Charge 5 distance vs Android app distance are different

[jvglynnjr]

When I use the Android fitbit app to track a run, the distances come up short. For example, the app told me I had gone 1.0 km but I had really covered 1.35 km on a measured track. Can GPS resolution account for a 35% error? It seems like it should have more precision than that. 

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[MarreFitbit]

Hi there, @jvglynnjr. Thanks for stopping by in the Fitbit Community Forums and for bringing this to my attention. I understand where your concern is coming from. I will do my best to help you with this. 

If you feel that your step count and distance are inaccurate, confirm the following are correct in the Fitbit app:

• Your wrist settings (For more information, see Does the wrist I wear my device on affect accuracy? )
• Your height (For more information, see How do I manage my Fitbit profile?)

On a side note, please bear in mind that Fitbit devices use the formula below to calculate distance. Your stride length is determined by your height and sex. Steps x Stride Length = Distance Traveled

Please note when you track an activity with GPS, your device calculates your distance using GPS data rather than steps. If you begin moving before you get a GPS signal, your device calculates distance using your steps until GPS connects.

To update your stride length, track a run with GPS or measure your stride length manually. For more information, see Can I change my stride length in my Fitbit account?

For more information about GPS, see How do I use GPS on my Fitbit device?

[jvglynnjr]

I don't understand what this has to do with my stride length. I am using GPS to track my run. At the end I get a map with a path on it that looks reasonably accurate, but the distance calculated by the app comes up short. When I monitor the step count while walking, the count is accurate to ~2%. So sure, if my stride length value was short, that would make my overall distance short, but shouldn't the GPS data override that?

BTW, who changed the title of my post to "Charge 5 distance vs Android app distance are different"? That's not what I said. I did not say that the watch and the app showed different distances. I said I was using a Charge 5 with the Android app, GPS activated, and that the distance calculated by the app was shorter than the actual distance. I was running on a measured track.

Does a human being actually read these posts before responses get sent, or do your pineapples refract lasers?

[FVC2]

I have been having this problem ever since the software change to correct the 'daylight savings time' fiasco.  The distance on my GPS is always lower than it should be and it is not consistent.  I can walk the same path two days in a row and get a totally different distance.  I have been on the phone with customer service for the past two weeks with no resolution.  They have reset my watch and system settings numerous times and it makes no difference.  I don't believe the problem is with my watch.  I believe it is a software problem.  Customer service (in my opinion a misnomer) has told me they have elevated the problem and assure me I will hear from someone within 24 hours.  They have told me this three times, but it never happens.  I continue to call them, but never get an answer to my problem.  I don't believe they will ever solve the problem.  I would never recommend Fitbit to anyone.  Their quality has deteriorated significant;ly since they were taken over by Google.  No longer a Fitbit fan!  I plan to get a tracker from another company.