Frequently Asked Questions

This is a collection of frequently asked questions about Orienteer - if you don't find yours listed, email me at support@orienteer.co and I'll answer your questions and I'll add them to the list below!

Do I need a compass?

Nope! While a compass is a great tool to add to your kit eventually, the Orienteer app uses your phone's built-in compass. Most orienteers use their compass to rotate the map's North to align with the real-world North, and the app does this for you. This is a great way to learn, even if you do have a compass! For more advanced courses, your phone's compass may not be accurate enough, in which case using both (or printing the map) works best.

What about printed maps?

Some courses include prepared PDFs that you can print and bring along with you. When you do this, you can leave the phone in your pocket and let it check you in automatically. Make sure you switch your phone off of silent, or you won't be able to hear the beeps when it checks you in! If you don't want to print the map out, you can always use the map on the phone. Also note, that when it's in your pocket, the phone's operating system limits the number of times per minute we get location updates. If you're pretty sure you are where you should be, unlock your phone and it should update immediately.