Feature Request - "GPS will not be turned on" please allow this for Auto Recognized Exercises!

[Phil214]

Hi, just got an Inspire HR, tried it today with smart track, impressed, worked well.

However it has not recorded anything related to GPS.

Under Exercise Goals I found the 'Auto Recognized Exercises', but for each one it says "GPS will not be turned on."

I saw another thread for older devices that says GPS is only used for manually-started exercises, but why? Why not let me opt-in for a specific auto recognized exercise like biking? I know this will impact battery usage, but if it is only for specific activities (which the fitbit detects accurately), and I accept the extra battery drain, then no problem surely.

Also under settings on the fitbit you can turn GPS ON|OFF so you have control over it. And I only take my phone with me if I DO want to use the GPS (so if I don't have my phone then the fitbit is not going to cause drain on it).

I hope this can be added to the options! Thanks

[Phil214]

Actually I just found an article and it suggests GPS should work:

Track runs with GPS automatically with Charge 3, Inspire HR, Ionic, and Versa. After you start to run, the Exercise app opens to track your real-time stats, including heart-rate, pace, distance, and GPS route. Run tracking may take a few minutes to start. For Charge 3, Inspire HR, and Versa, you must have your phone nearby to use connected GPS. [Yes I had it with me.]

Help_article 1935

This is the screen I've already looked at, but following the example for the 'Run' exercise, it says underneath "GPS will not be turned on".

Is the app a bit broken?

[Phil214]

... and I've just seen 'Distance' in the dashboard and it reports 7km, corresponding to the time I did the ride.

Interestingly I've also stepped 8900 today, which is rubbish, I've hardly moved except for driving to the countryside to ride. Most of it also corresponds to the bike ride time. So does it count my bike ride also as steps?? That's a bit naff. And does it then think I'm more active than I actually am?

[LZeeW]

Hello @Phil214 .  I see you are a new user, so let me welcome to the Help forums.

With respect to your comment about Auto Recognized activities, let me give you a little historical perspective.  Auto Recognized activities are a feature known as SmartTrack.  It existed before the exercise app -- the app that has GPS activities -- originally it was called the multi-sport mode.  They are two different software "packages".  Your Inspire HR has both.  The Inspire only has SmartTrack.  There are other trackers that only have SmartTrack.  You can't put GPS tracking on the auto recognized activities -- The original intended devices don't have GPS connectivity.  Make sense?

Next, I think you found an error in the Help article you linked.  The Ionic, Versa family and Charge 3 have a feature called Run Auto Detect.  There is a setting on the device itself to use Run Auto Detect.  I am quite sure that the Inspire HR does not have this feature.  If you follow the directions in the help article, it takes you to the Auto Recognized Exercises.

Steps while biking is a longstanding issue.  Some people want them.  Some don't. 

[Phil214]

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@LZeeW wrote:

Hello @Phil214 .  I see you are a new user, so let me welcome to the Help forums.

With respect to your comment about Auto Recognized activities, let me give you a little historical perspective.  Auto Recognized activities are a feature known as SmartTrack.  It existed before the exercise app -- the app that has GPS activities -- originally it was called the multi-sport mode.  They are two different software "packages".  Your Inspire HR has both.  The Inspire only has SmartTrack.  There are other trackers that only have SmartTrack.  You can't put GPS tracking on the auto recognized activities -- The original intended devices don't have GPS connectivity.  Make sense?

Ok thanks for explaining, but historical reasons aside there doesn't seem to be a technical reason why it couldn't be added. It would be a great software improvement. (I doubt I'll manually start the exercise app, I might as well keep using the existing app on my phone and use the fitbit to track just HR, which seems a shame.)

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Next, I think you found an error in the Help article you linked.  The Ionic, Versa family and Charge 3 have a feature called Run Auto Detect.  There is a setting on the device itself to use Run Auto Detect.  I am quite sure that the Inspire HR does not have this feature.  If you follow the directions in the help article, it takes you to the Auto Recognized Exercises.

I've just checked it again and the app works just like the article describes, and you DO have an auto-recognize button for each exercise. But yes they are all under a section called Auto Recognized Exercises... but that's a pretty subtle thing and not easy to follow without an explanation like above.

Can I suggest the article be corrected? Or better still, fix the software so it works with the Inspire HR!

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Steps while biking is a longstanding issue.  Some people want them.  Some don't. 

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That seems crazy, steps are steps, biking is biking! People that want biking to count as 'steps' must be fixated by this whole steps thing.

It should be configurable.

I just want a device that tracks things accurately, not makes up data... my step count so far today is 5120, and all I've done is walk to my car, sit at my desk all day at work and drive home again. 5120 steps?? No way.