Fitbit Versa connected GPS issues

[SunsetRunner]

Hi There!

My versa loses connection with my phone (nexus 5x) during bike excercise and thus shows no route on the map. I know I have gps, because Strava app shows it right.

Is this a bug in the software from the Versa?

I tried to start an excercise from fitbit app, but only walk, run or hike does gps. (no bike. why not?!?) so i choose hike.  now i have a hike excercise with hr and ps data. this this excercise shows after sync with strava in strava as hike. in strava i change hike in bike.

now i have bike excercise in strava with hr and gps. after a while just from magic, the ecercise in strava has been changed back into hike again with no hr data anymore.

I know that fitbit versa is not a swiss watch, but at least it should be working as advertised!

connected gps is not not working. People at Fitbit, can you fix this?

Moderator Edit: Updated Subject For Clarity.

[kcronin]

@MJNinDallas Look for Fitbit app version 2.74.2.  That's the last app version that had the most consistent connection. Directions can't be posted within this forum but if you Google looking for how to load that app version you should find instructions. 

[pixbuf]

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@ironcream wrote:

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@Srikanta wrote:

Finally fitbit confirmed that it's a bug. And trying to fix it . Fitbit has no exact date to fix this issue and also no commitment to resolve it.

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Hey @Srikanta!
Would you please share where this information comes from?
I still cannot find this bug acknowledgment by Fitbit on these forums.

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I had an online chat on June 4 about this problem with Steffie at Fitbit, who said this:

Steffie (6/4/2018, 5:14:16 PM): I'd like to share with you, that the issue your device is experiencing has been reported to our engineering team.
Steffie (6/4/2018, 5:14:24 PM): As a cause of this, we have opened an

ongoing investigation

...

Steffie (6/4/2018, 5:16:40 PM): to be very honest with you, since this is an ongoing investigation, our engineering team is still reviewing it. Once the issue is fixed, it will be noticeable in the Fitbit app.

It's been more than 3 months now and no discernible progress. You'd think that if the problem is fixable, it would have been fixed already. Or maybe they just don't have any decent programmers working on it. If it's not fixable, then they shouldn't lead us on telling us they're "working on it".

[pixbuf]

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@kcronin wrote:

@MJNinDallas Look for Fitbit app version 2.74.2.  That's the last app version that had the most consistent connection. Directions can't be posted within this forum but if you Google looking for how to load that app version you should find instructions. 

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I was hopeful about this, but I only had one accurate ride, and 6 inaccurate rides, before I gave up.

[MJNinDallas]

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@pixbuf wrote:

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@kcronin wrote:

@MJNinDallas Look for Fitbit app version 2.74.2.  That's the last app version that had the most consistent connection. Directions can't be posted within this forum but if you Google looking for how to load that app version you should find instructions. 

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I was hopeful about this, but I only had one accurate ride, and 6 inaccurate rides, before I gave up.

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Thanks, kcronin, however pixbuf's experience dampens my enthusiasm.

[AlejandraFitbit]

Hi guys, I hope you are doing fine.

I appreciate the feedback provided regarding the issues you have been experiencing with the GPS connected feature.

As recommended in my previous post, if you haven't checked our list of compatible mobile devices, I recommend taking a look at it and see if your phones are listed, since keep in mind that if you want to have a successful connection between your Versa and phone, it needs to be compatible.

Also follow the instructions provide in the help article Why isn't GPS working on my Fitbit device? or provide me with some screenshots of the information that your watch is recording.

See you around. 

[urmoluts]

Sometimes is good to read some reviews https://www.pcmag.com/article/363711/apple-watch-series-4-vs-fitbit-versa-which-one-should-you

[Lynnbgirl]

so mine has also had connecting issues using the walk feature when i am at the gym walking on the indoor track. So the last 4 days i have decided to take my walks  outside and it stays gps connected the whole time which is amazing, but come winter ill be going back to the gym and i would really like to have my tracker stay connected inside a building like it has done outside. I wish they would just fix this problem. I spent 200 dollars on a product that doesn't function correctly all the time or as advertised!!

[MJNinDallas]

My phone is compatible and I have tried everything you (or your programmer) suggested and still no luck.  This is what it looks like when connected GPS quits working during an activity...

[596beck]

Same old messages and no solution. 

[596beck]

Same old copied and pasted message. All we want is for the versa to work as it should do

[MJNinDallas]

Indeed.  A real human moderator should turn off these automatically-generated technical assistant posts.  They make people more frustrated.

