Distance on GPS map doesn't match with exercise summary

[Andyn1970]

Hi all

Firstly love the Fitbit Versa does everything I need also the app is great.

BUT over the last couple of weeks the distance recorded by the app is way off. 

I use it connected to my Samsung Galaxy S9+ and its always been very accurate to a tenth of a mile or less. 

But on my last few runs of about 3.4 miles it can be a whole mile out, but just the distance the route it records is spot on but the mile points are in the wrong place for example it recorded 2.44 miles in 30.29.

My wife who also has a Versa connected to an IPhone recorded 3.43 miles in 30.30 this is correct and matches our pace of about 9.30/m

Prior to the last weeks it has always been almost exactly the same as my wife as we run together. 

I have Re started the Versa and the phone, I have cleared the data in the Fitbit app and I have also uninstalled the fitbit app. 

Same result its not always out the same, a couple of runs back it got to 2.89m on the same route. Then on Tuesday it was spot on. 

Any ideas it seems like a small thing but not having an accurate record of your work turns out to be extremely frustrating.

Anyone else had this? 

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[Daranth]

I'm very glad this is not just happening to me!!! My Versa was working fine, tracking great, no GPS issues (despite running in London) and no issues with the fact my stride length was set to default.

I then updated the firmware of my Versa and OH **ahem** IT'S SCREWED! Support have denied that there are any issues, and I am the only one facing them. They've asked me to update my stride length and accuse the weak GPS link. The only variable that has changed is the firmware. The constant 'denial of fault' approach to customer service is draining and I think I'll be switching... Bring on Black Friday!

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi everyone. It's good to see you in this thread and I'm sorry for the delayed response.

I appreciate each of you for reporting this issue, providing detailed information and for the troubleshooting steps tried while working on this. I understand where you're coming from as the GPS details should match the exercise summary on the Fitbit app, and I'm sorry that you're going through this situation. I've shared your details to our team so they can further investigate and work on this. I'll update this thread once I have more details from them.

I'l be around if you need anything else.

[LostEchoes]

Now that @LizzyFitbit has taken an interest in this post, let me point out that there are a lot of other posts that mention this very issue with details. People have been having this issue for months and they have proven that something is completely off by testing, comparing distances, etc. Here are some examples. I hope this time Fitbit engineers takes this seriously and do something about it :

Fitbit and "connected GPS" -- the biggest scam

GPS Distance not accurate

Very inaccurate connected GPS with Charge 3 for last week

GPS tracking problems getting increasingly worse

Distance measurement grossly incorrect

[GoPokes]

 

 Here's an example of the differences from my Fitbit Versa and Strava app on the same run today- both were on my body with good GPS signal. I'm using a Samsung Galaxy S10+. GPS tracking on my Versa has historically been correct but after the last update for the Versa it hasn't been correct. I'm hoping Fitbit tech support can fix the bug and get us all back on track.

[Davie1888]

Yup its extremely annoying, theres one of my runs.

 

 

[Davie1888]

10.15k on his watch and this is a race route that's been measured as 10k, fitbit 7.5k.

[RunHolmanRun]

@Davie1888 did you try the method that the support team emailed you? Hahahaha

[Jackos]

@LizzyFitbit   Have you or your colleagues actually logged a bug for this issue yet so we can track the progress?  Based on the feedback we can read on the forum support have been atrocious for this issue

[Davie1888]

Not been out since I did the old delete n switch it on n off again🙈🙈. Talking about hit it n hope!

Moderator edit: format

[Davie1888]

They know know what phone I use and have asked if I wait for it to connect. They have my screenshots showing the route maps are identical between fitbit and Strava yet I still keep going round in circles with the same old questions from them, its fast becoming a farce. Spike to Amaz9n last night and they have sent me a returns label to send it in for repair but what exactly would Fitbit do to it as it seems it's a software issue they could fix easily if they got their proverbial together and fixed it.

[RunHolmanRun]

Tonight's run will hopefully be my last with my Versa, my local Cex have a vivoactive 3 for £85, it's in grade c condition but when looking at it appears to only have a couple of marks on the bezel and some marks on the back.

[Davie1888]

I think I might be joining you if this doesn't get sorted by the time I get home again in a couple of weeks. Sounds like they know theres an issue and haven't bothered to investigate it, just keep telling everyone to sort their stride which wont do anything if you've got a constant GPS signal. Shame as I likdle the watch but if it wont do what I need if to do then its game over and either get a refund or cut my losses and walk away from the brand completely.

[RunHolmanRun]

I posted about it back in July got the same responses and it's not been sorted yet so let's be honest it isn't going to get sorted. 

[Davie1888]

Yup looks like it, shame as well as I like the watch and the app.

[RunHolmanRun]

I don't use the app at the data is so unreliable, I'm link it with strava and correct the distance which also corrects the splits but again fairly useless when I'm running which is why I have a sports tracker. 

[Twillis1635]

     Same here Andy.  I was on the phone with Fitbit tech support for about an hour last week.  I had previously tried numerous things to fix this, particularly the sudden inability for my Versa to stay connected to GPS.  It is now to the point that I am looking at going to a Garmin or Coros.  I am extremely disappointed because otherwise, I really like the watch and I love the Fitbit app.  

     However, I can't live with the gross discrepancies on distance and pace.  It's extremely frustrating.  I have installed the latest Fitbit update and I know that the last IOS update caused some problems.  I wish I knew the answer. 

Tony 

[Twillis1635]

     Yep.  Same here.  I, like you, don't understand how stride length should affect distance with a piggy-backed GPS recording through the phone.  You are where you are exactly when you are.  That's a poor sentence but I think you get what I mean.  

     Good luck with customer service.  I was actually told last week that a discrepancy between .25 miles and .50 miles is an acceptable deviation.  Really?  That's absurd.  I will be going away from Fitbit very soon and until then, I am using Runkeeper which has been tracking very well, recording the same distance that my Versa used to cover.  I am so disappointed but there is no point in having a Versa that can't do the things that I primarily bought it for.  

[Andyn1970]

I have my replacement watch today so will run with the Fitbit on one arm and my Samsung on the other, I hold out no hope that it is fixed. 

[Davie1888]

I'll be out on my measured 10k route tomorrow so I'll see if the latest fitbit advice has worked, I very much doubt it.

[Andyn1970]

Got the new watch set it up and went out for a very wet run. 

Went over distance by almost  half a mile this time. 

My fitbit

My Samsung using the same GPS

 my wife's Fitbit Versa

 

 not a fast run as its too muddy but my fitbit is still junk. 

To say I'm fed up with it would be an understatement.