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.

[silvermetis]

We have all been here so many times before!! Factory resets, reinstalling apps when is it going to stop.

I just returned my wife's versa after the face came loose, never been underwater, undergone strenuous exercise - we are pensioners!! It's a good job we get 2 years warranty in UK we have never had one last 2 years.

If you do a factory reset allow at least 1hr to load latest firmware otherwise you could well have even more problems.

[SunsetRunner]

Hi Silvermetis,

Yes, we have been there before but I don't think it will ever go away. That is the nature of new technology, unfortunately, especially when it involves multiple different suppliers for the various hardware and software layers that a lot of us use. Apple has one big advantage for their eco-system but even their users have lots of issues. Frustrating but part of modern life!

Stay safe everyone!

[silvermetis]

Hi fboy,

I don't agree many of the fitbit problems seem to be corrupt s/w and firmware when it takes over an hour to download firmware after a factory reset it's a lot of time for things to go wrong.

I had  Huawei W2 prior to my versa the only problem I had was 2 x cracked ceramic cases software was faultless. If cases had not failed I would not have a versa, only reason I still have versa now is 2 year warranty, I just return and get new one and another two years. 

When you get a new versa it takes a couple of months to get it stable then it's best to stop upgrading until it breaks or fitbit download a stealth upgrade and kill it.

[SunsetRunner]

Hi silvermetis,

I guess we will have to agree to disagree. I don't think this is directly Fitbit issue other than their decision to go for connected GPS over bluetooth to create devices with longer battery life. It's the Bluetooth stability / interface standard that's the source of all these problems. The theory is sound but clearly the hardware is not totally reliable.

A large number of fitbit owners probably don't even use the Connected GPS option so I would think they are happy and don't have that many issues. The brand could have survived this far otherwise. With that, Huawei is a vast company compared to Fitbit (about 80 times bigger by revenue) and I imagine their labour costs are still vastly cheaper so they can afford to throw lots of people at it and if you're using one of their phones too then the ecosystem has far fewer chances to go wrong, a bit like Apple.

As an aside, I was under the impression that warranty replacements don't reset your warranty. It runs from the original purchase date.

Anyway, good to trade different opinions!

[silvermetis]

Hi fboy,

Just clarify a few points you raised:

In the UK your contract is with the reseller not with fitbit if a product fails many large reseller choose to refund and allow you to repurchase.

Bluetooth was developed by Ericsson so the swedish could answer their mobile phones with out getting their hands cold during the long cold winters - l know I worked there and knew the development team.

Although bluetooth supports a theoretical max 8 simultaneous links in practice the max is 3 as some applications require more than 1 links the limitations are obvious.

When you design a product it is good idea to understand the limitations of the technology you use.

[Hrahman]

This happens on my Samsung so I'm not sure your phone is the issue! 

[tecishere]

I use the connected GPS usually OK from my Versa, but since the GPS distances are so inaccurate I wait for the GPS data to sync to Strava where I can get accurate times and distances.  The only problem is that while im running I like to see my lap times and total distance, but as its so inaccurate its only useful as a guide. For example I have to make sure I run at least 0.5km more than the distance on my Versa to run 5K which is ridiculous.

Whats the poimt of having a fitness watch if you cant use it? I'm going to try to run using the Strava phone app for a while. If that works out i'm seriously thinking about selling my Versa on eBay and getting an Apple Watch 3 - only £200 - instead of waiting for this to be fixed or, as I was thinking of doing, upgrading to an Ionic. I cant afford to take the chance on a Fitbit not being able to do what I need any more.

[JLop]

I got a new Fitbit ionic on ebay for about $105.00 USD. Has a built in GPS. Solved all my in accurate issues. If u go with apple or a different make, u now lose all your Fitbit history. I had bout 5 yrs worth of runs. Goodluck

Joe

[tecishere]

Thanks. Good to know  I’m not too worried about losing my history. I am just not sure I want to invest in another Fitbit product if the the one I already bought isn’t fit for purpose.  

[Lindy52]

Agree.  I think Fitbit is playing games.  This same GPS problem happened when they introduced Versa 2 and now again when they introduced charge 4 with built in gps.  I think they are trying to get us to buy that one.  Just my opinion. 

