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GPS Failures on Bike Activity after Fitbit September 2021 3.47 update

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‎10-09-2021 14:21 - last edited on ‎12-14-2022 16:06 by Fitbit Moderator

‎10-09-2021 14:21 - last edited on ‎12-14-2022 16:06 by Fitbit Moderator

I use Fitbit Charge 4 to track my bike rides and use the phone GPS. I go on 3 - 4 hour bike rides and I  can't use the device GPS because it drains the battery too much. Originally I had lots of problems getting it to connect to the phone GPS reliably.  I contacted support  back in spring and they give some suggestions, none of which helped. It would connect but about 80% of the time it would drop in less than one mile of riding. After a lot of experimenting I finally found a procedure that worked reliably. I manually sync my fitbit from the phone, then immediately start the Bike activity from the device. It connected and it worked perfectly.  This was 100% reliable all summer through dozens of bike rides. Fitbit showed my maps and statistics just fine. A few weeks ago it went back to the old way. Now it connects and drops in less than a mile. I checked my app and it turns out that the problem started right after it was updated to version 3.47 on September 15 

 

Please don't give me the standard copy and paste answer. The app has been updated to 3.48 and the problem still persists so that is one bug apparently they didn't fix. -- The following is what I have tried/done/observed

 

1) I have rebooted the device and hard rebooted it 

2) I have restarted the phone

3) I have removed the device from the phone and added it back 

4) There is no problem with the GPS on the phone -- Strava works just fine one the same route. All other GPS apps work fine on the phone.

5) There is no problem with Bluetooth -- I have many other Bluetooth devices that connect and the Charge 4  is syncing all other types of data (Active minutes, sleep, steps, heart rate, etc.) without issue 

6) There is no problem with GPS availability -- I ride basically the same route all the time and multiple other devices are not having a problem and neither did Charge 4 until the September update. 

7) This has now occurred on 100% of the last 4 rides when it used to be 100% reliable. Basically the devices is worthless on rides since the September update. 

 

I need you to fix your app because currently the Charge 4 is pretty much useless. 

 

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2 REPLIES 2

‎10-10-2021 12:19

‎10-10-2021 12:19

This is all true. It is a very poor upgrade from the Charge 3 which I liked. Gps doesn't work in charge 4. I will return the product. In built gps it eats battery before walks and bike rides are complete. If I use phone gps mode it keeps losing gps signal. It worked fine with charge 3.  My firmware version is 48.20001.100.43. and my app version is 3.48

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‎08-07-2022 22:10

‎08-07-2022 22:10

I'm about ready to turn off all GPS function on my Charge 4.  I use it for my cycling, too, and encounter the same issue.  Whether I use basic GPS or turn on GLONASE, both will drain the battery before a 3 hour ride is over.  In either mode, it will also lose connection with GPS if my ride takes me under heavy tree cover on bike trails or when I am riding in rural areas in Michigan.  In addition, it seems I have to go through the Fix It process to get the Fitbit to sync every single day, and sometimes multiple times a day.  I really liked my Charge 2 and liked the Charge 4 when I first got it, but this is getting ridiculous.  I am beginning to think it's time to look for a new tracker.

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