Charge 3 GPS distance is incorrect

[richardlee713]

Me and my girlfriend just bought charge 3 trackers and we both did a 6.5 mile walk yesterday. Mine is only showing that I did 5 miles though and hers is showing just over 6 miles. Why is mine in particular no where near accurate? I was using connected GPS.

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[SunsetRunner]

Go to Fitbit.com and click on the gear icon at the upper right and then Settings.  Scroll down to Stride Length and set it correctly.  Then scroll on down and click on Submit and then sync your tracker.

[richardlee713]

Tried this but it has no effect.
Not sure why it should either. If using GPS on the phone, surely the actual distance should be used from the map and not from stride distance?



Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

[MarreFitbit]

Hi there @richardlee713, welcome to the Community Forums. I appreciate you've taken the time to check your Stride Length as @SunsetRunner recommended. 

I would like to clarify that it's normal that you see a difference when you are comparing your data with another person, this is because Fitbit trackers record your data based on your personal information (age, gender, weight and height). 

Fitbit trackers and smartwatches calculate distance by multiplying your walking steps by your walking stride length and multiplying your running steps by your running stride length. We estimate your stride lengths using your height and sex. Track one or more runs using on-board or connected GPS, we evaluate that data to automatically update your running stride length. For best results, run at a comfortable pace for at least 10 minutes.

If you prefer to measure your walking and running stride lengths yourself and enter them manually, see How do I measure and adjust my stride length?

Note that when you're tracking an activity with GPS, Fitbit calculates your distance using GPS data rather than steps. If you begin moving before you get a GPS signal, the tracker will calculate distance using steps and stride length as described above until a GPS signal is found.

Keep in mind that your tracker uses your step count to calculate distance until it finds a GPS signal. In this scenario, your total distance calculated for the workout may be slightly less accurate than if GPS data were available for the entire duration. For more information, see How accurate is GPS?

After reviewing this factors, please go for another run and see if the distance improves. 

We'll be around if you need further assistance. 

[richardlee713]

As you say, when using GPS the GPS distance is used and not the stride settings. I'm afraid this is not happening. I walked 6.5 miles with GPS on all the time and I get 5 miles when I view the map on the app. Map is correct but the distance way out. I'm ready to send my fitbit back as it clearly doesn't work as it should do.



Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

[Claus2y2]

Just curious: if you put the 2 bracelets that you have on the same hand, than what will be the explanation for differences? 🙂

[Colly22]

Hi,

I've been having this issue also and I've searched it a lot and noticed that many of your users are also experiencing this issue here on your own website. You also have replied to many of the same issue with the same response that is obviously not addressing the exact issue at hand.

There is something going wrong with the distance tracker when you do an activity with the device (in this case the Charge 3) accessing the GPS via your phone. It tracks your run and plots it perfectly on a map but seems to just completely ignore the GPS distance calculation and I assume uses the stride instead, although I'm not completely convinced of this.

I've had my charge 3 both overestimate and underestimate the distance I'm doing. The only way I've found to fix it is to correct the distance in Strava once I've imported it.

The other solution is to just not use the fitbit device to track the activity at all and instead use the fitbit app (or any other app like Strava) itself on my phone to track it. This method always gives me the right distance. There is clearly something going wrong with the device tracking the activity.

I'm probably shouting into the wind here, but can Fitbit please make a statement on this? There are so many reports on your website of this happening and not one response from Fitbit saying they are investigating it.

Can I submit a bug somewhere instead?

[BethanyEllen]

I 100% agree with this. I track my run from my Fitbit, through the exercise shortcut, and wait for it to advise that GPS is detected (I also take my phone with me on my run). However it will only say that I have run 3.5km when in fact I have done a 5km circuit. 

This has been a problem on multiple forums and there doesn't seem to be an answer? I have now been using the strava app to track my running distance which is the whole reason I bought the fitbit in the first place! 

I feel this needs to be addressed asap as the product is designed to be an accurate health and fitness tracker. 

[scrane]

I have the exact same issue.  Called fitbit and they said they knew it was an issue.  There seems to be no interested in correcting it.