Charge 5 run logged inaccurate distance

[RunAz480]

Hello,

I am on day three logging runs with the new Charge 5. Today I did a 5 mile run that logged as 5.22 with the fit bit. The 5 mile distance is legit and verified. I used the fit bit logging run exercise with gps on and not my phone. I am frustrated and disappointed I am getting inaccurate data. Is there anything else I need to do to calibrate or tips?

I bought the charge 5 so I don't have to take my phone with me. I had accurate results day one and two running 2 and 3 miles respectively.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[SilviaFitbit]

@RunAz480 Welcome to the Fitbit Community. Thanks for the details mentioned. 

I see where your frustration is coming from. 

All devices with GPS sensors require a direct path to GPS satellites to calculate location. A weak GPS signal might affect the accuracy of your route and other activity data. Your device uses your step count to calculate distance until it finds a signal, so the total distance calculated for a workout may be slightly less accurate when GPS isn't available for the entire time

I'd like you to follow these best practices when using GPS. 

Hope this helps. 

[Manneman]

This is a know problem for Fitbit with the charge 5. I have reported the same issue and the answer from Fitbit support is that they are aware of it and won't have a solution in the immediate future unfortunately.

[deine1kleine]

I have had the same problem with the Charge 4 for weeks and no one can help. I have been given a replacement fitbit, although it is a software bug that can be easily explained and probably fixed.
My GPS settings are correct (GPS on, Glonass On, Integrated GPS), set step length automatically.
The GPS recording is correct and if you look at it in other tools, the distance with GPS is also correct.

The problem is that it is not the GPS that is used for the length, FItbit uses the steps taken (step length is not updated after each run as indicated). I always run the same distance. Sometimes I need 9500 steps, sometimes 10,000... depending on how fit I am. That means the number of km is always different, because it takes number of steps to calculate it...

Very sad... my old Ionic was more accuarte. So it is not useable for my purpuse - running.

[SilviaFitbit]

@Manneman and @deine1kleine Hi there. Thanks for sharing your experience with GPS tracking. 

I appreciate that you've contacted our Support team. Your feedback and comments are appreciated, we're always striving to improve our services offered. When tracking an activity with GPS, the following is recommended: 

- You're in an open sky and moderate trees

- Adjust how you wear your tracker when using GPS 

- Make sure the location in the phone settings is set to "Always or All the time" for the Fitbit app 

Hope this helps. 

[RunAz480]

Good to know. My pace and steps count isn't always the same on usual runs with known distance.

I had the Ionic too and it was more accurate calculating runs. I exposed it to water too much so it eventually zapped.

[deine1kleine]

Sorry Silvia, it does not help... GPS signal is very good and path is correct... Everything fine. It's a bug in the software coming with the last update. I got a replacement with older software version. First run with old software. Everything fine. And then after the update... Wrong distance although very good GPS. 

It's a bug. Step length instead of GPS is taken. And also the step length is always to the same and no recalculation with any run. 

So maybe you can look in my account analyse data. Then you can see the problem. 

Or you forward it to your developers ...? It's really useless with this bug.

[t.parker]

@deine1kleine it isn't a bug but the way all the Fitbits work. The distance was never calculated using GPS. Easy to test - wait for GPS to be connected and start stepping in place, then observe the incrementing distance on the watch. It isn't something that's gonna be fixed.

[deine1kleine]

Thank you for the explanation. But my Ionic has always measured correctly.

If I run 10km, then I also want my watch to show 10km? If I take smaller steps the next day because I'm still a bit tired from the day before, my Fitbit says I've run 10.8km because I needed more steps. That's total nonsense.

So when I'm very tired and my steps get shorter, my watch always shows a pace/speed...???

[Manneman]

Just to be clear. 

The old Ionic has in same conditions mutch better GPS data and heart rate data.

There is something with the Charge 5 that's not working as intended. If it is code or design I can't tell. But it needs to be addressed by Fitbit. 

This new device is wors than and old from 2017

[SilviaFitbit]

@RunAz480, @Manneman, @deine1kleine and @t.parker Thank you for the details shared. 

I see where your disappointment is coming from. If the previous information has been checked, let me share that we’re aware of it, but may not be able to provide a fix in the immediate future. We'll continue to monitor the situation, and keep our team informed of the impact to you and other customers. We understand that this isn't the resolution you're hoping for, but rest assured we're always working to improve our products.

We're sorry for any trouble. We appreciate your patience and look forward to getting you back on track.

See you around. 

[Giampi71]

@SilviaFitbit Can you please clarify what you're aware of? Over the course of this discussion several issues has been discussed so it is not exacly clear what you are referring to. If you are speaking about distance calculated via steps rather than via GPS I have the following questions:

1) as it's more or less 3 years that the community is complaining how is it possible that you're still looking into but you're unable to provide a fix in the immediate future?

2) why all mods are always replaying to check the GPS clear sky and so and do not admit that the issue is on steps multiplied by stride calculation (see both your replies above)? 

[RunAz480]

@SilviaFitbit  does that known issue qualify to beable return the Fit Bit product for 100% refund. Charge 5 is not a good product. I am bothered by bad data. 

[RunAz480]

@SilviaFitbit I ran the same 5 mile route that logged as 5.22 on my original post. Today the same route logged as 5.59mi !!! This was using Fitbit gps. I am training for a marathon and that margin of error is going to widen as I get up to 10 - 20 miles. Am I elieligible to return this for full refund? I purchased it at a Best Buy.

[samkajo]

Same issues here walked 7.5 miles and Fitbit recorded as 9.55 miles despite setting up properly and following all correct procedures. Essentially the further you go the worse the error, pretty poor and makes it utterly useless for its intended purpose. Voiced my displeasure at the ongoing issues with Fitbit devices so many times and even getting my comments removed now. Best advice don't buy a S***BIT

[blueroselady51]

Good day - started using the charge 5 a couple of days ago and the accuracy of distance and per mile time is way off from what my charge 4 was showing.  For today's walk which shows the complete course in gps shows a 6.01 mile at 13.44 per mile.  Trust me when I tell you I do not walk that fast.  Did the math of stride length x number of steps and came to just about 4.25 miles which matches what my charge 4 would have given me.  While love the new graphics am on the verge of returning the charge 5 and returning to my charge 4.  Very sad that a newer version works so inaccurately.

[kathy89511]

I have the same issue with Charge 5.  Set my Fitbit for taking a hike with gps and it logged 3.3 miles whereas the exact same route on the park website and AllTrails shows 2.5 miles.  This is a re-occurring problem and I’m tired of friends laughing about my “bonus miles”.

[Dgripon]

Mine doesn't log distance accurately either.

It tells me that I've logged 1.2 miles within my home and that was for the hour that I was awake, this morning. 

So my question is....

If it logs inaccurate distance, then is the calories burned inaccurate as well?

[kathy89511]

My best guess is yes, the erroneous steps generate erroneous calories. It's also unfortunate that we no longer get any elevation gain data back on our fitbit although that measurement was also seriously flawed which is probably why it was eliminated. I'm seriously considering my options with regard to trackers.

Kathy

[t.parker]

@kathy89511 calories use only heart rate, not steps.