Reasons for returning the Ionic

[Elizabeth2222]

I am really frustrated with my Ionic right now. Here are a few problems I am having:

I have to manually enter each exercise I start or the Ionic will not record them. Steps/heart rate is recorded, but the exercise itself is not. For instance, today I used the elliptical machine at the gym for 80 minutes, and the bike for 20 min. Everything was recorded correctly, although I think the HR was too low (but that's another topic).

Later today I went on two walks in the park. Neither were recorded. My HR and steps were, but the activity was not. I walked consistently for 20, or more, min each time without stopping.

I really don't think I should have to stop.....enter in an activity.....and then remember to stop the recording when done. I thought the Ionic was supposed to pick up activities????

Another problem I am having is that my watch face will not turn on when I flick my wrist. This happens about 1/2 the time and is really frustrating when I am exercising and I can't just look down at my watch. When this happens, I have to tap the front of the watch at least 5 to 10 times to get it to turn on.

I am planning on returning this watch and purchasing another.

Anyone else going through the same frustrations?

[SunsetRunner]

Most likely, the reason it didn’t pick up the walking exercise is because your heart rate didn’t reach the fat burning zone.  I’m not saying this is definitely the case, I just know that if your heart rate doesn’t reach a certain level the device doesn’t count it as exercise.  I hope that’s helpful.

My screen occasionally doesn’t come on when I lift my wrist, probably 90% works and 10% fails, but no where near what you’re describing.  I can see how that would be irritating.  There is a setting in exercises where you can set the face of the watch to stay on during exercises so you don’t have that problem.

[Elizabeth2222]

Thank for the quick reply! My heart rate was recording during the 2 walks. There were lots of hills and I was pushing a 20 lb baby in a heavy stroller...lol! I have never had a problem with the Ionic in regards to recording the HR. I want all my exercises to be recorded so I can view the stats later, and they are not showing up.

The watch face not lighting up is really frustrating....and the watch is set on auto.

[WavyDavey]

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@Elizabeth2222 wrote:

Thank for the quick reply! My heart rate was recording during the 2 walks. There were lots of hills and I was pushing a 20 lb baby in a heavy stroller...lol! I have never had a problem with the Ionic in regards to recording the HR. I want all my exercises to be recorded so I can view the stats later, and they are not showing up.

The watch face not lighting up is really frustrating....and the watch is set on auto.

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Hi @Elizabeth2222,

I believe you just stated the problem. The tracker counts steps by motion of arm swing. Pushing a stroller or cart is known to prevent the walk exercise from being triggered. It also reduces the step count.

@SunsetRunner, as stated above, walking is measured by arm swing. Heart rate isn't a factor here.

Edit: Just saw the OP is returning the tracker. Best of luck.

[Elizabeth2222]

Dave, that makes sense. My Blaze would not count step if I pushed a cart, stroller, or walked on a treadmill.

The Ionic DOES count steps on the elliptical, the bike, and the treadmill (even if I hold on) even though they are all stationary equipment. I tested all the equipment while holding on (although I don't while working out) and it counted each step.

I really think the Ionic should record all exercises without having to manually put them in.

I just went on a 20 min walk. Cardio and steps were counted, but the walking activity was not recorded. My Ionic was on my wrist and I wasn't pushing anything. My heart rate was in the fat burning zone the entire time.....but no activity was recorded.

[WavyDavey · Accepted solution]

Hi @Elizabeth2222,

I would definitely contact Fitbit Support, so they can assist. It sounds like an issue beyond what we can fix here.

[dermbrian]

Is walk one of the "exercises" that you see on your Ionic?  I had to delete one of the exercises and then install "walk".   

I haven't tried to autodetect my walks, but "walk" is listed under the "exercises" icon.

Brian

[minigno]

It's really not just arm swing, but changes of acceleration through space (via the accelerometer). If you remain a consistent acceleration (a steady pace with your hands on a cart without moving) it won't register, but you don't have to just swing your arms.

Not trying to be pedantic, but just so people know it can still register steps while pushing a stroller depending on your gait.

[Elizabeth2222]

Walk is under one of my exercises. The Ionic has detected walks before, so I know it can do this. I have also manually put them in because I wanted to use the GPS.

[Elizabeth2222]

Thanks, Dave. I will do this

[kristin_fardy]

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@Elizabeth2222 wrote:

I just went on a 20 min walk. Cardio and steps were counted, but the walking activity was not recorded. My Ionic was on my wrist and I wasn't pushing anything. My heart rate was in the fat burning zone the entire time.....but no activity was recorded.

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Another possibility is that your "walk" exercise setting is greater than 20 minutes. In the iOS app at least, when you go into the Exercise tile from the dashboard, and then select the Settings icon (top right, looks like a gear), there are settings for Auto-Recognized Exercises. I have mine set to only count walks longer than 30 minutes as exercise - perhaps yours is the same? You can change the number of minutes

[WavyDavey]

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@minigno wrote:

It's really not just arm swing, but changes of acceleration through space (via the accelerometer). If you remain a consistent acceleration (a steady pace with your hands on a cart without moving) it won't register, but you don't have to just swing your arms.

Not trying to be pedantic, but just so people know it can still register steps while pushing a stroller depending on your gait.

