Charge 6 - GPS can't find satellite signal

[Matt_c]

HI,

My charge 6 GPS will not find satellite signal. During the fitness activity it attempts to find a Singal but eventually times out. It's only 4 months old, it was working In "built-in" mode as I don't carry my phone when working out.

It has a good line of sight to the sky, so the GPS signal being blocked is not an issue.

Any ideas? 

Thanks 

[KatherineNY · Accepted solution]

Have you tried to factory reset?  Line of sight to the sky isn't the only impact for poor signal.  Super cloudy days or wearing the bands too tight impacts it too.  The antenna is where the sensors are on the underside of the device and apparently wearing it tight gets a good heart signal but poor GPS signal.

[Matt_c]

I completed a factory reset than tried a GPS connection with the back of the watch facing the sky, unfortunately that didn't work. 

[KatherineNY]

Sounds like you've done all the self-troubleshooting that you can. Maybe it's time to call or reach out to Fitbit customer service. A new device should not be this broken. That's unacceptable.

[KatherineNY]

I forgot to add that when my mom's Charge 5 (used for 11 months) refused to start up (stayed in the restart loop), I think it was over phone call I troubleshooted with customer service.  They were aware of the problem on their end when I followed their instructions to test (I don't know how they can see my process).  They concluded it was a legit error and they sent her a new device, pebble only, no strap.  This was still within warranty (12 months).

[ManuFitbit]

Welcome back to the community @Matt_c @KatherineNY.

Thank you for providing the information regarding this difficulty with Charge 6 and the GPS signal.

All details regarding GPS can be found here How do I use GPS on my Fitbit device?.

I'd suggest you try these steps:

• Restart your Fitbit device.
• Follow the recommendations for wearing your device for exercise. For more information, see How do I wear my Fitbit device?
• Try loosening the band 1 notch.
• Make sure your device doesn't touch your wrist bone.
• Wait until GPS is connected to start the exercise.
• Note that if you’re using GPS for the first time in an area, connecting to GPS satellites might take several minutes. Heavily wooded areas and tall buildings can increase the time it takes to connect to GPS satellites.
• If GPS didn’t connect the first time, wait 5 minutes before you start the exercise again.
• To reduce the time it takes for your device to connect to GPS satellites, hold your arm parallel to your body near your head and at least 2 inches away from you when you connect to GPS and start an exercise.

In addition, please make sure that your Fitbit app is up to date: How do I use my Fitbit app. Also, that your Versa 4 is up-to-date. For more information, see How do I update my Fitbit device?

[Matt_c]

Thanks for all the info, after chatting with tech support and working through the steps above. We could get it to connect when the watch was off my wrist. However when fitted to my wrist it loses GPS signal. We are in the process of returning the watch.

[KatherineNY]

Glad it's resolved! Hopefully better experience with a replacement.