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.

[Quaz]

feels like it's getting even worse

Just did a walk that I know is 6.2k. Fitbit basically showed as "connecting" the whole time and logged it at 4.1k. That's a massive difference

also the pace was in the 14's when my walks are always in the 11's

beyond a joke

[Marrrmaduke]

@Tomtomato Also make sure the Fitbit app is locked (screen pinning), that you're not running a doze mode, that always connected and all day sync and keep alive widget are enabled. 

[Tomtomato]

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@Marrrmaduke wrote:

@Tomtomato Also make sure the Fitbit app is locked (screen pinning), that you're not running a doze mode, that always connected and all day sync and keep alive widget are enabled. 

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Thanks, but I have tried all those things too... 

[dave_in_ni]

So I downgrade to 2.74.2 I think it is on my Android.  Went for a walk this morning and to my surprise it worked perfectly.  Connected near enough instantly and stayed connected throughout the walk.  So obviously Fitbit have changed something since 2.74.2, The issue has to be with the fitbit app itself not the fitbit or firmware etc,

[Marrrmaduke]

@dave_in_ni Yes and yes and yes. That's why I whine about 2.74.2 all the time. This is also the only build I know that will allow for Versa to sync and receive notifications without issues when there's Charge 3 (not recommended by Fitbit) linked with the Fitbit account. Having said that, this build will not support Today app fully (anything that has to be pushed back to Fitbit app e.g. water logging), fancy shmancy customized emojis in quick replies, etc.

[RonS16]

I am running the latest firmware along wit 2.74.2. GPS connection seems to be stable. Not having the same luck with notifications.. The latest firmware update seemed to adversely affect that feature. No problem syncing or downloading apps. 

[Marrrmaduke]

@RonS16 Do remind me if you have any other trackers paired with your account. I know we chatted before but I completely forgot what your setup is (phone model, OS, trackers, etc.). You know memory like a Swiss cheese... 😛

[RonS16]

@Marrrmaduke Hi again. I am using a Samsung S9 on Android 8.0. I finished another session using the Versa this morning and I am happy to say that the GPS connected right away and stayed connected for the full time. Distance reported (3.4 miles) was the same as that reported by Strava. Only downside is that I was x/c skiing and had to use the "Hiking" sport on the watch. No biggie.

Now to notifications. They have always worked and then I noticed yesterday that they were not. I use Fit Notifications as my preferred app. As I typed this I went into the app and sent a test. It worked. Who knows but it does seem to be working again.

2.74.2 and the latest firmware seem to be working fine. I lock the FitBit app and remove it from power saving. I also turn off the wifi although I don't know if that really helps because it works fine with it on as well.

It strikes me that those who are having problems (using an approved phone) and have tried all of the things that you have recommended simply have a defective unit. They need to contact support if they haven't already.

[RonS16]

Oh yes. I do have a charge 2 HR on the same account. It is NOT paired with my S9 but rather with a tablet that I have. I found that if both trackers were paired to the phone it would cause significant syncing issues.

[Marrrmaduke]

@RonS16 pretty much that's what I would do on my older OnePlus.

[SOMDtrish]

How do you find out the latest firmware or update? Mine is still only
counting about 75% of total steps.

[RonS16]

On your Versa go to Settings, then About. The firmware version will be displayed on the first line.

[Frank75]

It's 32.33.1.30Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

[chris2121]

I've read through a fair bit of this post with increasing dismay.  Connected GPS just won't work on my Motorola Moto X Play.  In fact syncing is rather less reliable than it was with my Surge which was also somewhat temperamental, although in the end I got used to it.  

What I'd really like to know is what phones people have made work.  The fitbit "approved" list seems to be a bit of joke in that some people seem to have problems with the few phones on that list but the list itself is lamentably short and out of date.  Sometime soon I need to buy a new phone and I'd like to be confident that it might work with my Versa.  Is that too much to ask?

[dave_in_ni]

I'm using a Honor 8X, Huawei/Honor are renowned for not working with
fitbit but I got mine working fine.

[chris2121]

Thanks.  Useful to know.  We almost need an unofficial list of all the phones that have been found to work.

[dave_in_ni]

Yes that exactly what we need as fitbits list is useless

[RonS16]

Samsung S9

[stellafred]

Alcatel Raven (Android; TracFone), but for now I'm syncing to my iPod instead because the Versa takes the phone battery down to nothing in about 12 hours.....

[chris2121]

Thanks.  Sadly that would be far too expensive for me.

Reading through other posts on the fitbit forums about phone compatibility I do wonder how Fitbit are getting away with such lamentable customer care.  Repeatedly trotting out the answer that it's not guaranteed to work unless it's on a fairly short list of mostly old model phones is pathetic.  I like my Versa and I can live without connected GPS (and can even swap back to my Surge on occasions).  I'd like it a hell of a lot more if it worked properly.

I personal trainer friend of mine is planning on buying a Versa having seen mine.  I'm going to tell him not to and find something else (and tell him to warn all his other clients).