Need a a fix for Blaze

[DT1973]

I have tried resetting my Blaze several times, removing it from my app and reconnecting it and still step accuracy is about 65-70% of what it should be. I do all of my test on a track with 1/4 mile laps and walk 1 mile before checking stats, It regularly records 4 laps (1 mile) as 7/10ths of a mile and I get between 1350 & 1400 steps in 1 mile. I have done the test with 2 other co workers each with a Blaze and they are with in .02 of distance accuracy in a mile and over 2000 steps per mile. What is the real fix for this? I have read through every recommendation to no avail. Do I need to return it? Thanks for your help.

[Rich_Laue]

Hello @DT1973, sorry about the problems? Where you using GPS? 

As for fixing the problem, we need to know what the problem is. 

Is the 1500_1600 step count look correct? Without knowing anything about your stride or height we can not say. 

Distance, I'll assume your not using GPS, increase the stride by 1.43 times. 

[DT1973]

Hi Rich, thanks for the reply, sorry I'm 5' 8" my  stride I've set custom and auto and it doesn't change, currently it is 28.1" walking and 37" running.  No 1500-1600 steps isn't accurate after walking a mile I should have a minimum of 2000 steps. The last test I just did I was using GPS My Blaze recorded the 1 mile walk as .78 and gave me 1284 steps, my co worker was right next to me his Blaze recorded his 1 mile walk as .98 and gave him 2100 steps. At lunch today I walked a marked trail 3.12 miles, using Map My Fitness it gave me 6,200 steps, my Blaze recorded it as 2.49 miles and 4,447 steps.

[Rich_Laue]

Map my fitness measures distance and calculates the steps, it does not count steps. This is the opposite of what the Fitbit does.  Have you set your stride up in MMF? 

You don't say what the display ancestors MMF reported. 

Have you done a step count test yet? If I walk 500 steps the Blaze almost always reports 480 this is within the 10%

[DT1973]

MMF?

As I stated before I have set my stride at 28.1" walking and 37" running, based on that I should take 2,256 steps per mile, that is roughly 800-900 steps less than what the Blaze records. I understand that Map my fitness measures distance and calculates steps, but it also is a lot closer to accurate than I have ever gotten from my Fitbit. I have not done a manual step count yet, but for my legs on a 5' 8" frame to cover 1 mile in 1300 steps or so I would be taking a nearly 4' stride. I can live with 10% but my Blaze is only  60-65% accurate, that's unacceptable.

[bbarrera]

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@DT1973 wrote:

I have tried resetting my Blaze several times, removing it from my app and reconnecting it and still step accuracy is about 65-70% of what it should be. I do all of my test on a track with 1/4 mile laps and walk 1 mile before checking stats, It regularly records 4 laps (1 mile) as 7/10ths of a mile and I get between 1350 & 1400 steps in 1 mile. I have done the test with 2 other co workers each with a Blaze and they are with in .02 of distance accuracy in a mile and over 2000 steps per mile. What is the real fix for this? I have read through every recommendation to no avail. Do I need to return it? Thanks for your help.

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@DT1973 From everything you've written the Blaze is not accurately counting steps. The Blaze uses step count along with your stride to estimate mileage, even when using Connected GPS (weird, but true).

I recommend contacting support and ask them to review your tracker data, and arrange for a replacement. If the problem continues, then the problem is a combination of you and the Blaze. Unfortunately wearing a step counter on the wrist can lead to inaccurate step counts, due to arm movements (too much arm movement, or not enough).

[DT1973]

Thanks bbarrera, unfortunately this is my second of 2 fitbits I'll probably need to return. While I agree with everything you said I should be very close to my walking partners steps when we walk stride for stride even though he is 6" taller yet he is getting 800 more steps in the exact same 1 mile walk around a track. I'm very confident it is an issue with my Blaze, I just figured by now with 2 years of history of the same problem for a lot of customers they would have come up with an update to fix it. But this is the very reason I purchase from Costco, I can get a same day replacement. 

[bbarrera]

I have an issue with HR accuracy for cycling and weight lifting, just sold my Blaze. The step counting was pretty good.

Unfortunately wearables on the wrist do not behave the same for everyone.

[Goosse1962]

Any idea how much arm movement is needed? That might explain some of my steps not tracking around home or office. My longer distance, near straight, appear accurate. I am guessing that when turning corners frequently, my arm movement lengthening and shortening may account at least in part for the loss. 

[AlejandraFitbit]

Welcome to the Community @DT1973, @Rich_Laue, @bbarrera and @Goosse1962 thanks for stopping by.

I would like to know if you still having issue with your step count? If you do, I recommend taking a look at this post and follow the steps provide there to measure your stride length. After this, walk 100 steps and let me know how many steps your Blaze recorded. 

Hope to hear from you soon.