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I just got off the phone with Samsung level 2 support, and she explained to me that:
1) The current AT&T JH7 OTA update does NOT include the GPS fix (as we've all realized)
2) The "real" GPS fix will be coming out BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH (in the next few days)
3) This new OTA update will include JUST the GPS fix, nothing else.
I understand this is in contrast to Samsung's twitter account and facebook page that say the update is already available... I brought this up to the Samsung support lady, and she kept repeating that the "real" GPS fix is not available yet, it will contain ONLY the GPS fix, and it will be available as an OTA update before the end of the month.
She apologized for the confusion...
So should we get our hopes back up?
I hope so. Somebody on another forum was told the same thing so I really hope it's true.
Who knows what to believe anymore.
Well working for a large corporation I know that one hand has no clue what the other is doing.
My email to support got answered with the typical "we can't speculate when/if" answer.
Joe1981AL said:
Well working for a large corporation I know that one hand has no clue what the other is doing.
My email to support got answered with the typical "we can't speculate when/if" answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The level-1 support guys were saying the update was already out with the GPS fix. They also told me to uncheck and re-check the "Use Wireless Networks" option. Basically, the level-1 support guys are clueless on the real issues, and they were likely the ones responding to your e-mail.
I'm going to wait until the end of this month... if Oct. 1st rolls around with no real GPS fix, then we know they are all full of sh*t
There is a definite difference in GPS performance on my phone since this update. It is not perfect by any stretch, but there is most definitely a difference in lock speed, number of satellites in use, and tracking.
Maybe this is not the fix, but they changed something. I don't know if it's at driver level or firmware level, but something is different.
Hopefully the rumors of a true GPS fix this month are true, but there is too much misinformation out there to even speculate as to what's accurate.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Ikonomi said:
There is a definite difference in GPS performance on my phone since this update. It is not perfect by any stretch, but there is most definitely a difference in lock speed, number of satellites in use, and tracking.
Maybe this is not the fix, but they changed something. I don't know if it's at driver level or firmware level, but something is different.
Hopefully the rumors of a true GPS fix this month are true, but there is too much misinformation out there to even speculate as to what's accurate.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, there are quite a few improvements over stock on this ROM. The compass is also much better, among a few other things.
However, the GPS is still too unreliable for Navigation, which the "real" GPS fix must still address. According to them, this real "fix" is still coming this month, and not here yet.
Dear Samsung:
Ass != Hole in the ground.
The GPS is definitely better. I saw the icon stop blinking and get a lock while standing still which I never saw before.
I call shenanigans on this. I just contacted Samsung live support and I'd post the conversation here but it was actually so useless that I'd just be wasting your time. She said she understands it's still a problem and to call so they can troubleshoot and that was it. I asked her to speculate on the source of the issue and got nothing.
GPS locks fast yes, but it loses lock just as fast too...
So the conclusion: No one really knows what is going on until I see a GPS OTA notification on my Captivate.
The Captivate is my first smartphone. My question is: has there ever been a situation where there is a glaring problem such as this GPS bug, where the manufacturer never ended up resolving the issue? What are the chances that Samsung sweeps this under the rug until it just goes away?
PhishSGS said:
The Captivate is my first smartphone. My question is: has there ever been a situation where there is a glaring problem such as this GPS bug, where the manufacturer never ended up resolving the issue? What are the chances that Samsung sweeps this under the rug until it just goes away?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if I'm just an optimist but I don't think Samsung will leave this unresolved. The Galaxy S line is a world wide launch of smart phones and now a tab as well. They've invested too much into this to just leave it hanging. It seems pretty clear to me that they're trying to grab a huge market share and trying to be the next big thing in the smart phone/tab market.
So overall I have hope that it will be fixed. Whether it's a small update in the near future, or whether it is fully fixed when 2.2 is released, I believe it will happen eventually.
I would sassy this is true. I flashed my phone from the.zip this forum provided and my gps is no better no worse than before.. Hopefully in the next few days.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
That would make sense, because I was able to get a quick GPS lock before and after the update, it just didn't track me very well before or after. Pretty sure any improvement can be chalked up to confirmation bias and wildly varying results depending on the test conditions.
PhishSGS said:
The Captivate is my first smartphone. My question is: has there ever been a situation where there is a glaring problem such as this GPS bug, where the manufacturer never ended up resolving the issue? What are the chances that Samsung sweeps this under the rug until it just goes away?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There was a similar situation involving HTC and the Kaiser (aka ATT Tilt) about video drivers and it never got resolved officialy.
