Versa counting too many floors.

[Acharpia]

Ever since I got my Versa it seems to be grossly over exaggerating my stair count. I had the Charge 2 before the Versa and it was fairly accurate with my stair count, but now it’s more than doubling the number of floors I climb in a day.

Is this a known issue? Has the way in which the Versa calculates stairs climbed change significantly over the Charge 2? I’ve now gone from averaging 15 floors a day to 34. 

Moderator Edit: Clarified Subject.

[ShaunMcGill]

I don't think Fitbit is burying its head in the sand on the issue, I suspect that the company cannot fix the problem and is currently in the process of deflecting, delaying and doing anything for it not to be seen as widespread.

This may not be a popular opinion, but it's likely true that the vast majority of Fitbit owners are not seriously looking at the numbers the products produce. They could be described as toys that offer general stats to work from and not much more.

In contrast to that they did help me- I lost more than 100lbs in weight over 18 months using a Fitbit, but when I moved to the competition the difference is stark in terms of accuracy of the steps, flights etc etc. The others are way more accurate, but Fitbit has a much friendlier software interface which appeals to more people.

When I moved to an Ionic I noticed the flights problem and then with the Versa and the Charge 3. The Charge 2 does not have the problem at all in my experience so I suspect it is hardware. These three devices have also displayed huge problems with inconsistent and inaccurate step counting for me and the same for the Alta HR which can be way off in terms of 'active minutes'. I can see 200 active minutes in a day when I have been sat at a desk for 9 hours.

At this point I believe that Fitbit (new devices) have big problems in this area, but that the company is trying to keep it under wraps. Some of the competition is way ahead, I have tested more than 15 devices now over 3 years for freelance writing projects, and I just wish they would make their software interfaces as friendly and easy to use as Fitbit's is.

I have lost all faith in Fitbit because I don't believe the company has any intention, or the ability, to resolve these problems. Such a shame.

[Pulsar2]

Actually, one of the disappointing things for me is how incomplete reviews
of new devices are - or one could say even slightly biased. I have also
noticed how similar many reviews are and wonder if some writers are just
repeating the advertising blurb and aren't really doing a thorough review.



With expensive hi-tech devices I now tend to also go to the forums to find
out the real oil on devices.



But I still remain disappointed with the newer Fitbit's which seem to be not
so well developed as earlier models before being released.

And disappointed at the lack of response from them.



The issue of lack of accuracy with stair climbing has been around for over a
year now with the later models. I'm certain its not the hardware as the
pressure sensor, altimeter seems extremely accurate. The issue seems to lie
with the software and algorithms used to detect motion when climbing and
filtering out other movements - such as driving in a car. I didn't have
these issues with my original Fitbit's.

[ShaunMcGill]

Some of us at least try- https://lostinmobile.com/2018/10/17/fitbit-charge-3-first-impressions/

[tallgeoff]

Thank you for trying to get the word out on these issues. Without this press Fitbit will never be motivated to correct the issues. It’s almost criminal they continue to release new watches with the same faults. It will catch up to them.

Some feature was added that subtracted accuracy. My guess it’s the new waterproof feature. I believe the water sealing membrane has made the sensors too sensitive.

Good coverage of the issue. I looked hard for my first fitness device and chose Versa for the interface and waterproof feature. I assumed the long standing basic features of counting steps and flights would be accurate. Hard to believe they aren’t. The issue is without a reference users simply don’t know they have a problem. Compounding the issue is the over counting issue falsely “rewards” the user. Why investigate when you are beating all of of your own fitness goals and your friends?! You feel/look like a superhero.

Geoff

Moderator edit: merged replies

[Gjjen]

I agree that this is a hardware problem associated with the waterproof feature. I noticed that the new Versa just released doesn’t do floors. It would not surprise me if Fitbit moves away from the altimeter and stops supporting it. BTW, when I climb elevation it underestimates vertical more than over estimates increasing the suspicion it just doesn’t read pressure well.

[tallgeoff]

Well the first step is removing a feature that does not work. They can’t do that with step counts as it’s too critical.

