Charge 3 won't stay connected to phone during GPS activity

[vincentcantrun]

I recently got my Fitbit Charge 3 on a boxing day sale as i am getting back into fitness more committed than ever before! The problem is i've just started running (C25K WOOO!!!) and my as I am running my tracker constantly vibrates, at least every 10 seconds, to tell me that it has lost connection to my phone and then another vibration to tell me that it has reconnected.

It doesn't impact the actual tracking as the map afterwards is accurate and the time ran, ect, is all accurate but it is just really, really extremely annoying when i'm trying to run and my wrist is vibrating every second.

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

My phone is like no more than a few centimetres away from my fitbit when i'm running too so it cant be a distance issue.

[MarreFitbit]

Welcome on board @vincentcantrun, it's nice to see you around here! So happy to hear you're back into fitness more committed than ever!  

Thanks for taking the time to share the situation you experienced when GPS tracking a run with your Charge 3.

Have you checked if the mobile phone you're using is included in our list of supported devices? 

Your Charge 3 uses connected GPS which works with the GPS sensors of your phone. Probably, your phone lost the connection while you were running. This may have happened as a result of different environmental factors such as tall buildings, dense forest, steep hills, or a thick cloud. That may interfere the signal. 

I'd recommend turning off Wi-Fi on your phone when using GPS for a better experience. 

Also, try the following:

• Open the Fitbit app to reestablish a connection with your tracker.
• Reboot your phone.

There are also some requirements you should check out. Please take a look at this helpful article for more details on this. You can also check Charge 3 User Manual (page 36) for information on tracking GPS exercises with this new device.

Hope this helps. Keep me posted! 

[Kwin80]

Hi,

I too am a new runner who has just completed C25K using my fitbit. 

For the first 8 weeks my fitbit was absolutely fine, but since the firmware update over Christmas it has been doing the exact same thing, buzzing every 10 secs or so to tell me its lost connection and then reconnected.

My phone hasn't changed so could this be to do with the recent firmware update?

It's driving my potty!

[RiseAndShine]

Something I've experienced with my phone.... power saving setting was killing GPS functionality and overall was impacting very negatively connectivity and syncing ability. Took me some time to figure it out, but ever since I have only occasional connection issues. 

Also, if you're using wireless headphones during the run, may want to replace them with wired.... C3 doesn't like Bluetooth competition.

It's not a solution, but if buzzing is driving you crazy (would drive me too), have you tried to turn off notifications at least for the time while you're running (right on the tracker)? Just wonder if it would stop the buzzing... otherwise, might temporarily turn off vibration function from the app.

[Bmatern]

Same here