In stock form it would sometimes take 10 minutes to get a GPS lock in navigation, and on routes it would frequently lose my position, causing the nav program to reroute, and then reroute again when GPS locked again.
On JH7 (via Cognition) it took about 20 seconds to get a dead-on lock while standing in my front yard. I haven't used it in navigation yet, will do that tomorrow.
I've had two captivates prior to the OTA update, one of them was essentially non-functioning GPS, and the other was basically functional, but f-ed up. It remains that way today with no changes to the GPS settings.
The official release notes for JH7 didnt say one word about a GPS fix, and I can tell, my GPS is still broken. Thing is now, my compass is now broken. It at least used to point in the right direction but it would fluctuate within a 5-10 degree range. Now its 90 to 180 degrees completely off. I can look at maps and be driving down the road and the arrow is pointing behind me or somewhere perpendicular to my line of motion. What a crock. The only thing I noticed was an updated version of youtube, no more usb pc tethering, quick office is now included.
One positive is the battery life is longer. Where with the same usage all day at work I'm now at 60-70% and before the update I'd be at 30-40% by the time I left work.
I'm not looking forward to another OTA update, I couldnt get the last one to install, I had to use designgears' JH7-OTA.zip to get in installed, his zip worked great!
Edit: one note on GPS, the reported accuracy is much better, but its not true. Example, before it would say accuracy 100meters, and I might be within the blue 100 meter circle. Now it says Accuracy 10 meters and it reports my position as 100-200 meters from where I really am. So its not really more accurate, it just reports that it is. And it still fails to track me at all. Once I start moving (whether on foot or on bike or in car) it really gets whacky. Like I'm driving down the road and it starts to show me gradually leaving the road, by a block or so down the road I'm off in the middle of the block driving through people's houses or doing some serious offroading, when i'm still right in the middle of the road. Its tracking performance is abysmal.
And it seems that AT&T or Samsung took out the dial code to get to the lbstesemode menu. Dialing *#*#1472365#*#* now does nothing.
cesierra said:
There was a similar situation involving HTC and the Kaiser (aka ATT Tilt) about video drivers and it never got resolved officialy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wasn't that more of a poor performance due to lack of proper drivers, but it still functioned? All the HTC phones after that had the same deal. HTC didn't pay for the drivers from Qualcom. The phones still worked great. They just didn't perform, as far as video power, as well as the hardware was capable of.
I think this is a different matter. It's not the difference between running amazing 3D graphics and running pretty good 3D graphics. This is something that's plain broken. I can't imagine Samsung can afford to NOT fix this.
Now if the GPS universally worked "fine" at lets say with a 10 foot accuracy 99% of the time but the hardware was capable of being accurate to 10 inches 100% of the time then I could see Samsung possibly shrugging their shoulders. This clearly isn't the case though.
I recently acquired two NS phones, one for wife, one for me. After playing them for a few days, I found the compass is not working for both of them,even after the calibration. They point to everywhere but the right direction.
I came from Samsung Vibrant, the reason I switched was because Vibrant has bad GPS and defective compass, which really bothered me. Now after the jumping, I found NS has the similar compass problem...
Can Samsung really make a working phone?
Maybe you got a bad one, I came from the vibrant a month ago and I'm hooked. Everything works and never going back to a non nexus phone ever. GPS works perfectly and locks in less than ten seconds. My first one was a dud so I got exchanged. If you're not happy than demand to be satisfied. Do it!!
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
I gave up on my compass, too. It rotates with the phone... Not completely anyway, but the display is nearly completely independent from magnetic north. I think the sensor value may be computed by something like
Code:
north = sha1(/dev/urandom + /dev/accelerometer);
On a more serious side note: We have some metal parts in our phones. If one close to the magnetometer sensor is only slightly magnetized, that would likely seriously impact compass performance. Unfortunately, there is neither a (simple) way to find out, whether it is so, nor a (simple) way to fix it.
since I acquired the two NS phones from two independent channels, now both of them showing bad compass, I'd suspect this is something systematic.
I'm surprised to see so little echo on this issue...
coolmib said:
since I acquired the two NS phones from two independent channels, now both of them showing bad compass, I'd suspect this is something systematic.
I'm surprised to see so little echo on this issue...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just checked my compass on my NS and it seems to be real close to pointing north.
I had a G1 before and the compass would occasionally get stuck and give inaccurate readings. To fix that I would shake the phone vigorously like I was trying to take the fizz from a soda bottle and that would make the compass work properly. However I don't think that that is a problem with the NS.
The compass points wherever the point of gravity is. North is always facing down for me for some reason but gps status seems to work, but not entirely accurate.
