Elliptical tracking WAY off!

[CathyG7]

Hi, I have been a Fitbit user for years and love the accuracy and all the tracking and stats to help me with my goals.  I just started using my Fitbit Blaze and have found the Elliptical to be very inaccurate!  My elliptical shows twice the distance as my Blaze even though I use my arms through the whole exercise!  Anyone else have this problem?  I have tried making larger more abrupt motions with my arms independent of the machine and it seems to register a bit more, but I shouldn't have to do that!  I sometimes find that even with walking my dogs (and yes I swing my arm that has the Blaze on it or it doesn't seem to register my movements accurately) the step count can be way off.  

Any suggestions?  Thanks!

[Rich_Laue]

The distance the elliptical reports is based on a fictitious number corresponding to the revalutions and diameter of your wheel. Fitbit at best will be able to see your arm motions not the wheel motions. The elliptical machine is looking at the wheel spin to arrive at the distance. Since every machine has a different diameter wheel and gear ratio, then lets add that the wheel spins whennthe feet/arms are stationary. I.think you get the idea.

So what is Fitbit looking at?

Your Fitbit looks at the time, arm motions and heart rate to calculate calorie burn.

[ScubaSteve99208]

Same problem for me. I use Precor ellipticals and the distance Blaze records is typically 50-60% of what the machine states, even when I set my Blaze excercise to elliptical.

[Rich_Laue]

First thing i notice is that on the elyptical a person is not walking and Fitbit works best with step based exercises.
Now when it comes to the elyptical, fitbit uses the time and you heart rate to determine calories. It also should count steps, but unless the Fitbits stride is set to the imaginary stride of the elyptical the two will never agree on miles. Thos is becaise without GPS fitbit is unable to measure miles.

[Stormybit]

Me too! First day at gym using yesterday and my blaze had half the miles the machine showed. I'm unhappy because now my whole day is inaccurate or is it? Which electronic device is correct? Help! Can I manually change the miles?

[AngelaMa · Accepted solution]

Hello @CathyG7, @ScubaSteve99208 and @Stormybit! Your tracker is designed to read your step activity during your day combining your exercise while your body is in motion. With the elliptical machine despite you are moving your body, it doesn't involve a direct impact on going forward as you do while you're walking. So the accuracy of this activities it may less that a normal walk. @Rich_Laue thanks for your cooperation 😉 

Catch you later! 

[ScubaSteve99208]

@AngelaMa thanks, but when you access the Excercise mode and select Elliptical I thought this compensated for the lack of direct impact when using an elliptical. Is this not the case?

[bbarrera]

---

@ScubaSteve99208 wrote:
@AngelaMa thanks, but when you access the Excercise mode and select Elliptical I thought this compensated for the lack of direct impact when using an elliptical. Is this not the case?

---

I agree, we know that bike mode surpresses step count while pedaling, seems logical that Fitbit would fine tune Elliptical mode to more accurately record "steps."

The distance estimate is a different discussion.

[stevemcc1152]

I've had the same problem. Just started using the elliptical at our fitness center and the stats are way off on the Blaze. I even set the app to start at 10 minutes (the minimum) and that didn't help. So it's worthless to use the Blaze to track the elliptical in my opinion.

[wedge56]

I used to put my HR in my sock when I was using the elliptical and it was very accurate.  So why can't the Blaze be accurate when counting steps on my elliptical ?  There seems to be a distinct lack of "give a crap" at Fitbit about correcting this and it is enough to make me try another tracker on my next purchase.

[Cjkessler]

I am thinking of going back to my $30 Jawbone up. It tracked accurately

[Thenonnon]

Hi,

Not to pick on you, but if this is the case, why does the eliptical tracker even include a step tracker in the workout setting? I often set a goal based on steps, and this hit or miss, aiming my arm a certain way etc. just frustrates the user. I finally looked up this solution / answer after just finishing at the gym, so I get it now. Still, my original question stands, and I would appreciate if you would please pass along this feedback. 

[Rich_Laue]

---

@Thenonnonwrote:

Hi,

Not to pick on you, but if this is the case, why does the eliptical tracker even include a step tracker in the workout setting? 

---

I'm not sure which person the you are referring to an without mentioning their name they may ever know. .Also I'm not sure which case is "being referred to. 

As for steps, like while biking Fitbit doesn't remove them .

[COL-Ret]

I understand the explanation, but why have this feature at all if it’s that grossly inaccurate? It literally gives me about half the distance that the machine displays. Heartbeat WAY off as well. Exceptionally disappointed with the Ionic!

[Rich_Laue]

@COL-Ret if you understand then you understand why the distance  reported by fitbit is off 

Your not physically moving and you want Fitbit to measure a made up imaginary distance reported by your elyptical machine.

As for the heart rate I would suggest reading the FAQ.

What should I know about my heart rate data?

Learn how to measure heart rate with Fitbit's PurePulse heart-rate tracking technology.

Why don't I see my heart rate on my Fitbit device?

Learn tips for troubleshooting the heart rate display on your Fitbit device.

[DMJinPhilly]

Have had the same problem with my charge 2 lately, it seems like in recent weeks each gym day gets less and less steps from the elliptical.  This past week I was averaging 5000 steps from the elliptical in spite of a 199-210 strides per minute average and over 6 miles of distance for an hour.