[Srikanta]

You should mention. which phones are  compatabl phones in the versa package not informing after the consumer buy the devise. No use of mentioning the list of compatable phones when we highlight the problem so stop copying the same messages . We are looking for reliable solution not an repeated advice. Once the device is sold it is must for the manufacturer to make sure the device works flawless . Its totally disappointing that the company is not serious in resolving the issues and giving false statement or useless statements. 

[MJNinDallas]

Unfortunately, in the review I do not see mention that the Versa does not work as advertised while tracking activities.  I doubt the reviewer even used connected GPS during an exercise activity; everything in that review could be gleaned from reading the advertising for these watches.  If she had actually used the product, she would've quickly surmised that the product does not work and would have placed a warning in bold red letters at the top of the review.

[urmoluts]

Fitbit compatable phone list is most old models so it means there is minimal test team. one reason is that iphone have less models to test and it is easy to say it is compatable or not. on the android side there is many phones with many different android versions and it is hard to keep all tested. So probably fitbit need use more social testers like us?

but seems to be that versa is one fail model with this phone gps solution and if fitbit team really work with problem, i guess that this size company had allready some solutions. probably is fitbit os crap or something in versa hardware. 

but bright side. you can order charge 3 and problems with fitbit versa is not anymore your problem 😄

it is normal when new model rolled out. nobody fix old models problems. it is consumer society... in here we dont have information how many users over globe have this gps problem with versa. probably there is not enough that fitbit had made recall like it happend with older fitbit model.

[Srikanta]

All reviews are never genuine . All are some kind of sponsored one . We know many users are facing this problem . Even Fitbit accepts that there is a bug. But never have the commitment to resolve it. It's a total nonsense replies when we request on possible solutions. I don't no is there any serious engineering team who is working hard to resolve this . If not fitbit should recall the device and refund the money . After spending 200euros I have kept this **ahem** unused 

[596beck]

Which review are you talking about as many on here now. I was really looking forward to my versa and started to use the connected GPS early on as training for a charity cycle ride. Used alongside cycle computer. On not one ride did it record accurate data. A 21 mile ride recorded as 1.5 miles. A 30 mile ride as 3.4. Every time it connected in a clear open area with no trees, buildings etc it kept losing connection and never reconnected. So many posts 're this and fitbit have now acknowledged a problem apparently. My phone is on the supported list. Historically I have been really impressed with their customer services having had 3 previous models but they were so unhelpful. Exchanged where I bought it and now have a Garmin vivoactive 3 which is amazing. I actually love the look of the versa but it is flawed 

[Hotlush]

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@Lynnbgirl wrote:

i would really like to have my tracker stay connected inside a building like it has done outside. I wish they would just fix this problem. I spent 200 dollars on a product that doesn't function correctly all the time or as advertised!!

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In all fairness to fitbit you'd have the same issue with most, if not all, GPS trackers. If they can't "see" the satellites they won't work.

[Hotlush]

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@AlejandraFitbit wrote:

Hi guys, I hope you are doing fine.

I appreciate the feedback provided regarding the issues you have been experiencing with the GPS connected feature.

As recommended in my previous post, if you haven't checked our list of compatible mobile devices, I recommend taking a look at it and see if your phones are listed, since keep in mind that if you want to have a successful connection between your Versa and phone, it needs to be compatible.

Also follow the instructions provide in the help article Why isn't GPS working on my Fitbit device? or provide me with some screenshots of the information that your watch is recording.

See you around. 

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Sorry but this doesn't help at all.

I've found a work-round that works for me, but it doesn't for everyone and I shouldn't have to experiment with my settings to get it to work.

Can you communicate with the development team and confirm it's an issue they're aware of and working on?

[Hotlush]

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@AlejandraFitbit wrote:

Blah, blah

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Sorry but this doesn't help at all.

I've found a work-round that works for me, but it doesn't for everyone and I shouldn't have to experiment with my settings to get it to work.

Can you communicate with the development team and confirm it's an issue they're aware of and working on?

[MJNinDallas]

At 1st I thought the problem was due to the phone's location service (GPS, cell towers and WiFi spots). However, other applications that use the phone's location service/GPS, such as "map my ride", do not have this problem on the exactly same route at the exact same time. The problem with the Versa is that it loses blue tooth connection with the phone, which is acting as the GPS location provider. I suspect that as Lynnbgirl uses the device more, she will notice this is occurring outside as well. I've reproduced it dozens of times, in wide open spaces, attempting to pin down a solution.