Charge 2 gps not working

[Nancy_O]

My Charge 2 tracker doesn't show the phone icon when I select the activity...no gps map after workout.  I've gone through all the settings on my ios phone to make sure everything is enabled but gps must be turned off in my tracker.  I can only get a gps map if I manually start and stop the workout on my iphone.

Any advice?

[Ozzie65]

Hi @Nancy_O - It sounds like you aren't connected to your phone's bluetooth. Is the Charge 2 listed under the connected devices on your phone?

[Nancy_O]

It is listed and my tracker syncs thru the day. I reloaded the app logged in but still no gps or phone icon on my tracker screen. Is there a way to reboot my Charge 2? I'm out of ideas.

[Ozzie65 · Accepted solution]

Definitely - see below:

https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1186

[arbnmp]

I am also having this problem and have restarted my Charge 2, but it still shows no connected GPS.  When clicking through the iOS settings, in my exercises, it states that "GPS will not be turned on" for walking, running, and biking.  Any hints/clues?  Location services are enabled for the app and my Charge 2 is connected to my phone via bluetooth (and syncs). 

[MarreFitbit]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community @arbnmp, hope you're doing great! Some Charge 2 users are seeing inaccurate/inconsistent distances when using Connected GPS with Hike, Walk, and sometimes Run mode. In the meantime, I'd suggest using "Run" mode when performing any connected GPS activity. Keep in mind that I'll pass this along to our engineering team. 

Thanks so much for the heads up! 

[arbnmp]

Thanks for the quick reply!  Will do.

Cheers,

Pete 

[MarreFitbit]

Sure @arbnmp!  Thanks so much for your understanding with this matter!

Hope to see you participating in the Community more often since I think it would be awesome for you to explore our Community, so you can go ahead and log to any of the topics that might be of your interest in our Discussion boards. Feel free to comment and contribute with your knowledge and experience.

Have a great weekend! 

[VidStimac]

Right, you guys really have to fix the GPS tracking. It consistently underestimates the distance, and hence also the pace. I know because I always fire up RunKeeper just to be sure (and I use Google maps to calculate my routes). For some reason that app doesn't mess up GPS tracking on shorter runs (ie. 5k).

Today was particularly nice. I ran a personal record (sub 20 min 5k). Fitbit completely garbled the GPS, classified it as a 3.33 km 20 min run (mind you, the time was 'correct'; same as RunKeeper), calculating my pace at some 6:20/km (instead of <4min), and just to add insult to injury, proceeded to downgrade my cardiovascular fitness score 🙂

Look, maybe just give a head's up via buzz when GPS actually connects? RunKeeper makes you wait until a GPS connection is established.

[MarreFitbit]

Thanks for the heads up and your feedback in regards to the GPS functionality @VidStimac! These kind of issues were already reported to our team to get a fix soon. 

Believe me, I totally understand where your concern is coming from and we are working as fast as we can so you can guys can be back on track properly. 

[Lou_D]

This is exactly the issues I'm having no maps, no splits and not syncing with Strava! I have just set my goal distance for 2017 and want to be able to sync with Strava for logging distance run but not able to without GPS.  I am confused by your answer, as I am getting the same 'GPS will not be turned on' message when I select run. Are we are stuck with this problem until Fitbit resolve it? Disappointing as I wanted an all in one tracker that I could use throughout the day and with multiple activities. Sounds like I'm either back to running with a phone stuck in my pocket or using my Garmin!

[Rich_Laue]

Well @Lou_D i find the title of this thread as misleading, the Charge2 doesn't have gps but uses the gps on the phone. Therefore if you want gps with the Charge2 you will need to carry the phone wi5h you.

So why does the app say gps will not work?

Is your fitbit notifacations turnrd off?

Now if you do not want to carry a phone with you, Fitbit does make a model called a Surge which has a built in GPS.

[MplsRunner612]

The thing I just discovered with my own Charge 2 was that I have to have the fitbit app open in order for the fitbit to connect to GPS. I still feel like the distance is not as accurate as when I use RunKeeper.

[jenmccloy]

It is very frustrating that when I am connected via Bluetooth, to my iPhone, that the GPS tracking does not work at all for my runs (I'm using Charge 2).  I have tried resetting my Fitbit, and deleting then reinstalling the app.  Nothing works.  This is the second issue I've had with my Fitbit since I bought it (Heart Rate not working properly was the first) and it's disappointing that there doesn't seem to be any viable fixes for either of these issues.  I should not have to keep resetting my Fitbit to get it to work properly.  It should work properly to begin with.  Or don't sell it as a product that tracks your distance, pace, etc for running/walking/biking.

[Rich_Laue]

@jenmccloy while in walk/run mode you should see a phone icon on thd Charge2 this icon will tell you the status of the GPS.

A diagonal line says not connected 

A dashed line to the right says searching, trying to connect. 

So is it really connected.

Is the app open or at least in memory?

Cellular network enabled?

[FSX4]

Seems like a never ending thread with the same issue. I’ve been experiencing exactly the same difficulties since I upgraded from charge hr to charge 2. Unfortunately nothing has worked

new phone, new iOS, delete the app, restart Fitbit, use run mode, remove auto recognition... think I have done all the recommendations from all the moderators or from different forums. But I’ve given up, don’t know what is left to try?

However I use Runkeeper aside (never disappoints me)... apart from the gps function (which is a quite important feature)... I love the product, display, design..

[arbnmp]

I just ended up getting a different device.



Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Note8, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

[FSX4]

Well IF they ofler me the same, I Would gladly accept the solution. 

How long time do you have the warranty? 

[Vicks73]

Glad I’m not alone, I’m so frustrated with it. I recently upgraded to charge 2. I managed to get it to work with connected GPS once, since then nothing. Not happy.

[Runnermom26]

My charge 2 only recently started not tracking my runs correctly... it was fine for a long time no problems be recently I have been getting a notification that I need to check my app .. done all things to try and fix .. restarting all apps and Bluetooth but nothing.. please help