Charge 2 / Samsung S10e

[Entwood]

Since the latest software update just 6 hours ago I now find that the only way I can use the fitbit/samsung exercise link is to also have mobile data permanently ON ...  it worked before with just bluetooth and location, but now requires  data as well .. yet another backward step .... when will fitbit learn the meaning of the phrase "if it's not broken don't try and fix it" ??? 

One thing is now very certain ... when the fitbit dies it will be replaced by something from another company, I'm totally fed up with fitbit stupidity

[Rich_Laue]

What software update are you referring to @Entwood? the phone, Fitbit App, or Fitbit Tracker. 

What is this exercise link that you are reffering to? Is it in the Fitbit app or on the Fitbit tracker? 

Some android phones do need an Internet connection for the tracker to connect to the phones GPS, but once connected the Internet can be turned off. 

[Entwood]

The android fitbit app updated yesterday, 22/09/2020 to version 3.30

The link I refer to is when you long press "walk" as a chosen exercise so that the device uses the phones bluetooth and gps to track your activity, Yes, it requires a full "synch" before the long press to start, but once synched and connected (phone icon shows on the device) then the internet/mobile data could be switched off and the tracker would continue to function throughout the exercise period, ofet well over an hour and 5 or more miles of walking, with just bluetooth and location activated on the phone and when the screen went to sleep it made no difference .... exactly as it has done for well over a year..... until yesterday........

Now, if you switch off internet/mobile data then as soon as the screen goes off the phone icon on the tracker gets a line through it, it starts to search for a connection, and no gps data is recorded... switch the screen on, turn on mobile data, open the fitbit app and it reconnects and starts to work as before. Leave mobile data connected and when the screen goes off the tracker keeps running and stays connected without any problems.

So .. 3 things now occuring that never happened before... 1) data is being used unneccessarily, which costs me money 2) battery life is reduced as the phone is continually connected./searching for a data signal 3) when I'm in an area of no data signal the tracker element simply stops working until it regains a signal, so becomes pointless as it is then grossly inaccurate. All of this since the so-called "update" to the fitbit app..... and you wonder why I am so fed up with fitbit, who have simply forgotton why they exist in their continual attempts to "upsell" what is now a poor product (it never used to be, it WAS probably the best originally).

Have no fear, I have found a solution ... an app called "Strava" .. taken a bit of setting up but it is simple to use, does what it says and only needs a GPS signal to function, and it appears to be far more accurate than the fitbit app is as well. That is the formal exercise regime sorted. So all I need is a different "step counter" device for the rest of the time and I can be rid of fitbit forever - and there are a great many step counters out there at far lower prices than the fitbit offerings