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This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- en:help:orientation [2016/02/09 22:02] – psyberia
+++ en:help:orientation [2021/04/23 17:55] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 <sub>[[en:help|Online Help]] > [[en:help:orientation|Compass]]</sub>
-====== Orientation and Compass ======
-The compass feature uses the magnetic sensor of your device (if available) to give you helpful orientation information.
+====== Orientation & Compass ======
+\\
+The compass feature uses the magnetic sensor of your device (if available) to give you orientation information.
-This feature is composed of a sub-menu providing a fast access to few controls and settings, and a dedicated window with more details and information.
+To turn on the compass, you can either:
-{{ :en:help:orientation:submenu.jpg?nolink}}
-To turn on the compass feature, you can either:
   * Long-press the "**''Compass''**" menu button {{:icon_01.png?nolink}};
   * Click on the sub-menu toggle {{:icon_03.png?nolink}}.
+The "''**Compass**''" menu button {{:icon_01.png?nolink}} color lets you know the current state:
+  * When the icon is white, the "''**Compass**''" is turned off. Long-press the button to turn it on;
+  * When the icon is green, the "''**Compass**''" is turned on. Long-press the button to turn it off.
+{{ :en:help:orientation:compass-submenu.jpg?nolink}}
-===== The sub-menu =====
+\\
-Click on the "''**Compass**''" {{:icon_01.png?nolink}} menu button to display the sub-menu, composed of the following items:
+===== The compass menu =====
+\\
+Click on the "''**Compass**''" {{:icon_01.png?nolink}} menu button to display the compass menu, composed of the following items:
   * The "**''Compass''**" {{:icon_02.png?nolink}} button opens the compass details window;
   * The "**''Compass toggle''**" {{:icon_03.png?nolink}} lets you turn on or off the compass feature easily;
@@ Line 24: / Line 28: @@
 {{:icon_help.png?nolink}} You can un-check both "**''Display compass''**" and "**''Rotate the map''**" check-boxes to display a small current heading arrow {{:icon_09.png?nolink}}.
-{{ :en:help:orientation:on-map-items.jpg?nolink }}
+{{ :en:help:orientation:compass-on-map-items.jpg?nolink }}
+\\
-===== The menu icon =====
+===== The compass view =====
+{{ :en:help:orientation:compass-view.jpg?nolink}}
+\\
+The "**''compass view''**" gives you the following information:
+  * The true (geographic) north direction, pointed by the red arrow {{:icon_01.png?nolink}}.
+  * The **precise heading** arrow {{:icon_02.png?nolink}}, when this one is between -20° and +20°, including mils graduation;
+  * A **pitch and roll** level {{:icon_03.png?nolink}}, helping you to keep the device flat;
+  * The **magnetic declination** at your current location {{:icon_04.png?nolink}}, which is the difference between the magnetic north and the geographic (map) north. The application uses either the last known location of your device if any, or the screen center location. This value is computed each time you activate the compass;
+  * The **direction** {{:icon_05.png?nolink}} to the target, if a location is set as target.
-The "''**Compass**''" menu button {{:icon_01.png?nolink}} color lets you know the current state:
+\\
-  * When the icon is white, the "''**Compass**''" is turned off. Long-press the button to turn it on;
-  * When the icon is green, the "''**Compass**''" is turned on. Long-press the button to turn it off.
+===== The compass settings =====
+\\
+By default, the compass has a moving rose and graduations (the "**''Topochaix''**" style). You can change it to a moving needle and still graduations {{:icon_04.png?nolink}}:
+  * Click on the "**''Settings''**" {{:icon_01.png?nolink}} icon to open the settings dialog;
+  * Click on the style list {{:icon_02.png?nolink}} and select "**''Standard''**";
+  * Click on "**''OK''**" {{:icon_03.png?nolink}} to validate.