Is there still no fix for this issue?
I often have to do the figure 8 when I want the compass to point north. Normally this works for me.
Seems like it was a rom issue. I had the newest cm rc1 and north was pointing wherever the ground was. I just returned it back to rooted 2.3.4 stock and seems to work fine, except it's shaky now.
EDIT: There is the "Compass" app that still points down, but google map and the other compass apps works somewhat fine (still shaky and about 10-15 degrees off or so)
I wonder is it pointing TRUE north or MAGNETIC north? Where I live there is almost no declination however some areas are +-15 degrees.
For my case in the original post, both phones are running the stock ROM of 2.3.4 (unrooted). I tried several compass Apps from the Market, none of them pointing to the right direction.....I wonder if it's a hardware problem.
coolmib said:
For my case in the original post, both phones are running the stock ROM of 2.3.4 (unrooted). I tried several compass Apps from the Market, none of them pointing to the right direction.....I wonder if it's a hardware problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try using "Smart Compass" if you search for "Compass" in the market, it's usually the second one from the top.
koyanishi said:
I just checked my compass on my NS and it seems to be real close to pointing north.
I had a G1 before and the compass would occasionally get stuck and give inaccurate readings. To fix that I would shake the phone vigorously like I was trying to take the fizz from a soda bottle and that would make the compass work properly. However I don't think that that is a problem with the NS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have experimented a bit more with NS compass and have to agree that its accuracy is random - occasionally it will point north but more often it will be off by 10 to 20 degrees.
SovereigN7 said:
Try using "Smart Compass" if you search for "Compass" in the market, it's usually the second one from the top.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just downloaded and installed "Smart Compass"。 Same problems persist...
try the compass built into the mapping app Locus. Best compass i've found yet.
coolmib said:
For my case in the original post, both phones are running the stock ROM of 2.3.4 (unrooted). I tried several compass Apps from the Market, none of them pointing to the right direction.....I wonder if it's a hardware problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I think it is a hardware problem.
While researching a problem I have with NFC reading tags I cam upon this gem from this tread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=905512&highlight=nfc+-reading+tags
And chadrockey had this to say in post # 1 of that tread.
chadrockey said:
So I've been noticing that my compass would always misbehave (in terms of accuracy, not stability a la Sky Maps). I would get a pretty large static error (30 to 40 degrees obviously not declination); rotations would not be consistent (IE, a 180 degree turn would yield 100 degrees change.); and the magnitude of raw measurements was not like that of the magnetometer I got from Sparkfun.
Turns out the neodymium magnets I had near my desk actually latched onto my phone and magnetized the NFC antenna. I tested this by removing the cover and putting the magnet near the antenna and it sticks. Without the cover on, the compass worked much better.
I've mostly demagnetized my NFC antenna now by doing some magnet sweeps and leaving it near the heater, but I've learned to keep the magnets away.
If anyone is having problems with the compass overall accuracy, removing the back cover may help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now I never, as far as I know, have had strong magnets near the nfc antenna, but the nfc app does not read nfc tags so it could be that it is magnetized.
But if I take the back cover off my NS as chadrockey recommends, then the compass reading will be spot on.
oh, and btw, the best compass app that I know comes from swiss army knife which is one app containing a number of other neat apps
I have the same problem with my nexus s compass, north is not accurate ever and augmented reality application like streetview defect because the compass seems to vibrate, even if I have my hand stable the screen vibrates like I'm shacking the phone...
walker7373 said:
I have the same problem with my nexus s compass, north is not accurate ever and augmented reality application like streetview defect because the compass seems to vibrate, even if I have my hand stable the screen vibrates like I'm shacking the phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you try using the compass without the case back cover?
tried removing the back case, compass still not working
I gave up my compass a couple of weeks after i got the phone. Shakes like a drug addict and the accuracy is worse than a blind guy trying out sharp shooting for the first time.
Ive removed the back cover, tried different apps and "calibrated" the compass multiple times but to no avail.
Join the club. The compass is a failure and google is not fixing, or not able to fix it.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Just a heads up with the compass on the S4. I noticed that the compass on my S4 wasn't working. I tried it with several apps including ISS Detector, Mobile Observatory, and GPS status. It just sat there, not showing the correct direction. I then used "GPS Status and Toolbox" (available in the Play store) to calibrate the compass. I just followed the directions and it worked. I now have a working and accurate compass. I would have figured it should have worked fine out of the box and was about to return it when I tried this. I also would have thought they would include an internal means to calibrate it...but I guess not. So you might want to check and see if your compass is actually working out of the box or if you need to calibrate it.
never notice this , i will try it later.:laugh:
Yup. Mine was way off. Thanks for the heads up.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
Mine was constantly pointing northwest before I calibrated, thanks
I had the same problem when I tested mine. Tried the app you recommended and it calibrated successfully and now works. Thanks!
