Charge 3 records only 85% of steps

[Sarah-Jane6789]

I have owned Fitbit for about 4 years, firstly an Alta, then an Alta HR and now a Charge 3.  In the past I have needed to 'calibrate' the stride length to make the step count accurate but no matter how hard I try I just cannot get the Charge 3 to record correctly.  The strange thing is, my Alta HR under records now too.

I went on a walking holiday end February to early March 2020 and my Alta HR recorded steps accurately, as it had since I first bought it.  I typically register 8-10% more steps than my husband when walking and we have validated this through calibration in the past.  He uses a Garmin.  However, over the last few weeks (new firmware?) I noticed that my Alta HR on the same walks as my husband was now recording 8-10% less steps than him.  We carried out some calibration walks, using GPS averages, counting steps etc and managed to prove that the Alta HR was now only counting about 85% of the steps I take. I decided that my Alta HR had probably become faulty and so I bought a Charge 3. 

The Charge 3 completed a firmware update when I first set it up (I did not log the firmware number) and we went out for some local walks using: auto record of walks; recording an activity; GPS connected walks.  We used this information, along with counting actual steps over a 1.1 mile calibrated distance, to set my stride length (30.7") but I was always at least 15% short in actual step count, sometimes over 20% short.  I returned the Charge 3 and picked up a replacement.

The second Charge 3 showed firmware update failed 3 times (it's on 1.63.5) but now there is no way to force another update despite the website showing that another should be available.  Is this a problem?

With this second Charge 3 I have now completed many many calibration walks over a distance of 1.1. miles.  I have set stride lengths in graduated steps from 17 up to 36 inches and yet I cannot get it to register the 2350 steps I actually take and it typically registers between 1990 and 2090. 

I am on a 10000 steps per day challenge and yet there are only 2 ways I can reach this each day: I can walk 10000 steps and then add an extra walk amounting to about 0.15 miles per mile walked and this adds extra steps (feels like cheating); or, I can walk 12000-13000 steps so that the Charge 3 tops 10000. 

Both of these options are DEPRESSING.  My husband's Garmin records so accurately every single time (even on my wrist) and it is old and was only a low range one in the first place but I actually really like the Fitbit Charge 3.

PLEASE CAN YOU HELP ME FIGURE THIS OUT?

I have spent the day trying to decide which Garmin to buy to give me the same feel of functionality and yet still look good on, but I really do not want to switch now as I like the Fitbit functions otherwise.

HOW DO I GET THE CHARGE 3 TO ACCURATELY TRACK STEPS GIVEN EVERYTHING I HAVE TRIED ABOVE.

IS THE SECOND ONE FAULTY TOO, IS IT THE FIRMWARE OR IS 15% CONSIDERED ACCURATE ENOUGH?

Just to clarify, I have ammended the stride length numerous times and restarted the device each time.

Any information/help would be gladly received - Thank you

[JohnnyRow]

I know this isn't an answer to your problems, but adjusting stride length has no effect on number of steps.  Stride length is just used to convert from number of steps to distance.

[Sarah-Jane6789]

Thank you, that was our assumption but the fact that Fitbit use this as an answer to improve step accuracy hints that perhaps stride length is used for step count sensitivity too and not just to estimate distance.  That said, changing it has very little effect.  Just can't understand how a Garmin records pretty much every single step (when walking or running) but the Fitbit misses so many?

[Heybales]

The algorithm for attempting to see impacts of steps but not impacts of merely arm movements has likely changed, attempting to get rid of the complaint of inflated steps, distance, and calories from them.

That has happened in the past. I'm just surprised there is still this major of a tweak this far along to cause that big a difference. Makes me wonder if they are using a different accelerometer chipset providing better data.

This may only apply when certain settings for sensitivity are used too.

Dominate hand or not, ect.

Could you have set it to non-dominate hand even though it's on dominate hand to correct an older issue?

Now perhaps with this change you can set it correctly?

Sounds like there was a lot of activity for the calibration walks. That can be simplified.

Known distance (not GPS) walk of about 1 mile is great though.

Start the workout activity at start, stop at end. Or if this is part of longer walk, just note the exact time on the Fitbit, to create your own Activity Record later to get the exact step count for just that chunk of time/distance.

Also be aware that for walking - that stride length setting should really be set at the midpoint of your possible daily paces - from grocery store shuffle up to exercise level pace.

That may only be about 2 mph - and that will seem slow, but it aids accuracy, because each step is dynamically adjusted for distance, based on impact seen.

And with the stride length set to the midpoint - it can adjust equally well up or down for distance.

