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.

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello everyone, I hope you're doing well. It's great to see you around @Marrrmaduke, thanks for all your help. 

I appreciate you have shared your experience with us and let us know the troubleshooting steps you've tried so far. At this moment, if you haven't done it yet, please update your Versa to the latest firmware and update the app on your mobile device. After that, please follow these steps when you're about to start a GPS-based activity:

1. Open the Fitbit app
2. Sync your Versa
3. Start the GPS-based activity on your Versa
4. Wait for the to connect to your phone (it should take less than 30 seconds)

Please remember to make sure there are no other Bluetooth devices around when starting your activity as this might prevent your phone and your Versa to connect. Keep in mind that if you're surrounded by buildings and/or tall trees it might take longer to connect.

I hope this can be helpful, give these steps a try and let us know the outcome. 

[dave_in_ni]

Longer to connect you say?? I did a 5K around a football field and it never went past connecting.  Something is wrong with the fitbit app, the fact it will connect to older versions of the app shows this is the case, so rather than updating to the latest version the better advice would be to downgrade.

[Frank75]

This whole thing  has me more then annoyed. I have my phone for GPS, and never expected to have GPS on my watch. What i expected was to look at my watch as i rode, and see my milage. I have been using Strave for some time and don't need it on my watch. If it can give distance in any other activity, it should be able to do so on this effin watch.I am a cyclist of 87 years, who feels as though he bought a Chinese Puzzle.

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy Tablet

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @dave_in_ni and @Frank75, I hope you're doing well, thanks for taking the time to reply. 

I appreciate you have replied back and shared your feedback with us. Tell me, were you able to try the troubleshooting steps on my previous post? If you're still having trouble with connected GPS on your Versa,  I would like to gather some information from those of you who are still having trouble with your watch so we can check this further:

• iPhone model you're using. 
• OS version running on your phone
• App version installed on your phone (go to Account > Help to get it)
• Versa version (go to Account > Versa to get it)

Thanks for your patience and understanding, we'll be waiting to hear from you. 

[Frank75]

Sigh. I am not in need of a GPS.  I have 3 GPS apps on my Android phone. When I ran Strava on Versa, it showed me the route on my watch. A duplication of effort. What I want is to see my cycling milage as I peddle along. If Versa is capable of doing that, please tell me how. Aside from that, it's a nice unit, but not for me. A water $200.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks for acknowledging the issue but I would think most people have the latest versions of everything. None of those steps solve the issue and even if it helps, it seems it's not a solution. I am very frustrated that Fitbit are not recognising that a decent number of people are experiencing the issue and are trying to work it out. The last 2 or 3 Fitbit OS updates have not addressed it, simply added functionality rather than real fixes. I would rather issues fixed first and then work on new functionality.

[Frank75]

Well, I am about to put on the shelf with other mistakes.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

[SunsetRunner]

I received my Versa a week ago (for Christmas). The first bike ride I went on it tracked everything perfectly. But then, the next day, I couldn’t get it to syn for a hike. Today we went on a bike ride and still had trouble. It would give me heart rate, calories and time but not mileage or speed. I was very frustrated! I’ve read over many articles and tried a dozen different things to fix the constant connecting, but to no avail.

Then I ran across another article that said I needed to disconnect and remove all my Bluetooth devices (including the Versa) from my iPhone. Then disconnect it from the Fitbit app. After doing all this....IT WORKED!!!

I’ll try to update in a few days to let you know if it continues, but I am super excited that this worked! I was about to take it back and get the Apple Watch. The main reason for me getting this is for the mileage tracking and speed while hiking and biking.

[dave_in_ni]

Is it only Android having this issue? iPhones seem to work ok.

[hilehoffer]

Clearly this watch is not working properly.  My GPS always states connecting when I start a run.  The maps of my runs will often just show straight lines if I even get a map at all. It's nonsense.  I have a Pixel2.

[Frank75]

I'm about ready to toss in the towel and advise that the Versa sucks. Money down the toilet.

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphonei

[SunsetRunner]

Lost connection once I connected my phone to the car’s Bluetooth. Sad to say, I returned it to BestBuy and got an Apple Watch.

I’m so sad because I wanted it to work so much!!

[dave_in_ni]

The Versa GPS seems to work fine with an older version of the Fitbit app on Android at least, the downside to this is app or clockfaces don't sync and give an error.

[MarkMM]

---

@SunsetRunner wrote:

Lost connection once I connected my phone to the car’s Bluetooth. Sad to say, I returned it to BestBuy and got an Apple Watch.

I’m so sad because I wanted it to work so much!!

---

Why did you connect to your cars bluetooth while in connected GPS mode?

[trhops]

I turned off my wifi and the connecting finally went away!

[PredPilot]

Samsung Galaxy S8

Android 8.0.0

Fitbit Version 2.84

Versa Version 32.33.1.30

  @MarcoGFitbit

I have tried absolutely everything all the forums and the fitbit articles suggest to get my gps to connect. Deleting versa and adding it to my account again. Unpairing and repairing. Removing all other BT devices while it tries to connect. Restarting the phone, restarting the fitbit. Everything. I am beyond frustrated at trying to get it to connect. I only got my Versa at Christmas, but the multiple separate threads that go back to the summer lead me to believe this ongoing issue will never be fixed. I have been a loyal Fitbit user since I got the Force years ago... love my Versa, but this is enough to make me want a different brand. Am I doing something wrong? 

[SunsetRunner]

You're doing nothing wrong. It's just Fitbit not accepting the issue, not
communicating about it and adding new functionality before fixing existing
functionality that doesn't work.

I am in the midst of planning my Fitbit exit ....

[dave_in_ni]

I also have tried everything and it simply won't connect, It seems to me that its more android related than iOS although I could be wrong. 

[RonS16]

Have you tried replacing 2.84 with 2.74.2? I found that is what worked best for me. Also, lock your fitbit app and make sure it is excluded from Androids power saving. And turn your wifi off.

[SunsetRunner]

Do you not feel taking *all* these steps to get what is described as
standard functionality working is somewhat ridiculous?