Accurate measurements depend on proper calibration and stick settings. This guide covers how to set up and troubleshoot the measurement calibration options in Utility Scout. For the full measurement workflow, see Utility Scout Measurement Workflows.
In This Guide
Tilt Zeroing (Standard Mode)
Tilt zeroing calibrates your phone's sensors for Standard Mode measurements (when you're measuring without the high accuracy stick). It accounts for the thickness of your phone case, which can offset the tilt reading when you place the phone flat against a pole.
How to calibrate:
Tap the person icon (top right) to open Settings
Find the Tilt Zeroing section
Place your phone flat against an interior wall (walls are more reliably plumb than other surfaces)
Tap Calibrate Now
Hold the phone steady for the 3-second countdown
Important: Tilt zeroing is the most common source of measurement errors in the field. Think of it like zeroing out a scale before weighing something. If this step is skipped or done incorrectly, all pole measurements in Standard mode will be inaccurate.
Tip: If you're new to Utility Scout, tilt zeroing is part of the initial device setup covered in the Utility Scout Field App Onboarding guide.
When to recalibrate:
When you change your phone case
When you switch to a different phone
If measurements seem consistently off
Note: Tilt zeroing only applies to Standard Mode. High Accuracy mode reads the tilt directly from the stick's targets against the pole, so the phone case offset doesn't matter.
High Accuracy Stick Target Version
In Settings, you'll see an option to select which version of the high accuracy stick targets you're using:
Version | Details |
Version 1 | Earlier production targets. Select this if your targets were shipped before June 2025. |
Version 2 | Current production targets. Most customers should select this. Shipped since June 2025. |
Note: If no stick version is selected, the app defaults to Version 1 behavior. Make sure to select the correct version that matches your physical stick before measuring.
Important: Selecting the wrong version will produce inaccurate measurements. If you're unsure which version you have, contact the Cloneable support team. They can confirm based on your account's shipping records.
Bottom Pole Length Setting
The high accuracy stick is assembled from 2-ft rod sections. The Bottom Pole Length setting tells the app how many rod sections are below the bottom target.
Setting: 1 (default) means one rod section below the bottom target. This is the standard six-foot configuration (three sections total). Best for areas with low or mowed grass where both targets are easy to see.
Setting: 2 means two rod sections below the bottom target. This is the eight-foot configuration (four sections total). Best for areas with thick, tall grass where you need extra height to keep both targets visible above the vegetation.
Important: If you add an extra rod section to clear an obstacle, remember to change this setting before measuring that pole, and change it back to 1 for the next pole. Forgetting to reset this is a common source of measurement errors.
Rule of thumb: Mowed or low grass? Use the six-foot config (Setting 1). Thick or tall grass? Use the eight-foot config (Setting 2).
Spike vs. Flat Bottom
The bottom of the stick can be fitted with either a flat cap or a spike tip:
Flat bottom: Standard option. Sits on solid surfaces like concrete or packed ground.
Spike bottom: Preferred for soft ground (mud, grass, loose soil). The spike anchors into the ground and prevents the stick from shifting during measurement.
There is no app setting to toggle between spike and flat bottom. Both work with the same measurement process. Simply swap the bottom attachment as needed based on ground conditions.
Switching Between Accuracy Modes
You can switch between Standard and High Accuracy mode at any time. For a full explanation of each mode and when to use them, see Change Measurement Accuracy Modes.
Tap a pole on the map
Long-press the Measure Pole button
Select Standard Accuracy or High Accuracy
Your selection persists across measurements. You don't need to change it for each pole; it stays on your chosen mode until you switch again.
Troubleshooting Calibration Issues
Tilt calibration step keeps appearing unexpectedly
If the two-pass tilt capture step (placing the phone against the pole twice) appears when you're in High Accuracy mode, check that you actually selected High Accuracy. Long-press the Measure Pole button to verify. The tilt capture step is only used in Standard mode.
Tilt readings are more than 0.5 degrees apart
In Standard mode, the app requires two tilt readings within 0.5 degrees of each other. If they don't match:
Make sure the phone is completely flat against the pole, with no gaps
Hold the phone steady for the full capture duration
If your case has a camera bump, make sure it's not preventing the phone from sitting flat
Calibration shows red indicators
If calibration indicators show red after a photo capture, the measurements may be unreliable. Common causes:
Stick targets weren't both flat against the pole during the capture
The phone shifted during the tilt reading
Extreme wind or movement affecting the stick
In these cases, re-measure the pole for accurate results.
Tips & Reminders
Calibrate tilt zeroing once per phone/case combination. You don't need to redo it each day.
Most customers should select Version 2 for the stick target version
Always reset Bottom Pole Length back to 1 after using an extra rod section
Use the spike bottom on soft ground and the flat bottom on hard surfaces
Disassemble the stick at the end of each day. Heat in vehicles can warp the rods and targets.
A flat-backed phone case is required. Cases with thick padding or uneven surfaces will produce inaccurate tilt readings.
The numbered markings on the stick sections do not matter. All sections are identical 2-ft rods and can go in any order.
Do not change anything in Advanced Settings unless directed by the Cloneable support team
Related Articles
Utility Scout Measurement Workflows - Complete guide to pole, midspan, and guy wire measurement
Change Measurement Accuracy Modes - How to switch between Standard and High Accuracy
Pole Measurement Tutorial - Video walkthrough of the measurement process
Utility Scout Field App Onboarding - Initial setup and getting started