my phone compass point in a different direction,why?
- Thread starter im_Siana
- Start date
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mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
0118 999 881 999 119 725 3
Sorry, it was the mention of turning a phone off and on again that brought the memory back. Shame about _that_ episode of "The IT Crowd" though.
Profpointy
Legendary Member
andrew_s
Legendary Member
- Location
- Gloucester
To tell whether your phone or GPS is using a magnetic compass or is getting directions from the movement it detects, just hold or mount it so it's upside down - i.e. the top of the screen is closer to your body.
If it's using a magnetic sensor, it won't be fooled and will continue to indicate that north is ahead of you when riding northwards along a north/south road.
If it's using detected movement, it will assume that the detected northwards travel is towards the top of the screen, and will indicate that south is ahead of you.
Even if there is a magnetic sensor, a phone or GPS will often use detected movement in preference to the magnetic sensor when you are moving at a reasonable speed (cycling - i.e. faster than walking). They do this because it's not affected by things like the steel in your bike or car, and it uses less battery power too.
If it's using a magnetic sensor, it won't be fooled and will continue to indicate that north is ahead of you when riding northwards along a north/south road.
If it's using detected movement, it will assume that the detected northwards travel is towards the top of the screen, and will indicate that south is ahead of you.
Even if there is a magnetic sensor, a phone or GPS will often use detected movement in preference to the magnetic sensor when you are moving at a reasonable speed (cycling - i.e. faster than walking). They do this because it's not affected by things like the steel in your bike or car, and it uses less battery power too.
lazybloke
Chocolate eclairs: the peak of human endeavour
- Location
- Leafy Surrey
Google maps has supported magnetometers since 2010. If you phone has an "electronic compass", Maps will show where you're facing, whether walking or standing still (including "at the start").
Many bike computers lack this functionality, which is occasionally quite annoying.
Electric_Andy
Heavy Metal Fan
- Location
- Plymouth
It's been very handy for us going around 6 European cities, but is very annoying when it seems to lose signal and the arrow jumps around the screen. I wish it was like in the car where it rotates so you are always "going forward". But in the streets you are often reading it in reverse. Yes I know you can rotate your phone but it feels wrong
ebikeerwidnes
Guru
- Location
- Widnes
The Sat Nav in our car gets confused when you first start it up
It seems to need the car to move to be sure of the direction
which can be confusing if you stop for something near a junction and it say "turn left" - then you move 10 yards and it says "perform a u-turn" or something
But I have worked out that it is just best to look at the map and check before starting off if you have no clue where you are!
It seems to need the car to move to be sure of the direction
which can be confusing if you stop for something near a junction and it say "turn left" - then you move 10 yards and it says "perform a u-turn" or something
But I have worked out that it is just best to look at the map and check before starting off if you have no clue where you are!
Bristolian
Ãœber Member
- Location
- Bristol, UK
I use a navigation app called Waze in the car. This appears to remember which direction I was travelling in when I stopped and turned it off. I say this because if the last manoeuvre I did was reversing (maybe into a parking space) then when I turn it on again the direction of travel pointer is pointing the wrong way.
