GPS keeps dropping connection after Update

[SunsetRunner]

My GPS keeps connecting and searching over and over. Before the update the GPS worked just fine. Is there anyway to roll it back or remove the update?
I guess I will be shopping for a Garmin.

[SilviaFitbit]

@Kyle_w_h Welcome to the Community. Thanks for the details mentioned and the troubleshooting tried. 

Sorry to hear that you're experiencing this with your Ionic. In this case, I would like you to try the tips mentioned in this article: How do I use GPS on my Fitbit device? 

I'll be around if you have any additional questions. 

[Kyle_w_h]

Forgive my frustration with your response, but I'm not sure if you read my comment. I have had an Ionic for quite a while, and the Surge before that. I am well aware of how to use GPS. It worked well, and consistently before the most recent update. I am running the same routes near my house.

[SilviaFitbit]

@Kyle_w_h Thanks for getting back. I've merged your post to this thread because you're experiencing the same than other users posting here. 

I've shared these reports with my team and they are already looking into it. Your patience and understanding is appreciated. 

I'll be around if yo have any additional questions. 

[sshoham]

I wouldn’t hold my breath for a solution, if I were you. The Ionic is a bum model, its GPS mechanism is faulty and erratic, and I guess they just can’t fix the bug. However, Sylvia has been sharing this and other info with her team for the past half year, so I suppose we’re expected to go on being optimistic. 

[Kyle_w_h]

Thank you Silvia - I don't suppose you can give me any sort of information on when I can expect a resolution. Seems like since so many people are experiencing this issue on your most expensive model, it should be quick, but I am also registered for some virtual runs, and I need my distance to be accurate. Should I plan on using the GPS on my phone and tracking with Strava instead?

[sshoham]

This is pretty outrageous, isn't it? You'd expect that a major company, upon realizing that its product is faulty in a core area of what it's supposed to do, such as a loudspeaker that often squeaks, or a car whose reverse gear sometimes engages and at othe times doesn't, or a sports watch that measures distance and pace only approximately or not at all, would do something other than enable a buyer group of mutual condolescense. Wouldn't you?

[Tvokey]

I have the Ionic with firmware version 27.70.7.21.  For the past few months, the screen will not "auto-show" when I turn my wrist when I am using it in the exercise mode (running).  This is frustrating because I am constantly turning my wrist and nothing happens but in the middle of the night if I turn over in bed, the watch face comes on without issue. The other thing that has been occurring is it is constantly searching for GPS. When I finally get the screen to come on while I am running, it just says searching.... which is frustrating when you are training to know your pace. Lastly today at the end of the run the watch shut off after I hit pause (before I could hit end). I was able to restart the watch but only after holding the left button and lower right button for 30 seconds.  This is a replacement ionic (that I had to purchase) after the first one's screen went crazy until it finally went black and could not be fixed. Any ideas on how to fix these issues before I just toss it and go with a Garmin?

Moderator edit: Updated subject for clarity 

[SilviaFitbit]

@Tvokey It's nice to see you on the Community. Thanks for the details mentioned and the troubleshooting tried. 

Sorry to hear that you're experiencing this with your Ionic. I would like you to make sure you're doing this procedure to change your screen wake settings. I would like you to make sure you're doing this troubleshooting in order to get your GPS working. 

Keep me posted. 

[Tvokey]

I have done all the trouble shooting required. The GPS does get signal
because it finds it at the start of a run but loses it constantly(and these
are clear routes no trees which I have done with no issues before with the
ionic)..today the watch shut off and restarted 2 1/2 miles into a run. I
had to wait until it restarted then start a new run. Extremely frustrating

[SilviaFitbit]

@Tvokey Thanks for getting back. I've merged your post here because you're experiencing the same than users here. 

I truly appreciate the time you took to share your experience with Ionic and GPS feature. I've shared this report with my team and they are investigating it. Your patience and understanding is appreciated. 

@sshoham and @Kyle_w_h Hey there. Your feedback is appreciated, we're always striving to improve. Rest assure that I've shared these reports with my team. 

I'll be around if you have any additional questions.

[Kyle_w_h]

Thank you - do you have any estimate on when there may be another firmware release that may address some of these problems?

