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I normally use my normal alarm clock to wake up, but some days my spouse works from home and I'd like to wake up quietly so she gets a little extra time to sleep. I can't do that if I use a phone, tablet, radio, or anything that makes noise to wake up. In that sense, having the alarm on the Fitbit is a really nice feature.
Other than already owning a 2nd Charge HR, why wouldn't you simply get a Charge 2 instead? The Charge HR/Charge 2 combination would work perfectly fine and the Charge 2 is actually a very nice upgrade over the Charge HR. Additionally, the Charge 2 has removable bands, so should the band become worn or damaged, it's easily replaced.
I already have 2 HRs. I may consider getting a Charge 2 down the road ... maybe consider something else ... depends a lot on FitBits response to this request
Fair, but keep in mind that the two biggest reasons why folks want multiple trackers of the same model is to:
Accessorize - They like the consistency of keeping the same UI, but would like to have different colors and style of bands.
Minimize wear - The tracker has become worn and they want to minimize further 'wear and tear' on the device.
And really, Fitbit has already addressed both of those by introducing trackers with replaceable bands. All new trackers (Blaze, Alta, Alta HR, Charge 2, and Flex 2) have replaceable bands. This addresses the need for both of the above. Want a blue Charge 2 (instead of black) to go with your outfit? Just change the band. Is the original Alta looking a bit worn after 18 months of use? Just get a replacement band.
The fact that they're not introducing a new feature which mostly targets older trackers, shouldn't be a deterrent for you.
The third reason why folks are mentioning wanting two of the same on the account is to 'not miss a single step'. So unless you're either stepping or sleeping 24 hours a day for five consecutive days, you can find a window of opportunity to charge your Fitbit. You're not stepping while you're in the shower, driving, eating dinner, or sitting at your desk; you can plug in to charge. I have a portable charger/battery pack that I occasionally use to charge my phone, Kindle, Fitbit, etc. This works just fine:
What I suspect is really happening is that folks are forgetting to put their Fitbit back on after charging and leaving the house... They reason that this wouldn't happen if they could take their Alta off and immediately put a charged Alta back on. A simple solution for me is to loop the charging cable through your keychain (as in the picture). If you can't leave the house without your keys, you can't leave the house without your Fitbit.
All that said, despite the fact that I have multiple trackers on my account, my main tracker is the Fitbit One. And during the summer, I went for six straight weeks with 20k step days:
And during those 40+ days, whenever my Fitbit One was low on battery (do the math, this occurred at least four times), I simply plugged it in, sat down, and relaxed... I didn't put on another tracker to continue stepping.
Needing to charge the tracker did not prevent me from getting 20k steps for 40+ days.
I'll be brief. Let's refocus on the issue / request. I OWN 2 Charge HRs. I WANT to use both on my account. FitBit can ACCOMMODATE (Happy Customer), REJECT (UN-Happy Customer) or IGNORE (UN-Happy AND Frustrated Customer).
Yes! Pure evil assumes we all have unlimited amounts of money to throw around and we can just go but a new one every time Fitbit creates a new device or "updates" a new one. I'm in the same boat as you. I already own two Charge HRs, both still work great. I didn't realize I couldn't have two on the same account until AFTER I bought the second one and it was not a situation where I could return the extra. Most people don't want to be given someone's already used device. I ended up just keeping the second one as a backup if my first one dies.
Thanks and have a blessed day! Kelley Sent from my iPhone
I also have a second Fitbit flex that my daughter gave to me, as the battery life on mine is not good. So was thinking one would always be charged. Sometimes I have done my walking on my treadmill only to find none of my steps have been counted. It is very frustrating, hope you can remedy this problem!
I agree with everyone else. I own a Charge 2. I was recently given second one and would like to have them both on the same account. I use for everyday and knock around. The second one will be work and I want it to be nice and clean with no scratches.
Why can't they just have separate names or something?
If I set up another account, there data will not combine, so it is useless.
I have a Flex that has been pretty beat up by using it when i work out or when i am doing yard work. I bought a second one to use every day. I was really surprised that there is a limit on one per type device. I can not imagine why this is there. Please remove it so that i and others like me can add multiple of the same model tracker.
I'm confused, you're still just wearing your Fitbit Flex on your wrist, right? I mean for the Flex in particular, the tracker itself is completely encased in the band. The band may get pretty beat up, but the Fitbit Flex should be fine. Why not just get a second band instead of a second tracker?
In order to use multiple trackers appropriately, you need to be very disciplined about syncing. In fact, many folks who aren't disciplined about syncing report losing steps. Search the forum if you don't believe me. Trust me on this, it takes considerable less time and attention to move the Flex from one band to another than it takes to sync both trackers, one a time, in the right order.
