North point compass is a handy thing thing to have but when it goes digital and has two decimals of precision, well, there are some things you should be aware of before you go after a neighbor's apple tree? As you will find, the modern always-in-your-pocket compass knows where north is but the finite accuracy and issues between "true north" and "magnetic north" has some issues. Modern electonics as well as connectivity have simplified the whole "true north" issue that more than likely has a +/- error in declination of several degrees rather than the two decimals of precision on the 360 degree compass rose.
You will generally notice that when needed your smartphone can reliably provide the eight and 16 compass rose points reliably. When and if you require better then a bit of attention to a calibration process can improve to a few degrees of uncertainty. There are complex more accurate calibration patterns and then there are quick and dirty.
EXAMPLE OF COMPLEX CALIBRATION
1. Be attentive to the metal mass(es) around you and away from magnetic fields. Simply changing a battery or presense of steel wire rimmed glasses in close proximity can shift accuracy of declination adjustments for true NORTH
2. Open GPS Essentials and tap on compass
3. Put the phone on a flat surface with the display pointing up
4. Move the phone slowly, 5 seconds per full rotation is ok
5. Rotate the phone three full cycles around the axis pointing upward
6. Rotate the phone three full cycles around the axis pointing away from you
7. Rotate the phone three full cycles around the axis pointing right
8. The direction of rotation doesn't matter
2. Open GPS Essentials and tap on compass
3. Put the phone on a flat surface with the display pointing up
4. Move the phone slowly, 5 seconds per full rotation is ok
5. Rotate the phone three full cycles around the axis pointing upward
6. Rotate the phone three full cycles around the axis pointing away from you
7. Rotate the phone three full cycles around the axis pointing right
8. The direction of rotation doesn't matter
EXAMPLE OF FAST AND EASY CALIBRATION
Compass is the most precise compass app available. It supports magnetic and true north calculated using network location or GPS coordinates. Furthermore this compass displays the location coordinates and the strength of the magnetic field to see if it interferes with the compass sensor. It supports high definition displays and can be installed on the SDCard. Download the best compass for free!
PERMISSIONS
GPS and network location:
Needed to calculate true north.
Internet Access:
Needed for downloading ads and for completely anonymous usage statistics. Usage statistics can be disabled in the settings of Compass.
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