How does my Charge 2 tracks floors?

[chasoco]

I just completed 25 floors on the stair master. They do not reflect on my fitbit. Is this correct? and if so, why not?

Moderator edit: Updated subject for clarity

[HeydyF]

Thanks for getting back to me guys! 

@couldbe, that is correct. Most of the times, it is just about knowing how the Fitbit trackers work. Your tracker registers one floor when you climb about ten feet at one time. And of course, it does not register floors when you go down. And other times, when you walk uphill, your Charge 2 will also record floors. So yes, take those factors into consideration when you are using your Charge 2, and you'll see that the results are pretty accurate. 

@Peanut56, thanks! I will appreciate the update! 😉 

[Sweetpea3732]

I don't Think this is can be true. I have been up and down my steps at least a dozen times today and it shows 2 times. Some days it shows a lot more.  How can this be? Just trying to figure it all out. 

[livnnoz]

it's not right. it tracks temp changes not actual stairs.

Sent from my iPhone

[Rich_Laue]

@Sweetpea3732, there are 3 requirements for stairs to be counted:

1 - the tracker needs to see that your moving, if the step count doesn't increase while walking up the stairs, we wont go to step two.

2 - a change in atmospheric pressure equivalent to a rise in 10 feet needs to be detected.

3 - this change needs to happen within a set time limit, Fitbit has not posted this number.

@livnnoz, while chwnges in the temperature of the atmoshere will affect the pressure, they will usuwlly not be big enough or fast enough to count as a floor.

On the other hand, wind or walking in front of a fan might. 

[CGOuimet]

Is there a way to adjust the altimeter?  We have 8 ft floors and... 

[Rich_Laue]

Nope @CGOuimet sorry. I simply raise my arm up at the top of the stairs. 

We have a mall nearby, if I raise my arm one flight gives me two floors. Fail to raise my arm, I only get 1

[ravensview]

I see similar behaviour in my Charge 2. Yesterday was my first full day and it thinks I did 16 floors. Most were while just walking, with watch buried in layers of warm clothes, or sitting in a pub. If these extras keep showing up I'll just delete that feature. 

Maybe the barometric sensor could record pressure in the app instead, as a help to some migraine sufferers. 

[Dyms]

My Fitbit 2 not counting the climbing the floors 

[HeydyF]

Hey @Dyms, welcome aboard! I'd like you to take into consideration how Charge 2 tracks your floors, by reviewing this explanation: 

Fitbit devices that count floors have an altimeter sensor that can detect when you're going up or down in elevation. Your device registers one floor when you climb about 10 feet at one time. It does not register floors when you go down.

Fitbit devices do not count the elevation gains simulated from a StairMaster, inclined treadmill, or other stationary exercise equipment. Your device uses changes in barometric pressure to detect elevation change, and therefore requires that you physically change elevation in order to properly record floors.

If your Charge 2 still not tracking floors, even though you have followed the info posted above, I suggest you to clean the altimeter on the back of your Charge 2. Take a look at this post to do so. 

Keep me updated! 

[Dyms]

Still not working

Sent from my iPhone

[HeydyF]

I hope you are doin' fine @Dyms! There is something else that I'd like you to try. Please restart your Charge 2 by following these instructions: 

1. Plug the charging cable into the USB port on your computer or any UL-certified USB wall charger.
2. Clip the other end of the charging cable to the port on the back of the tracker. The pins on the charging cable must lock securely with the port.
3. Make sure the button on your tracker is aligned with the button opening on the charging cable. You'll know the connection is secure when the tracker vibrates and you see a battery icon on your tracker's display. Your Charge 2 will begin charging.
4. Press and hold the button on your tracker for four seconds. When you see the Fitbit logo and the tracker vibrates, this means the tracker has restarted.
5. Unplug your tracker from the charging cable. 

Let me know how it goes! 

[Petrea]

How is altutude converted ti floors? How high is a fitbit-floor? Why not just give us the meters climbed!

[Rich_Laue]

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@Petrea wrote:

How is altutude converted ti floors? How high is a fitbit-floor? Why not just give us the meters climbed!

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It uses changes in air pressure, the same technology the airplanes use. With airplanes, the altimeter needs to be frequently calibrated. 

1 think 10 feet was chosen because the normal house has 8 or 10 feet ceilings and commercial buildings usually are 12 feet. Floors are only counted when the air pressure decreases while steps are being counted. 

Why not meters, using air pressure is not accurate enough and is to easily altered by the environment. 

So how is changes in air pressure relate to changes in altitude? At sea level on a clear day there is 1 atmosphere of air pressure above our body. Let's say we now climb up a 100 foot tower. We now have 100 less feet of air above us and therefor less air pressure we will feel. It is the same as having 3 blankets on and removing 2 blankets. In the case of air, these layers are very light. 

[Petrea]

OK, so the answer is 1 floor = 10ft. Thank you for that.

If air pressure is not accurate enough for meters, then it is equally uncertain for floors, so not a good reason for choosing floors over meters. A matter of taste, I assume.

[Rich_Laue]

The biggest problem is that there is an extremely small change in pressure with 1 meter. Also wind blowing across the arm in the right direction could be enough to register a meter. 

[Petrea]

Yes, yes, I understand that. My point is that this also affects the number of floors: If there is an uncertainty of, say, 10% in the number of meters, then there will be an uncertainty og 10% in the number of floors!

And (as you also stated) a "floor" is not a welldefined concept, meters most certainly are. We all know what a meter is.

And we hikers do not observe any floors in the hills!  😉

So please Fitbit: let´s have something welldefined!

[Rich_Laue]

But changes in air pressure based on height while in theory the math should work, in reality it is not very precise. 

A cloud passing over or a low pressure will affect the reading. Technically even a plane flying over will affect the pressure. Add wind and we have more uncertainty thrown in.