Increase vibration strength?

[signaturedoc]

The vibration for calls and texts is rather weak. Sure would like to be able to strengthen it. Any way?

[talia1967]

It's a good product if you don't really care about the anti notification, notification 🙂 but it's still not worth $200

Sent from my iPhone

[Rich_Laue]

If it is not with 200 than vote with your wallet, apparently many feal it is, being that the Blaze, apon its release, has been reported to have an impact on Apple Watch sales.

[SunsetRunner]

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@Chisz wrote:
Need vibration strength to be set higher, somewhat weak? Any suggestions?

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Wait

[SunsetRunner]

I've now read through 6 pages of complaints about the lack of vibration intensity on the blaze. Can a representative from fitbit give us some kind of response as to what, if anything, they are planning to do about it?

[big9erfan]

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@SunsetRunner wrote:
I've now read through 6 pages of complaints about the lack of vibration intensity on the blaze. Can a representative from fitbit give us some kind of response as to what, if anything, they are planning to do about it?

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The mods aren't going to know what is happening at this point.  It is WAY too early.  As someone who works in this kind of field it has to go through a few levels of management, it has to go to developers to see if something (anything) can be done to address the issue, and if it's even realistic to do so.  

My guess is that we won't hear/see anything for a bit still. The device has only been out 2 weeks, and there are "only" 6 pages of comments so far.  It took how long for them to address battery issues with the Charge HR.  This isn't a slam on Fitbit it's a comment on quality changes don't happen quickly.

[Sand19]

I agree that the vibration is way too weak.

I upgraded from the Charge HR which, as stated many times, has much better vibration.

Looking at the Blaze, I think a problem might be that the only real contact area on my wrist is the HR sensor, in the middle of my wrist, on the fleshy part away from any bones.  Perhaps this is not the most sensitive area for vibration...

On the Charge HR, the particular curvature allows for contact over the ulna, and it seems like the vibrator is positioned right over this bone....

In order to try to replicate this, I have placed some thin pads on the watch, between the watch and the bony areas of my wrist.  This turns out to be right where the band attaches to the steel.  And?  I do sense the vibration much more easily.  I think this might help some of us.  If Fitbit cannot improve the vibration via firmware, I believe a simple addition to the watch band could be helpful - something that slides up the band and provides better contact with the wrist bones.

[Rescue141x]

Two weeks is plenty enough time to get an answer out. It depends on how much you appreciate your customers. That's what it comes down to. Even a response (besides the moderators here) saying "Hey, we understand your concerns regarding the vibration on the Blaze and are looking into it. We will have more information as soon as possible" I bet you that the higher ups already know about the issue but refuse to acknowledge us and the issue.

What amazes me is if all of us see the problem with this. Why the heck didn't the people who developed and tested this Blaze notice it??! I mean HELLOOO??? Before the Blaze was released people should have been wearing this to get a feel for it and to make changes before it was released to the public. Nobody wore this to bed at night? Did anyone track their sleep to make sure it was working? Did anyone set the alarms and not feel it and say "This needs to be better"

Fitbit probably knew it was going to be an issue and just released it anyways.

Sent from my iPhone

[Sand19]

after some trial and error...

for me, I have found that simply placing a band from the fit bit charge here, the vibration is transmitted a bit better.... Your mileage may vary..... (the band is not even tight around my wrist, but it is even better when it is).  Overall, the vibration is still quite weak, shoot!

[Bob20886]

I updated from a Surge to the Blaze so that I could wear a tracker to work that didn't look like a fitness tracker.  Having the silent notifications is very important and had I known how weak the vibrations were on the Blaze, I wouldn't have purchased it.  Now that I have it, I will give it a few days of evaluation, but I suspect that after I miss my first message or call notification, I'll go back to the Surge.

[Bob20886]

I have noticed that if I'm wearing the watch normally, I can barely perceive the vibration through the contact of the heart rate sensor on the back of my wrist.  However, if I am touching the frame of the watch, the vibration is very noticable.  Of course I don't want to walk around holding the frame, but it might be the basis of some solution.  I have the standard rubber strap, like I'm sure most people have, but wonder if the leather or metal band do a better job of transmitting the vibrations.

[Sand19]

As a suggestion for those who use the Blaze to wake up... perhaps try wearing the watch so that the screen is on the palmar side of your wrist.  This might change the contact area enough to get your attention.  I know this isn't a long term solution, but maybe it will help until something else comes along from Fitbit.

[DiSiD]

Tried that, doesn't work unfortunately

[valmichetti]

Update to my post from March 2nd. Have now had an alarm set every single morning for the 2-3 weeks I've had my Blaze.... Haven't felt the alarm even once. Zero times out of ~20 days.

I'm so disappointed with this product 😞
My Charge woke me up every single day without fail AND had a more accurate step count. I want to return the Blaze but I've already given my Charge to a friend so I'm in a bind.

[kerrycrow]

Update...my Blaze woke me up this morning for the first time.

I have had it a week and have slept through the alarm and the snooze every day.  Each time I would wake up I would see the alarm had already switched to the "tomorrow" setting (and yes it was on/green). But I never heard it or felt it.

Yesterday I deleted the alarm I had set, then synced to my phone so I had no alarms.  Next set a series of alarms from my phone...6:30,6:31, 6:32, 6:33, 6:34.  Meaning the Blaze would go off every minute five times and then the snooze would do the same.

The weird thing is that today I woke up on the first alarm.  It was not especially loud/strong but enough that I am wondering how I could have missed it the other times.  Anyway by the time the five alarms went off I was definitely awake.

Going to try it again tomorrow.  Yes I know I should not "have" to set 5 alarms but if it works I'll be ok with it.

[cksm]

I contacted Fitbit thru chat yesterday regarding the very weak vibration. The alarm doesn't wake me and I'm still not sure if it even vibrates when I meet my step goal. I know I get the picture that says I've made my goal, but only because I've noticed the watch face is lit up. I was advised to return my Blaze to either them or where I bought it after resetting it did nothing. There was no mention that many others are having the same issue. Now I'm not sure if I should return it or hope they can come up with a solution.

[wxman123]

I'm not sure there would be any way to increase the strength by way of a firmware update, as the problem seems hardware related.  Hope I'm wrong. 

[maragold]

Yes! Get it replaced. I had to have mine replaced. The vibration seems to be stronger on the new one. Something was wrong with the vibration on mine, it was very noisy. The new is perfect. It's been waking me up every morning. 

[Rich_Laue]

When I hit my goal, and receive run cues I feel the vibration, my thinking is if you don't feel the vibration then, or when doing a test alarm, your unit is not working.

[SunsetRunner]

Upgraded from Charge HR, because the short battery life. The weak vibration came to my attention on the next day after wearing it, it didn't wake me up.

The message notification is rather wake, could be stronger. But alarm vibration should be stronger. I agree that everyone is different. There should be a level adjustment if possible.

For now, I will try to live with it.

[Mdalpha69]

I'm glad I read this thread. I thought there was something wrong with me but the fact that there's only three small vibrations and then it sleeps from nine minutes is definitely a problem. I'm going to try the set in alarm once a minute for five minutes to see if that helps.