[tilting]

Just adding another voice to the chorus complaining about the Ionic. Like every other fitbit product I have purchased it is a piece of junk. Even before the firmware update, it took forever to connect to gps, it dropped off in the middle of a run and never reconnected, it would restart after my first half mile, and the mapping was wildly inaccurate often off by a quarter mile over a 5 mile run. I recently switched to a Garmin and the difference in quality and performance is astounding. I highly recommend paying the extra money to upgrade.

Unfortunately I do not think the quality issues are fixable with fitbit. Every product I have purchased from them is a piece of junk including multiple Surges and multiple Flyer headphones. Everything is poorly built and breaks down within a year. I liked the app interface and keeping track of my data for several years so I kept replacing devices, but ultimately their hardware is poorly built and not worth purchasing. Sorry to drop it after all these years.

[Kyle_w_h]

So, here is the end of my tracked run yesterday, tracked with both fitbit and my phone, and then synced to Strava. Anyway - on the bottom right of the photo is where I started. Both trackers were consistent. I was actually pretty surprised that Fitbit was accurate until around 7 miles or so into my run. You can see where fitbit went bonkers, though and the line went jagged, right across the top of the picture (believe me I wasn't running through people's yards), where the one on my phone stayed straight. This has only happened since the last firmware update.strava, nice smooth line, as I was running along the streetFitbit started great, but toward the end became erratic.

[Tvokey]

How long will it take to hear back from someone?  It has been almost a week. I am still having issues with the fitbit shutting off during runs. I have been continuing the run without going through the exercise app on the ionic ( I have it set to start an exercise when there is 10 minutes of activity) and it shuts off while doing that.  Bad enough it shuts off the GPS so I cannot track the run or pace but the music shuts off too.  These were the two main selling points for me to get this watch and now neither works. I am extremely disappointed and frustrated with this product

[colmmoynihan]

Lads, whatever ye were hoping to achieve with that update, it didn't work! GPS has not worked correctly since. 5 mins into each run GPS drops. And no Im not near trees or tall building and there's not adverse weather! It used to work fine before the update on the same route countless times. Is there any way to roll back to the old version or do we all have to wait months and countless meetings on your behalf before ye admit a mistake and roll out a new update?! 

[Hewie66]

Just to add my voice to this. Same issue. Ionic is 10 months old and I guess is reaching the old yeller stage. I’ve exchanged 12 emails with support about this and nothing is happening - it’s still under warranty but I’ve lost any faith that my gps watch that doesn’t do gps is going to be replaced with one that does do gps. Done literally every bit of troubleshooting under the sun and it’s made absolutely no difference - I’ve even stripped all of the apps off it and only left essential ones, turned off all of the notifications and other smart watch features.  

Spent the last week looking at Garmin’s - as someone said earlier, you get what you pay for. Unless it’s a GPS watch you’ve paid for, in which case, that isn’t what you get with the Ionic. 

[Hewie66]

Quick update: onto my 14th email with support now and the latest has basically admitted that there's a flaw in the Ionic that they can't currently fix…

I quote:

"We'd like to share with you that similar reports were found relating your concern and our team is already aware of it. Some of the advocates continuously sending you troubleshooting steps in order to check if the issue has been resolved by our higher level of support. Thus, you are receiving methods on your email.

With this being said, we don't see a replacement as an option for it may also happen with the replacement Fibit."

Yet the Ionic remains for sale on this website for £250/$250. Gobsmacked.

I'll be running ParkRun tomorrow with my iPhone, as I can no longer trust the Ionic. Onto Garmin.

[G4WFR]

I see this thread is a few months old, came here in the hope of finding a solution to the unreliable GPS. I've just started experiencing the loss of GPS on my Ionic. It connects initially then after running a short distance (it does vary) I see 'searching' and will not acquire GPS again.

Very disappointing and frustrating when this happens & have come to rely on it. Having seen the recent messages, it doesn't look like there is a fix on the horizon.

Thought I would post as it's another voice to add to the increasing list.

[Tvokey]

And that's why I ordered a Garmin today. I am done with Fitbit

[Hewie66]

Yeah, 15 emails with support and I’m getting nowhere. The level of support for their shoddy products is really disappointing and not what I was expecting from a company like Fitbit. I’ve tried to hold off but I’m also getting a Garmin now too