videos showing how to calibrate a compass show a horizontal 360 sweep of the mavic and then some show a vertical 360 sweep or a sideways mavic 360 sweep.  Which one is it??

You always want to start with the vertical 360 degree sweep and then change it to sideways when prompted on the screen.

Sometimes you will go past 360 degrees.  Don't change orientation due to you going in a complete circle.  Keep going until it changes on the screen.

.. Look at the orientation showing on the screen.

Hi there, thank you for reaching DJI forum. Please check the instructions below.

* Go to the DJI GO app > Camera View > Aircraft Status Bar (top of the screen).
* Next to "Compass", tap Calibrate.
* The Aircraft Status Indicator will change from flashing yellow to solid yellow when the aircraft is ready for compass calibration.
*Hold the aircraft upright and rotate it 360 degrees along the central axis.
*Hold the aircraft with its camera facing down, and rotate it 360 degrees along its central axis.
*The Aircraft Status Indicator will change from solid green to flashing green when calibration is complete.

And ensure to rotate counter-clockwise.

When in doubt I looked for instructions on YouTube.
This one is good at  explaining

Here is a video showing the three ways to calibrate the Mavic compass.   

Do note, that compass calibration needs to be done outside, and at least 10-meters away from possible sources of magnetic field interference (aka cars, metal buildings, bicycles, power lines, etc.) and you should not have any magnets or magnetic material on or about you.

A CW Posted at 2018-7-11 09:27
And ensure to rotate counter-clockwise.

What if you are South of Equator?
  

I don't know if anyone has told you but you don't have to calibrate the compass everytime you fly.

HedgeTrimmer Posted at 2018-7-11 12:12
What if you are South of Equator?

Hahahahahaha

A CW Posted at 2018-7-11 12:49
Hahahahahaha

i'm still confused...all videos show a horizontal rotation first but the second one some videos show the mavic straight down (camera facing down), others show it on its side.  To make matters worse, some show rotating clockwise and others counter clockwise!!  Which is it?? This cant be that difficult to all be on the same page, right??

fans5d4db3ea Posted at 2018-7-12 06:08
i'm still confused...all videos show a horizontal rotation first but the second one some videos show the mavic straight down (camera facing down), others show it on its side.  To make matters worse, some show rotating clockwise and others counter clockwise!!  Which is it?? This cant be that difficult to all be on the same page, right??

I always follow direction of rotation shown on GO-4 app screen.
Also do calibrations well away from any source magnetic interference.

fans5d4db3ea Posted at 2018-7-12 06:08
i'm still confused...all videos show a horizontal rotation first but the second one some videos show the mavic straight down (camera facing down), others show it on its side.  To make matters worse, some show rotating clockwise and others counter clockwise!!  Which is it?? This cant be that difficult to all be on the same page, right??

Straight down, counterclockwise and as Hedge said

I understand the question.  

The app used to start with the the aircraft horizontal, and then move to vertical.  The directions were very clear, and the images matched the verbiage.  Then with the 4.2.14 version of the app, the image changed.

Now, the first portion is the same but on the second portion, the image shows the aircraft on it's side, not with the nose facing down.  The verbiage is still the same though.

I have tried it both ways, and it has worked both ways.     So I don't know what the true method should be, but what I normally do is horizontal for the first turn, then vertical (nose down) for the second.

3-D Posted at 2018-7-12 07:13
I understand the question.  

The app used to start with the the aircraft horizontal, and then move to vertical.  The directions were very clear, and the images matched the verbiage.  Then with the 4.2.14 version of the app, the image changed.

thanks! I'll stick with that method too.