Does Charge 5 track floors?

[Leslik]

I've had the Charge 5 for 3 days and it has not logged any floors since I started using it.

I just did a soft reset and walked up and down a few times. Still nothing

Just checked the related topics and found it doesn't track floors. I'm sorry but that sucks and would have affected my decision to buy. I may decide to return it. Core features like that should not be removed

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Ellie101]

I am very disappointed that it doesn't track floors. My old Fibit2 did. So disappointed.

[Annch]

I returned mine. I have charge 4 and it has an alimeter. Now it is in use again

[Ellie101]

Thank you for replying. I might return mine too.

Sent from my iPad

[SilviaFitbit]

@wayneramp, @temesvar and @Akthel Thank you for getting back. 

Your feedback and comments are appreciated, be sure that we're always striving to improve and implement features based in user's comment and the Fitbit Community takes a big part on this process. 

We hope you continue being a Fitbit user. 

See you around. 

[Leslik]

Perhaps a question for the marketing dept. How are we supposed to get lifetime climb badges without an altimeter?

[SilviaFitbit]

@Leslik Thank you for getting back. 

Since there isn't an altimeter to track floors, the option to get lifetime climb badges won't be available. If you're within the return period, you could try returning it and purchase a Fitbit device that tracks floors. 

See you around. 

[Annie-Charge3]

I've been so excited waiting for the charge 5. I don't know if I'm going to buy it now without an altimeter.

[Annie-Charge3]

Sylvia,

Since so many people are upset about the lack of an altimeter, do you think that Fitbit might choose to add it in to a future release?

Annie

[Annie-Charge3]

Also, I run a hiking group. Without an altimeter how can Fitbit accurately track our distance?

[Annie-Charge3]

I am disappointed also

[Rich_Laue]

@Annie-Charge3 the altimeter is only used for counting floors, as in walking up steps. 

While hiking, the gps is used to track changed in elevation. 

BTW Base Runner it refers to the users count of posts and thumbs up. 

So you are saying that I'm rude for bring up the idea to research a product before purchasing? Rather than after putting out the money? 

[temesvar]

Using the GPS, like for many other activities

[Annie-Charge3]

Rich, Thank you for the reply.   I apologize for my earlier comment.  I should not have called you rude. Grace & Peace, Annie

[Phil_M]

OK Rich, I'll take it! I had several Fitbits going back a few years, they all had altimeters. To my knowledge, every model had one back in 2015/6/7, although I accept that may not be correct. Part of their marketing is the community element, including badges. In real terms there are two categories of badge that matter, "Distance" and "Climb". The idea that Fitbit would arbitrarily remove one of these categories from their product is at the very least bizarre. To do so and not even mention that in any of their marketing material is even more bizarre. Why?

By your "caveat emptor" philosophy, that's A-OK. Even though a reasonable person would know that in the past altimeters and "climbs" were major features of their products, they are supposed to now check that it's not been furtively dropped? The only way they could tell is to look at each device and see whether it's available or not?

Even the Fitbit rep in here, Silvia, very unhelpfully says "return it and buy one that tracks floors" and just sends customers back to the generic shop page.

So here's an idea for you and your mates at Fitbit, put up a table comparing all features of each product side by side. Highlight that a core function has been furtively dropped so people can make the informed decision that you so heartily recommend.

Me, I've made up my mind that I will never spend another cent with Fitbit.

[Phil_M]

Annie, I think anybody who criticises a person for being duped by greedy, underhanded marketing practices probably is being a little rude, so I feel you were not really out of line!

[nihahi]

The problem with relying on GPS is that GPS in "fitbit speak" really stands for "guesstimate of position...sporadically". There is absolutely NO indication that fitbit has improved the GPS capability from the charge 4 version, and fitbit has "been aware of user issues" for MONTHS and MONTHS without resolving things.

[Rich_Laue]

The idea for GPS came in the 1950's with the Sputnik satellite. Ham operators discovered that by listening to the timing of the beeps, they could tell how far away the Sputnik was. Since they knew the path, they could also locate the tracker. 

Today, for elevation, a lock on 4 satallites is needed. 

All 5 units, (4 satalites and your receiver) need to have there timing clock within a thousandth of a second. 

Also since this is a line of site technology any heavy cloud or three coverage will affect the accuracy. 

The antenna size on the receiver also affects the accuracy. 

[nihahi]

I have been in open terrain, clear sky scenarios multiple times and not gotten GPS connectivity or anything remotely considered accurate tracking. I have tried every "reboot, fix, update" suggested. 

My issue is that Fitbit continues to market its Charge 4 &5 as "trackers with onboard GPS", without clearly admitting it is a basic level, battery consuming, unreliable function. Consumers expect competitive products to keep up with advances in technology, or to carve out a different "market niche". Fitbit seems to be trying to become more of a biometric device while maintaining an illusion of a fitness tracker. 

Obviously, any purchase is a "buyer beware" situation, and has some buyer responsibility to inform themselves of what they're getting, but there is also a reasonable expectation that there is a manufacturers responsibility to be clear and upfront on the upgrades, status quo or deletion of functions when they promote a "next level" device. 

[fionac]

As far as I'm concerned, the Charges are fitness trackers; the one thing they're not is sports watches and I'm not sure they pretend to be.  If I'm tracking a run and want precision, I use my Garmin Forerunner.  The GPS is a nice to have and is sufficiently reliable if it doesn't matter if you've run 5K or 5.5K but I would never rely on it and it's the Forerunner I look at when I'm doing parkrun to check my pace.

[Rich_Laue]

How big is the antenna in the phone, compared to the antenna on your wrist. 

Fitbit doesn't make the gps receiver. I'm not trying to make excuses, just looking at reality. The size of the antenna has a lot to do with the signal streangth. 

I don't remember fitbit saying that you can not swim with a tracker rated at 5ATM however their are many international standards with these ratings. 

BTW I am not a fitbit employee