altimeter accuracy

[jloh]

having issues with the accuracy of the fitbit zip that i'd just started using (its been in the cupboard for abit as an xmas prez). i live in a hilly region and post having been out for dinner and within 1hr, my number of steps went from 450 to 3379. is there any way i can change the settings to account for the altitude that i live in etc?

[whome]

Is it possible you drove over a bumpy road on the way home from dinner and that motion registered as steps on your Zip?

[Mary]

The Zip doesn't have an altimeter.  Are you sure you didn't walk 2900 steps in that hour?  It's not a lot.  But if you were sitting, it does sound wrong.  And driving can be an issue for some, if the device moves a lot in the car.  

[jloh]

Mary - didn't know there's no altimeter on the Zip. It definitely strange a result. Coz all i did was take the escalators on the way back, sitting down for 20mins thereabouts for dinner (out of the 1hr+) and 15 push ups post dinner (post dinner guilt ))...

[Mary]

Well, all it's doing is counting the times it notes movement like a step, or the times it's jostled back and forth, be that from a car or your body or whatever.  If I were you I would clip it on and count out 100 steps and see how many it counted.  And next time you get in the car, also note if it's racking up steps then.  A lot of times they malfunction right out of the box.  Just observing it more should tell you if yours is or not.  Good luck.  

[Mary]

Oops double post