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I think you should be able to sync with your phone and then upload data at a later date. Let us store data locally so that an internet connection is not required to see current stats.
I am going on a Panama Canal cruise next month. I use my Charge HR as a watch and alarm clock in addition to tracking fitness. It will be totally useless. I assume that even the daily step counts will become useless when we begin traversing time zones with no way to correct the time. Very disappointing!
Everyone, as Ive said here before the only course of action which will have any effect is to give them terrible reviews wherever you can. They are not listening to us!
"Everyone, as Ive said here before the only course of action which will have any effect is to give them terrible reviews wherever you can. They are not listening to us!"
I just updated my Fitbit One and Flex 2 reviews on Amazon.com to 2 stars and cited the lack of any offline sync as the reason. I don't think it will get Fitbit to move on this issue but it might get some folks to look for different trackers if this is important to them.
I am also frustrated that I work in a secure facility all day and blue tooth devices are not allowed. I would love to have a fitbit that I can download with a cable. This avoids the wifi access and allows me to wear my fitbit in a security environment.
I just purchased a Charge2 and am very happy with it but agree that syncing without having to have an Internet connection is a critical feature that's missing. There needs to be at least the ability to be able to sync to the phone without an internet connection using Bluetooth connectivity and update it to the Fitbit site when a connection is available if so desired. This is the first device I've had that indicates it has Bluetooth connectivity that requires an internet conenction.
I'm a software engineer, internet/mobile apps developer.
This is a no-brainer suggestion, there no reason why FitBit wouldn't allow this, except one: they want OUR data! Period. The synchronization block with no internet is totally artificial, software (App) was made to do that.
Now, if Fitbit really wants to just help us, the users, they can easily remove this artificial block, and let us decide whether to use more space in our phones, or just (mostly) use cloud storage. Bluetooth is certainly enough to transfer all this data from FitBit tracker to our phones. From phones to internet/cloud should be up to us, the users, generators & owners of this data.
Furthermore, trackers like this are often used outdoors, wilderness, & in regions/countries without internet. So this is almost a must-have feature. In fact, because of this artificial block I will be returning my newly purchased FitBit Alta tracker.
This would be a wonderful feature to have. I currently live with my parents, and they will not give me internet access on my computer nor a cell phone, so whenever I need to sync my Fitbit, I need to use their computer. With an offline syncing option, I would be able to view all of my data without the need to ask them to log me into their computer every time I need to sync.
"Please know that the Fitbit Charge 2 connects with your phone via Bluetooth, and the Fitbit app connects with the internet connection of your phone, that's the reason why both of them are under the requirements to sync with a mobile device.
I understand this, however, my point is that I want to have the ability to sync without an internet connection and have the historical data available on my phone. I consider not being able to do this a serious shortcoming. I have a pay as you go phone without Internet access and only buy Internet access when I need it.
I just purchased a charge2 but was very disappointed to find out it won't sync using Bluetooth without an internet connection. This is an important feature that is missing for when internet is not available or for individuals who do not have data on their phones.
There needs to be the ability to sync to the phone using Bluetooth without an internet connection and ideally to be able to view historical data on the phone.... downloading to the site later if desired.
"Please know that the Fitbit Charge 2 connects with your phone via Bluetooth, and the Fitbit app connects with the internet connection of your phone, that's the reason why both of them are under the requirements to sync with a mobile device.
This is kind of the answer they always give you when you ask why you need internet for syncing. Nobody on this forum (moderators and stuff) gives a real answer to why this is. But as someone in a post above me said: they want our data.
Nowhere in any advertising have I ever seen mention of the fact that Fitbits will only do almost any of the functions which they claim to do without an internet connection, I wonder what the Advertiser Standards folk would say?
They take the easy way out. Iqf they let you sync with no internet then later when you do they don't know which data is more up to date or the truth. You may have gone online on a PC and changed account settings. Or maybe not. So how do they keep your account up to date if they don't lock your PC, Fitbit and internet stored data all at once?? Hard to explain but as a programmer I can guess their motivation. I just think they could have tried harder. Got a new one as a gift before I declared NO to everyone.
Agreed....there have been enough posts that would indicate users want this feature. Hopefully someone will listen at some point and make a change. I will make sure everyone I talk to who wants to purchase a Fitbit knows about this issue.
My blood sugar monitor syncs to the phone and then to the website when Internet is available. Worked fine on my last cruise so this type of data synchronization is possible.
Response is in essence the same as above, and yes - they originally sent me back to this chat that I quoting as evidence of being ignored. Suspect a hollow statement, but the closing line was:
"Be sure that our engineers don't ignore you and are hard at work to improve our products. We really hope that the feature you are requesting will be soon available."
My closing statement being:
"Can I strongly recommend that someone physically goes to the chat and adds an update. It is streaming with large numbers of people who feel ignored and rejected by Fitbit as a company and some actively making sure they get the word out not to buy your product, be it verbally or via feedback sites.
You may well be considering the thread but two years without an update to those following means ignored as we can’t see what you are or are not doing unless you tell us."