To set it for the pace you do only 1-2 hrs daily, means it is now inflated for the other 14 hrs of the waking day, meaning the dynamic calculation may have your daily distance inflated, which is used for daily moving calorie burn - would also be inflated.

I think it's crazy too there would be suggestions of correcting stride length to improve accuracy of reading steps.

So you have walked like a normal 100 counted steps and then compared what the Fitbit had as reading start/finish?

I'd test that before you test stride length.

Sensitivity setting may need to change.

[Sarah-Jane6789]

Hi,

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

Unfortunately, the charge 3 is "under" Reading not "over" Reading. I am
losing 15 to 20 % of my steps per day.

I have calibrated my step length by taking numerous walks, around the "same
mile" with and without GPS and with and without exercise mode engaged.

So my recently purchased pedometer and other makes of other fitness watches
read 15,000 steps, I am losing 3,000 steps as the Charge 3 only records
12,000.

I am doing this distance hiking / walking, not pushing a trolley around a
supermarket or starting and stopping. I have placed my fitbit on my
non-dominant hand but I continually lose steps.

If you have any thoughts on why I am losing steps please let me know.

Kind regards
Sarah-Jane

[Heybales]

Oh, I understood the direction of the error, hence my comments.

You might want to reread them with understanding I knew you were losing steps.

GPS on/off or making an activity record at the moment has no bearing on seeing steps, and won't change distance for calibrating either.

That's why I said you have a rather extensive calibration method, and explained how simple it can be.

Good to know about no trolley, but your reference to supermarket makes me think you misunderstood what I was saying about grocery store shuffle.

Perhaps you are aware since you've had Fitbits of the tweaks people do when their device reads too many steps - change the setting regarding dominate arm when it is or isn't on it.

It changes the sensitivity.

I was just confirming do you have that setting match how you are wearing it?

You easily could have tweaked that setting for an opposite issue in the past, and forgot.

And reread what I wrote about algorithm. That's easily why you are losing steps, if you really are.

1 unanswered question that has nothing to do with calibration.

Have you walked 100 steps by physical count - and compared to what the Fitbit started and ended with?

In other words - you counted 100, did it really see only 80 to 85?

Because in reviews of other trackers - they are not 100% accurate either - so trying to compare and says yours is wrong by that much to this other device that may not be correct either - can't do that with accuracy.

I'd also be curious - after you walk 100 counted steps and compare, take it off the wrist and slip in waist band in manner to prevent slipping or bouncing, test that location too.

Better or worse?

[Sarah-Jane6789]

Hi thank you for your comments and all your help.

I have counted 100 physical steps in the house which matched 100 steps on
my fitbit. This does not seem a problem when it is not in exercise mode as
it seems to count steps in the house to match the new pedometer.

I have also counted physically the 2064 steps for the same mile used
throughout my experiments. As I need to prove that the fitbit measures only
85% of these, sometimes only 80% - so around 1752 steps.

I have walked the same mile wearing both my fitbit Charge 3, fitbit Alta
HR, which both read the same.

I walked the same mile wearing both fitbit Charge 3 and Garmin Forerunner
and also a new Pedometer. The fitbit under read by 20% of the other
devices. However, the Garmin and Pedometer matched my physical count within
10 steps.

I have made sure that the setting is correct for dominant hand.

I have walked the same mile following calibration of stride length. From
30.7 which is my actual. Down to 23, 25, 28 and up to 36 and even 39 but
the only difference this makes is how the mile is measured.

I have tried the same mile with GPS on walking and also on Automatic
Exercise setting.

I have walked it fast, I have walked it slow, so pace time is different
this seems to make no difference and absolutely no sense. I have walked the
block a lot, returning home each time to record steps from my front door.

What I can't understand is why my fitbit isn't counting steps.

I have returned the fitbit Charge 3 and got an exchange, this unit was the
same. So following advice because it may be a batch problem, I purchased a
Charge 4 and it is doing exactly the same. So I can only surmise that it
down to Fitbit's algorithm which has too low sensitivity which seems
uncorrectable.

Lastly, I walked the same mile for a final try and it was out 20%, so I
gave up and went for a 3 mile run with the Charge 4..

And most frustratingly.. The steps measured on the run were EXACTLY the
same (to within 10 steps of) as the Garmin Forerunner 35 over 3 miles.

So it is walking which is not working. It just does not seem to register my
steps. I am pretty sad because the Charge 3 is lovely and comfortable to
wear.

Other than the stride length I have been unable to find any other
sensitivity settings although there are some for swimming and sleeping but
none for walking that I have found.

Thank you again, I really appreciate your help. I am still trying to get to
the bottom of this issue so any more advice would be gratefully received.

