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I agree with many of the others. I know there may not appear to be enough users requesting the bluetooth LE off functionality for fitbit to consider it, but I also know of several hundred, Yes Really, who would consider it, fitbit devices, at my location alone. There are 8,000 military and 12,000 civilians affected by the bluetooth rules at my location alone. I traded a fitbit flex for a first generation jawbone with my son-in-law for that reason. I love the Surge and want one, but I can't justify it if I can't turn the LE radio off while I am at work.
Please don't just consider, but make this an option. You will get a number, Most Likely thousands more at $249 a pop, of new customers with this functionality. Most people I speak with on the military base I work at love the look and function of your products, but won't buy them because they cannot disable the bluetooth. They get written up in sensitive electronic areas for active bluetooth devices and could potentially lose jobs.
One older gentleman specifically stated he came home and threw the device in a drawer because he was written up for a violation at work. He loves the device, but can't afford to lose his job. Thanks for implementing this as soon as possible.
Moderator Edit: Edited title for clarity and word choice
@SunsetRunner As has been mentioned many times here on the forums, Fitbit trackers are completely safe to wear while pregnant. Feel free to point me toward a warning on our site if you think you've seen one.
@MatthewFitbit I'm pretty sure many of the people posting here with these concerns will agree with me when I say that the low RF power level level that we want is zero and the frequency of intermittent transimission we want is zero (except for when turning on Bluetooth to sync, obviously)...other companies do this with their fitness trackers.
I can't help but think about how many more customers FitBit would gain and retain with this feature. So many people have posted here about how their workplace does not allow Bluetooth to be turned on and others have mentioned improved battery life. I just don't understand the resistance from FitBit on this feature request.
My FitBit Charge is sitting in a box in my basement now and a Garmin Vivosmart HR (with the ability to toggle Bluetooth!) will be delivered to my house later this week.
@kyleabrady I don't perceive any resistance to this suggestion. My post was simply to clarify an unfounded concern with the facts we have available.
This is still a great suggestion that has been relayed to our team. Remember that this would represent a significant change in how the product works, and as such would take some time to be considered and potentially implemented in the future.
@MatthewFitbit Thanks for fielding questions here. There hasn't been a fitbit representative in the discussion for a while.
As a work around for those who can't wear their fitbits at work because of the inability to disable bluetooth. You can setup a new device in the app called MobileTrack and it will use your Apple Health Steps for your fitbit step count. So far it's worked great for helping me keep track of my steps and the Charge HR goes back on as soon as I get in the car for additional metrics.
@nicksterx I have a Galaxy S6, but I'm guessing you're talking about an app when you say Apple Health Steps? Many of us with BlueTooth issues in the workplace can't have any sort of phone on us with. Or maybe I'm just misunderstanding and need to look into this Apple Health Steps further.
@kyleabrady You summed it up perfectly! For me, the biggest problem is a work issue and I need to be able to turn off Bluetooth, but I also understand that RF technology is still "new" when one looks at the big picture, and given the choice, I'd rather turn it off when I sleep and sync it as I choose. I get that it is deemed to be a safe level, but what I don't understand is why Fitbit is so opposed to adding such a simple feature that is so in demand. I love the look and user interface of Fitbit more than the other options, especially the new Alta. But I'm beginning to feel like I should just give up...
Agree with we want zero radiation. Fitbit are not the safety experts, they have a biased view of RF emission safety standards since they want to sell their product. Fitbit saying BT emission is safe is meaningless to me. I listen to WHO.
@MatthewFitbit Thanks for joining in on this thread - it's a relief to know this hasn't all fallen on deaf ears 🙂
One thing I wanted to throw into the mix, as someone who doesn't have a work issue but does share the health concerns voiced here is this part of your recent reply:
"This suggestion was submitted in regards to restrictions around sensitive electronic areas - please keep this context in mind, as we do not believe there are safety concerns related to this feature."
(I added emphasis to make the important part stand out)
It's very clear to everyone that Fitbit does not feel there are health concerns. That is not the question. Fitbit's customers do - which should ultimately be more important.
Products are built to satisfy or impress the people who make them - they're built for the people who you hope will to buy them.
This thread illustrates that there is clearly a growing portion of you customer base who does not share your belief the Fitbit's emissions (no matter how minimal) are safe. That should be taken into account as much as the folks who have work related reasons to not want the blutooth on.
That being said - it's great to know the suggestion has been passed on. I totally get (and I'm sure everyone else does to) there there are a lot of hurdles to this kind of update (technical, user interface, etc) so it won't happen overnight.
Thanks for letting us know it's at least being discussed 🙂
@SunsetRunner Just to be clear - it is not Fitbit, but the FCC that has classified these product as safe. This is an independent agency of the United States government, responsible for assessing the potential risk and harm associated with RF hardware. According to that agency, Fitbit products are not even powerful enough to warrant testing in this respect, and are considered completely safe. You mentioned the World Health Organization, so perhaps it helps to hear that they actually worked with the FCC to establish these very standards.
Fitbit had nothing to do with that testing or classification, so there is no potential for bias. This determination was the work of the FCC and WHO.
