Compass not working

[Fred Boyer]

I'm new to using a GPS.  Just downloaded GPS Essentials onto my samsung smartphone for geocashing.  Regardless of the "clamp setting" the compass does not rotate when I turn in a 360 degree circle.  Any help would be appreciated.

[Michael Schollmeyer]

Is your device equipped with a magnetic sensor? Which model is it?

Cheers, Michael
mictale.com/ms
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On Mar 11, 2013, at 5:01 PM, Fred Boyer <fr...@boyersnet.com> wrote:

> I'm new to using a GPS. Just downloaded GPS Essentials onto my samsung smartphone for geocashing. Regardless of the "clamp setting" the compass does not rotate when I turn in a 360 degree circle. Any help would be appreciated.
>

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[Fred Boyer]

I'm not sure if it has a magnetic sensor or not.  How do I tell?  It is a Samsung Galaxy Stellar.

Fred

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[Michael Schollmeyer]

I cannot find it in the specs: http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SCH-I200ZKAVZW-specs
You can install AndroSensor (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fivasim.androsensor) to check if the magnetic sensor shows in the list.
If the device is not having a magnetic sensor, you can set "Clamp Heading" to always, then the compass shows your direction of travel while you are moving.

Cheers, Michael
mictale.com/ms
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[Fred Boyer]

I downloaded AndroSensor and I do get magnetic readings in the x, y, z and the fourth direction so I am assuming that my phone has a magnetic sensor.  I just walked out side and found that the compass is responding.  Thank you for you help!  

One final question (I hope).  What does "clamp heading" mean and why are there three choices: "never", "moving" and "always"?

With some additional study my wife and I hope to get our g-kids into geocashing.

Fred

[Michael Schollmeyer]

Clamp heading "clamps" your compass to your direction of travel instead of showing magnetic north. This is good for devices that don't have a magnetic sensor and also when you are in a plane or on a bumpy roads and the compass jumps between measures.

"Always" means to always clamp, moving will only clamp while you are moving and never always shows magnet sensor values.

Cheers, Michael
mictale.com/ms
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[Fred Boyer]

I am still having compass issues.  With the clamp setting on "never" and when compared to a conventional magnetic compass, GPS's essentials compass is about 60 +/- degrees in error.  When my conventional magnetic compass is oriented to be pointing north, north on GPS essentials' compass is at approximtely 65 degrees relative to the conventional compass.   Any thoughts?

Fred 

[Michael Schollmeyer]

You can set the compass to indicate true north, but let's assume your deviation is not 60°.

The only thing that makes compass readings better is calibration. To check your calibration: Stay away 5m (or yards) from anything that influences magnetic fields, point the device north and slowly but steadily turn around your own vertical axis. If the compass jumps at a certain orientation, it most probably needs a calibration. If calibration fails, try different rotation speeds. I found that the 3-axis method of calibration works better than the figure-8 method. Sometimes it takes 5 or 6 attempts to successfully calibrate.

Cheers, Michael
mictale.com/ms
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[Fred Boyer]

Thanks again Michael!  My system is responding very well!

Fred

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