Worng pace and distance for versa fitbit

[Carriemrf]

Fitbit versa is the worng pace I'm running 9.40 its saying 13 pace then the distance is out by half a mile ??

[bmw54]

If your run stats, pace and/or distance, are being measured incorrectly you might be interested in this thread:

GPS inconsistency 

reading it entirely will take weeks. The basic lesson we've learned is that Fitbit doesn't use GPS to measure your run, it uses step count and stride length. Depending on your settings it will use GPS to periodically recalculate stride length. As it does this, you may find your run stats improve.

There's a variety of design issues that pushed them to this solution, and for most casual runners it's probably a good solution to their hardware 'problems'. But if you are a competitive athlete who strategically varies pace, it may persist as a problem. 

Welcome to the Fitbit rabbit hole. 

[SunriseGirl]

@bmw54 Are you saying even when using connected GPS (when it connects successfully for the entire run) it isn’t using it for that run the whole time, only calculating an updated stride length?  I did notice a current pace stat, though.  

[Carriemrf]

Well when I set off on a run I just press go am i doing it worng ? What's connect?

Sent from Outlook

[bmw54]

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@SunriseGirl wrote:

@bmw54 Are you saying even when using connected GPS (when it connects successfully for the entire run) it isn’t using it for that run the whole time, only calculating an updated stride length?  I did notice a current pace stat, though.  

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It's been my experience that the Ionic (and, now it seems, Versa) uses stride length X step count to measure distance and pace; this is how it measures what it displays as you are running.

This is fine if your pace is consistent and your 'running stride length' is accurate (find them in your personal settings on the phone app;  also click the box that allows fitbit to dynamically adjust stride lengths).

This is not fine if your pace in some runs (such as a 5K race) significantly exceeds normal training pace. Whenever I race, fitbit consistently under-measures distance and displays pace at rates up to double my official results.

Note: GPS information is recorded every 3 to 5 seconds and is available for downloading. I've studied mine in excel to figure out how it treats time periods where GPS signal is lost (there's lots of these). This information is what provides the map of your run after you sync to your phone.

If you followed the link I sent, you'll see much disagreement, controversy and dismay regarding all this. I think fitbit chose a workable solution for casual runners; especially given how often GPS signal is lost, exercise cuts out and other hardware issues. But these are not devices suitable for competitive athletes.

[bmw54]

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@Carriemrf wrote:
Well when I set off on a run I just press go am i doing it worng ? What's connect?

Sent from Outlook

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I don't know if you have Versa with GPS or if you have to use your phone's GPS and carry it with you. But when you start your 'Run' exercise, Versa will begin its process of finding the multiple satellite signals it needs to establish a GPS connection. When it's succeeded in doing this it will vibrate and tell you it has  connected. That's when you press the start icon and begin your run.

Again, I don't know exactly what you're seeing on your Versa so I recommend you study the specific instructions in the Versa manual. Download it and print it. You'll be referring to it often.

[SunriseGirl]

@bmw54 Thank you so much for the very good and detailed explanation!  This is very helpful!  Would you happen to know how the AW3 uses GPS?  I tried a Garmin Fenix5 and it was way too complicated for me, haha

[bmw54]

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@SunriseGirl wrote:

Would you happen to know how the AW3 uses GPS?  I tried a Garmin Fenix5 and it was way too complicated for me, haha

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Based on all my other experience in the Apple ecosystem of products I have to think the AW must be intuitive and have made it through vigorous field testing. Of course, it's bolted onto IOS and battery charge is famously less than fitbit and Garmin.

I  can't believe anyone else uses all their GPS data just to draw pretty maps, but anything's possible.

Once my fitbit Surge finally craps out I'll pay attention to what my local running store recommends: Garmin. At the starting line of road races that's what you see on most wrists; not Fitbit or AW. 

I don't know what your return policy is but pay attention to it. In the meantime, since you've already made the Versa investment, give it a try. The more you run with it, the more accurate it should become. Just make sure you set stride-length to dynamic.

If nothing else, fitbit's been good for the drama of living with products that have barely made it through beta testing. To their credit, over the past few years they've supplied me with plenty of replacements as their products never seem to make it much past 6 months life.