. Not sure which is which (x/y/z). Still unsure if this is a software or hardware issue... I'm running Nova Launcher, by the way.
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Hmm ok. I just tried the compass feature with ZdeviceTest and when I move the NoteII left to right and up and down I can see all three lines moving. So that seems not normal that your "blue line" on the compass feature doesn't move. Maybe it really is a hardware issue then, I hope not...