Clinkybot™

It says I need GPS enabled. How do I do that?

If GPS is disabled and you try to mark your parking spot, CarDar prompts you to enable GPS which directs you to your Android system settings where you can enable GPS.

Alternatively: To enable these settings from your Android applications menu, select Settings -> Security & location then check Enable GPS satellites .

Why can’t CarDar find my location when Google Maps can?

In order for CarDar to set your location it must receive a very accurate GPS signal which can occasionally take several seconds (or in poor conditions, may not work at all). Google maps happily uses any GPS or Network signal it can find and initial results that can be off by several kilometers. As you can imagine, it wouldn’t be very useful to save your parking spot if the GPS was off by 1km or even 100 meters.

With clear weather and in a large open area (like a parking lot), CarDar works great. Outside factors that interfere with your GPS signal are commonly overcast/cloudy skies and nearby overhead obstructions. (GPS works very poorly in cloudy, high moisture weather)

I’m using CarDar in perfectly clear weather and a huge open parking lot, why won’t it work?

GPS relies on GPS satellites to be generally overhead. At times there may not be enough satellites nearby to receive a strong fix on your location. The solution in this case is to set your parking spot manually or wait a few minutes.

Also, you may simply need to restart your phone. There have been several reports of GPS not working at all or giving extremely inaccurate results until a restart was performed.

The RADAR is giving me wild results, what’s wrong?

RADAR is developed by the Apps for Android group and available as a free download on the G1.

Electronic compasses are easily affected by outside factors. Factors include: cars, metal, magnets, power transformers, missiles, and Magneto to name a few. To use RADAR you need to be away from large metallic objects and any electronic devices larger than a pocket watch.

Note: Smartphone belt clips with magnetic flaps are notorious for messing up smartphone compasses.

Occasionally you need to re-calibrate your compass by waving your device in a figure 8 pattern for about 10 – 30 seconds. You’ll look stupid, but it can restore the compass completely. In extreme cases it may take numerous times to re-calibrate.

Do not expect RADAR to work while in a vehicle. A running car is a perfect magnetometer killer.

This is a hardware limitation and the only solution is to understand what causes interference and avoid them.