My speculation for why there's only one of each model is because the most compelling reason why folks buy a 2nd Fitbit is to use features that are not available on their current model (HR tracking, for instance). When Fitbit added support for multiple trackers, that's the scenario they looked into enabling.
Much of the UI is based on tracker model. For instance, if you were to set a silent alarm to wake you up on (one of your) your Flex(es), which one do you wear to bed?
Fitbit lost me. I am no longer a Fitbit user. Much to my kids surprise, I will not be replacing their devices when they break either. I am extremely disappointed in their lack to response to this issue.
Losing me too! Started by the misleading claim that multiple devices could be used on the same account (never state they cannot be the same model). This forum has served nothing more than to highlight the frustration common among users. The FitBit forum "plants" have only added to the aggravation in trying to argue that we don't really want what we want. I have contacted Customer Support several times now. From their non-direct / non-definitive responses and the fact this issue has lingered on for several years now, I must conclude that Fitbit has NO intention of providing this requested feature modification. A lose / lose for users and FitBit! ... a curious business model.
I think the vast majority of you folks who voted for this feature do not use the multiple trackers feature at all. Are you under the impression that you can simply put one down, pick up the other, and everything will automatically, magically work?
"For best results, do not wear more than one tracker at a time and sync each tracker before taking it off and putting on another."
From my experience, when using multiple trackers, you need to be ultra disciplined about syncing. I even go further in syncing the tracker I'm taking off first and then syncing the tracker I'm putting on next. If you're not ultra disciplined about how you sync, you can lose steps. There are plenty of accounts of that happening.
For instance, let's way you wear one tracker on a morning run for 5k steps, you get home and slip in the shower... and put on your 'work' tracker while you're getting dressed. You get to work and check your steps... 1k steps, since you forgot to sync it before switching trackers. And this is just the trivial case, with two different model trackers.
Now let's say you have two Charge 2's. You set the silent alarm to wake up for an early morning flight (you don't want to wake your spouse). You wear the wrong one to bed (they look identical) and you miss your flight. This wouldn't occur if you set the alarm on a Charge 2 vs. a Flex; they look different.
The reason why Fitbit supports two of different model trackers is that they expect folks to use features of different trackers at different times, like built in GPS of the Surge and Relax breathing on the Charge 2.
If you can make a compelling case for having two of the same tracker, then I imagine that Fitbit will listen. In other words, you'll need to articulate not just simply that you want this feature, but also why you want this feature. And in my personal opinion, neither of these is likely to persuade them:
One of the same model to accessorize, mostly because newer models allow for replacing the bands... Instead of getting two Charge HR's of different colors. Get an Charge 2 and get a band of a different color.
Want one that is charged all the time; I don't want to miss a single step.
The issue, is that the app will not let me put two of the same type units on one account.
I have a good Charge 2 which I wear most of the time. However, I also have a Charge 2 which is slightly beat up, which I want to use when cutting the grass and working outside, etc.
The issue is that we can only sync one Charge 2 to my account. This is a bummer and with todays software and technology is something that FitBit should be able to fix.
For the Charge 2, you can get screen protectors like this one (6-pack for $8), which will protect your (shinier) Charge 2 from getting damaged... They work well and last for months.
If the band is what is worn, just plop the ones off the "slightly beat up" tracker and put it on the newer tracker when you're out in the garden. Or simply order an even newer one and use the existing one for dirty jobs.
And for whatever it's worth, you could easily do this with a Charge 2 and a Charge HR. The issue here is that you got a second one as a gift and are trying to find ways to use it... which is fine, but if you should get two espresso machines upon getting married, are you going to invent ways to use the 2nd?
The issue is not with the band. The Blaze device itself is not well protected in the holder. The top is pretty chewed up from yard work and being in the gym. If the band/metal holder protected the tracker better, I would not have this issue.
..."And for whatever it's worth, you could easily do this with a Charge 2 and a Charge HR. The issue here is that you got a second one as a gift and are trying to find ways to use it... which is fine, but if you should get two espresso machines upon getting married, are you going to invent ways to use the 2nd?"
I currently own a Charge HR, and two Charge 2. The HR has issues in that the clip that holds the charging cord on the back is broken and it is very difficult to charge the device. I use this one as my third backup.
Now that I have the two Charge 2, I would like to be able to use one as a primary and the other as a secondary.
...and yes, I could buy the cover as you suggest, but the cover is not the issue. I work on cars a lot and do a lot of other things in which I tend to get very dirty. Therefore. I do not want to take the chance of destroying my good Charge 2, when I have an older one which if it gets destroyed will not matter as much.
...and yes, if I had two espresso machines, I would at least have the option of using both of them if I so desired; and I do not believe the company would tell me, "sorry, you can only use one at a time"!!
@PureEvil, actually I DID use two trackers. One for work, one for home. When I originally posted the request it was NOT possible. Unfortunately, Fitbit has been lax in responding to their customers if they did indeed make this change. Unfortunately, they lost a family of (6) customers in the wait. We have new devices that was are happy with.
