Incorrect distance on GPS activity

[BobbyDinSC]

don't know what they did in the update, but for the past two days, my GPS tracker for the fitbit app is not working correctly.  It is now showing my .66 mile walk as several miles.  Today is showed I did 4.67 miles in less than 30 mins.  Appears to be getting worse

Moderator edit: Clarified subject

[LanuzaFitbit]

Hello @BobbyDinSC.

Thanks for sharing those details on the matter. 

Could you share some screenshots of what you are seeing? I'd like to take a closer look at it to better understand what is going on. Also, has this continued to happen with other activities?

Look forward to your reply.

[BobbyDinSC]

@LanuzaFitbit

I will take a screen shots tomorrow when I take my dogs for a walk.  I have already deleted the incorrect records and manually recorded my walks.  I have quit using the app as I primarily use it for measuring my dog walks.  I haven't tried using it lately with any other things, and have turned off auto detect.

[LanuzaFitbit]

Hello @BobbyDinSC.

Thanks for reaching back.

Please do get the screenshots whenever you have the chance.

If you have the time, be sure to visit one of our Discussion boards. Lots of different topics to talk about with other users.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

[BobbyDinSC]

@LanuzaFitbit

Here are a few screen shots from today.  1) Shows set for tracking walk 2) Shows screen saying 13.7 miles 3) Shows 4.44 mil in the circle; but 13.66 miles in the upper left corner 4 Shows result of today's walk/run 5) Shows what my normal short walk (showing run) looks like:

Hope these help

[SunsetRunner]

The top-right map looks a bit as if you lost GPS connection, hence perfectly straight line which seems to be intersecting non-walkable areas (like water). If so, the  your distance will be very off and Fitbit does weird things when the GPS is lost.

[BobbyDinSC]

This is an issue that only started with the latest update.  The last image is what my walk should look like, as it was the route taken.  Don't cross any water or fields.  The walk is on a paved road. 

[LanuzaFitbit]

Hello @BobbyDinSC and @SunsetRunner.

Thanks for bringing up those details and screenshots.

@BobbyDinSC, like @SunsetRunner mentioned it seems like the ones on top happened because the connection was lost or something caused the data to be tracked in that way. I'd like to ask what phone is it that you are using?

As for it being logged as a run, our team is aware of the situation and it is being looked into.

Feel free to reach out with any further questions.

[BobbyDinSC]

@LanuzaFitbit

I'm using a Galaxy S-6.

As for the lines, this only happened with the latest update, and it happens every time I use the app to track my walk.  I could understand the GPS issue if I were traveling the 13 miles like the one image shows in the left hand corner or even the 4+ miles; but since it was only like .66 miles I don't see how losing/regaining GPS would make my trip be some many miles.  The last image that I posted is what the walk should be.

Thanks

[SunsetRunner]

@BobbyDinSC it could do that just by losing precision. GPS may actually throw you anywhere when there's any problem with it. By any chance, do you use power saving mode? Power saving may greatly reduce GPS accuracy and lead to such errors. Most of the apps, when they try to access GPS will warn you if your mobile phone is in power saving mode, but Fitbit app doesn't do it ( at least it wasn't last time when I used tracking using the app ).

[BobbyDinSC]

Power saving mode isn't being used.

[LanuzaFitbit]

Hello @BobbyDinSC and @SunsetRunner.

Thanks for reaching back with those details.

It is definitely possible that something cause the app to log it as if you were over there at one point for some reason, or something caused the GPS to connect think that you were over there at that point.

Let's try to uninstall the app and then install it again and try logging another walk and see how it goes.

Look forward to your reply.

[SunsetRunner]

@BobbyDinSC just to make sure it's not your phone going crazy, try to track your route with another application like MapMyWalk, Strava or Endomondo - anything will do. Enable tracking both in Fitbit and in the other app at the same time ( they can share access to the GPS sensor ). If you see that the other app shows the very same issue then it's rather not the Fitbit app. However, if you see that it's only Fitbit app showing the route with an error then...well... I don't know what to do 😄 Just do such test to narrow down a number of possibilities.