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Help Compass not working?

D

Durandal

Newbie
In addition to the accuracy problem, the compass on my Epic seems to be really out of whack. It doesn't maintain a consistent reading (it jitters quite a bit) and has a difficult time finding North. I've seen this behavior exhibit itself in the GPS Test application and Google Maps.

Am I the only one seeing this problem?

Edit:

I loaded GPS Test on my girlfriends HTC Eris and her compass is accurate and a lot less jittery :(
 
Durandal said:
In addition to the accuracy problem, the compass on my Epic seems to be really out of whack. It doesn't maintain a consistent reading (it jitters quite a bit) and has a difficult time finding North. I've seen this behavior exhibit itself in the GPS Test application and Google Maps.

Am I the only one seeing this problem?
Click to expand...


Where do I find the compass or did you download a compass app.?
 
I don't know if the Epic has an actual compass (magnetometer) built in, but if it doesn't then GPS-based compasses are generally only usefully accurate when in motion. Typically 3-5mph is enough to make it work.
 
My compass is somewhat wacky but it works.

You can either download GPS Status or go into street view in maps, then click menu and select compass.
 
Torq said:
I don't know if the Epic has an actual compass (magnetometer) built in, but if it doesn't then GPS-based compasses are generally only usefully accurate when in motion. Typically 3-5mph is enough to make it work.
Click to expand...

Torq, thanks for your response.

According to this article in Wikipedia, it does have a magnetometer. (Look under "GPS and Compass errors".) The "Input" section in the sidebar also lists a "digital compass".

After doing some more experimentation, it seems that the compass is more stable if I have a higher quantity of high-SNR sats visible.

I'd read somewhere that the SGS phones (including the Epic) jump to / from different satellites more than necessary. Maybe this issue is a symptom of that? I'd provide a link, but I've been reading so many threads and articles that I've lost track!
 
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