Why Calibrate?
Your phone's compass (magnetometer) needs calibration to:
- Show accurate heading direction
- Rotate map correctly
- Provide reliable navigation
- Point accurately to waypoints
Signs You Need Calibration
- Map doesn't rotate with movement
- Direction arrow points wrong way
- Compass spins randomly
- Navigation directions seem backwards
How to Calibrate
Method 1: Figure-8 Motion
- Open ALTLAS
- If compass shows inaccurate, a calibration prompt appears
- Hold phone at arm's length
- Move phone in a figure-8 pattern
- Repeat 5-10 times
- Calibration complete when indicator shows green
Method 2: Tilt and Rotate
- Hold phone flat (screen facing up)
- Rotate phone around each axis:
- Flip forward/backward
- Flip left/right
- Rotate flat like a steering wheel
- Repeat several times
Calibration Tips
Best Environment
- Away from metal objects
- Not near electronics
- Outdoors if possible
- Away from vehicles
What Interferes
These can affect compass accuracy:
- Car keys
- Metal belt buckles
- Magnetic phone cases
- Electronic devices
- Power lines
- Metal buildings
Checking Calibration Status
In ALTLAS
- Open map view
- Tap the compass icon
- Status shows:
- Good - Well calibrated
- Fair - Could be better
- Poor - Needs calibration
Manual Test
- Point phone north
- Check if map shows north
- Rotate and verify direction updates
Automatic Calibration
ALTLAS performs background calibration:
- Monitors compass accuracy
- Suggests calibration when needed
- Improves over time with use
Enable in Settings then Sensors then Auto-calibrate Compass
Phone Case Issues
Some cases affect compass:
- Magnetic cases - Remove during navigation
- Metal cases - Can permanently affect readings
- Wallet cases with magnets - Interfere with sensor
If compass is always wrong, try without case.
Hardware Issues
If calibration never works:
Soft Reset
- Restart your phone
- Try calibrating again
Check for Damage
- Compass may be damaged
- Strong magnets can affect sensor
- Physical damage to phone
Test in Another App
- Use device's built-in compass app
- If also wrong, it's a hardware issue
- If correct, contact ALTLAS support
Platform-Specific
iPhone
- Uses built-in magnetometer
- Generally very accurate
- Location Services helps calibration
Android
- Accuracy varies by device
- Some have dedicated compass apps
- Google Maps can help calibrate
When Compass Isn't Needed
GPS navigation works without compass:
- Trail path still shows correctly
- Turn-by-turn works at speed
- Compass mainly for stationary direction
Note: When moving, GPS determines direction from movement, not compass. Compass is most important when standing still.
Troubleshooting
Compass Always Wrong
- Check for interfering objects
- Try calibrating outdoors
- Remove phone case
- Restart device
- Contact support if persists
Compass Works Sometimes
- Environmental interference likely
- Move away from metal/electronics
- Re-calibrate in new location
App Shows Compass Error
- Check device sensor permissions
- Update ALTLAS to latest version
- Restart the app
- Re-calibrate