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Root Dodgy Compass ?

P

phillik

Lurker
My HTC Wildfire Compass is very erratic. It points where it likes when a compass app is started. I have tried many compass apps and all require calibrating EVERY time by waving in figure 8 then it will work. (very embaracing on the streets :o) but it ALWAY looses calibration when returning from sleep or any other function.

I have asked HTC support and the response was very poor. Does this happen for anybody else? Have I got a faulty handset or is this just a feature? It is from Three on 2.1 and I have done a factory reset to prove the point.
 
Thanks
I will see if anymore here have this issue and hold off taking it in for repair.
Just hope that Fryo 2.2 will fix it?
 
My compass works fine but.... don't get me started on Google Sky Map. Damn thing is totally out. I know I'm facing East, can see the moon in front of me, but it shows that I'm facing South and no sign of the moon. Recalibrate sometimes works, sometimes doesn't, I've even un-installed and re-installed but same thing. Annoying :(
 
Yup, same isses, wavering compass that is all over the place, mine won't improve after the calibration. Google Sky Maps is hopeless too, but I put that down to the compass.

Possible reasons I have thought about:

Do I have a duff phone, perhaps if I sent it back I might get one that works? After reading these posts, I am not sure that will help.

Is it because there is too much metal and electrical/wireless devices around? I have tried in a field with no apparent improvement.

Am I magnetic? Not as far as I know.

Are iPhones as bad? Perhaps the quality of the magnetometer is lower in HTC devices? People I have talked to say the iPhone compass works OK.

This was one of the reasons I chose this phone (I would never buy Apple, well I do have three iPods, but I hate them all and now really only use the phone for music).

Let's hope an update will fix this.
 
I recently found somebody with a Wildfire on 2.2 but not with Three. The compass seemed to be fine for theirs. I am still waiting for 2.2 (More delays from the promised January :() before I take it back for repair.
 
Thank God it's not just me. My Wildfire's compass is happy to point just about anywhere except North. Pity I bought it primarily for a game that requires compass ... I did try and do some research before hand, but missed this snippet of bad data.
 
I have the Galaxy Facinate w/froyo update. The compass remains erratic even after repeated calibrations. Google skymap and streetview are unusable :(

Could someone tell me if this is a hardware or software issue with the phone?
 
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