GPS accurate on watch, but totally inaccurate on app

[kevjin]

I have a Charge 2, bought recently second hand. I have linked my phone for GPS when tracking activities. The watch tracks the activity absolutely fine, but when the data is then sent over to the app, it's completely different. For example, I did a 12km cycle, that was logged on the app as 1.15km!

I try editing the distance, but it reverts back to the incorrect one.

Help!

[Gr4ndp4]

Hi, @kevjin , welcome. This editing issue has been reported in the past but was thought to have been fixed. Please check you are using the most up-to-date Fitbit SW on your phone and your PW2. Note - to check your watch (which may not automatically update) go to the Play Store app, swipe up until you reach "manage apps">update all. If you have a lot of updates outstanding, you may find it quicker to use Wifi rather than the Bluetooth on the PW.

In addition, note that Gemini advises - To use GPS on your Pixel Watch 2, open the Maps app by pressing the crown and tapping Maps, then enter a destination using voice or the keypad. For fitness tracking, ensure the relevant app (like Fitbit) has location permissions set to "always allow" and that you've allowed location services in the watch's settings. I hope this helps. Please post here again & let us know how you get on.

Cheers

[MrKevvy]

Same happens with me with an Inspire 3, as like the Charge 2 it does not have onboard GPS so the Fitbit app gets GPS info on your Android device. When the Android device blacks the screen out, it suspends the Fitbit app, and distance tracking stops. Find a way ie changing screen blanking timeout/reducing brightness/disabling adaptive brightness to keep the display on all the time and it will track your cycling rides accurately.

[Rich_Laue · Accepted solution]

@MrKevvy if your gps stops when the phone screen goes blank, you are using the Fitbit app on the phone to record your run. You maybe also starting the run through the fitbit app, in which case move the app to the background before the screen times out.

The Charge 2 has been recording your distance based on step count and your stride setting, and has not been using the phones GPS.

When using the Charge 2 to record your run. Start the run recording on the Charge 2

. The Charge 2 will communicates with the Fitbit Background Services on the phone. 

To track an exercise:

• On your tracker, press the button until you get to the Exercise screen and then tap to find the
  exercise of your choice.
• Press and hold the button to start the exercise. If you see a phone icon at the top, that exercise
  offers connected GPS and your device is connected to a GPS signal.
• If the phone icon is crossed out,
• A GPS connection isn’t available. An animated dashed line means your device is trying to
  find a GPS signal.
• You will get a vibration when GPS connects or disconnects 
• During your workout, tap your tracker to scroll through your real-time stats or check the time of
  day.
• To pause your workout, press the button. Then press the button again to resume the exercise."
• When you’re done with your workout, press and hold the button to stop recording. You’ll see a
  flag icon and a congratulatory message.
• Press the button to see a summary of your results. With each button press you’ll cycle to a
  different set of stats. You can view your exercise summary one time.
• Syncing your tracker stores the workout in your exercise history. There you can find additional stats and see your route if you used connected GPS.

Your Charge 2 also has the ability to auto detect exercises, like a walk or run, but then the GPS will not be recorded. 

If you haven't done so, please download your Charge 2 User Manual. Recording an exercise will be found on page 15 and 16. 

[MrKevvy]

Please note "your run"... I've never had an issue recording step counts walking (I don't run) with any Fitbit including this Inspire 3, as they are and have always been recorded locally on the Fitbit device itself as it requires the accelerometers.

This is only concerning recording of distance, and only while in "Bike" mode, which requires GPS to accomplish, either on the Fitbit device or via the Fitbit app on the phone. Steps are recorded by accelerometer-tracked arm swings on the Fitbit device, exercise duration as a difference between start and end times, so neither require the Fitbit app to be active.

The official, authorized manual for the Charge 2 from fitbit.com (you'll need to Google for it as my posts with a link keep disappearing) has on page 18: "Charge 2 does not have built-in GPS. Its connected GPS feature works with the GPS sensors on your nearby phone to give you real-time pace and distance information, as well as recording a map of your route."

The official, authorized manual for the Inspire 3 from fitbit.com (see above) has on page 33: "Inspire 3 uses the GPS sensors on your nearby phone to capture GPS data."

Thus, neither of these devices have built-in GPS and require the Fitbit app to track distance, which it doesn't so when suspended by the Android device. Again, this is the Android device's cause, not the Fitbit, and not the Fitbit app. It may also be device/manufacturer-specific; I have limited experience has have only had two Samsung Galaxy Devices (S10 and S23) which it occurred on both of.