Disto X2


Disto X2 Calibration

TopoDroid 2.3 (even older version)


This is a step by step guide on how to calibrate your Disto X2. You can also check out the Quick Reference Guide.

Read this whole guide before taking your Disto to a cave! There are some things that you need to download and install first.

The instructions are for using TopoDroid (the PocketTopo version for Android).

Please note that this manual is for TopoDroid 2.3, if you have newer versions please use their own calibrations guides. Version 2.5 (most recent). Version 2.4.

If you prefer PocketTopo, you can download it here:

    • http://paperless.bheeb.ch/download.html#PocketTopo

You will need to use a Windows laptop, tablet or phone to use PocketTopo.

For TopoDroid you can use any Android phone or tablet. We can’t really recommend one over the other (PocketTopo vs. TopoDroid), since we haven’t used PocketTopo, it’s just that Android is more popular for tablets and phones and we feel more comfortable using TopoDroid.  From the brief comparison we did, it seems TopoDroid is getting more focus on software updates and has a more refined interface.


Hints and tips:

    • It should take a total of about 45 minutes to run both the software installation and the calibration procedure.

   • The first steps (software downloads and Bluetooth pairing) should take place in your home or office, since you will need an Internet connection. This should take about 30 minutes (much less if you are comfortable downloading and installing apps in your Android device).

    • The calibration should take place in the forest or a cave, since any magnetic metal nearby can affect the calibration. Be careful about jewelry, watches, belts, etc. Also, calibrations are valid for a geographic area, so ideally you should calibrate the Disto in the geographic area where you will use it. Calibration should take about 15 minutes.

    • Sometimes, when in use, it’s difficult to feel for the “On” button on the Disto to take a measurement. A drop of hot-melt glue on it makes it easier to find.


Before starting the calibration, follow these steps:

1. You will need an Android device (phone or tablet). For just calibration a phone would suffice. If you are thinking about sketching on the device, a tablet would give you more space (and a stylus is a must).

2. Download the manual for TopoDroid from this address (you can do this on your computer or your Android device):

• https://code.google.com/p/topolinux/downloads/detail?name=TopoDroid-v.2.pdf&can=2&q=

3. On your Android device download the symbol pack from this address:

    • https://code.google.com/p/topolinux/downloads/detail?name=TdSymbol-20130102.apk&can=2&q=

4. On your Android device go to your Downloads folder and locate the file TdSymbol-20130102.apk.

• Your device probably has the security option that prevents installation of apps not downloaded from Google Play. If that’s the case, then:

• Go to Settings > Security  and move the slider that says “Unknown Sources: Allow installation of apps from sources other than the Play Store.”

5. Double click the TdSymbol-20130102.apk file to install the symbol library.

• If you allowed the installation of apps from unknown sources, now go back to Settings > Security and return the slider to its original state.

6. On your Android device download TopoDroid from the Play Store (the installation is automatic):

• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.topodroid.DistoX

7. Download the Disto X2 User Manual and the Calibration Manual from this address (you can do this on your computer or your Android device):

• http://paperless.bheeb.ch/download.html#DistoX2



Now you´re done with the downloads and app/software installation. Next, make sure that your Disto X2 communicates via Bluetooth with your device:

8. Verify that your Disto X2 has Bluetooth on. You should see the Bluetooth “B” on your Disto screen, in the upper left. If not, press and hold CLR and FUNC for 2 seconds to turn it on.

9. On your Android device go to Settings > Bluetooth and look for available devices.

10. It may take a few seconds for your Android device to find the Disto. When it does, select it from the list of available devices. It may ask for a code to pair it; if so, use 0000 (four zeroes).

11. Your Disto X2 and your Android device should be paired now.



Now you are ready to start using TopoDroid:

12. Open TopoDroid on your Android device.

13. There are four main functions in TopoDroid:

• Disto selection (you can only use one Disto X2 at a time with TopoDroid, but you can have several Distos registered with your Android device).

• Calibration.

• Shot taking.

• Sketching.

14. First, get TopoDroid to recognize your device. On the main screen touch the “Disto” icon.



15. Your Disto X2 should appear on the bottom of the screen. Touch it to select it. If you touch the “Disto” icon and nothing happens most likely you have Bluetooth off. Turn it on and now the icon should be active.


You can now start the calibration routine:

16. In the Disto selection screen, touch the “revolving arrows” icon; this will toggle your Disto unit between shot-taking mode (normal mode) and calibration mode.



17. Touch the back button on your device to return to the main screen in TopoDroid.

18. On the top, below the icons, you will see “Surveys” and “Calibs.” Select “Calibs” and touch the “plus” icon.

19. This will create a new calibration for this particular Disto X2. You can give it a name and a description. At the bottom of this screen, leave “Auto” selected.

20. To confirm/save, touch the “checkmark” icon.

21. To confirm/save, touch the “checkmark” icon.

22. Now touch the “folder” icon.

This will bring you to the calibration screen, with these icons as a header:


23. Start taking the 56 calibration shots (you can find the 56 shots in the most recent calibration manual). The sequence doesn’t matter. You can download all 56 shots at the end of the process, or download to your device every few shots. To download the shots, touch the “downward arrow” icon.

24. After taking all shots and downloading them to your Android device, touch the “horizontal bars” icon.

25. Then touch the “gears” icon.

  • A popup window will appear, showing the “Error” in the calibration shots.  If the error is less than 0.5 then the calibration is good. You can then touch “Write calibration.” This will update your Disto X2 with the calibration value and it will be ready to use. If the value is larger than 0.5 you will need to re-run the calibration routine.

26. If the error value is less than 0.5 and you touched “Write calibration” then you just need to touch the “revolving arrows” icon to get the Disto out of calibration mode into shot-taking mode, and your Disto is ready to use. Touch the back button twice on your device to get back to the main screen.


You can now start using the Disto X2 to take shots for surveying. You don’t need to use your Android device for this. You can use a normal sketch book for taking notes, like you do with Suuntos. However, it’s simple and fast to transfer data by Bluetooth, and eliminates transcription errors.

27. On the main screen touch "Surveys."

28. Touch the “plus” icon. You can name your survey, change the date, list the team, include the magnetic declination and add a short description. Touch the “checkmark” icon to save.

31. If you installed the symbol pack you can change the line type and color, add cave symbols like columns, mud, etc, and quickly create filled-in colored areas. You can also edit lines point by point.

32. Further description of how to sketch is beyond the scope of this manual. Give it a try and have fun!

29. This will bring you back to the main Surveys screen. Select the survey you just created and then start taking shots with the Disto X2. You can download the shots to your Android device by touching the “downward arrow” icon.

30. To get to the sketching screen, touch the “two mountains” icon.  You will need a stylus.