Not sure if you've been to the main page "https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Suggestions/idb-p/features" but note they order by votes so can we all go to the top of the page or find it on the main site and click the thumbs up so we can bump our thread up the stack - if it makes any difference is yet to be seen.
I am so surprised at Fitbit. People have been asking for over 2 and a half years for the ability to set the silent alarm when there is no internet connection, and Fitbit have just been ignoring them.
The problem I had was on a cruise and I just wanted to turn off an alarm, but could not because app will not run without internet. I had to bury the fitbit under something at night so it would not wake me.
I travel frequently and also sync with several devices (tablet, phone, notebook). I'm always fiddling around with timezone changes and sometime can't get the time right for days - I suspect because one device (phone) is in conflict with another (notebook) or whatever. I don't know although I keep digging into all the menus.
Why not have time zone settable on the device itself? It would be really nice to change the zone while on the plane to the next timezone without having to be connected to the internet.
Seems an easy fix within settings and it would certainly make my travel life a lot simpler.
After a longish conversation with FB I received this reply, this morning. It seems to sum up their attitude so I thought I should share it:-
Hi David,
Thank you for your reply.
We are sorry to hear we haven't addressed your concerns appropriately. We do not want to reiterate the need of internet connection, as you have heard it a least a couple of times in the previous emails. Instead, we would like to address your misunderstood concerns.
We are very aware of the fact that many clients are not satisfied with this internet need to make any kind of changes to your tracker. Our engineering teams are constantly checking this forums as customer satisfaction is our number one rule. These teams are working hard to come up with solutions that meet our customer's expectations.
The time shown on your tracker should automatically match the mobile device or computer to which it is connected (paired). When clocks change for Daylight Savings or for different time zones, your tracker's time will change after the next sync with a device that shows the desired time. There is really no workaround this issue for the specific inconvenience you've experienced while traveling to the west coast of USA.
We would like to share with you the data storage information on your tracker. Charge HR holds detailed minute-by-minute information for the most recent 7 days and 30 days of daily summaries. Again, without the syncing procedure, you'll be having some missing data.
Regarding not being able to turn off alarms you no longer require, because of this or that reason, gets us back to our product not meeting your expectations. Our advice: turn off alarms, before you won't be able to.
We are sorry for all the inconveniences the internet requirement has given to you. Please, do not take our unability to offer solutions to this issue as carelessly going through your questions and concerns.
If you still have any questions or feedback, we are here for you. We will be glad to help you in any way we can.
Yup, this is pretty much what I got from them in November:
"We acknowledge you would like a more concrete answer with an specific time frame, but at this moment we could not assure you when a feature of syncing without internet connection could be added."
And
"Currently, we cannot assure you when is going to be added the offline syncing, yes, it is a feature requested, but we don't have any information about it, other than our team is working on improving the service we provide to our customers."
In other words: we know, but we don't really care, even though we say we do and we probably won't do anything about it.
I'm keeping my FitBit as I don't want to be bothered with replacing it, but for sure I won't be buying any new model from the company.
For them to say they cannot change time zone or turn off alarms is absurd for devices with Bluetooth connection is absurd. They have no need for Internet except to keep settings in sync but if you are away from internet who cares if it is in sync?? If I turn alarms off in the app... change the device since syncing makes no sense anyway.. I WANT THE ALARMS OFF. What you have is the typical idealized Silicon Valley isolation from reality. They were born with an internet connected baby soother so they cannot conceive being without cell phone data service. They simply show the typical arrogance of the technical elite... I'm smarter than you so do it my way I was given a Charge 2 for Xmas. I would not have bought it myself. I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND FITBIT.
Fitbit devices currently work properly more than 99% of the time for me. For that remaining 1% or when I REALY need it to work in boundary conditions, I will bring another manufacture's device that does not need internet connectivity to function properly.
Perhaps switching to a Garmin wearable GPS devices that has pulse rate monitoring AND Bluetooth integration to iOS/Android would get me closer to that desired 100% functionality goal with a single device. However, I have had BAD experiences with the run time/longevity of the Garmin battery.
Now, if someone could make a pulse oximetry wristwatch with all of the other fitness features, that would be a game changer for this mountain climber. A built in barometric altimeter would be nice also.
Please add offline Syncing, this seems to be a potential personal data threat.
How can an app can only sync only when you have internet connection ? What is the use if you do not have an active internet connection ? What sort of Product management is this ?
If Fitbit is using cloud to perform the statistical calculation for Graphs, i wonder what platform are you in? I am very much concerned about this and planning to not use the app at all. I do not mid installing an app that takes more space to do all these calculations instead connecting to Internet whenever i want to see my performace.
Ridiculous Product design, its been an year i started using Fitbit and due to excessive wearing i can see visible wear and tear. i am waiting for the moment it stops working and say good bye to mama.
I like the Device, it is really a cool one but the app, nooo a big nooo.
Dear Fitbit gurus. I am a mariner and regularly go to sea without Internet - I want my data synced with my phone. It must be easy to do as my blaze can control my music without a network connection so surely the app can do the same. I think there are other 'petitions' for the same but I'm currently on deck of ship at edge of landward phone signal so no time to search. Please develop - big help!
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