Connected GPS does not stay connected with Samsung S9

[Tomtomato]

Hi,

I had the same issue with my previous phone (Samsung S7 Edge): connected GPS starts initially, and then stops after a few minutes.

Having upgraded recently to a Samsung S9, still the same issue. The Versa watch works fine otherwise, I get notifications etc. However, connected GPS during bike rides is not staying connected, so tracking distance is useless (very partial tracking).

This morning, I restarted the Versa, restarted the phone, tried the "stay connected" settings etc. but still not working, so I just gave up.

I am on the latest Versa firmware (32.33.1.30), and latest Fitbit app.

Any ideas?

Moderator Edit: Clarified Subject.

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @Tomtomato, I hope you're doing well, it's nice to see you around the Fitbit Community. 

I appreciate your participation in the Forums, for sharing your experience with us and for letting us know the troubleshooting steps you've tried so far. I understand some of you are having trouble with connected GPS on your Versa. If you have already checked the requirements and troubleshooting steps listed on this help article, I would like to suggest you the following:

• Instead of restarting your phone, force-quit the Fitbit app and open it again. 
• Turn off WiFi before starting a GPS activity.
• If you're using an Android phone, make sure Location Services are set to "Always" under the Fitbit app.
• If you're using an iPhone, go to the phone Settings > Fitbit and make sure Location Services are set to "Always" Additionally, go to Setting > General  > Restrictions and check they're disabled.

Thanks again for your patience and understanding, I hope these steps can be helpful. Give them a try and keep me updated. 

[mbigio]

I've had the same problem with my Samsung Galaxy S7 during bike rides and thought it might be a problem with my phone being older. I just downloaded Strava on my phone for the first time yesterday (I had been using MapMyRide) and managed to get it synced with the preloaded Strava app on the Versa. I hoped that by logging a ride with Strava, the connected GPS to the Versa would be improved, but it actually seemed to be worse. The Strava on my phone had a few brief disconnects with the GPS but ultimately tracked my entire ride and created an accurate map with one minor straight line error. The Versa, on the other hand, kept losing the connection, and at the end it charted a strange map with a long diagonal line. I've tried everything that has been recommended by Fitbit tech support and by other users on the Fitbit community forum, but it seems to randomly work and not work. By the way, it seemed to work a little better on my walks, but it almost always disconnects from GPS at least two or three times. Sorry I couldn't help you with the problem. I hope Fitbit can find a firmware or software fix soon and update our devices. 

[Tomtomato]

I have tried to lock the app to prevent it from being stopped by Android, as it was suggested online by other people (see link to post)

Didn't make much difference. Got the dreaded "connecting" message on the Versa soon into my bike ride (a few minutes after starting).

Also tried the "stay connected" setting, wifi off, rebooting the phone, rebooting the watch, resetting the watch, but no luck...

I have tried everything possible now, and it looks like "connected GPS" simply doesn't work on the Versa. My Charge 2 had some occasional issues with "connected GPS" too, but it was working better. On my previous smartphone (Samsung S7 edge), "connected GPS" was also very unreliable with the Versa.

I would be interested to know if anybody with a recent Samsung Phone (e.g. Samsung S9 on Android O) has managed to have "connected GPS" working reliably. It's not like it's some obscure no-name Chinese phone. Surely, Fitbit should be compatible with one of the leading smartphone on the market.

Very disappointed with Fitbit, after having bought so many models for me and as gifts.

[mbigio]

I've tried all the same workarounds suggested in the forum, and yet I had the same problem with the GPS connection again today on my bike ride. The Strava app logged my last couple of rides accurately, including time, distance, average speed, and the map of my route. The Versa, on the other hand, lost connection a few times, and although it recorded 14 out of the 15 miles I rode, the map was way off, with a long diagonal line connecting points that should have been connected by straight north/south and east/west road lines. The Strava app on my phone and the sync'ed one on the Versa both have the correct stats and maps. So I wonder, does anyone know a way I can export or copy the correct map & data from Strava to the Fitbit app and delete the incorrect map & stats from the Fitbit activity logs? And if it's not possible, what's the point of continuing to be frustrated by the Versa's inability to stay connected to GPS? 

[SunsetRunner]

This has started happening on my Galaxy S5 it was working fine up until the latest firmware now it is only tracking half of my distance as the rest of the time it loses connection.

[Mattgalb]

I have a new S9 (buyed 2 mount ago), updated with the last firmware at disposal (android 9). I have Versa firmware 32.33.1.30. I have all the GPS connection problems of the others community members. Your advice are useless.

On my walks, versa and s9 gps are connecteted for the 10-20% of the time, for the rest nothing.

It is possible that you don't have serious answer to this issue ? Your developer are working on this?

Many thanks

[slychiu]

Fitbit, you must know that all the suggested workarounds do not work. . We need a real solution.

my phone  is Galxy S9+. after starting Run, Walk, Bike which needs connected GPS, as soon as the Fitbit app is not in the foreground, the GPS is disconnected. When the fitbit app is onscreen it is connected again. It is easy to duplicate. 

[Mattgalb]

Forget help from Fitbit...... they are.. .   

The solution is come back on old app version. It is only a sw problems. Use app 2.74.2.  You can find it on internet....

[slychiu]

Thanks Mattgalb. Fitbutt, are you going to fix this problem or force your users to use an old version???