[JLop]

Totally agree. GARMIN is the best out there for running n starva sync.
Fitbit products not there yet with the competitors.

[BigBird60]

Hi!!  Saw your issues with the GPS.  I too faced the same problem until I believe this is an idiosyncratic issue with the phone settings.  So, after trying out all the factory resets, twiddling the battery saver modes etc, I finally got the GPS constantly connected with a single setting.  I own a Realme 3 Pro phone (similar to the 'Oppo' brand).  And this is how I solve it:

1.  Goto App Management  & hit the 'Location Info'

2.  This will give you a list of all the Apps and the option to select which App you want the GPS location to be switched on;

3.  Goto the Fitbit app (of course!); select 'Always'.  I had selected the other option 'While Using', but somehow the signal got disconnected while I was running;

Don't worry if you're concern the Fitbit is continually tracking you;  once you switch off the main 'Location' setting, this will turn off all the apps that are using the GPS function.

Try the above step; Have worked beautifully for me since I found this tweak.  

Cheers!!

[tecishere]

Thanks for that, but I have that already set on my iPhone.

[silvermetis]

Hi  let us know know if it is still working next week!

[tecishere]

I  intend to run over the weekend so might go Fitbit only to see. I'll have to run an extra 0.5K though just in case...

[Tanel]

hmm... strange, whenever I sync my runs to Strava or Endomondo, I get the same, vastly different distances in there. 

But anyways I decided to give up on tracking my runs with Fitbit for now as well. Went to the first run today with tracking in Strava app and it was so much nicer experience overall. First thing of course that the distance was accurate. But also I've become a little preoccupied with checking my watch during my runs and not paying enough attention to my running. Since I was not tracking my distance with the watch, I wasn't compelled to peek at it again and again, and could just focus on my run. So I'd say the whole experience was more enjoyable. 🙂

Still hope, that Fitbit manages to get their act together and fix that problem.

[Monomono]

I keep up with the Fitbit hardware updates, including most recent. Also
app updates on IPhone. GPS still not connecting every one out of every
three or four times when I go jogging. Extremely annoying

[Frank75]

Fitbit is aptly named,  'cause their giving people gps fits.Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy Tablet

[BigBird60]

Hi All:

Ok, after running and walking for 2 weeks, I still have some issues with dropped GPS signals.  Although this is not as bad as when I started wearing the Versa 2, but I do agree it can be frustrating when the 'Connecting....' message comes out unpredictably.  

My usual prep:  I sync the Versa 2 with the Fibit app in my phone so that the 'Connected' comes out with the distance display, before I start the exercise.  Then, during with the running or walking, the signal would just dropped (N.B.:  I'm in tropical Singapore and there are hardly any clouds in the sky!).   

What I did was to invoke the Fitbit app again to sync it again and immediately, the distance number  appears again.  There is no trend when the signal is lost, ie it can occur at any interval (although it is stable for the 1st 10 to 13 mins thus far).  During the 1 & half hours activity, I get up to 3 interruptions.  

As far as accuracy is concerned, I have yet to determine which app is more accurate - Fitbit or Endomondo.  But roughly, for every 1 km, the difference is about 40 to 60 metres.  So, in my 10 km run (per Endomondo), Fitbit will tell me I'm still 400 to 500-odd metres shy of the declared distance.  

Maybe this has something to do with the Bluetooth connection; the other BT device I have on is the Jabra E65 Elite ear buds.  No interruption to my music stream & my phone firmware has been updated to the latest.  

So the folks @ Fitbit, DO look seriously into this interrupted lost GPS signal and improve the distance accuracy.  Best way is to walk (or run the talk) & see for yourselves our issues.  Too many negatives being posted in this forum already....

[JLop]

Save yourself from all the headaches. Get a fitbit with a built in GPS.
Built in GPS work atleast 99% of the time. I have a fitbit surge n ionic.
Both were under 100 USD. Its a software glitch yet to be fixed. And the Co
is falsely advertising its product. Deceptive Trade Act.