-===== The details window =====
+{{ :en:help:orientation:compass-settings-style.jpg?nolink }}
-{{ :en:help:orientation:compass_view.jpg?nolink}}
+\\
+===== Problems with the compass =====
+\\
+**Compass won't turn on**\\
+{{ :en:help:orientation:compass-error-sensor.jpg?nolink }}
+If you can't turn on the compass, it means that your device doesn't have a built-in magnetic sensor, which is required to get the direction of the north. Recent versions of the application display this message when this case occurs:\\
+Note that you can still use the map rotation using the GPS (if available), from the [[en:help:geolocation|Positioning]] menu.
-==== Compass view ====
+**Compass gives incorrect direction**\\
+When using the application compass (just like with mechanical compass), be sure to handle your device in the horizontal position, the screen facing the sky.\\
+If you still get a wrong direction, it usually means that the magnetic sensor needs to be calibrated. This is fast and easy:
+  * Turn on the compass;
+  * Rotate your device in the air in all directions;
+  * Done!
+{{ :en:help:orientation:problems-declination.jpg?nolink}}
-The "**''compass view''**" gives you the following information:
+**Wrong magnetic declination**\\
-  * The true (geographic) north direction, pointed by the red arrow {{:icon_01.png?nolink}}.
+If calibrating the compass doesn't help, or if you see a strange constant offset in the direction, check the magnetic declination {{:icon_01.png?nolink}}. As explained above, the application needs to know your approximate current location to compute a valid magnetic declination. Most of the time you just need to be sure that the map points your current location to fix your problem.\\
-  * The **precise heading** arrow {{:icon_02.png?nolink}}, when this one is between -20° and +20°, including mils graduation;
+If you still believe the computed declination is incorrect or already applied by your device, you can turn off this computation as explained in the settings sections.
-  * A **pitch and roll** level {{:icon_03.png?nolink}}, helping you to keep the device flat;
-  * The **magnetic declination** at your current location {{:icon_04.png?nolink}}, which is the difference between the magnetic north and the geographic north. The application uses either the last known location of your device if any, or the screen center location. This value is computed each time you activate the compass;
-  * The **direction** {{:icon_05.png?nolink}} to the target, is a location is set as target.
+**Inverted poles**\\
+On some devices, when changing the screen orientation of 180° (jumping to the opposite screen orientation, ie landscape right to landscape left without the intermediate portrait orientation), the compass direction is inverted. Be sure to always select the portrait orientation, even temporarily.
-==== Compass settings ====
+**Sensor issues**\\
+In addition to the magnetic sensor, your device may use other sensors to compute a precise and noiseless north direction. Some sensors may not work or may not be as reliable as expected on some devices and some may be wrongly reported as available. In some cases, changing the default orientation computation method may provide a better accuracy.
-By default, the compass has a moving rose and graduations (the "**''Topochaix''**" style). You can change it to a moving needle and still graduations {{:icon_04.png?nolink}}:
+To do so:
-  * Click on the compass "**''Settings''**" {{:icon_01.png?nolink}} button to open the settings dialog.
+  * Tap on the ''"**Settings**"'' {{:icon_01.png?nolink}} icon to open the settings dialog;
-  * Click on the compass style list {{:icon_02.png?nolink}} and select "**''Standard''**";
+  * Tap on ''"**More**"'' {{:icon_02.png?nolink}};
-  * Click on "**''OK''**" {{:icon_03.png?nolink}} to validate.
+  * Tap on the currently used ''"**Sensor**"'' {{:icon_03.png?nolink}} and choose another one;
+  * Tap on ''"**Ok**"'' {{:icon_04.png?nolink}}.
+The list of available sensors depends on the device and system version, but usually contains:
+  * ''"**ROTATION_VECTOR**"'' which uses the ''"**magnetometer**"'', the ''"**accelerometer**"'' and the ''"**gyroscope**"'' sensors. When available, it usually provides the more precise value;
+  * ''"**MAGNETIC_FIELD**"'' which uses the ''"**magnetometer**"'' and the ''"**accelerometer**"'' sensors;
+  * ''"**ORIENTATION**"'' which uses a device-dependent internal computation.
+{{ :en:help:orientation:problems-sensor.jpg?nolink }}
-{{ :en:help:orientation:compass_settings.jpg?nolink }}