How to get a better distance with connected GPS

[Doeterniettoe]

If you're also affected by this, please click the "Affects me too" button! It's the only way to grab their attention to sort this thing out! Because Fitbit is aware a very long time (since 2016!!!)  about the faulty distance measurements and they not seem to bother to deal with it, I will...

And no, you will not have to restart your phone, download the latest app, restart the bluetooth 🙂

Seriously i don't think users should deal with bugs in Fitbit products, but after reading all these complaints they really shoud. And for me there will be no second Fitbit.

Connected GPS uses ONLY GPS to draw a map. Nothing more nothing less. They say it do more, but it isn't, and they are not fixing it for quite a while now. 

The distance is calculated based on your stride length, witch is also based on an average based on your gender and length.

In the Fitbit app there is a switch "automatic" stride adjust. But this is part of the problem, it doesn't recalculate the stride length based on your gps stats.

What to do...

1. Go for a walk* / run* and use connected GPS, the longer distance, the better.

     * Best is to run on a track, where you are 100% certain of the length

2. Logon to fitbit.com, select the activity, and choose to download TCX

3. Make a strava account

4. upload TCX to strava, and you will see the distance based on your GPS settings

5. Calculate stride length  = (stravadistance*100000)/ammountofstepsinexercise

6. Set this stride length in the Fitbit app. Disable "auto", it doesn't work anyway

7. When inserted you can choose "YES" "NO" or "OK", another fitbit "bug" 

8. DO NOT choose YES, or your input is deleted, choose "OK", only god may know why...

This wil give you a more accurate distance, but there will still be some discrepancy. This thing will only get sorted out when fitbit fix this bug in the app. But after 3.5yrs, and a lot of "we ll get back to you when it's sorted out by the team", i gave up all hopes....

[RicardoFitbit · Accepted solution]

Hi @Doeterniettoe, it's nice to see you again participating here in the Community Forums, welcome back!

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and personal experience with the connected GPS issue you experienced with your Charge 2, I totally understand how frustrating this matter can be for you. The information that was shared in your post is really appreciated, here in the Community Forums the willingness to help is always well received, we are always striving to improve the Fitbit experience with our products and services, your effort troubleshooting this matter prior to posting is appreciated too.

Please do not hesitate to contact me back, I'll be around if you need anything else.  

[Doeterniettoe]

It's just super frustrating that such simple bugs take years to solve, if they ever got solved...

If someone from fitbit just honestly said "sorry guys, but this is the actual reason we won't get it solved, but we did try." Ok, that's fine by me. But acting like nothing is going on, and yust replying the same answer "we are aware of this, we are getting back in touch", after all these years... that's lauching at your customers's face...

The fitbit helpdesk .. they only seem to answer with "sorry to hear that, please restart your phone, update the app and make sure you have the latest firmware. Turn bluetooth on and off" this is maybe an answer to some users, but seriously it's just lauching in your customers's face.

I really liked fitbit, and i was planning to upgrade from charge 2 to Iconic, but i hope you understand that such troubles are not the best advertising for attacting new buyers for your products.

[Ljb0328]

Whats the answer.  Used to get google maps after a walk.  Not today