Connected GPS Information Post

[EmersonFitbit]

Hey all!

I've been seeing a ton of great conversation about Connected GPS- the technology that will allow you to see your maps, as well as pace/distance using your phone's GPS. Ahead of launch of the device, I'd like to provide a bit more information about Connected GPS in comparison to our built-in GPS technology (found in Surge) or our existing GPS functionality in relation to other devices! The following is an in-depth look at Connected GPS, and and opening of the floor for questions!  Are you ready? Let's do it!

• What is Connected GPS? 

Connected GPS is a new part of the Fitbit ecosystem! Using Connected GPS, Blaze connects with your phone's native GPS capabilities to plot routes and activity stats screen as the pace and duration.

• How do I use Connected GPS?

The necessary components for initiating a Connected GPS exercise are: 

1. Your charged tracker
2. Your compatible Mobile device with GPS capabilities
3. The Fitbit App

To initiate a Connected GPS exercise, open the appropriate exercise (exercises that offer GPS connectivity on the Blaze will have a gear icon on the tile). Once you select the exercise type, you'll see that your Blaze will begin to look for your phone's GPS services. Once the device establishes a connection, you'll be notified that you're ready to go. You can always bypass the connection if you'd like, much like on Surge. 

• How is this different than Surge? MobileRun?

GPS is built-in on the Fitbit Surge, meaning that you could initiate a GPS activity without your phone in proximity. The MobileRun process works a bit differently; you'll have to open the Fitbit app and select Track Exercise > Stopwatch Icon > Start. 

• What errors might I run into? 

Phone Not Found: Users may see the following error state if their tracker is unable to connect to their phone. If this happens, please ensure the following: phone is within range, your app is open, phone is charged up, Bluetooth enabled and bonded, and Internet connection is present.

Check Fitbit App: If you come across this error, there may be a bit of action required. Please ensure that your app is open, you are logged into your account, and that location services are enabled.

• Location Services and Permissions: 

Location services are required for Connected GPS to function properly. Please ensure that location services are enables, and set to "Always" if applicable. 

Permissions are requested upon setup of the tracker. Users who intend to use the Connected GPS feature should accept the permission requests. If you switch phones during the life of your Blaze, you'll be prompted to run through all of these permission requests again before being able to successfully use Connected GPS.

[jwebb72]

On my Android the options are:
High accuracy - GPS + Cellular + WiFi (Blaze connects, full green bars. Very inaccurate distance recorded)
Power saving - Cellular + WiFi (Blaze will not connect, message states to change to high accuracy mode)
Device only - GPS (Blaze connects with single red bar only. Only uses steps/stride for distance. No map)
Initiating exercise through the Fitbit app will connect using high accuracy or device only and is very accurate on distance using either mode.

[MuzDownUnder]

@Rich_Laue On Android 6 we have

1) Off

2) GPS & Wifi & mobile networks - works but is inaccurate

3) Wifi & mobile networks - gets 'check fitbit app' message

4) GPS only - will not connect to the phone (single red bar and no map)

[Julia_G]

Hi, all, you do need internet to connect the phone and the Blaze, but as soon as it is connected you can turn off internet and use GPS only. My Android is a spare phone and has no SIM in it at all at the moment. I connect to it using wifi at home before I set out. As soon as I leave I no longer have wifi, or cellular or data connection, but the GPS continues to work perfectly connected to my phone. When I get back and sync I get an accurate map.

[godzooky75]

Are your Strava and Fitbit apps linked? If so, i belie the Fitbit app will import the Strava-recorded ride, thus the two entries in the log. (Calories are calculated estimates. The different apps use different algorithms, thus the different counts.) I had this problem; I started to use only one app to record my rides.

[jwebb72]

Here's the response I received from support regarding GPS connect accuracy.
"the intensity of your stride may have been taken into affect and should be considered when walking the same course or route you normally would. This may sometimes result in either a slight change in distance or pace. Although you've walked the same route, based on the intensity of your stride your results may differ. You could be walking faster or slower than you typically would. If you accumulate more steps in a short period of time or less steps in a longer period time, this will also affect the outcome of your distance and pace results."

[Golfnharmony]

Would it be possible to have gps connect work with the golf exercise.

[landvus]

This doesn't make sense to me. Either the distance is tracked by gps or by stride. Right?

[Golfnharmony]

Currently the golf exercise only tracks steps, without gps the course you are playing can't be mapped. Would enjoy seeing map of golf.

Sent from my iPhone

[jwebb72]

More testing today...

Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 GPS connect - works accurately.

Motorola Moto E 2nd Gen GPS connect while in airplane mode with Bluetooth enabled - forcing it to use GPS only, full green signal bars, still not accurate and plotted route on map very jagged. My conclusion is my phone is not yet 100% compatible with the Blaze regarding connection using GPS connect.

I hope the developer keeps improving the product so one day everything works correctly. Customer support was no help and is clueless unfortunately. I'm having a touch of buyer's remorse currently.

[gaz2387]

Why exactly does the blaze require an internet connection for Connected GPS?

if this is using the phones GPS - this should not be required?

[Julia_G]

@gaz2387 it doesn't! I use it with a phohe that doesn't even have a SIM. I have found, however, that I need an internet connection for it to connect to the phone, so I connect before I set out. After that no internet required.

[gaz2387]

Thanks for that, but I don't get why it needs to be connected at all.
I'm often biking in areas with no signal, and can't always know when to get signal...
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[Julia_G]

I can't answer that, except to say I guess it just needs to shake hands with the server before it gets started.  Sounds like the Surge might work better for you, as it has a built in GPS chip.

[Rich_Laue]

My guess would be that fitbit is doing some type of initialization  process with the server.  

[MuzDownUnder]

@jwebb72 I tested turning the phone to GPS only mid walk today and on the Samsung S7 Android 6 it doesn't work. As soon as you select GPS only the using location symbol turns off and all tracking and mapping the route stops.

[gaz2387]

I have the surge too, but was hoping the blaze would be able to use the gps without signal, I don't understand why it is required!
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[MuzDownUnder]

@Rich_Laue whenever you connect (sync) to any Fitbit using the app the app connects to Fitbit.com to upload the results. You can immediately see the changes on your fitbit web page or another device using the app. Afaik that is the only time the internet is required.

[Rich_Laue]

@MuzDownUnder, @gaz2387 i turned my location on the phone to GPS only, turned all network off, started a walk on the Blaze amd it happily got a location worth a let's go.
@Julia_G's experiance seems to be dofferent , but she still does not me a network whole spoof the actual walk.

@MuzDownUnder I'm very aware that all stubble is done between the tracker and the Firbit server. The phone/computer is just the doorway. This thread is not about syncing.

[Julia_G]

@Rich_Laue , but was your Blaze already connected to that phone?  In my case, not.

[gaz2387]

Agreed. As long as the blaze had previously synced, and showed a connected, then I can start gps. So it's not about connected gps requiring the net actually, it's the apps sync requirement
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