Yea my came out fine. Thanks for the tip!
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4
Wow I never realized mine did not work. Thanks for the tip, it works great now!
For other people, when it says to rotate it on three of it's axis, I flipped the phone horizontally a few times, then in the vertical direction, then I put it on my palm and spun it in a circle a few times. Works great now!
GS3 had compass issues too; this fixed those as well. my old Atrix 4G you had to rotate the phone in all 3 dimensions repeatedly, but it was DEAD on.
Can't find this app in the play store...
Is it listed under something else?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
switters1 said:
Can't find this app in the play store...
Is it listed under something else?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This one?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2&hl=en
Mine was way off, too. Thanks for the help!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Yup, mine was stuck too. Fixed in an instant. Thanks.:laugh:
odinfire said:
Yup, mine was stuck too. Fixed in an instant. Thanks.:laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, thank you! This issue was upsetting me, and this fixed it straight away!
Is it normal to need the compass recalibrating every day? Seems every time I fire up a compass application, ir is out of whack!
Is there a permanent solution?
Aitch said:
Is it normal to need the compass recalibrating every day? Seems every time I fire up a compass application, ir is out of whack!
Is there a permanent solution?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had to calibrate mine several times. I haven't found a permanent solution. As long as I calibrate it when it acts whacky, it works fine. It only takes a few seconds. Sometimes I have to do it a couple of times per week, and sometimes I only need to do it once a month or so. I guess it depends on how often you use functions that involve the compass. Regardless, apps like Maps and Navigation work just fine even when the compass isn't calibrated. I guess they get their directions and data in a different way. It's not a huge problem, I guess the compass in the S4 just isn't very strong.
scott14719 said:
I've had to calibrate mine several times. I haven't found a permanent solution. As long as I calibrate it when it acts whacky, it works fine. It only takes a few seconds. Sometimes I have to do it a couple of times per week, and sometimes I only need to do it once a month or so. I guess it depends on how often you use functions that involve the compass. Regardless, apps like Maps and Navigation work just fine even when the compass isn't calibrated. I guess they get their directions and data in a different way. It's not a huge problem, I guess the compass in the S4 just isn't very strong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are all S4's like this? I used to have a case with magnets (which I don't use now) so could that have messed up the compass?
There's something wrong with the compass in google maps.
When google maps is 2d mode where maps are displayed with north at the top on the phone, the arrow on the blue dot is suppose to point to north but I find things seem to be 'doubled'. If I slowly rotate the phone, the arrow rotates doubled by the amount rotated. Example rotate the phone by 90 degrees, the arrow rotates by 180 degrees instead.
But google maps in compass mode, compass seem to work fine as it is displayed correctly.
This tool doesn't change anything here.
I think it's more likely to be (somewhat) accurate when the GPS has the optimal satellite visibility configuration, but most of the time it's just plain random. Always has been on all devices I could check.
UPDATE - if this forum thingy allows me to
Realized the cover was using a magnet to keep closed, it's a really silly design flaw! Now it's behaving better (if not very accurate but that's to be expected).
Bit of help here: check with *#0*#0 then Sensors to see whether your compass needs calibrating or not. If it does, it's written in the small black compass view, in the magnetic sensor area.
Compas fix
Nice one thanks! Compass was totally inoperative until I used app to calibrate. Works perfect now! Galaxy S4 9505
My compass constantly needs recalibration... So frustrating. And it doesn't recalibrate correctly even though I have tried to do it both via GPS Status and *#0*#. I just look stupid for a long amount of time with my hands and arms getting tired because of this inadequate compass in my S4. Never had this problem with my three previous HTCs. Quite like Samsung to give me a bad phone among hundreds of batches.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
I remember somewhere somebody reported issue with compass in our Relay.
Now I found that it is somehow related with other sensors and/or modules.
So if your compass not working properly turn off wifi, data transfer and GPS and try.
Regards
Mac
Makes no difference for me. Everything on or everything off, the compass is still hopelessly miscalibrated after a reboot. Then a calibration cycle gets it approximately right until the next one.
for me also no difference, however i try, google maps with gps is usually going sometimes ok. havent got the clue behind yet
Jax184 said:
Makes no difference for me. Everything on or everything off, the compass is still hopelessly miscalibrated after a reboot. Then a calibration cycle gets it approximately right until the next one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the same boat- if I'm driving, it will correct when it uses the GPS, but standing still, it will be off. I think the issues started after updating one of the stock roms. I think the original stock rom was just fine.
