Charge 2 Syncing help

[Sammael]

Hi there, 

I just upgraded tho Charge 2 and I must say syncing is frustrating to say the least. Here are my issues:

I am on a Desktop that has no bluetooth  - with the Charge HR this was no issue due to the dongle. I assumed the Charge 2 cable took over the role of the dongle, but it doesn't, so no syncing with the pc is possible unless I buy an extra bluetooth dongle, not even when the watch is connected to the cable. Really?

If I upgrade I expect to _at least_ have the same stuff as before. Adding new features while backing up on others, especially when they are so basic, is just inexcusable imo.

I noticed that the desktop app syncs when the phone app is synced. So if I want to check my stats on the desktop, I must first turn on the phone app and sync it - yes, because even though it is set to "always connect", you still have to sync it manually. 

Oh and make sure you have internet, because without internet connection you can't sync either. So what is the bluetooth for anyway? In the helpsection (https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1866/?l=en_US&c=Topics%3ASyncing&p=charge_2&fs=S... -> android devices) it says absolutetely _nothing_ about needing an internet conntection to sync. Wouldn't you say that is basic necessary info when troubleshooting on why the app isn't syncing?

It is very frustrating to be trying to figure out how something so trivial works and finding little to no information. Please be clear on what the bluetooth does, why the internet connection is needed, and how come the cable is there solely to charge, not giving people without BT on their computer any other option than buying an extra device to be able to use it properly.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[guitardave25]

I have found that the only way to sync to my computer without doing a reset is to go through my mobile. My computer does have BT, but automatic syncing is impossible on the computer.

[teenapete]

Addy, I am so happy for you that yours is working perfectly. Mine actually
has nothing to do with setting it up as it did work for a couple of weeks
just like it is supposed to. Then is started not syncing and I have had
trouble every since. I even have a dongle and that doesn't work with my
computer either. It just isn't fun to have to work to get you info!

[guitardave25]

My replacement one works if I sync through my phone first. It is only a
couple days old, so we'll see what happens. The other one stopped working
correstly after 2 weeks

[Rich_Laue]

First let me say it is not necessarily to sync through multiple devices.

Now if it syncs fine tyrough the phone, but not through the comput3r, it could be that the Charge2 is still bonded to your phone?

With any BT client, like the tracker, it is only able to connect to one server, computer or phone, at a time. To check for this, either turn the phones BT off or the phone off.

http://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1623

[HH2016]

No. Bluetooth is turned off on other device.

Moderator edit: Removed personal information

[AddyRazz]

well all i can say is we are now running into our 3rd week my wife and I running charge 2 with 2 different phones and different computers and everything is syncing just perfectly...and NO I dont work for fitbit...lol

Have you guys that have problems tested the bBT with other devices that need syncing? If so what are your results? Also what is the software or device that is syncing correctly?

[AddyRazz]

Also we are using Aria scales and they seem to be syncing well also. Anyone else using these?

[LindsayS]

Andy,



You are missing the point.



I do not have Bluetooth. I did not read any warnings prior to purchase that
BLUETOOTH is necessary and if it is not available on your PC, then a dongle
is needed.



LindsayS

[Scafe]

I'm having a problem syncing too. Last synced 12 hours ago and I have it in all day sync and have also been trying to manually sync. Did you find a solution? I just bought this yesterday.

[jenek]

How do I track my sleeping? It tracked it the first night I got it and the last two nights it wouldn't do it.

[guitardave25]

Fitbit sent me a new Charge 2 a couple weeks ago to replace the first one.
After I made sure any other fitbits were removed from my account, it worked
fine. Every now and then I have to sync it manually, but that only takes a
minute. Be sure you have the Fitbit icon in your tray at the bottom of
your computer screen. If you got one of the first ones made, as I did,
you will have nothing but grief.

[chrysalis101]

This syncing issue is most certainly NOT solved!  I used to have the Charge HR which worked great for 13 months and then it wouldn't sync no matter what I did.  I have to say, customer support was less than helpful.  It was not a great experience. Their solution was for me to purchase another one.  Spending $150 every year is ridiculous.  I was going to replace it with the iphone figuring that would end up being a cheaper option if I have to replace my fitbit every year.  I love the fitbit's features & I stupidly decided to try again again w the new Charge 2. 