Geoff

Moderator edit: personal info removed

[Mpeters82]

I don't think the altimeter is the problem here. It's the fact that the Versa detects movement when it shouldn't. Most of my floors climbed are when I'm driving.

I thought after a firmware update a few weeks back that it got a bit better, but it may be my imagination.

[JuanJoFitbit]

@cpetras @13maria @SunsetRunner @ShaunMcGill @SunsetRunner @lisa4568 @iamElaineAnn @Pulsar2 @ShaunMcGill @Gjjen @tallgeoff I'm sorry for the late response. However, I totally understand how you feel about this issue and I appreciate your feedback.

I also appreciate your efforts in trying the recommended troubleshooting steps.

I would like to follow up and would like to know if the issue persists. If so, I would like to know if you have tried a factory reset if you haven't done so.

In order to perform a factory reset, please open the Settings app on your devices > Then select "About" > Factory Reset or Clear User Data. Please make sure to sync your trackers before the factory reset since the recent data will be erased. Finally, set up your Versa trackers again and monitor the floors tracking.

If the issue persists, let me know and I'll be happy to proceed accordingly.

[ShaunMcGill]

Tried a factory reset on every device that had the problem. Made no difference with any of them. Either I am incredibly unlucky in that every device I owned had this fault, and my wife also seemed to be unlucky with three different devices, and so did two friends who had the same issue on their Fitbits, or just maybe there is an inherient problem which Fitbit refuses to acknowledge. 

Offering the same factory reset fix (which never works) is not a solution. It would be like the wheels falling off my car and asking me to turn the engine off and back on: Still no wheels. 

[tallgeoff]

Agreed. This is their ongoing advice. Note the new Versa has no stair count. Tells you all you need to know. They can’t correct the issue.

Moderator edit: remove personal information

[Pulsar2]

Wonderful

At last someone from Fitbit has responded, many thanks.

But if you look back through the many posts you will see that a factory
reset doesn't solve the issue.



Could you answer a question for us. Has this issue continued to just be
handled within the customer services, or has it been escalated up to the
engineers, developers.

If not, it should be as this is clearly a hardware/ software issue that
needs to be addressed.



Chris

[13maria]

Good Afternoon, yes i have done the factory reset and the issue continues,
thus my frustration with the issue.

Thank you,

[Turnrich]

I live in Calgary Alberta and stairs are definitely affected by Chinooks whereas my Charge was not,  Interesting blog and glad I now know why.  Other than that I love my versa

[13maria]

The problem is with the number of floors climbed not the steps.

[ShaunMcGill]

Many people report steps inaccuracy as well. I tested the Fitbits against other trackers and they often overcount and sometimes in a big way. 

[tallgeoff]

Sorry it’s both. Try comparing a walk with an accurate device such as Garmin. There are posts on this issue as well.

Geoff

Moderator edit: removed personal information

[Mpeters82]

The root problem is the step count. It tracks steps while you're driving, and if you gain altitude at the same time, it thinks you're climbing stairs.

[AlvaroFitbit]

@Mpeters82 @tallgeoff  @Pulsar2 @13maria @Turnrich @ShaunMcGill thank you for your updates. 

Your device uses it's altimeter to detect variance in altitude. It will count 1 floor for every 10 ft it detects you climbed. There are situations that may affect the floor count like stormy weather (that has an actual impact on atmospheric pressure), gusts of wind, an AC unit in a closed room or opening a door. I suggest you start by cleaning the back of the device with cotton and rubbing alcohol then use compressed air at a distance to clear the altimeter's opening (check the image for reference). Finally restart it. You can also remove steps and floors by logging a driving activity.

Let me know how it goes.

[ShaunMcGill]

Any idea why Garmin devices count flights perfectly. And Apple Watches for that matter? Without the need to restart and cleaning. 

If if it helps I tried all of that a couple of months ago and made no difference. Sorry, but these so called fixes are sounding less and less convincing by the day. 

[tallgeoff]

The new altimeter is too sensitive and I’m sure the waterproof feature hardware is a factor. That’s all that changed.

Geoff

Moderator Edit: Removed Personal Information.