I think Nardholio posted something about going back to stock, ripping the battery out with a solid GPS lock and then upgrading.
gee one said:
I'm in the same boat- if I'm driving, it will correct when it uses the GPS, but standing still, it will be off. I think the issues started after updating one of the stock roms. I think the original stock rom was just fine.
I think Nardholio posted something about going back to stock, ripping the battery out with a solid GPS lock and then upgrading.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's only needed if your GPS is totally inoperable.
So the Relay 4G has horrible GPS? Seems to be an ongoing theme with Samsung phones.
Nah, the GPS works fine. It's the compass that's broken.
During the development of our CM rom, it was discovered that the GPS sometimes wouldn't work at all after flashing a custom ROM. This was because the stock ROM had put the GPS to sleep in a way which the custom ROM couldn't wake it from. That's why the battery pull technique was developed. It ensured the GPS was active when you installed the custom ROM.
I don't know if it's still needed or not. I don't think it is. If it is, it would only help you if your GPS doesn't work at all after flashing a custom ROM. If it's intermittent or has poor signal or something, you've got other problems.
Regarding GPS, if I understand correctly, Relay 4G uses both GPS and GLONASS signal, so is the GPS fix considerably quicker than in devices without GLONASS and is the satellite coverage better as well?
I'm particularly interested if there is a noticeable difference in this regard between Samsung Captivate Glide's GPS and Relay 4G's GPS+GLONASS.
Jax184 said:
Nah, the GPS works fine. It's the compass that's broken.
During the development of our CM rom, it was discovered that the GPS sometimes wouldn't work at all after flashing a custom ROM. This was because the stock ROM had put the GPS to sleep in a way which the custom ROM couldn't wake it from. That's why the battery pull technique was developed. It ensured the GPS was active when you installed the custom ROM.
I don't know if it's still needed or not. I don't think it is. If it is, it would only help you if your GPS doesn't work at all after flashing a custom ROM. If it's intermittent or has poor signal or something, you've got other problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I...don't know the difference between the GPS and the compass. I thought people were using the terms interchangeably, but apparently not.
Solkan said:
Regarding GPS, if I understand correctly, Relay 4G uses both GPS and GLONASS signal, so is the GPS fix considerably quicker than in devices without GLONASS and is the satellite coverage better as well?
I'm particularly interested if there is a noticeable difference in this regard between Samsung Captivate Glide's GPS and Relay 4G's GPS+GLONASS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay...this is very interesting. Differences between GPS and compass aside, this still seems like good news. At least to me, cause GPS is very important to me, and its my understanding that the Captivate Glide's GPS is very hinky. Seems like if you stick with stock you'll be fine. Now, bluetooth, I have no idea how the bluetooth is on the Relay (stock or custom ROM), but at least the GPS is good and even better with this GLONASS.
The compass is a standalone chip that detects the earths magnetic fields and tells the device which way it's oriented. But Samsung screwed something up, and every time the phone boots it's way out of calibration. You can fix it by taking it through a quick calibration cycle, and then all's right with it until the next reboot.
The compass and the GPS work together for things like maps. With the compass miscalibrated, the indicator on the map will often show that you're facing a compass direction other than what you really are. And it'll sometimes act as though you're walking backwards when moving at low speeds. But the actual GPS position and tracking are correct, it just has no idea what way you're facing. Again, a compass calibration will fix this.
Jax184 said:
The compass is a standalone chip that detects the earths magnetic fields and tells the device which way it's oriented. But Samsung screwed something up, and every time the phone boots it's way out of calibration. You can fix it by taking it through a quick calibration cycle, and then all's right with it until the next reboot.
The compass and the GPS work together for things like maps. With the compass miscalibrated, the indicator on the map will often show that you're facing a compass direction other than what you really are. And it'll sometimes act as though you're walking backwards when moving at low speeds. But the actual GPS position and tracking are correct, it just has no idea what way you're facing. Again, a compass calibration will fix this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay...I've actually been experiencing that lately with my Epic 4G on Cyanogenmod, but I blame that more on the most recent update of Google Maps which changed the entire interface than I do the ROM (I'm on the most recent stable release and before the Google Maps update GPS worked perfectly). But that's still something I'll save for that board. But what you described is exactly what I've been experiencing, the Navigation seems to work, but it takes a while for the indicator (the red arrow) to face the right direction. Since I use it to drive around my own town its not that big a deal, but if I ever go out of town, yeah it could be an issue.
