The GPS Tracking Thread for 2.91 and later

[hkbikee]

One of the only function I need is GPS tracking, and that;s also one oif the only functions that does not work (anymore). Please post if it works for you and what setup you have.

App 2.94

Xiaomi Mix S2 (battery saver diabled)

Android 9

Not working (get only 3-4 GPS points in 1 hour)

App 2.91 (can be found on the web plenty)

Nexus 5

Android 6.0.1

Working perfectly!

It's not an option for everybody, but I use the Fitbit just when I bike, I use and old phone for that. Get an old phone and install the 2.91 app and you are set.

For version 2.91:

Remove this version from auto-updating, otherwise you're back to one of the later bad versions. 

I will update here from time to time and update any new findings. 

[AlvaroFitbit]

@hkbikee A warm welcome to our Community!

Thank you for sharing your observations. The team is constantly improving and fixing the Fitbit app but I appreciate your feedback. Also we don't suggest you download any app from a different place than the Play store as these app could have been tampered by third party's.

Let me know how it goes.

[hkbikee]

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@AlvaroFitbit wrote:

Also we don't suggest you download any app from a different place than the Play store as these app could have been tampered by third party's.

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Beside the play store, which is just the google version of an app store, there are a few others. One need to find a reliable source, and before d/l and install have a close look at the source. 

Of course, best would be if Fitbit simply makes legacy versions available here. How about you just post a link to a 2.91 here?

[hkbikee]

Just to show the difference in tracking for the same track between different versions.

Top: 2.91

Bottom: 2.94

Yesterday I perfectly logged a 3 hour dirt bike with 2.91

[hkbikee]

A new try with the Xiaomi Mix 2S:

I removed 2.94 and installed 2.91 --> Results:

Tracking is spotty. Seems only a few GPS points got logged. The track looks better than before, but the logged distance is only 0.21Km - should be around 5Km. Another strange issue, data seems not to work, or works badly. I can't send whatsapp messages while logging, or they get delayed. Also can't receive calls.

Conclusion: 2.91 works better on my phone than 2.94 but still far, far from satisfactory. I need to add that my phone isn't on the compatible phone list (whatever that means).

I do get very good and accurate tracking with my ol' (and no SIM in it) Nexus 5 and 2.91.

Will do a test with the Nexus 5 and 2.94 (latest Fitbit app) in the next few days. Will not be surprised if that works flawless too.

[hkbikee]

And another try:

Nexus 5 (Fitbit compatible)

I updated Fitbit app 2.91 to 2.94 (latest) via the Playstore update (2.91 was set to ignore updates).

Result: 2.94 did perfect tracking. 

I think I can end my tests here. I believe the issue is not with the app version, that seems not to matter, it's whether the phone is Fitbit compatible or not. The Nexus 5 is, the Xiaomi Mix 2S isn't. So no matter what I swap, the Nexus will always work, the Mi works only intermittently.

If you have any issue with tracking, first step should be to check if your phone is on the Fitbit compatible phone list.

https://www.fitbit.com/DEVICES

https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/2315

(for some reasons the two pages differ quite a bit. Maybe Fitbit can sort that out)

[hkbikee]

Version 3.0 is out, so....

another try today with my Xiaomi Mix 2S (not on the supported list).

Same error. Very sketchy tracking, 90 Minutes on the bike, logged distance 0Km. I concluded already that not supported means not supported. But you know it's hard to give up hope.

Will try tomorrow 3.0 on the Nexus 5. I guess that will be fine. That ol' phone is quite empty, I only use it now for Fitbit, but it does get slow. But up to 2.9* (all versions so far) tracking was always perfect.