topic Re: Compass accuracy in XA Series

Compass accuracy

uh1 — Wed, 31 May 2017 08:17:49 GMT

The XA1 does have a compass/magnet sensor. I can read the data with sensor apps.

But in normal apps as Google Maps or Skysafari the direction is very in accurate and not stable at all. I've calibrated the compass as it is stated but this doesn't help.

In the first place I thought the sensor is defect. So I brought back the XA1 to the shop and got a new one. But same behaviour !

Note: Each XA1 was updated to the newest software (Android and Apps).

Question:

- Is there anything missing in the firmware/software of the XA1 ?

- Will there be an update or a fix soon ?

Best Regards

Re: Compass accuracy

Tsz — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 21:04:19 GMT

I have The Same Problem with my Phone and my girlfriends One. Is there really a magnet sensor in this XA1?

@uh1 wrote:
The XA1 does have a compass/magnet sensor. I can read the data with sensor apps.
But in normal apps as Google Maps or Skysafari the direction is very in accurate and not stable at all. I've calibrated the compass as it is stated but this doesn't help.
In the first place I thought the sensor is defect. So I brought back the XA1 to the shop and got a new one. But same behaviour !
Note: Each XA1 was updated to the newest software (Android and Apps).
Question:
- Is there anything missing in the firmware/software of the XA1 ?
- Will there be an update or a fix soon ?
Best Regards

Re: Compass accuracy

chayanray — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 07:57:23 GMT

Me too have the same problem, when I recalibrate it shows right direction, but again after some time the direction shows wrong and needs recalibration

Re: Compass accuracy

DigitalAmoeba — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 07:44:13 GMT

New Sony XA1 owner as of mid July. While phone generally wonderful I also have the problem of XA1's compass always showing as 'Low' accuracy with ~160 degree spread to direction in Google Maps or any similar app. And the phone's stated direction is normally about 60 degrees out from true direction

I had the following public conversation on Twitter with @SonyXperia https://twitter.com/DigitalAmoeba/status/893099014631153664

Then they privately DM'd me on Twitter with the following:

"Hello again @DigitalAmoeba, Follow those steps and let me know if it works please: 1. Open the phone app 2. Dial *#*#7378423#*#* 3. Service tests 4. Compas 5. Calibrate the compas Regards, Nidhal"

When attempting to re-calibrate compass from within that Sony service menu also didn't help their next suggestion was:

"I see @DigitalAmoeba, I am sorry for that. I would then suggest a software repair via Xperia Companion computer application. The following link should help step by step: http://bddy.me/2fkQFnG If possible, do not forget to back up the data before starting the software repair, and remember your google credentials. Otherwise, if the software repair does not solve the problem, your handset should be examinated. Repair and warranty details can be obtained by contacting your local support team directly. You can find contact details here: http://bddy.me/2flUjxU Regards, Nidhal"

Given that it took quite a while to get my phone setup exactly how I want I'm reluctant to completely wipe and re-flash my phone's software for what I'm pretty sure is a driver or hardware fault with at least my XA1 (but seemingly not unique from others also on this thread)

Has anyone on here made/had any further progress with finding a fix for this XA1 compass inaccuracy fault issue?

Re: Compass accuracy

DigitalAmoeba — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 07:52:32 GMT

@Tsz wrote:
I have The Same Problem with my Phone and my girlfriends One. Is there really a magnet sensor in this XA1?

To confirm the XA1 definately officially DOES have a compass sensor.

It's clearly listed on Pg 7 of the official Sony product White Paper for XA1 http://www-support-downloads.sonymobile.com/g3121/whitepaper_EN_G3121_G3123_G3125_6.pdf

Screenshot of official Sony XA1 info PDF

So we should be expecting accurate direction indications, if all was working properly...

Re: Compass accuracy

DigitalAmoeba — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 16:03:56 GMT

Anyone else have any comments of issue of compass failing to calibrate to 'High' within Google Maps?

To check, open Google Maps, centre on your location and see if you have precise direction indicator on your dot? Or a very wide blue cone showing roughly which direction it thinks your phone is pointing in?

You can check in more detail by:

Clicking on your Blue dot itself, then
In pop-up 'You are here' overlay information screen see 'Calibrate compass' down bottom left
Which leads to the following 'Calibrate you blue dot's compass at anytime' screen.
Check at bottom to see whether it say's Compass accuracy: 'High' or 'Low' ?

Either attempting to calibrate in that screen, or via other dedicated compass apps doesn't work for me

Please reply to this message even if you're NOT having this problem, as that would help let me know if I need to return my particular handset as faulty? Or if it's a common/known problem with XA1?

Google Maps Calibrate Compass screen showing permanent Compass accuracy: low on XA1

Re: Compass accuracy

g4ugm — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 18:44:10 GMT

Just got a new XA1 dual sim. Compas is garbage.

Re: Compass accuracy

DigitalAmoeba — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 15:03:55 GMT

Thanks for your similar comment g4ugm. My model is G3112 also a Dual SIM version...wondering if there is a hardware variant specific issue for the compass calibration here?