Someone on one of the Relay 4G boards here opened up his Relay 4G and showed exactly where the metal components are, and how with some tweaking it may correct it without calibration...but with my luck I'd break the thing permanently.
I do wonder why the Relay 4G is like this...my only guess is that Samsung was trying to rush it out and didn't have the time to properly test it? I know it was supposed to be called something else (Blaze Q or something). But the funny thing is, even with this "error" (which from the sounds of it is easily remedied), it still seems like more of the spiritual successor to the Epic 4G than I originally thought the Captivate Glide was, or at least an Epic 4G if it was GSM. 5 rows of keys, same shape...I just don't know why this phone isn't more successful than it is. At least you can get it on eBay, new, for about $200-$300. I haven't been inside a T-mobile store in years so I don't know if they regularly keep them in stock or not. But its still available. That Captivate Glide is still available for less than $200, but with its issues with GPS and bluetooth...I don't know, seriously thinking about this phone now.
Anyway, thanks for the response. And by the way, how is the bluetooth on this phone?
EDIT: Herp derp, it was YOU who opened up their Relay 4G! My apologies, sometimes these boards blur together.
Bluetooth seems okay, but I only have one bluetooth device, so I'm hardly an expert.
The guys working on our CM ROM are trying to improve performance when both wifi and bluetooth are in use at the same time. Since they're both 2.4 GHz, they tend to step on each others toes if both are on at once.
You should try a compass calibration on the Epic to see if that helps with the pointer. First step away from large metal and electrical objects, so you're in a fairly clean magnetic environment. Then open up an app that uses the compass, like Metal Sniffer. Then, while keeping the screen on, slowly and smoothly rotate the phone 3 times around each axis. End over end 3 times, then side to side 3 times, then around and around 3 times.
At the end of it, the pointer should now point north.
On the Relay, the values of the magnetic field strength are all totally out of whack before you do this, and they suddenly drop to more rational levels after the calibration.
Jax184 said:
Bluetooth seems okay, but I only have one bluetooth device, so I'm hardly an expert.
The guys working on our CM ROM are trying to improve performance when both wifi and bluetooth are in use at the same time. Since they're both 2.4 GHz, they tend to step on each others toes if both are on at once.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah okay. Though I can't remember the last time I tried to use both at once. Also, since the Relay 4G actually has a stock JB rom, what benefits would there be getting CM instead? I'm only on CM for the Epic 4G because Samsung/Sprint stopped updating it with Gingerbread.
You should try a compass calibration on the Epic to see if that helps with the pointer. First step away from large metal and electrical objects, so you're in a fairly clean magnetic environment. Then open up an app that uses the compass, like Metal Sniffer. Then, while keeping the screen on, slowly and smoothly rotate the phone 3 times around each axis. End over end 3 times, then side to side 3 times, then around and around 3 times.
At the end of it, the pointer should now point north.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. The folks on the other board said it was an issue with the updated Google Maps app as opposed to the GPS/compass itself, and suggested a downgrade. I may try both solutions, though to be honest with you there's a huge learning curve with the most recent update to Google Maps (for instance still can't figure out how to get it to record my current location, which came in handy with the previous versions if I ever came across a place or store I wanted to visit again).
On the Relay, the values of the magnetic field strength are all totally out of whack before you do this, and they suddenly drop to more rational levels after the calibration.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Speaking of that calibration trick, where is it described in detail around here?
EpicMikeNC said:
Speaking of that calibration trick, where is it described in detail around here?
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That was it! :laugh:
The CM ROM is faster and trimmer than the stock ROM, and fixes a couple of bugs and annoyances. No touchwiz interface, no t-mobile tethering lockout, no samsung bloatware. And while it does have a few bugs of its own, it's under active development by several people, so it's rapidly improving.
Jax184 said:
That was it! :laugh:
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Click to collapse
Oh. lol Ok, thought what you described for the Epic 4G was different, not the same. Gotcha. :good:
The CM ROM is faster and trimmer than the stock ROM, and fixes a couple of bugs and annoyances. No touchwiz interface, no t-mobile tethering lockout, no samsung bloatware. And while it does have a few bugs of its own, it's under active development by several people, so it's rapidly improving.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I know from my experience with the Epic 4G, you can remove the bloatware with Titanium backup and tether via an ap (if you mean hotspot tether). But at least there's options, stock or CM.
Still don't get why this phone isn't more successful than it is.