Well, I carried my One ( which I mostly love) in my pants pocket for over 2.5 years, and was developing "urinary hesitancy" that was impacting my life. In the few weeks since I stopped using my One, the problem has been improving. Can I prove it is the Bluetooth? No, but I'm certainly not risking it again. We got rid of the cordless phones and shut off the wifi several years ago. Stopped using the Bluetooth earpieces too. Please add the on/ off feature so I can track my activity again, as it is beneficial for health goals.
honestly, i tried my best to convince myself that this device are safe while knowing bluetooth are the same as microwave. i once bought plantronics blackbeat go2 and i felt my head burning after 30 minutes of usage and i sold it already. lets say its safe, i'm still not sure since i'll wear it 24 hours everyday for years.
but the most important is, i believe that the reason why fitbit will never implement this feature is because they can't, not because it safe.
think, the only way to communicate with this tracker is by bluetooth. think, the tracker had no button and some doesnt even have a screen. i use alta, they said that alta uses tap screen, those who are using alta, try tapping your band, it will work. then how am i suppose to turn off my bluetooth when my tracker don't even know where i tap and had no button? how about those who had no screen? say if surge / blaze is touchscreen (i don't know), can we accept the fact that only those both can turn off bluetooth? what if they create a feature for us to set when will the bluetooth turn on and off, and if we missed sync, had to wait till tomorrow? and to change sync time, we had to wait until tomorrow too, can we accept that?
i think fitbit want us to stop complain about this and accept reality, so i gave up my expectation. correct me if i'm wrong.
I completely agree with the OP. I love my Surge HR, but a recent change in station means that I can no longer wear it daily. Unfortunately, it also means that I can't even wear it at my workout facility. So, my Surge sits, discharged, in a drawer. I really wanted to buy the new Blaze, but can't see spending the money when I'm going to be in this situation for at least the next year and a half. A survey of coworkers has found that virtually NO OTHER fitness tracker has the ability to turn off the device's bluetooth, except for the iWatch. I see a huge profit in the making for FitBit given the Military and Government types who would like this function.
While I agree with pastorscory's comments on this Idea, it appears hat this request is more centered at enabling this feature for new or upcoming devices (if I got it right).
I just voted for him, but I am requesting this feature not just for new products, but for the existing ones too, specifically the one I have already paid for. It shuold be really really easy to do enable this in an updated firmware release which users can download to their devices easily.
I fail to understand whether the company have even a single good reason to not enable it, while there are thousands of reasons shouting out there on the internet to enable this feature. I wonder what made fitbit close pastorscory's earlier request as dormant. You guys need to understand that if you don't see too many "thumbs up" on a request, it doesn't mean that less people want it. There are a lot of people out there on the internet who are complaining about this and it should be a very small update in incorporate in the device firmware. Why are you guys making your "health-friendly" defice be so unsafe for people. This is not just another random feature request. Not having this on the device sort of negates the whole purpose of a device which is meant to improve people's health, as couod also be harmful at the same time.
Hope you guys would understand this soon and work on this.
FitBit can you add the ability to disable Bluetooth on the watch itself? I loved my Fitbit but had to get a Garmin so I could turn off Bluetooth during the day. Add the feature so I can go back!
At this time there is no way to turn off the Fitbit charger and at times it is needed. Why not make an update to the app that allows and on/off option. Some cases may need to be immediately and have to choose between off or disposal. I prefer being able to open my app and click, off.
"...strengthens the calls for the implementation of the Precautionary Principle..."
People want a choice. Let them CHOSE their exposure levels. There is absolutely no consumer-facing requirement to be transmitting 100% of the time--regardless of the output power. If people are OK with manually syncing at a time of their choosing, they should have that option.
I belive that the ability to turn Bluetooth on and off is a necessary feature.
HappyShireling, thank you for your post; it expressed most of my thinking on this topic. MatthewFitbit, your reply was not responsive.
I was going to purchase a new Fitbit One to replace one that broke (outside the warranty period), but after becoming acquainted with the radiation issue and learning that you cannot turn Bluetooth off on Fitbit devices, I will probably not purchase another Fitbit. I am going to look at the Garmin devices instead.
It's too bad -- I loved my Fitbit One. When Fitbit adds this feature, I would definitely consider getting another Fitbit.
I note that MatthewFitbit has already stated that this issue is under consideration.
I (and 15 other colleagues in my office got our Fitbit Alta today), and thought of this issue only after I wore it for a few hours!!!
Only with an intent to "add" to the number of people who are making this request - below are my two bits (and a small suggestion - hoping it makes sense).
Fully second that there should be an ability to turn-off the bluetooth/ wifi (or any signal emitting feature) in the tracker. I would imagine implementing this should not result in a huge cost/ effort on the part of Fitbit. One does need to (can) plug-in the tracker to a computer to charge the tracker - all that is needed is a small app/ software on the computer that gives ability to on/ off all signal emissions from the device.
After all, if a set of customers seek to be conservative and sensitive to these issues, it is only fair for the vendor to consider and oblige, particularly when technology permits an implementation!
There is a petition on Change.org entitled " Fitbit: Implement Capability to Turn Off Bluetooth Emissions from Your Fitness Trackers ". Only 30 signatures so far. Please go sign it! Might help.
I'm reposting the following information, as it addresses a few recent concerns expressed in this thread:
Fitbit trackers operate at such low RF power levels that they are exempt from the evaluation used for other devices (like cell phones). This means that our trackers are in a completely separate category, emitting significantly less energy than phones or other RF devices. Moreso, your tracker only transmits intermittently, which further decreases exposure from that RF energy. I know that it's easy to worry about things like RF exposure, but hopefully it helps to hear that our products operate far below FCC compliance levels, and are considered to be completely safe.
This suggestion was submitted in regards to restrictions around sensitive electronic areas - please keep this context in mind, as we do not believe there are any safety concerns related to Bluetooth use in Fitbit trackers.
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