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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > iPhone, iPad & iPod > iPhone 4g Compass is really wrong

iPhone 4g Compass is really wrong
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JoshuaZ
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Jun 26, 2010, 11:17 AM
 
So I'm in a car going south and my iPhone 4g compass sayings I'm going north west. In fact in google maps it shows that I'm more or less facing 160 degrees away from reality.

I've also had to do way more compass calibrations than I ever did on my 3GS.

Any idea how to reset the compass or if this is a common problem?
     
Spheric Harlot
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Jun 26, 2010, 11:28 AM
 
My 3GS compass has never been more than an amusing gadget; it's pretty useless, and totally so when in the car, as soon as it gets anywhere near the dashboard.

Do you have it in a case?
     
Cold Warrior
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Jun 26, 2010, 11:36 AM
 
Mine is perfectly accurate. No case and I'm sitting at my computer. If I'm leaving my place this weekend, I'll try it out in my car.
     
ghporter
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Jun 26, 2010, 05:30 PM
 
I checked mine about half an hour ago inside a Target store, and it was definitely within reason. Sitting on my desk right now, the compass in my 3Gs is spot on. Please note that my house has a metalized roof decking-GPS signals DO NOT get through at all, and broadcast TV and radio take some special effort to pull in.

I have used an iFrogz case since about three days after I got the phone...

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
JoshuaZ  (op)
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Jun 26, 2010, 11:28 PM
 
No case on the phone.

Seems to have issues in a moving car. Now that I'm on nonmoving ground things seem to work fine. I was only concerned as I plan on using my phone for GPS in my car.
     
besson3c
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Jun 27, 2010, 12:24 AM
 
Originally Posted by JoshuaZ View Post
No case on the phone.

Seems to have issues in a moving car. Now that I'm on nonmoving ground things seem to work fine. I was only concerned as I plan on using my phone for GPS in my car.
<Steve Jobs>
Just stop moving around in your car
</Steve Jobs>
     
JoshuaZ  (op)
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Jun 27, 2010, 11:08 AM
 
Originally Posted by besson3c View Post
<Steve Jobs>
Just stop moving around in your car
</Steve Jobs>
It was the realness of your message that hurt the most.
     
Cold Warrior
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Jun 27, 2010, 11:24 PM
 
Originally Posted by Cold Warrior View Post
If I'm leaving my place this weekend, I'll try it out in my car.
Tried it in my car today. Totally failed to get any reading, with an error pop-up window (I forget what it said, maybe about proximity or interference).
     
ghporter
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Jun 28, 2010, 07:08 AM
 
I got the "interference" message while in the store doing the first check I mentioned above. I did the "figure 8" thing and got my reading. I'll note that I didn't check the compass while in my car this time, but I've done so in the past and had reasonable results. Again, this is a 3Gs.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
chabig
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Jun 28, 2010, 10:13 AM
 
Originally Posted by JoshuaZ View Post
I was only concerned as I plan on using my phone for GPS in my car.
If you're planning to use GPS, then the compass is irrelevant. The car is a terrible environment for any compass.
     
   
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