What is the sequence of Syncing

[Colinm39]

I have the odd issue with syncing and get totally confused about what we perceive as issues..

Background.. No Wi-Fi on the Ionic and a non listed Android phone where everything I use works.

Bluetooth: Currently my Ionic receives notifications on the Ionic when I'm outside the house with the phone inside or in the house through 3 walls or over ceiling in the house and 14 meters away Toilet break.......

Syncing: I have noticed when it's syncing, and the watch is being uploaded/downloaded the clock face is suspended for a few seconds.  I have four Fitbits in multi mode.

All times when we feel the syncing is slow it's updated in the server, then we wait for it to be downloaded to the Phone and Ionic.  Therefore it's gone via Bluetooth to the phone and then the server via 4G+, then worked on and returned the same way...

Create Activity records on the phone: I find they are in the Server Activity Log in the time it takes me to open the log or refresh the Activity Log..

So where is the problem... My Fitbit One, Zip and Surge sync immediately when I open their icon. Notifications are OK for me, syncing gets slow because of the turn around from the server.. I'm on a fast 4G+ mobile network and I only use Wi-Fi for the Ionic and App updates.

Finally, some days I open the App and the Ionic syncs immediately, other times it may come up with the Bluetooth message to restart, other times I turn off Bluetooth and let the Ionic restart that,  and as a last resort I restart the Ionic..

I have never had to factory reset or any of the other major issues, so let's get a heads up on what happens in the syncing process because this will help many.

[ruriimasu]

They aren't transparent. I guess aside from our money, they are interested in our data as well. This explains why our data goes up to the server before coming back to our devices.

[Marauder2]

There is something wrong with the way Fitbit has their devices sync to phones.

With my Charge, Blaze and now Ionic, using phone on their approved/working list, the devices refuse to sync. I have to sit there and restart my phone, restart my fitbit, close the app, keep tapping the sync now button, and some times it works but most of the time it doesn't.

Another weird thing is that even though it will say "sync now" because it didn't sync, the time on my fitbit will update and my stats will update, but it still doesn't say it synced.

I boot on my Mac or my Windows PC and they sync first time. It really is a problem with the way Fitbit has the syncing between phone and device. It really needs to be addressed. 

I can't use any of the apps on my Ionic because the watch won't sync. 

[N8teGee]

I found multi tracker being the root of my syncing issues. Once I removed the other trackers, the Ionic syncs very reliably now. I use all day sync and it happily syncs in the background throughout the day. If I open the fitbit app it will also force a sync right then. 

I should add my phone is also not on the supported list and notifications are also very reliable. 

[Colinm39]

I started this post because I get confused with all of the Fitbit quirks with the syncing..

Syncing process

• I turn my phone off at night and always wear my Ionic 24/7.
• When I switch the phone on it immediately sends emails to the Ionic.
• Open the App and occasionally is says about the Bluetooth not working, cancel or restart
• Because I'm in multi mode I have the 3 secondary Fitbits, "Always Connected", is off
• I then select the Ionic for Syncing..It green wheelies and stops, this could go on for about 3 minutes stopping and starting. I can see data movement across the 4G+ network
• If I check the PC Dashboard the results of my overnight are invariably there.
• Then I wait for the results to appear on the phone Dashboard

Multi Mode

• I always check my Zip and One before I sync these because I'm using them concurrently with the Ionic
• Yesterday with 2 shopping forays the Zip and One had 1504 and 1508 steps more than the Ionic
• In that case I turn off the Ionic then sync the One and in turn the Zip and make sure the Dashboard on the Phone and the PC reflect the bonus steps.
• I then turn on the Ionic and sync it.. This approach has never failed me.

Manual Activities

• When I create them on the phone and update they are on the PC in a flick of an eye
• I analyze them on the PC because I'm examining my sleeping HR
• If there are too many hours typically broaching 12am we can get an error, acknowledged by Support and have found if I start that analysis at 12:05 I don't get and error over a period of 10 hours.
• I then wait for the return journey on the phone and examine it there.

Summary.  Like @N8teGee All of this is on a non listed phone and Windows 7, so basically I have no issues just the way things appear to work/not work on Bluetooth.. I can get notifications over 14 metres away through 3 walls, so nothing to do with the strength of Bluetooth, just the way it's working without an explanation from Fitbit..

It would be nice to understand the sequencing. I know it won't sync  if my 4G is off.. You get the message Fitbit needs to access the Internet for the History..

Finally, my new version of Fitbit Connect rarely works on the Ionic but always find the others when I attempt to sync via the Dongle, but the last few days I have found the phone is the interference.. turn it off and I get an immediate sync to the PC Dashboard.