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Not so sure about that. If a person walks in place, they're not moving through space but all the steps register. I've never been able to push a cart and have accurate step counting.  If I push with the opposite hand and let the "fitbit" arm swing, the steps register. That's my experience.

We get a lot of questions here from people who aren't getting steps, to find out they're using a cart, stroller, scooter, etc.  Maybe your gait allows for steps without any arm movement, but I don't think that's a common experience. And gait is gait--there's no decent way of adjusting it.

[racertempo]

I don't get steps whole walking in place.  I wrote about this with several other fitbit trackers.......the device needs to feel the vibration of the walk. Minogano is right and Fitbit confirmed it on other products as well......the device might think you are getting a ride on something if your hand is perfectly still, like pushing a shopping cart on a smooth surface. 

However, of you are pushing on a surface that has bumps it counts it because it know/assumes you are not on a moving walkway or other slow moving thing. 

My ionic counts steps when I mow the grass, and my hand is in the same spot the whole time.  However, it will not count steps if I push a stroller through the mall on the smoother floor. I did get gets though pushing the exact same stroller through the woods on a bumpy path...... Because the hand was not perfectly still. 

[Denodan]

Well when i got 3 mins down the road cycling my ionic does no record it as excise either and not going slow. It recorded it as steps so this feature does not work

[WavyDavey]

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@racertempo wrote:

I don't get steps whole walking in place.  I wrote about this with several other fitbit trackers.......the device needs to feel the vibration of the walk. Minogano is right and Fitbit confirmed it on other products as well......the device might think you are getting a ride on something if your hand is perfectly still, like pushing a shopping cart on a smooth surface. 

However, of you are pushing on a surface that has bumps it counts it because it know/assumes you are not on a moving walkway or other slow moving thing. 

My ionic counts steps when I mow the grass, and my hand is in the same spot the whole time.  However, it will not count steps if I push a stroller through the mall on the smoother floor. I did get gets though pushing the exact same stroller through the woods on a bumpy path...... Because the hand was not perfectly still. 

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Nice post @racertempo. The question to me is when you pushed the stroller on a bumpy path, were the steps counted the same as if you had walked the path? Are we talking some "extra" steps, or an accurate step count? 

[minigno]

It's the watch's movement through space...this is how an accelerometer works (and, as I JUST read in the linked article below, also by measuring vibrations...I think this is where the cart and smoothness of the movement comes in  EDIT: and I just saw racertempo's reply about fitbit confirming the vibration).  The issues we see are most likely software correction and its limitations.  An accelerometer is more electronic and hi-tech, as opposed to a pedometer which basically registers each step with a swinging mechanical devise (and this works on swinging arm or leg movement).

For instance, when I'm driving I don't get extra steps unless I'm driving on a bumpy road.  If I'm sitting around and using hand gestures when talking, I may or may not get extra steps depending on the speed, varying motion, and length of my hand gestures.  If I swing my arm back and forth by my side, I probably won't get steps registered, but if I swing it hard (think g-force), or stop suddenly at the end of each swing and go the other way (as opposed to a normal gradual end of motion with a typical sway)  it may start registering because it feels the level of force means motion that's worth some calorie burn (whether accurate or not).  Basically it's trying to decide if I'm just swinging my arm or making a motion as a step or sudden movement like playing a sport.

The accelerometer senses all of the movement, but the software has to determine whether to register it or not (this is an educated guess) or else every little movement would count as a step.  And of course this is not onboard AI by any means, so sometimes we see some interesting results.

Here are a couple of interesting articles I've been perusing to look some of this stuff up...I had a lot of educated guesses behind some of this and wanted to make sure I wasn't talking out of my butt (I have no practical expertise in this)!!!

Article of medium wonkiness, but understandable:

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/accelerometer-basics

Down the rabbit hole video that is a bit advanced, but I can kinda follow:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2U49usFo10

[Haz11]

My screen also wouldnt respond very well to the wrist-flick. Fitbit are in the process of replacing my Ionic with a new one (very painful process). 

[Elizabeth2222]

My Fitbit is all over the place. On some days it accuratly records my exercise (but only if I manually enter it in before starting), and on other days it does not. For instance on one day this week, I am on the elliptical for one hour. After getting home, and checking my stats, it only recorded 20 min of the work out. NOTHING is different, and it's a fast and hard work out.

Another problem I am having is my active minutes. I usually exercise for over 90 min at the gym, but my Active minutes NEVER add up to the correct amount. Yesterday the fitbit was way off with the active min.

I'm tired of trying to figure this watch out. I'm planning on returning it and purchasing another. I hope I have better luck.

[Denodan]

I do not see how a watch can know what excise your doing automatically.

Whrn i cycle i always use manual as auto detect does not work and there is no way it can recognise your cycling automatically as the watch is not a mind reader.

Its also recommended to get the more accurate results to set the excise manually.

As far as biking goes no issues what so ever and even syncs to strava.

None of these watches are perfect and all are imperfect, one way or another.

Funny thing is the new apple watch does a far better job than any of the fitness watches.

[bbarrera]

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@Denodan wrote:

I do not see how a watch can know what excise your doing automatically.

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By recognizing movement patterns - the same way it attempts to recognize steps even though its mounted on your wrist. Back when this got started, engineers and data scientist looked at the motion data coming from the tracker, and used pattern matching techniques to distinguish between waving your arm vs walking vs running vs cycling vs ... Its not perfect but it generally works.