I just got my new Charge 2.  Couldn't sync it with my computer no mater what I did.  Luckily for me, I still had my old dongle from my now defunct Charge HR.  I'm pretty sure the dongle doesn't cost more than a buck or so for them to manufacture.  If the product cannot utilize my computer's bluetooth, then they need to include the dongle with each purchase.  In one of the replies, someone included the specs and requirements for the tracker to work via bluetooth.  My computer meets all of those requirements, so it's BS that my Charge 2 can't sync w/o the dongle. Since it's Sunday and there is no support, I'll have to wait until tomorrow to see what customer service has to say. 

Also, for those of you who are contemplating using the dongle, be advised that it totally screwed up my computer.  The repairman said that the dongles have been messing up computers and keeping him very busy.  Cost me a days work & $180 to bring my computer in and get my computer fixed.  Good for his business, not so great for us!

Andy, so glad that you are one of the few who have not been affected and are blissfully able to sync across all your devices.  Lucky you.  Please stop commenting if you've got nothing constructive to add.  Gloating isn't a nice quality.

[Rich_Laue]

@guitardave25 the reason your ha wing problems syncing through your computer is because the phone is to near.. A Bluetooth receiver can only book up to one server at a time. Simply turn the phones BY off and the computer will do a sync.. But as you found oit, a sync simply puts the tracker a data into the fitbit server, then the computer and app go to the server to get the data to display.. 

@LindsayS if you need a donglr, please get in contact with fitbit, the link can be found by pressing the question mark on the top to right. 

If your still having sync problems please see @SilviaFitbit's post here. 

[chrysalis101]

Rich,
Thanks for your post. Yes, I moved my phone into another room, well away from my computer and also had the phone’s blue tooth unrecognize the new Charge 2. I uninstalled everything on my computer and reinstalled. Unfortunately, that still did nothing to help the computer recognize and sync with my new Charge 2. Ugh!

I will take it up with customer support, but if I do keep this new fitbit, I think I’ll have to be resigned to having to open the website and having to log in thru the browser every day and uploading that way. This is certainly disappointing and not what I was expecting with the new Charge 2, especially when paying a premium price and for a higher end model.

Moderator Edit: Removed personal information.

[Brin1956]

Thanks for your imput. I just spent 5 hours trying to figure out how to set up this watch. The instructions are clear as mud. No sense getting a phone for it if I have to sync it to a computer everytime too. This is a big waste of time and money.

Moderator Edit: Removed all caps.

[Brin1956]

I don't have a phone so this solution is 24 dollars plus shipping. I thought I was buying a whole system. Not everyone owns a cell phone. Not sure if I want to wait days for this dongle thing to even arrive. Syncing your phone all day could cost extra money on top of the cost of the watch. Why doesn't it say anywhere that this is not a complete setup for a computer. 5 hours of playing around with it before I found an answer. So I have 2 choices hook up a cell phone and pay extra charges for syncing all day or buy a dongle thanks. I think this is going back to the store and I will be buying something more user friendly. Something that says right away it will not work on a computer because of missing parts.

Moderator Edit: Removed all caps.

[Brin1956]

Sure they will at a cost of 24 dollars plus shipping

Moderator Edit: Removed all caps.

[Brin1956]

Great so I need to read the real fine print to find out this is going to cost me a fortune to operate without a dongle. I have BT. If the part is so cheap why not just include it. 24 dollars plus shipping added to the pricce of the watch. This is not a complete system in my mind. Couldn't they just say will not work without a dongle on your computer part not included.

Moderator Edit: Removed all caps.

[guitardave25]

I agree. It's just a good thing I had a done from before.

[Rich_Laue]

 @chrysalis101 I'm not sure what is happening, do you have a phone that you can sync through? 

When you say you need to log into your web browser to sync.. This wrong, your web browser can not sync your fitbit, the Win10 fitbit so or the fitbit connect software does the syncing.. However if your phone will sync then there is no need to sync through the comouter.