This issue is about 2 of the SAME MODEL tracker on the same account. The remark "I think the vast majority of you folks who voted for this feature do not use the multiple trackers feature at all." is correct. THE FEATURE DOESN'T EXIST!
I would be more than happy to accept the responsibility to sync the device I am putting on my wrist.
Confirming the tracker on my wrist has an alarm set is a simple matter of tapping through the display and confirming the alarm is there.
Users HAVE articulated why they want this feature. The comment ... "And in my personal opinion, neither of these is likely to persuade them: ..." is unfortunately correct but not for the reasons stated. This not about someone thinking about acquiring another tracker. ALL OF THE USERS I SEE ON THIS FORUM ALREADY HAVE 2 OF THE SAME TRACKER .... MANY WERE MISLEAD INTO BELIEVING THEY COULD USE BOTH. SUGGESTING THEY ACQUIRE ANOTHER TRACKER IS A SAD RECOMMENDATION TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE!
Since multiple different model trackers on the same account does exist, it is difficult to believe opening it to same model trackers would require much of their technical resources. This is a business decision by FitBit to not support. Apparently, they feel the loss of some potential future returning customers is not anticipated to be significant. Time will tell if that is a sound decision.
I'm quite frustrated that we were directed here to ask for advancement and configuration requests and when we do, for some odd reason people need to respond like we are idiots and our requests are meaningless... If this advancement request doesn't fit you, move on that simple....for those of us that would like it, let us ask for it and you go on about your day.
"Confirming the tracker on my wrist has an alarm set is a simple matter of tapping through the display and confirming the alarm is there." Great... You should be able to pair 2 Fitbit Flexes to the same account, right? The tracker with no display... How do you confirm the alarm there?
You were misled by Fitbit? Really?
The announcement (now over two years old): "You can not pair two of the same tracker to your account."
The help article: "Switch between any trackers you like. Your account can have one of each tracker model and MobileTrack."
Which part of that is misleading? Did you not bother to read it? Where is there the implication that two of the same model trackers would work on one account?
You were likely (your words) 'misled', by the way in which you read the feature description.
Just to be clear, I think that collecting activity information from two of the same model tracker is no more difficult than two trackers of different models. However, that's not the way we use our trackers. If you have two Charge 2's on your account, they'd look like this, right:
You're rushing to get to work, you have to sync the one which you wore on your run this morning... Great, which one is it? You have to make sure that it's synced, the app looks like this:
Great, which one of your two Charge 2's has synced (the scratched one or the shiny one)?
The issue here is that Fitbit used the models to build up the UI and status of the different trackers on your account with the assumption that there would be at most one of each. If they want to support multiple of one model, they'd have to revamp the UI for:
The website.
Windows App: Desktop, laptop, tablet, and phone.
iOS: Tablet and phone.
Android: Tablet and phone.
Or in other words, implement and verify that it works on nine platforms. I don't know about you, but this sounds like a fair bit of technical resources to me.
If it was strictly a matter of collecting the activity information, it'd be easy. It's not about just that.
its been years now...fitbit just doesn't care to make it possible to have two of the same device. They want us to keep buying new models. I have the Charge2 which I love and 3 chargeHRs. I can't give them away...I have offered them to people...zero response. Of course I am keeping one of them on my account and use it in the event I am training in bad weather. I have been impressed with all aspects of FitBit's customer service EXCEPT THIS ONE and they are never going to accomodate us. They have clearly moved beyond our request and only PURE EVIL is invested in responding to any of us.
I agree they aren't likely to accommodate the request. But I suggest they begin to clearly state this limitation in their sales materials. I invested in both the silver metal and limited edition gold metal for fashion reasons. The Fitbit is lined with either the silver or gold metal so I can't just change the band and use the same tracker. If I want to swap them out I have to delete and then go through the add process. It's ridiculous. I absolutely would not have made the purchase had I known about the limitation.
I agree they aren't likely to accommodate the request. But I suggest they begin to clearly state this limitation in their sales materials. I invested in both the silver metal and limited edition gold metal for fashion reasons. The Fitbit is lined with either the silver or gold metal so I can't just change the band and use the same tracker. If I want to swap them out I have to delete and then go through the add process. It's ridiculous. I absolutely would not have made the purchase had I known about the limitation.
As for feature requeats getting into the product, multiple trackers was one of them. Also look at every new feature in the Charge 2, Blaze, and the Alta got the requedt HR model.
As has been mentioned in the past, not every request will line up with the direction firbit is heading, or the developers might not see an advantage to adding it. As @PureEvil stated insted of crying, act like a lawyer and present your case in a constructive way.
This thread has gone so far over the cliff i dont know if it can be salvaged.
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