PLANIX Camera Compass Calibration

Overview

Your camera’s compass sets the North direction on the iGUIDE Floor Plan and orients the whole project correctly in iGUIDE. Calibrating it takes a few seconds and should be part of your normal setup on every project.

The PLANIX R1 and the PLANIX Pro calibrate differently, so this guide covers each one separately. Follow the section for the camera you’re using, then check the troubleshooting tips if calibration won’t complete.

Important: If you don’t calibrate the compass, North on your published Floor Plan may point the wrong way. Capture, upload, and publishing still work normally, so a skipped or failed calibration won’t stop your project, but the floor plan can end up rotated incorrectly relative to true North and may need fixing afterward. Calibrate at the start of each project to avoid it.

In this Article

• When to calibrate
• Calibrating the PLANIX R1
• Calibrating the PLANIX Pro
• Troubleshooting 
• FAQ
• Related Articles

When to Calibrate

Calibrate the compass:

• After the camera has been near metal or magnetic sources, such as vehicles, transit, or large appliances
• Any time North looked wrong on a recent project
• For general device functionality, try to calibrate once a month

Magnetic interference is the usual cause of calibration problems. Metal doors, door frames, garages, factory equipment, and magnets can all throw the reading off, so move into an open area before you start.

Calibrating the PLANIX R1

The R1 calibrates with a simple hand motion in the PLANIX app.

1. Hold the camera upright in your hand.
2. Move it in a figure-8 motion until the compass icon turns grey. The grey icon tells you calibration is complete.

Calibrating the PLANIX Pro

The Pro calibrates through the Survey app, using a guided rotation.

1. Open the Survey app on the PLANIX Pro.
2. Go to the Settings menu and select Calibrate Compass.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions. Slowly rotate the camera around three roughly perpendicular axes for about 15 to 20 seconds.
4. If the procedure times out after 60 seconds, start it again.

Troubleshooting

The compass won’t calibrate

Almost always, this is magnetic interference. Step away from metal doors, frames, garages, factory equipment, and magnets, then try again in open space. If it still fails, power the camera off and on and repeat the calibration.

North looks wrong on a finished project

Recalibrate before your next capture so future projects orient correctly. For a project that’s already published, you can manually adjust your compass angle by following the steps in this article: Customizing the 3D Tour From the iGUIDE Portal

Calibration keeps timing out (Pro)

Keep the rotation slow and continuous, and make sure you’re covering three different perpendicular directions rather than spinning on one axis. Restart the procedure if it reaches the 60-second timeout.

FAQ

Does a failed or skipped calibration stop my project?

No. Calibration is not blocking, so you can still capture, upload, and publish. The risk is that North on the Site Plan may be wrong, which can mean a manual fix later.

How do I know calibration worked?

On the R1, the compass icon turns grey. On the Pro, you’ll see an on-screen confirmation before the 60-second timeout.

How often should I calibrate?

At the start of every project, and again any time the camera has been near metal or magnetic sources.

Why do the two cameras calibrate differently?

They use different hardware and apps. The R1 uses a figure-8 motion in the PLANIX app; the Pro uses a guided three-axis rotation in the Survey app. The goal is the same: an accurate North reading on your Site Plan.