Fitbit Ionic Bluetooth headphone problems?

[Tunah85]

I just purchased a set of HBQ-i7s Bluetooth earbuds (knock off air pods).  They work great with my phone's bluetooth, and the sound quality is fine, but when I sync them with my Fitbit IONIC I get horribly crackly music, and the earbuds are out of sync - even playing at different rates!

I know it isn't the earbuds themselves as they play fine on every other device I connect to.

Is this a common problem with Fitbit Ionic's Bluetooth?

[soss3osp]

I am really angry about the whole thing because i bought the fitbit flyers asuming they will work just perfect with my ionic. but not at all... I need to wear the ionic on my right wrist to avoid dropouts.

and what i ask myself since 80% of people wear watches on their left wrist: did never someone from fitbit went out for a run to test the ionic with flyer? incredible...

[Dazzzzbo]

I’m having the same problem. I gave up on my first ionic as the music kept breaking up everyone I swang my arm.  I Just received a replacement and the bt  worked excellent for a couple of days now it’s the same as the first one. I have tried two sets of headphones and the same results.   I have tried the same headphones with the wife’s va 3 music and the work fine.  

Surely they should work fronm 3 feet away my phone works from 30 feet away.  

[Solakuti]

I have a fit bit ionic and fit bit flyer and I've just gone out walking and playing music from my android phone. I realised that unless I'm holding up my phone near my chest area I get that annoying interference too. Can't even put my phone in my pocket. Its totally annoying and ridiculous. who wants to be holding a phone while ecercising

[Dazzzzbo]

I removed my headphones from my phones bt list and unpaired from ionic and repaired and they seem to be working spot on now and connect straight away. 

[Solakuti]

Will try that. Thanks

[Wilting]

I tried today and still had issues

[Wilting]

I'm having the same issues. I cannot hear steady music unless I have the watch within 1 foot of my Fitbit flyer headphones. Maybe further if my body does not block. Running even with it on my right is skipping constantly. Phone works great with headphones. I also have not been able to pair with many devices. Maybe a kneck band for the watch would solve the problem. Do you think it would get my pulse on my kneck? Ha ha. Seriously, Should I return the Fitbit? Would it help? I wanted the o2 readings and music. Without this working I should have saved $150 on a different tracker. I have had the watch and headphones for 6 months. What are my options?

[IronClaw]

I had the same issue on my Ionic (my second one anyways). The first one failed after getting wet and Fitbit replaced it. The whole process is frustrating as it took about 4 weeks where I didn't have a watch. I would prefer they send me a new watch with a credit card on hold, then release the hold when they get the old watch. Anyways, I never had a Bluetooth headphone issue with my first Ionic. The second one worked fine for a couple of weeks and then it started failing to maintain a connection. I thought it was my headphones, so I got new headphones and had the same issue. So long as I sit on the couch and hold my wrist near my chest I get good connection. As soon as I start swinging my arm I lose connection. 

I wrote to Fitbit about the issue and tried all of their tech support options. They did admitted this is a known issue but did not have a solution. I wrote them every Monday for a while asking if they had a solution or were willing to replace the watch. I was pleasant as I really don't know what it takes to resolve an issue like this. 

The final verdict was they did not have a solution and did not believe a replacement watch would fix the issue, so they provided me a full refund for the original purchase price + taxes. I only had to send a copy of the receipt. While I am not happy to no longer have an Ionic, I am satisfied with the resolution as I am no longer frustrated with this issue daily. I did like the Ionic and Fitbit app, but it will be an Apple Watch for me moving forward. Maybe Fitbit will get it right someday and I will come back. 

[Wilting]

Thank you.

[Solakuti]

I actually disconnected my phone and instead connected my flyer headset to
the ionic and the music now plays properly. I even found out that the flyer
can connect to both the phone and the ionic at the same time.

[SantiR]

Hello everyone! Thanks for your continuous participation on this thread regarding Bluetooth headphones connecting to Ionic. Thanks for trying all of the steps described on this thread in order to sort this out as well as for providing your feedback and helpful workarounds.

By any chance, have you tried removing your Bluetooth headphones from your phone's Bluetooth list?

Once you have done this, try unpairing your headphones from Ionic, restarting it, and then pairing them back. Make sure your headphones are not paired to your phone as well.

Try that out and let me know how it goes! 

[scarr44]

Hah.  Yes, but that solution is for when you've got your headphones paired and connected to multiple devices, which can cause some of the connectivity issues.  That's nice and all, but does NOT address the main problem in this thread, which is about the bluetooth cutting out when the Ionic is on the far wrist (usually the left) and the earbud receiver is on the opposite ear (usually the right).  When the runner swings his/her arm, the connectivity is briefly lost.  The only "solution" to this problem so far is to move the ionic to the wrist closest to the earbud receiver.  This solution is pretty lame considering that the ionic is never more than 3-4 feet from the receiver, but can't seem to retain connectivity.  Personally, wearing the fitbit on my right wrist just isn't as comfortable as wearing it on the left.

[Climbcovey]

This did not work for me


Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

[Naomijoy83]

DOES NOT WORK




Get Outlook for Android

[Wilting]

I tried it and it did not work

[Climbcovey]

I have. Reported this issue, followed all the recommended solutions to no avail. Fitbit has agreed to replace my device.  I will update you all when I get the replacement if the issue continues with the new device.


Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

[joecuth88]

I have had the same problem. Ran a half marathon recently and the experience was completely ruined by it. I was considering subscribing to Deezer for ionic support after my free trial ran out and cancelling Spotify. However, there is no point in doing this now as Deezer doesn't work properly on the Ionic because of the bluetooth headphones skipping issues. 

[Dazzzzbo]

The problem is back with mine again.   It seemed to start working fine after I unpaired and repaired but that no longer works.   

Shame as that was he big selling point for me   

[Climbcovey]

I got a replacement... immediately had same issue wirh first use.


Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

[dyzzle]

The problem with my setup appears to be my  FitBit preference set to non-dominate wrist (left wrist for me) and Bluetooth headset manufacturers producing their headphones with the antennas and bulk of the electronics on the right ear. I imagine they select the right ear for the electronics/controls because most of the people in the world are right handed, making it easier for the bulk of the world's people to control their music, phone calls, etc with their dominate hand. 

Take the FitBit working best on the non-dominant hand and the headset's controls working best for the dominant hand and BOOM, horrible performance!

Now I'm searching for running/sweat proof headphones with the controls on the left side and I bet everything will work much better together! Except I'll be trying to control music and phone calls with my left hand. SMH and very disappointed.