Versa distance suddenly inaccurate

[LTMVersaGuy]

i have been using my versa for several months and the distance was always similar as I went on my walks following the same paths.  Suddenly the distance is off by 20%.  I confirmed the versa is connected to my phone for the walk, but it does not seem to matter.  If i track the distance with the app on my phone, it is correct.  What can be causing the inaccuracy?

[Julia_G]

Hi, @LTMVersaGuy , although the technology is pretty impressive, blips do happen... It is possible that the connection between your phone and the Fitbit dropped out for a time and when it reconnected, instead of continuing, it restarted your walk.  (I don’t know that for sure; it’s just a guess of what might have happened.)

If you find that your Versa is usually accurate, and this is a one off, then I would suggest just editing your activity or deleting and entering it manually (if you want the record correct) and then just keeping an eye on it in the future.  Hopefully this won’t happen again.

In addition, whenever your Fitbit is not behaving as expected, it is a good idea to give it a restart - you won’t lose any data doing this, and a restart can ‘flush out the system’ shutting down any background activities that may be causing issues.  On your Versa swipe left, choose ‘settings’, choose ‘about’, and choose ‘shutdown’.  In a moment or two, just switch back on.

[dryheatwriter]

I am experiencing the exact same issue. Following the upgrade on 9/20, my distance tracked for runs via GPS is now off by 20%.

On 9/21 I ran in a measured race of 14k (8.7 miles). I ran alongside a friend using Map My Run and I was hitting miles .2 miles faster than my friend. I eventually logged 10.3 miles on this measured 8.7 mile course. The course was hilly and in a city, so I figured it was GPS disconnect issues.

On 9/28 I ran a 9 mile measured course in open terrain (no mountains/high buildings) and it came out as 11.8 miles. Along the way I was alongside 2 friends - one with an Apple Watch and other using Map My Run. My Versa hit 1 mile while they showed .8 miles and it continued throughout the run - I was always hitting my miles ahead of them, adding .2 miles for each mile we traveled until the end. It was not a "glitch" mid-run or anything like that - it was a consistent misread.

I tried again this morning and on my regular 2.2 mile walk, Fitbit showed me at 1 mile at my 0.75 mile point. Fitbit eventually recorded 2.68 miles when the walk is only 2.2 miles.

I looked and my stride length is correct.

This has only started since the BIOS upgrade that was pushed on September 20. It is VERY annoying because I cannot rely on my pace that is shown on the Versa during my runs which is one of the selling points of the watch in the first place.

I use a Samsung Galaxy S8 phone. I have not had any other paired Bluetooth devices during these runs. I've rebooted both Versa and phone multiple times.

[LTMVersaGuy]

It is interesting that your distance is greater where my distance is lower.  I also use a Galaxy S8 phone.  

[LTMVersaGuy]

This solution worked. My distance was very close, but some of the locations where the GPS signal was picked up were off.  But at least the distance makes sense.

Thanks.

[Jaydg23]

Did you get this resolved? I'm having the same issue. Its recent, I am curious if it was an update since the tracking/distance was fine less than a month ago. 

[LTMVersaGuy]

To be honest, I stopped using my Fitbit for tracking distance.  Since I have to take my phone with me, I just use the Fitbit app for measuring distance.  The App is more precise.  I don't understand the programming.  Other companies seem to have no issues with getting the tracking correct, but the Fitbit watch does.