Different distance same place using Connected GPS

[rdan]

TL;DR

• Problem: Same route, same variables, always gives slightly different distances. 
• Expectation: Using GPS, same route should be the same distance.

I've searched the forums, and there seem to be a lot of similar threads¹ and always the same stock responses.² I'm hoping that there's something that I've just not found as I assume it's got to be working correctly for the majority of people. 

I've had my Inspire HR for slightly over a week. It's at the latest firmware, paired to an Android phone, with GPS working, connected, etc. Yet. Walking the same route, gives a different distance each time. And different steps, as well. (Non-dominant arm. I wait until phone shows GPS active, and only start walking (immediately) after hitting the start arrow then.)  

Which. Is. Confounding. Please, hear me.  When I say 'same', I don't mean that sometimes I start in my house, and sometimes on the corner.  I literally am starting my walk at the same place. I walk on the exact same route (which is bunch of sidewalks and a bike trail).  I might deviate by 10 steps crossing the street, the entire time.

I wear the same clothing. (Which, being winter: That's the same boots. Same style of heavy socks. Same coat.) I've had meals that are basically the same (and certainly for calories), and my water intake is almost exactly the same. I mention this to stress that, when it comes to variables, I've thought of them. I'm not walking differently or carrying (even more of) a load. Heck, I'm listening to the same pleasing mix of cheesy 80s inspirational anthems and soothing Nordic death metal.  

I live in the Midwest: Buildings blocking GPS isn't an issue: There might be a four story building somewhere... As far as I'm aware, the GPS satellites haven't fallen from the sky (nor has been swinging, non-dominant arm smacked them out of alignment).  GPS is paired with the Inspire my whole walk.  Every walk it shows the exact same map in the dashboard.  Which is what just makes this even more frustrating: Shouldn't it be able to maybe get the data from Google if GPS isn't granular enough?

So, what's the solution? I bought this because I'm morbidly obese and I'm trying to do something about it. So far, not a single thing has been correct.  The sleep seems skewed (shows me awake for way longer than I could possibly be when I'm sleeping: I saw another post on the forum here which I've yet to try, to address that), and I'm really skeptical my resting heartbeat is what it says (because it's way better than at the doctor's).  For every one of my walks, again, same distance, same pace (stride length), it shows different distance, steps, and calories burned.  The latter makes my daily allowance (for my weight goal) undependable if it's not accurate.

I know this is an embarrassingly short distance, and I really don't want to share, but, I'd really much more not have to go through the hassle of returning this and trying to find something that actually works for the basic functions. (And seriously? Couldn't someone put more time in optimizing sync'ing and connecting than the silly notifications? Good job! You've exceeded your steps goal because we randomly added a thousand of them!)

Day / Steps / Miles (All for the exact same route)

1 / 3,301 / 1.6

2 / 3,119 / 1.42

3 / 2,874 / 1.41

4 / 2,781 / 1.56

5 / 2,820 / 1.62

6 / 2,852 / 1.48

7 / 2,731 / 1.32

8 / 2,900 / 1.34

9 / 2,720 / 1.63 <--- Tonight's. Almost 600 steps less than the first day, according to this, yet same miles???

Sure, it's only what, 19% of a difference? But I expect it to be almost exactly the same, and if it can't work correctly at this short of a difference, what's the use for when I try to go further? I have no way of knowing how far, and how many calories burned, which is... sort of the whole point (for me) of buying this!

Thanks for listening and I really hope maybe there's some Konami code of a solution where it can work as advertised.

¹ Somewhat similar:

 https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Inspire-Inspire-HR/Inspire-HR-recording-tracking-distance-error/m-p/...

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Inspire-Inspire-HR/Distance-Accuracy-with-HR/m-p/3531522

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Inspire-Inspire-HR/Accuracy-of-steps-and-distances/m-p/3661732

² https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1874

Moderator edit: Subject for clarity

[YojanaFitbit]

Welcome to the Community Forums @rdan! It's always great to have new members around. 

I really appreciate all the details on your post. You did a great job checking those posts and articles, thanks for sharing those links. As you might  know the distance of your activities is been tracked with the GPS of your phone. Distance can be affected by different reasons as you read in this article: How do I use GPS on my Fitbit device?

Please confirm this information on your phone:

iPhone devices:

1. Confirm your phone can track your location when you're out of Wi-Fi range:
   1. Open Settings > Cellular.
   2. Make sure Cellular Data is turned on.
2. Confirm that your phone can continue tracking your location when your phone is locked:
   1. Open Settings > General.
   2. Tap Background App Refresh, find the Fitbit app, and make sure it's turned on.
3. Confirm that your phone can identify your location:
   1. Open Settings > Privacy.
   2. Tap Location Services and make sure it’s turned on.
   3. Find Fitbit in the app list, and make sure that Allow Location Access is set to Always. 

Android devices:

Steps to verify these requirements depend on your phone model. If you're not sure how to complete a step, see the instructions provided by your phone's manufacturer. 

1. Confirm that your phone can track your activity (usually by making sure that Cellular Data use is turned on).
2. Confirm that your phone can continue to track your location while it's locked.
3. Confirm that your phone can identify your location (usually by turning on Location Services in your privacy settings).

Please confirm this information and let me know if you have used your phone GPS to track the same path with a different application. We're very interested in helping you out to get the most accurate information for your exercises.

I'll be around. 

[rdan]

Android devices:

1. Confirm that your phone can track your activity (usually by making sure that Cellular Data use is turned on).
2. Confirm that your phone can continue to track your location while it's locked.
3. Confirm that your phone can identify your location (usually by turning on Location Services in your privacy settings).

Please confirm this information and let me know if you have used your phone GPS to track the same path with a different application. We're very interested in helping you out to get the most

Thank you for responding.

I have GPS enabled on my phone, and location is tracked while locked.  If this wasn't working, there'd be no map.  It shows the location; in fact, testing, if I go to the front of my building vs the side door, you can see that! 

Which is why this is frustrating.  GPS is 'engaged'.  Why on earth isn't the distance consistent?  (Or, you know, steps... ).   Are there beta firmwares that address this? Is there any sort of debugging steps I can do to figure out where things are breaking down?  (I mean, it's helpful on the phone to see the notification GPS is enabled, from Fitbit...).  Are there any specific tests I can do to figure out where the issue is, assuming this is, truly, not working as intended... ?

That leads me to ask, should I expect to see the same distance information? Or is "somewhere around a mile and maybe a mile and a half" the best these sort of devices can do? (This is my first time owning anything like this)

Thanks!

[SilverFerret]

Very similar issue. Just had this tracker a few weeks and wondering if it is faulty or just no use as a distance/pace tracker.

I have some regular running routes around me and I have a really good grasp of their distances and my own pace.

I generally run at around 5.30 mins/Km and that is the pace that I want to looking at on my wrist to check I'm not going to slow.

One run on Sunday which I would guess was about 7km but watch said ws 5kn and that I 'ran' at 7.20/km!

Today I did a route which I'm pretty certain is 5km but it said it was 5.81 and gave me an average pace of 4.55! Whilst delighted to smash nearly all of my pbs I know that is is faulty!!

[Elsa74]

I too am having the same problem. I have checked everything you suggested and still getting different distances and even shorter distances for going farther than usual. Is there anyway for Fitbit to track by GPS instead of arm swing or correct mileage?