Kind regards
Sarah-Jane

[Baltoscott]

" have made sure that the setting is correct for dominant hand."

The dominant-hand setting is less sensitive than non-dominant hand setting (because the assumption is that you move your dominant hand more).  If you want to increase sensitivity (to increase the number of steps counted), choose non-dominant hand in settings, but wear it on your dominant hand.

Your three-mile running tests and 100 step count test seem to indicate the fitbit is counting accurately.  For your one-mile walking tests I wonder if you are relying on the autodetected activity record, or if you are manually starting the activity from CH3 using that activity app on the device.  Manually starting the activity is more accurate because you are telling the CH3 when exactly to start recording. For an auto-recognized activity, the device estimates the start time, which might be a couple of minutes into your walk and thereby count fewer steps. (All the steps you take will still be in your daily count, but for the window of time the activity record represents, step count might be lower than you expect because the estimated start time of the activity is later than the actual start time).

[MaryS67]

Hi, I’m in the exact same boat! I spent an hour on live chat with a Fitbit customer service agent and did all the things he asked me to do to try snd reset my Charge 3 but in the end he said he was send une a new one, just the apparatus, not bands or charger. I got it yesterday and set it up late lat night and went to long in my walk an hour ago and dang if my steps aren’t short again!!! I too owned a Garmin and LOVED it!  It was way better in the water too and less expensive.  I’m so frustrated and don’t know what to do at this point.  My sister had my old Charge 3 and it works fine.  I’m wondering if there is a firmware glitch in the newer ones.  Can anyone out there help us??

[Heybales]

Great testing comments just above in this topic by Sarah-Jane, did you get to read them?

@MaryS67 Just to confirm - you have physically counted say 100 right foot steps on a walk, and compared the Fitbit start & end, and don't see 200 logged steps?

Sorry it has to be asked, but this topic shows up why - some people think device is short on steps but have no proof of it, except it "feels" short, or comparison to another device also unproven in it's count.

And many think that different and less means inaccurate. (same way some compare calorie burns and figure bigger and different is inaccurate)

So just curious.

[Sarah-Jane6789]

Hi Mary

Firstly, I want to say that I really do like the look of the Fitbit Charge 3 (I took the Charge 4 back as the battery didn’t last more than a day on GPS)

I wear my Fitbit it constantly, I like the sleep records and my heartbeat as I have heart problems and I log my fitness.

That said, it is ABSOULTELY AWFUL at counting steps.

This is the 3rd Charge 3 that I have had, like you thinking that the step count was wrong and there was something wrong with the Fitbit itself I sent my first 2 back.

However, since I have done lots of experiments (see previous posts) and I just cannot get it to actually accurately count steps.

I have taken to wearing a cheap Pedometer which actually counts my steps (Again, I have done the experimentation, it is the Scientist in me!)

So here are my findings.

Let’s take the walk I did on 6th March 2021 – Hiking to Sleaford, flat terrain. 9.5 miles

Having decided that the Pedometer is accurate in that it;
1. Has been checked against other devices and it counts my steps.
2. I have “Physically Counted” 2355 Steps count over measured 1.1 mile, many times
3. The Pedometer 1.1 miles = 2352 steps – This matches the Garmin’s I have tried too
4. Therefore my stride length is (approximately) = 2136 steps per mile.

As I leave the house

Just being a little pedantic here… After I am Dressed, Booted and Ready to Go

• I now set the Pedometer at 0 and note the amount of steps on my Fitbit Charge 3.
• Pedometer 0 steps v Fitbit 829 steps
• I select a “Walk” exercise, set the GPS to On
• I return from my walk, stop my Fitbit exercise
• I note down my Pedometer Step Count
• My walk was 9.5 miles
• Pedometer now reads 20859, my Fitbit reads 18730
• Now you have to remember that my Fitbit had 829 Steps before the walk
• Here’s the math bit
• Pedometer steps 20859 Steps
• Fitbit 18730–829 = 17901 Steps – which matches the Impact on the App
• Therefore, over 9.5 miles my Fitbit has “UNDERCOUNTED” – 2958 STEPS = 1.4 MILES.

How can this be correct?

And what annoys me the most is that when I search online, I find that it says that Fitbit Charge 3 is Accurate.
It’s CRAZY….

So, this is how I feel about Fitbit

• I like the look of it
• I like the sleep figures – although what you have to do to get a sleep score of over 90 mystifies me!
  Most days when I am not Hiking I use it as reasonable measure of doing steps around the house and at work

Does it count steps accurately…

No it doesn’t

But for me, I have found this work around as I can add the steps as a new exercise later. This is what I do when I have been for a long walk and I feel cheated.