Compass is wacky on mine
On my Relay, the compass is off in bizarro land, and has been since I bought it. Stock ICS/unrooted, or stock JB/unrooted, same problem. It doesn't seem to hold calibration at all, and I can even notice that it very slowly spins as I drive. On those times I've tried Google Maps 7 (yuuuuck!), I've noticed that it cheerfully ignores your GPS heading and points the arrow to your alleged compass heading. Between the large amount of change-for-change's-sake UI stupidity, the compass problem, and its general crashiness, I've ditched the update and gone back to the original version.
I've just rooted it yesterday, but I seriously doubt that rooting would make any difference with the compass.
Bobby Tables said:
On my Relay, the compass is off in bizarro land, and has been since I bought it. Stock ICS/unrooted, or stock JB/unrooted, same problem. It doesn't seem to hold calibration at all, and I can even notice that it very slowly spins as I drive. On those times I've tried Google Maps 7 (yuuuuck!), I've noticed that it cheerfully ignores your GPS heading and points the arrow to your alleged compass heading. Between the large amount of change-for-change's-sake UI stupidity, the compass problem, and its general crashiness, I've ditched the update and gone back to the original version.
I've just rooted it yesterday, but I seriously doubt that rooting would make any difference with the compass.
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How did you root by the way? One-Click?
But yeah, based on what you just said, I'm convinced its the update, not the compass. I don't understand how Google went backwards in regards to this so-called update to Google maps. But the Metal Sniffer solution seems to work, 9 times out of 10 anyway.
Also, I keep looking and looking, but unless I'm still missing it, didn't the update take away to ability to save your current location?
The bootloader is unlocked, there is no reason to run a rooting script. Just flash CWM with Odin/Heimdall and then supersu
I'm having a very similar experience here on CM 10.2 nightlies. Calibrating the compass doesn't always work. When it does it doesn't always stick. And when it sticks, it will be very jumpy, skipping from one direction to the other at random. This prevents compass mode in Google Maps, so it's annoying but not such a huge deal.
Hi
I think the last Nexus I've owned with a good compass was the Galaxy Nexus. I owned 3 LG Nexus after that with terrible compass.
So I'd like know how is the compass in the Pixel..Have you had to calibrate the compass sometime during the day after opening Google maps? (After trying in different locations, etc?)
As some reference I'm talking about issues like this one:
https://productforums.google.com/forum/m/#!topic/nexus/SK7gbrV5MhU
Thanks!
Sent from my Nexus 5X
Any news on this? Nobody has used this yet?
I have to calibrate all the time. It's terrible. Tried several cities and environments. Wife's iPhone worked great. It's a shame for Google.
I'm also having exactly this problem with my Pixel. I have to calibrate the compass every time I open Google Maps. And it also puts the blue dot at a random point distant from my real location, with a giant blue circle around it, and then takes some seconds to calculate my real location. It's very annoying.
It must be a bug.
So the pixel is still terrible in Maps like all the other Nexus I had before?
When is Google finally fix the compass? Its a shame that the old iPhone 5S (work phone) im using right now (because my 5X is in LG warranty) has a perfect maps walking navigation. Specially in narrow neighborhoods historic downtowns.
I thought they finally fixed this in the Pixel now I think I'll stick with the 5X or just get a GM 6 Android one (for the extra GB of RAM). And wait for the 2017 Pixel...Maybe they fix this.
vinicius.rodsilva said:
I'm also having exactly this problem with my Pixel. I have to calibrate the compass every time I open Google Maps. And it also puts the blue dot at a random point distant from my real location, with a giant blue circle around it, and then takes some seconds to calculate my real location. It's very annoying.
It must be a bug.
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I'm thinking this is a country thing..
I've never had Google maps not know where I am pretty much as soon as I open it. I do keep GPS on all the time as it doesn't seem to effect battery much on my phone(s) the Nexus 5x and now the Pixel. It doesn't matter where I am in the country (US), in what state etc...
As for the compass, that really is something different. GPS tracks where you are and when you move apps like Google Maps will know you moved, how fast you went and what direction you went.
The compass is pretty much just a compass. I have to calibrate it sometimes but most of the time it is close enough in the general direction correct.
The GPS coordinates are always withing 4m or less in accuracy unless I am in a building or under a mountain.
Yeah but was expecting the Pixel to have a polished compass experience and seems to be the same experience as with the previous generations
I've never been able to use Maps in Cities' historic downtowns (where I need it most, for walking directions, since it's like a labyritnth with lots of hidden streets, restaurants, shops, etc).
https://www.google.com/maps/search/born+barcelona/@41.3842691,2.1802357,19.25z
But now, with the backup iPhone that I'm using temporarily, for the first time I was able to trust the compass with a 95%-100% accuracy for a 20 minutes walking trip, and constantly opening/closing maps.
