Issue with dongle and Ionic

[layer_yoga]

Hi,

I'm not sure if it is just me, or has anyone else had this same issue: My FitBit Ionic has more issues with connecting to my phone or computer than anything I ever owned of all the gadgets and all the different phones I ever had.

First off, I'm not sure when or how or why it sometimes actually works, and it usually is only for the brief moment, and than it just stops working. So it's not reliable, to say the least.

But the main issue I currently have, is that I can't update my Ionic nor to transfer any new songs (apart from the ones I uploaded to my watch over a month ago when I bought it) because every time I try to connect my watch to the computer (to sync) it prompts this screen "Bluetooth is either turned off or not available on your device. Please turn Bluetooth on or insert Fitbit Wireless Sync Dongle into your device to begin syncing your Fitbit activity tracker to your account."

I click on "Start Syncing" and after a while it prompts "Sorry we could not sync your Fitbit tracker. Please retry"... over an over and over again...It's frustrating.

I read somewhere on your site that dongle actually has to be plugged in into a 2.0 USB port, and I only have 3.0 ports on my desktop computer. Is it possible to SOMEHOW manage these issues, cause it's getting too frustrating to do anything with this watch, that I'm thinking of either returning the watch and hoping that I will get my money back (cause I'm not a USA citizen) or to actually try and get some legal action cause this is just NOT a product that it is being marketed out there. Cause it's not compatible with majority of the phones on the market and apparently it needs special USB ports, special desktop operative systems, special WiFi dongle that works only when the application is installed, and no other day later being used and I guess special wishing well to connect to any computer or to transfer ANY information.

Please, give me some advice, or at least what to do? I tried EVERYTHING you posted in HELP on your site, and NOTHING works. 😕

 Moderator edit: subject for clarity

[LucyAP]

Great to see you here @layer_yoga! Just wanted you to know that I've gone ahead and moved your recent topic "Issue with dongle and Ionic" to the Ionic board in an effort to tidy up the Forums. Also, this post may be helpful to other users with the same inquiry as you. For your reference, you had originally posted your question in the Zip board, which is dedicated to discussion around how to use the Zip and its features.

Thanks for your understanding! 🙂

[GeoffA]

Hi Was there ever really a reply to this issue. I have the exact frustration with mine and my daughters Ionic, both just purchased over the last few weeks. And I log in to buy the dongle (as a last resort to try to load music) from the Australian store and it will not move into my shopping basket. What is going on. Really nowadays items worth this much should be plug & Play. If I had purchased a copy from China for $50 then I expect the problems. 

I am currently awaiting a reply to an email I have sent but any assistance would be appreciated. Mt guestimate of the setup hours for both Ionics so far is in excess of 6 hours. Absolutely ridiculous. And the 1 album of songs I did have disappeared the next time I tried to load another album.

For some kudos though it did easily sync with my hearing aids so well done. 

[trosoft]

I just got this Ionic watch two fays ago. Setup was an absolute nightmare, despite having read the manual and made several calls to Fitbit customer service.

I have experienced the exact same series of problems.without using the dongle I have tried interfacing with my Ionic via the Fitbit Android app on the following: (1) my Samsung Tab A phone, and (2) Bluestacks Android emulator (on my Sony Vaio laptop). Also, I tried using the Fitbit app for  Windows (from the Microsoft Store); my laptop O/S is Windows 10.

I have taken great care to make certain that Bluetooth and wireless features are enabled. But, the connection to the Ionic is only intermittent, at best. I constantly get connection error messages.

I then recalled that I had a dongle;it is all that's left of an older version of Fitbit watch, which came off my wrist while jogging one day. I re-installed the dongle on my laptop; Window automatically detected and set up the base station's software. The station now appears in my Windows device list. However, I was unable to pair or otherwise establish connection to my Ionic. I have spent approximately ten hours of my valuable time dealing with these issues.

As a software and database  developer, I am most dissatisfied! I went for a ten-mile jog yesterday. Upon return home, I tried to syn watch's tracking data with the app. And, wouldn't you know it? Sync process miserably failed a dozen times. I then tried to change the clock face; after four hours I succeeded. I am ever so tired, frustrated and disappointed. SHAME ON YOU FITBIT!

[GeoffA]

Hi trosoft. One of the most frustrating "gadgets" I have ever purchased.

However in saying that when I went to purchase the dongle last monday, the guy on the phone talked me out of it and helped quite a bit. 

Here is a few of the things he helped with. 

For music remove the win 10 programme and load a really old PC version from the web site. DON'T upgrade as it requests. It wont sync but it does work for the music and podcasts. Very clunky but it works.

Secondly I was trying to sync with tablets and phone and PC or whatever. Pick 1 (I picked phone) and switch off bluetooth on all the others. Syncing seems to only occur with 1 "partner" at a time. All other devices need bluetooth off. 

Finally the actual online Fitbit website seems to have heaps of info, a lot more that the apps.

Hope this helps with something.