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Versa 3 GPS connectivity issues

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‎12-03-2020 05:23 - last edited on ‎12-18-2022 20:50 by Fitbit Moderator

‎12-03-2020 05:23 - last edited on ‎12-18-2022 20:50 by Fitbit Moderator

I bought my Versa 3 almost exclusively to track my runs. I understand that sometimes when I run, and I do often run in cities, through forests, or under bridges, that the GPS will momentarily struggle. I'm fine with that.

 

The problem I have is that, when this happens (and it happens far more regularly than when I had a Suunto by the way), my Versa 3 just throws its hands in the air saying "No GPS signal" and simply stops trying to reconnect. It then does that thing where it tries to estimate my pace from steps... and of course it fails miserably (this last run, it cut out half way through and then under-estimated my distance/pace in the rest of the run by about 25%).

 

So: why does the Versa not continuously try to reconnect? And is there no feature setting, or menu button (e.g. during the run) where we can click a box saying "always try to reconnect to GPS"? And if not, why not?

 

 

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

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16 REPLIES 16

‎12-04-2020 07:19 - edited ‎05-26-2023 11:26

‎12-04-2020 07:19 - edited ‎05-26-2023 11:26

Hi there @hosborn, welcome to the Community Forums. We acknowledge the limitation we have on our part particularly on what you have experienced. We‘re taking into consideration your comments and sentiments with regards to our products and services.

In order to solve the inconvenience with the GPS connection, take the following into consideration:

  • Make sure that you have a clear view of the sky when you start the exercise. Environmental factors, including tall buildings, dense forest, steep hills, and thick cloud cover, can interfere with your device’s ability to connect to GPS satellites. If the signal is blocked—either because you're indoors, underground, or due to another reason—GPS won't work.

  • Check that GPS is turned on for the exercise. For more information, see How do I turn on GPS for an exercise on my Fitbit device?
  • Make sure that your device is charged to at least 80%.
  • Confirm that your device is syncing with the Fitbit app. The more you sync your device, the faster your device can connect to GPS.
  • Avoid trying to start an exercise with GPS several times in a row, which can prevent your device from connecting to GPS.

 

See if GPS connects after each step

  1. Force quit, and reopen the Fitbit app to refresh the connection with your device.
  2. On your phone, go to Settings > Bluetooth and turn Bluetooth off and back on.
  3. Restart your phone.


Let me know how it goes. 

Maria | Community Moderator, Fitbit


Was my post helpful? Give it a thumbs up to show your appreciation! Of course, if this was the answer you were looking for, don't forget to make it the Best Answer! Als...
Best Answer

‎12-04-2020 07:35

In response to MarreFitbit

‎12-04-2020 07:35

I'm having the same issue have done everything I can I have 2 friends who are having the same issue. It has to be a Firmware issue.

Best Answer

‎12-04-2020 07:50 - edited ‎12-04-2020 07:54

In response to MarreFitbit

‎12-04-2020 07:50 - edited ‎12-04-2020 07:54

Thanks for the response @MarreFitbit, although it's the same copy+paste I've seen in other threads. My issue isn't "GPS wont work", but "GPS wont reconnect after losing signal".

This could be because of the 80% charge problem - if I run with GPS for 2 hours, having it 80% charged for the final 1 hour is literally impossible. So if there is some sort of new software that limits e.g. the number of reconnection attempts with the GPS at low battery states, then please roll that update back or give me an option to turn that off.

Also, with a Versa 3, the "confirm your device is syncing" step is not necessary as the GPS is exclusively in-built. I would actually be happy if there was a dynamic/combined Versa 3+phone GPS tracking option, as at least that might fix some of these recent GPS problems. But for the Versa 3 a dynamic GPS connection is apparently impossible until/unless fitbit includes it in a future firmware update.

 

@MiniMunn - I believe you're right that the GPS has been seriously compromised in the recent firmware updates - I found that this type of permanent disconnection rarely happened until I updated ~a week ago (since which is has happened every time).

Best Answer

‎01-08-2021 04:07

In response to hosborn

‎01-08-2021 04:07

I have a lot of issues with GPS connection, first hooking to satellites is very slow and then, during the run, frequently the connection is lost.
I am seriously worry...

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‎05-20-2021 11:51

‎05-20-2021 11:51

I've just called customer service about the same issue. The customer service agent informed me that it an issue that is known to the developer team. They are working to resolve the issue, but do not have a solution yet. When an issue is found, they will have an update on the FitBit app. I should say that I have a 10-year old Garmin GPS device that never loses GPS connection. Why a device that's ten years newer has such problems is a mystery.