With Google devices, every time I open maps, at different locations, the compass calibration randomly changes.
thesebastian said:
With Google devices, every time I open maps, at different locations, the compass calibration randomly changes.
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What mode do you have locations services set to on your phone?
High Accuracy
Battery Saving
Device Only
I tried to use mine in the UK and Amsterdam and it pointed me in the opposite direction to where I was facing. Calibration doesn't do anything. Might exchange it.
Jonathan-H said:
I tried to use mine in the UK and Amsterdam and it pointed me in the opposite direction to where I was facing. Calibration doesn't do anything. Might exchange it.
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I think it's a software problem within the Nexus and Pixels binaries. Sometimes you open maps in one location and then you re open maps and calibration is lost.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
I think it's a general android issue.
I have owned a galaxy s7,s6,s4 and note 2 before getting a pixel and always the walking navigation was terrible.
I thought pixel would be better but I am disappointed.
Compass is never reliable on Android phones.
Somehow iPhones do this miles better.
see full
youtu.be/CSYt8nI_UWw[/url]
mukhtar.patel1 said:
I think it's a general android issue.
I have owned a galaxy s7,s6,s4 and note 2 before getting a pixel and always the walking navigation was terrible.
I thought pixel would be better but I am disappointed.
Compass is never reliable on Android phones.
Somehow iPhones do this miles better.
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The wierd thing is that the compass with Maps in iOS works flawlessly
Sent from my Nexus 6P
thesebastian said:
The wierd thing is that the compass with Maps in iOS works flawlessly
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Somehow due to such issues people consider iPhones and iOS to be better than Android.
mukhtar.patel1 said:
Somehow due to such issues people consider iPhones and iOS to be better than Android.
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Yeah but I think I had a phone with good compass accuracy in the past...Maybe the S3 or the Galaxy Nexus...Or a Moto G...
Certainly not the Nexus 4…5...5X and now 6P.
Anyway... I've just sent feedback about this using the Settings menu.
The funny thing is that Maps slowly fix this when you are traveling on a train etc
But if you're walking and turning frequently there is no way it can anticipate that and there is where you noticed that it has no idea about the compass situation.
The only answer that Google always gives is "start swinging you phone like a fuc*ing Jedi"
It's ok to do that once every......6 months...But come on....You have to do this every time you change your location.
Sent from my Nexus 6P
Jonathan-H said:
I tried to use mine in the UK and Amsterdam and it pointed me in the opposite direction to where I was facing. Calibration doesn't do anything. Might exchange it.
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Same in Germany, Compass is just 180° off...
Juli112 said:
Same in Germany, Compass is just 180° off...
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Now Google Maps is patched to autocorrect your compass sight when you're moving... yesterday I was on a bus seated perpendicularly pointing to the exit door but Maps was pointing where the bus was pointing (I was in the main view of Maps...without using Directions or Navigation).
This is embarrassing I hope Google put a good compass in 2017 Pixels...any old iPhone compass is better than this
Sent from my Nexus 6P
thesebastian said:
Now Google Maps is patched to autocorrect your compass sight when you're moving... yesterday I was on a bus seated perpendicularly pointing to the exit door but Maps was pointing where the bus was pointing (I was in the main view of Maps...without using Directions or Navigation).
This is embarrassing I hope Google put a good compass in 2017 Pixels...any old iPhone compass is better than this
Sent from my Nexus 6P
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@thesebastian - I use GPS Status (free from Play Store) to fix my position, update satellite positions, and calibrate my compass. It's the best thing out there and absolutely should help with your issues. Give it a shot and see if that helps.
Jank4AU said:
@thesebastian - I use GPS Status (free from Play Store) to fix my position, update satellite positions, and calibrate my compass. It's the best thing out there and absolutely should help with your issues. Give it a shot and see if that helps.
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The problem is that, my compass is calibrated. But then walk 15 meters, I open google maps, and it's not calibrated anymore (i could fix this just shaking the phone most of the times, but it's fatiguing and humiliating), maybe I decide to close map, walk another 15 meters, and it's calibrated again.
I had this issue with many devices.
I can calibrate the compass and have perfect calibration in all my home, then I take the tube/subway, and calibration might be ok or wrong again when I open maps again.
What is your location mode set to? It should be set to high accuracy of it isn't. If it is then I'm not really sure what else you can do...