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Anyone having problems with the compass?

H

hojoon0724

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 26, 2007
201
39
Los Angeles, CA
I've had my phone for about 2 weeks and the compass is slightly off to east when I know I'm facing north. (about 6 degrees off)
I know that it shows the range that stretches about 45 degrees to each side but it's annoying the heck outta me. (OCD apple consumer here)

I do realize this is a small problem (mostly on my part) but I got a bigger one.

Anyone have trouble when using the Google maps with the compass and have trouble with the car's magnets?
I realized today that it constantly tells me I'm facing north even when I KNOW I'm driving south.
I tried moving it around the dashboard and there are spots where it works properly and places that it needs re-calibration.

BTW I have the new Hyundai Santa Fe and AFAK, it has magnets EVERYWHERE
 
hojoon0724 said:
I've had my phone for about 2 weeks and the compass is slightly off to east when I know I'm facing north. (about 6 degrees off)
I know that it shows the range that stretches about 45 degrees to each side but it's annoying the heck outta me. (OCD apple consumer here)

I do realize this is a small problem (mostly on my part) but I got a bigger one.

Anyone have trouble when using the Google maps with the compass and have trouble with the car's magnets?
I realized today that it constantly tells me I'm facing north even when I KNOW I'm driving south.
I tried moving it around the dashboard and there are spots where it works properly and places that it needs re-calibration.

BTW I have the new Hyundai Santa Fe and AFAK, it has magnets EVERYWHERE
Click to expand...

It is not a matter of your vehicle having magnets everywhere but that vehicles are metal and the Earth's magnetic field acts upon them. Go to the store and buy an "analog" compass and it will swing the needle around in all the places the iPhone compass gets out of wack.
 
Yeah which really makes the magnometer useless while driving. Mine is always facing "south" of where I am actually driving. I assume all the metal in the back is ****ing with it. It sucks. :mad:
 
Yea in the car I have the same problem. I get a message describing a "figure eight" motion to re-calibrate the iPhone's compass. It works to the point where you can tell the general direction.
 
Auzburner said:
Yea in the car I have the same problem. I get a message describing a "figure eight" motion to re-calibrate the iPhone's compass. It works to the point where you can tell the general direction.
Click to expand...

That popped up on me yesterday. I must have looked like some weirdo moving the iphone around in the car ∞ :apple: ∞
 
For those who haven't read the posts containing Apple's suggestions:

Do NOT try to calibrate the iPhone compass in a car by waving it around. It's just going to get confused by all the different nearby fields.

Instead, put it in ONE spot and LEAVE it. Then, as you drive around and hit a few curves, it should eventually figure things out on its own.

(And/or you can try driving in a slow circle a few times in a parking lot, and that should do it as well.)
 
kdarling said:
For those who haven't read the posts containing Apple's suggestions:

Do NOT try to calibrate the iPhone compass in a car by waving it around. It's just going to get confused by all the different nearby fields.

Instead, put it in ONE spot and LEAVE it. Then, as you drive around and hit a few curves, it should eventually figure things out on its own.

(And/or you can try driving in a slow circle a few times in a parking lot, and that should do it as well.)
Click to expand...

LOL

I have a dream, that one day. All the little girls and boys do not have to drive in circles in order to calibrate their phones.

Imagine everywhere you go. Before you leave a parking lot, you make three or four circle. It'll be the next iPod fad.
 
kdarling said:
For those who haven't read the posts containing Apple's suggestions:

Do NOT try to calibrate the iPhone compass in a car by waving it around. It's just going to get confused by all the different nearby fields.

Instead, put it in ONE spot and LEAVE it. Then, as you drive around and hit a few curves, it should eventually figure things out on its own.

(And/or you can try driving in a slow circle a few times in a parking lot, and that should do it as well.)
Click to expand...

I ended up putting it on the seat and it did eventually work itself out.
 
Does this electronic compass account for declination? (the difference between true north and magnetic north?) That could easily account for your 6 degree difference. Most people have no idea of how to properly use a compass and a map. In LA it is 12-13 degrees.
 
My compass continuously told me to do recalibrate it with the figure of eight thing for the first couple of days. Then I realized my iphone case has a magnet in it:p
 
skye12 said:
Does this electronic compass account for declination? (the difference between true north and magnetic north?) That could easily account for your 6 degree difference. Most people have no idea of how to properly use a compass and a map. In LA it is 12-13 degrees.
Click to expand...

There is an option for it to display TN and MN.

As a result I suspect it accounts for it.

It doesn't show which area its accounting for though so that's probably just happening in the background. I'll bet it has to do with the fact that few people know how to read a legitimate map (ie Road Atlas maps are not 'real' maps IMO)
 
Seriously I put the compass icon on the third/last page of apps. I don't forsee having a use for it. I use the direction function on the map, but its tilted to the left a bit, like everyone here has experienced.
 
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