What is an Antares ?

[SunsetRunner]

My fitbit charge 3 stopped working. Luckily (maybe) I had the warranty and received a new fitbit, however it won't synch, not an uncommon problem, have already tried all the fixes. 

I'm more concerned however with what I am syncing with....has anyone heard of "Antares" ? This is what appears through Bluetooth for the charge 3 ? What is Antares, is it a fitbit product ? I've googled it, but little comes up. I have no intention of syncing my phone and computer with this....product unless I can figure out what it is. I've asked fitbit, but no response. 

Any help on what "Antares" is ? 

[SunsetRunner]

Fitbit won't say what the Antares is, same link as always to fix the problem, which still doesn't allow the thing to sync. 

Sadly, I'm done with fitbit. This "Antares" or "Charge 3" or whatever this is, will not sync, and is now headed for recycling, going to try out the iwatch. 

Have a wonderful day everyone ! 

[Corr]

Hi @SunsetRunner 

Antares is not your Charge 3, so don't connect with it. Antares will be a device from someone in your neighborhood, that is visible for your Bluetooth.

Be sure you prepared/set up the Charge 3 as explained in the manual, then pair it with Bluetooth. You must see the name "Charge 3", if not, just don't connect and try it from another spot in your house where no other appliances are interfering.

If you're replacing an old  Charge 3/replacement, first skip down to: How do I set up a replacement device or add a second device to my account?

It is likeli your old Charge 3 is still connected to Bluetooth, you have to disconnect that one first.

Update: what is this. This is not the user that asked the question or my reply was for...... 

[ldtv73]

Bluetooth only gives the Antares as option. Charge 3 is no where to be found. 

[Corr]

@ldtv73 

ldtv73.

Well, that is strange. Did you first disconnect your old Charge 3? Did you set up the new Charge 3 as indicated in the manual.

[ldtv73]

Yes. All the above. Every reset imaginable.



Sent from my iPhone

[Corr]

@ldtv73 

ldtv73

I am surprised that two different people get to see the same device in Bluetooth. So it must be a common device in your country or region. I don't think that causes the problem. It is not a problem that you see "Antares", it is a problem that you don't see "Charge 3".

I didn't asked if you had reset something. It is important you disconnect the old Charge 3 first from your mobile app and from bluetooth.

Note: if their are problems caused by the iPhone, I am not familiar with iPhones.

There is also a lot of information in this thread: https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-3/Syncing-difficulty-on-Charge-3/td-p/4282865

[Kris10E]

I received my replacement charge 3 today, from a warranty issue. It also shows up as Antares on Bluetooth. So this is definitely the charge showing on your Bluetooth not some random neighbor like suggested above. 

[Izzydad]

I've just tried to set-up a new Charge 3 (which I received as a birthday present). I'm having the same problem with the exercise as many other customers @appear to have had.  When trying to set up the Charge 3, I received an 'Antares' request for access, just after the uploading had commenced, which I allowed, thinking it was part of the set up process/requirement. The net result is that the Charge 3 WILL NOT upload, no matter how many times I try, even though my Fitbit account now says a Charge 3 is linked to my account.

The Charge 3 gave me the 4-number code to insert, proving that it's been recognised, but that's as far as the process will go. 

I have now tried every suggestion provide to previous correspondents but nothing works - I can't get the Charge 3 to operate/upload etc. That includes removing all Bluetooth links; deleting Fitbit app and reloading; turning iPad device off as well as turning off Bluetooth.

One rather disconcerting issue is that it is not possible to 'forget this device' with the Antares Bluetooth link, as there is no "i" to click on and instruct the iPad accordingly!! The only time Antares disappears is when I have removed details of the Charge 3 from my  Fitbit account.

This is really unsatisfactory as I now have a useless piece of hardware, seemingly with no way of making it function.

This is not acceptable from Fitbit!!

[MayoRose]

Your post could have been written be me! I have exactly the same problem as you describe, I have contacted the Support Team and the issue has apparently been escalated but I’m still waiting for a response to an email I sent last Tuesday. Highlighted the issue on their FB page and advised to wait as my query is in a queue. I too received mine as a present and very disappointed with the whole experience 

[RaadG]

Hi guys, 

My fitbit charge 3 stopped working as well after only 5 months or so. I also received a new fitbit - I read your posts and decided to accept the Antares notifications and set up has been successful so far. 

Good luck everyone and I hope this helps.

[Phil260860]

I have the same issue

[Phil260860]

I have exactly the same problem and have tried everything Fitbit support suggested but without success. Very disappointing. This is obviously a common problem!

[MayoRose]

Hi, I tried every suggestion they provided me with but had no success. Was trying to download with my iPhone and never had the option of accepting Antares notifications. I was eventually sent a replacement device and it worked first time using the simple instructions it's supposed to work with. There is obviously an issue with a number of these devices. Hopefully FitBit will sort you out too

[Juarezswifee]

I too got a notification on two different iPhones when trying to download the Fitbit charge 3 . The notification on both devices say the same exact thing, “Allow Antares to display your iPhone notifications . When this accessory is connected all the notifications you receive will appear on its display.” So yes, Corr, this Antares does have something to do with Fitbit, but when I asked the representative what it was she had no idea, she never heard of it before. I’m in the same boat as everybody else I’m not connecting or allowing my device to connect to an unknown device. 

[mcath1000]

My charge 3 was detected as ANTARES with my ipad running IOS14.4. I found an old ipad running IOS10.3 and it detected the charge 3 without a problem. The charge 3 appears to be incompatible with newer versions of IOS.

[PBQuad]

Hi!  Just received My charge 3 that I purchased to replace my old one and when I tried to setup with my iphone, I experienced the exact same message about antares.  I didn't accept it first off, but then, when I checked my bluetooth connections, instead of charge 3 being connected (I had 2 prior entries for the prior ones I had), I had antares connected.  What I ended up doing was removing all the charge 3 connections, and the antares connection, rebooted my phone and started over from scratch on the setup, including typing in the 4 digit code that is asked to connect to the device.  after that, and making sure that the updates were done for both the app (currently running 3.42 (1052) on a IOS 14.2) and the charge 3, it worked, and it shows as charge 3 in the bluetooth menu.  I hope that this helps.

[triches]

I had similar problems today on trying to set up a new Charge 3, which was a replacement after the original and it's replacement went wrong. I didn't accept to receive notifications from Antares as like those above I had no idea what it was and couldn't find a link to FitBit (though subsequent Googling seems to imply it IS something to do with the FitBit software). 

Anyway, having had all the problems above including not being able to change the clockface as my iPhone says the Charge 3 was not connected, although it did receive step counts, I eventually gave up, left the devices for a while, then rebooted my phone and Bingo - it now seems to work. Not sure if this is a coincidence or what you are supposed to do!