Looks like there are 5 hardware variants(!) of the XA1 overall atm according to http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xa1-8596.php

G3121 - Single SIM for Europe - http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xa1-8596.php#g3121
G3112 - Dual SIM for Europe - http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xa1-8596.php#g3112
G3125 - Single SIM for Asia and Global market - http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xa1-8596.php#g3125
G3116 - Dual SIM for Asia and Global market - http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xa1-8596.php#g3116
G3123 - Single SIM for USA - http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_xa1-8596.php#g3123

Re: Compass accuracy

Tony945 — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 02:34:53 GMT

I got the same compass problem with my new xa1. When I compare the xa1 with my old z1, the xa1 shows wrong direction. Is there any way to solve the problem?

Re: Compass accuracy

DigitalAmoeba — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 06:33:34 GMT

Officially Sony Support on Twitter suggested to me that I should be able to fix this by:

"Hello again @DigitalAmoeba, Follow those steps and let me know if it works please: 1. Open the phone app 2. Dial *#*#7378423#*#* 3. Service tests 4. Compas 5. Calibrate the compas Regards, Nidhal"

Those instructions were valid, but didn't fix compass for me personally. Can others please also try that & report back here?

Re: Compass accuracy

Tony945 — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 08:03:58 GMT

Hello! I have tried those steps. My compass become better. But the yaw(north) value very unstable. Compare to my old Z1, the north heading still miss about 10 degrees.

Re: Compass accuracy

DigitalAmoeba — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 19:12:07 GMT

Thanks for trying those steps Tony, doing that calibration didn't help my phone at all 😞

Next step that Sony Support recommended was a complete phone software re-flash via Sony Xperia Companion software https://support.sonymobile.com/global-en/xperia-companion/

As I'm pretty sure it's a hardware, not software, problem I don't see how that's going to help, and obviously that means some time resetting and getting phone back fully installed again, so I haven't done that step yet. NOT hopeful that will fix the problem.

Re: Compass accuracy

DigitalAmoeba — Sun, 08 Oct 2017 17:27:11 GMT

To confirm I went ahead and did a complete software re-flash using the official Sony Xperia Companion software, however that didn't make any difference to the compass accuracy problem I'm having in multiple apps.

I talked more with Sony support and they agreed I'd tried everything short of sending it back for hardware inspection and repair 😞

I was going through final stages of re-wiping and preparing evidence for sending the device back when I noticed that although not giving correct directions initially when I went into Sony Service menu Compass test screen, in there it did seem to get much better, near 100% correct when calibrated via figure of 8 motion that hadn't worked while actually in Google Maps calibration screen.

On initially going back to Google Maps I still wasn't able to get/be presented with expected direction arrow associated with my blue location dot, BUT the real direction was now almost in the middle of displayed blue cone of direction, rather than being more than 45 degress out like normally.

Now currently waiting to see if that service menu calibration will hold, but there's definately still some root problem here that Google Maps, Waze and other apps aren't getting as good/accurate compass information as the Sony Service Menu Compass screen?

Re: Compass accuracy

s011062 — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 16:05:02 GMT

Just bought the phone yesterday and having this issue. I'm using Xperia XA1 Ultra. Tried calibrate in service test , reset phone and it didn't help. Google map is inaccurate direction and compass 'low' shown. Any idea ?

Re: Compass accuracy

keizj — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 06:43:38 GMT

I have the same problem. I have calibrated my compass in service test, and the compass accuracy is still very low.

The compass does point somewhat accurately at the general direction, but the beam in google maps is too big and not really reliable

Re: Compass accuracy

DigitalAmoeba — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 19:30:20 GMT

Thanks for contributing (and sorry) Keizj you have the same compass accuracy problem 😞
It would be really helpful if you wouldn't mind answering the below questions?

Can you confirm if your handset is a Single or Dual SIM XA1?
Which country are you in?
And finally where did you buy your XA1 from?

I recently had a further system install update to Build 40.0.A.6.162, but my phone compass is still as bad as ever even after full system wipe and re-flash.

Compass heading accuracy continues to be very poor on my handset with tonight me sat in a car pointing along a road in direction of my drawn green arrow...whereas Google maps vague cone of direction indicator suggested I was facing the opposite way!!!Google Maps suggesting vague cone in completely wrong direction to green arrow I was facing along road!

Re: Compass accuracy

keizj — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 04:41:51 GMT

Hi DigitalAmoeba,

I am actually using the XA1 Ultra. I am from Singapore, i bought it from Starhub, one of the 3 major telcos in Singapore (not sure if this helps haha)

Im sorry to hear that your compass beam is so inaccurate!! My compass generally points in the right direction (somewhat in the middle of the wide beam).

I feel that it is a software problem, as the compass seems quite accurate on the sony service test.

Compass not working

Aboyosif — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 07:11:34 GMT

I using many program to determinat the qubla of Muslims such as Muslim pro

Re: Compass not working

Strampke — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 18:41:56 GMT

There are more having this problem.

See this thread.

Re: Compass accuracy

akfogey — Thu, 17 May 2018 17:56:34 GMT

My dual sim XA1 does not calibrate better than low using Google Maps or Service Tests. All compass-related apps I've tried seem to share the inaccuracy.