GPS in SmartTrack Mode

[ranveeraggarwal]

Is there a way to enable GPS tracking in the Smart Track mode? I walked for nearly 45 minutes today and while it tracked the activity well, it didn't track the GPS track. 

[ElleBeeE8]

@Larrybud28im feeling your pain. I really liked the Fitbit claim to “automatically recognise an exercise” - so if it doesn’t actually work to record GPS that’s a bit frustrating! 

[Larrybud28]

This is where the Fitbit website directed me, and I never stated the AltaHR has GPS, but the AltaHR and Strava app were more functional as a GPS experience than the Charge5.

[Larrybud28]

Unfortunately the Chare5 GPS is dysfunctional, whether it was getting GPS from the unit or from my iPhone.  So even when I go accustomed to manually starting an activity, the GPS invariably failed over 90% of the time, and more frustrating was that it would not try to reconnect.

Other than this, it's a very nice and user friendly device, and Fitbit has a great app. 

[Larrybud28]

Unfortunately no, and eventually I found in the instructions that GPS does not work with Smart track.  My workaround was to use the Strava app for GPS.  Not ideal, as then your info is in two places for a singe activity.  If you start your activites manually, the GPS will "work".  I emphasize work, because for me, the GPS always failed anyway during almost all my activities. I eventually got the retailed to take it back and refund.

[ElleBeeE8]

Other than this, it's a very nice and user friendly device, and Fitbit has a great app

Actually I totally disagree!  It looks pretty, and at first use, its kinda cool.  But I actually think its a rather useless app and is missing lots of functionality - and the half good stuff is behind a premium subscription paywall.  The charting is basic, very wide timeframes on the axes and you can't zoom into data points or compare to other stats to see influences/impacts.  The major issue is it doesn't talk to Apple Health where all my other data is.  

I gave up after a week, returned the semi-useful Fitbit Charge 5 and now have an Apple Watch series 8 which is brilliant.  And I didn't need to spend hours and hours trying to find things, sync and get it talking with my ecosystem.  Much easier!  I'm sure the Fitbit is great if you're an Android user, but there's also a reason why I am not.  I'm not techy I just want things to work as they're supposed to.

My experiment with Fitbit is over!  Too frustrating.

[Larrybud28]

I can get where you are coming from. Depends what you want out if the app.

I felt the Fitbit app, without the Premium service, met my needs. I had more issue with the Charge5 unit itself. GPS primarily, but as well not being able to customize the menus a bit more. For example messages and payment took up screens in place of ones I’d prefer.

Personally I’m not a fan of the Apple Health app. My wife uses it and seems happy.

I went the other direction and went with GARMIN. Less user friendly device, but it all works and just has a deeper learning curve. Also the battery life is excellent. I think it also will connect to my bicycle, so that would be cool, despite I already have a bike computer.

All that being said, I let my Mom use my MorePro V19. It’s cheap but does a lot. But it does not fit her well. So I decided to get here a simple smaller Fitbit. For her, I think the app will be just fine for her needs. Just need to make sure she is not tempted to keep Premium.

For me, if Fitbit can fix GPS and make menus more customizable, they would gain and keep more users. Of course adding kite features will be a must if they are to keep up with the competition.

The Charge5 now is down to $89, which at that price makes it decent. But only if you won’t be relying on GPS. I send the price has dropped so fast as maybe a better replacement is on the way. So many Charge5 are on the 2nd hand market for cheap. A shame what promised to be a great tracker was a let down for some of us.

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Best Regards,
Larry Pupkin