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0 Votes

‎08-28-2021 05:53

In response to MarreFitbit

‎08-28-2021 05:53

Hello I too am very frustrated with the poor quality of my fitbit versa 3 GPS.   Remember this is supposed to be a built in GPS.   I had an old fitbit surge with the built in GPS and it rarely ever gave me a problem with connecting to GPS.  You would figure new model and newer technology would work better.   This is NOT the case.   I am vey disappointed with this feature.   I also had a fitbit HR inspire with  no built in GPS but it connected through my phone and that worked great.   So why is the versa 3 so problematic with the GPS connection?   And your instructions above for the following do not make sense.   How do I turn on GPS for an exercise on my Fitbit device?---when I followed these instructions it does not make sense.  When I go to the exercise app  and swipe up as you suggest there is NO option for turning GPS on.  nothing happens when you swipe up.   All I see for the walk run apps is the option for autoregonize which I do NOT want.   Also above you state "Confirm that your device is syncing with the Fitbit app. The more you sync your device, the faster your device can connect to GPS."  But this is a built in GPS so why do I need to do this?  Please help.   Again none of the recommendation you suggested work or as I stated above do not make sense.  Can someone email me directly to help---lindalow13@gmail.com

Best Answer

‎08-28-2021 06:51

In response to DavidSilverman

‎08-28-2021 06:51

yes agree 100% my older fitbits have no issues with GPS connecting

Best Answer

‎08-31-2021 11:53

In response to LowL

‎08-31-2021 11:53

Hi. I’m having the same issue, having recently upgraded to a Versa 3. I keep loosing GPS connectivity on runs, and once lost it never reconnects (I never had connected GPS issues with my old Charge 2 Fitbit on the same running routes). The instructions for turning on GPS relate to the exercise app on the Fitbit device itself and not the app on the phone  - although this didn’t help me as GPS was already turned on. 

Best Answer

‎09-03-2021 06:59

In response to PipK

‎09-03-2021 06:59

Yes it's a big problem I'm really disappointed also I have the same issues with the Bluetooth and connectivity.... Yes it's a big problem I'm really disappointed also I have the same issues with the Bluetooth and connectivity. This makes no sense why the older models seem to work better.   When will fitbit fix this very frustrating.... And I had just given away my older fitbit now wish I had it back

Best Answer

‎07-01-2022 19:17

In response to MarreFitbit

‎07-01-2022 19:17

Tons of people with the same problem, a year and a half later and my partner is having the same problem. All the time in the world, why not fix it?

Best Answer

‎08-09-2022 07:49

In response to thegreatignarus

‎08-09-2022 07:49

This problem makes the Versa 3 into just a watch. If I can’t count on the mileage to be accurate it’s not useful.

Best Answer

‎08-15-2022 17:21

In response to Jamesbn1

‎08-15-2022 17:21

Since this has been a KNOWN problem for two years is there any way to exchange for a different model? Right now it’s just a watch…..and that’s not what I bought it for.

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‎08-20-2022 07:24

In response to Jamesbn1

‎08-20-2022 07:24

Yess all of the above make sens except for the selution.

I have done road races for two Saturdays in a row where my Versa 3 GPS lost tracking in the midle of the race snd then after a kilometer vonnected again. Does also apear it does not use google maps very well. I guess it uses g maps. I had a update a week ago for the V3 but it fid not solve the problem. It seems to happen round about 10km

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0 Votes

‎08-25-2022 20:20

In response to Wierda128

‎08-25-2022 20:20

I have a Versa 3 which I have to say is usually pretty accurate with regard to the maps, which I like to look at. Today I went for a about 8 km walk, which route I have done many times before but only the first half is in the map. So I infer that the Versa 3 lost GPS halfway through and never succeeded in reconnecting. I know that it can reconnect however because months ago I did a long hike and the map was accurate except in the middle there was a straight line that was not the route but you could tell the Fitbit connected the point where it lost GPS to the point where it reconnected with a straight line. My point in posting this is to push Fitbit to fix this bug, as I would call it, where the Versa 3 gives up trying to reconnect to GPS.

Best Answer

‎09-23-2022 13:08

In response to Ludovicus2

‎09-23-2022 13:08

Same issue here and it only started after the latest update. It was working very well, 

now loses signal, last time even twice during one run. 

Best Answer

‎05-11-2023 19:48

In response to LukaszGlaza

‎05-11-2023 19:48

*Sigh* I got this watch after Amazon announced their discontinuation of their halo and it was a good price, good reviews and having everything I wanted in a watch.

 

I came to see why my watch cut off 25% of my walk today and I'm not liking that this is a persistent problem.

 

Has it gotten any better for anyone on here? So far it's just the one time and my watch was just charged fully before I left so battery charge wasn't an issue.

 

It is hard to track my progress with 25% of the data gone on one of my exercises.

Best Answer