Bluetooth tracker not helping, can someone help with a suggestion on how to find device in home

[Malizu]

I have (lost someplace in my home) the Charge 6. I have downloaded the Fitbit recommended Bluetooth tracking app, but the signal is too random and week at times, all I know is it is someplace in the house.

Also, why is it that a tech company can't make an adjustment to their app so that you can either trigger an alarm from the application or have the device send a steady signal to make the Bluetooth tracking functional?

Finally, I did not appreciate the customer service person telling me "Fitbit is a tech company", and it is not his job to "help me find the device," along with a rather long rant about politics and privacy in other countries.  I just wanted to know if there was a back-end solution to communicating with my lost device. Perhaps he is in one of those countries and sensitive, and I am sorry if that is the case, but I was asking specific questions about the back end capabilities to help me locate the lost item. It is a conversation that should have gone a lot faster and simpler, because the answer was NO, there is nothing they, or I can do from the application or from the admin.

The bands coming off the product (and yes, I only use Fitbit bands) is a known and common problem.        We can track our phone with the device, but not the other way around?  

Fitbit is a tech company, why not simple technology to help customers locate their product when that is such a simple thing to engineer?

If I don't find my Charge 6, after the experience I have had with my current product, and customer service, I will be looking to different options/products. 

[JohnnyRow]

You can try any free phone bluetooth tracker app.  My fitbit was once in fridge which gave confusing signals.
If have access to a 2nd phone, put phone connected to fitbit on mute, call it from 2nd phone, and listen for fitbit to vibrate if close and quiet enough, but all needs to be done before battery dies.  Can see that from phone app if know it's in house.

Customer service should not be rude, but they really have no control over what the technical side of the company is doing.

[Malizu]

.  The find my device apps work on my other devices, and for confirming that my Fitbit is on my property BUT, because the Bluetooth signal osculates and is not consistent enough (presumably to reserve battery), to be useful in locating the device.  This is why I called CS, to see if we could change the setting to stay consistently transmitting (like when pairing)  OR to set an alarm or something to allow me to track audibly. I was polite and hopeful, I was not treated likewise. 

I tried Fitbit Finder, as well as My Fitbit finder,Google Find Device, and BluTooth Finder - NONE OF THOSE could get a consistent signal thought the device was updating to the Fitbit App. The device was functioning as designed, but it is not designed to be found, even if the end user wishes.  I am suspicious that faulty straps and lack of development for tracking a lost device, is by design.  Come on Fitbit, you are a Tech company, surely you can do better by your customers.

Hello Johnny,

Thanks, I tried Fitbit Finder, as well as My Fitbit finder,Google Find Device, and BluTooth Finder - NONE OF THOSE could get a consistent signal thought the device was updating to the Fitbit App. The device was functioning as designed, but it is not designed to be found, even if the end user wishes.  I am suspicious that faulty straps and lack of development for tracking a lost device, is by design.  Come on Fitbit, you are a Tech company, surely you can do better by your customers.  

I called customer support/CS (twice), first guy was rude and hostile, second guy pleasant, but there are no working tools available. I am glad you said you had a better experience locating lost Fitbit, and I am wondering what model, as that could be the difference.

I am afraid I am done with Fitbit for bad strap design (known and common complaint), I have had several technical issues with this device over the last year (not my first Fitbit that I "upgraded" from), feeling like they have such a large market share that their feedback loop is too slow to react, and finally, the customer service experience today.

[JoeC4]

I am having the same problem.  I have been with Customer service since July and everyone keeps giving me solutions for when my charge 6 syncs.  The watch syncs fine, but there is no BLE signal except about 1 - 2 times per day. and it does not last long enough for me to find my watch.  I had one agent give me procedure to make my watch vibrate through the app, but I cannot find that option again. 

It seems that the CS folks have never heard of the BLE signal. 

The weird thing is Even though my charge 6 syncs with no problem, I cannot find a blue tooth signal at all from the Charge 6!??? I dont understand how it is communicating.

[RiekoC]

Hello @JoeC4 

If your Fitbit is syncing with the app, that means you're within 30 feet of it.

The help page on finding a "lost" Fitbit recommends using a Bluetooth locator app, such as LightBlue Explorer for iPhones & Bluetooth Finder for Android.

[JoeC4]

Thanks for the post. Yes, I have tried all the Bluetooth trackers
recommended by customer service from Fitbit and Google, but Customer
Service keeps sending me solutions on how to ensure my watch can sync.
YES, my watch syncs; however, I am completely unable to detect the
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signal for the Charge 6 using any of the Find My
Device apps.

The best one I've found is Wiggle WiFi, which I can set to scan for the
Charge 6 over a 24-hour period. It shows that the signal appears about once
or twice a day but only lasts for a few seconds. It's nearly impossible to
locate a Fitbit with such an intermittent signal. I believe the watch is
defective and have requested a replacement, but customer service insists
that if it can sync to my phone, it cannot be replaced.

This is maddening!

--
Joe Cichon