Distance and step tracking

[Highhorse3]

I have had the Sense 2 for a week and the distance and step tracking has never been even close to correct. I walk 2.5 miles a day and it has tracked 1.2, 1.4, but never even close to what i actually walk. And my steps are about 1500 short when completed as well. I have manually calibrated my stride, but what else can be done. With GPS, this shouldn’t be an issue, right?

[JuanFitbit]

@Highhorse3 , A warm welcome to the Community! Thank you for your message and information. 

The distance is calculated by multiplying the amount of steps with the stride length. The GPS helps with the accuracy. 

As you mentioned that you see around 1500 less, then this is why the distance is not correct. 

I'm going to address the step issue first, looking to solve this and with it solve the issue with the distance. 

Please answer these questions that will help me determine where the issue comes from.:

• The missing steps are shown/ deducted after you synchronize the Sense 2 with the app or on the watch itself during the activity? ( eg. on the Sense 2 before sync, 1600 steps after sync only 100 in the app or on the Sense 2 there are always the 100?)
• Does this happen with a specific activity or with many different ones? ( just with Running , or also with walking, hiking, etc)

In the meantime, charge the Sense 2 for at least 30 minutes .
Press and hold the button for 10 seconds until the Fitbit logo appears on the screen, and then release the button. The watch should restart afterwards. 

Also try to change the stride length , Can I change my stride length in my Fitbit account?

I also would recommend to try using the watch a bit looser or tighter, higher or lower on the wrist, to see if this helps to recognize all the steps. How do I wear my Fitbit device?

[Highhorse3]

Thank you for responding. The missing steps are immediate on the watch and the same in app once synced. I have already manually set my stride. I tracked this same walk with a tracker on my phone, using GPS, so i know the distance. This is very frustrating as i paid $200 for this one purpose and it doesn’t work. I will try to reset the watch to see if that helps. Any other thoughts are appreciated.

[LOIj]

I've had my sense2 since mid July, so 2+ months.  I read somewhere back then that the watch measures steps using 3 metrics.  I don't remember details of that.  But I know that one of them is when we swing our arms when walking.  I just now tried that out: I stood still but swung my L arm several times so the count went up by 10.  I've done that sitting in the Lazy Boy chair as well. 

For years, previously, I used a pedometer in my pocket.  I got a step count that was about 1/3 of what I get with the Sense2.  But since I have a walking disability, I walk slowly and some pedometers only count once you are briskly walking, which I can't do. 

I use a cane when I walk, but in a store with carts, I like to walk pushing the cart.  Two weeks ago, I was in 2 big stores, pushing the carts.  I got almost no steps count while in the stores. So my conclusion is that arm movement is a major part of the count. 

Likewise, though I live in a two story house with a basement, I very rarely get a "floor" count, since I go up slowly holding onto the railings.  Supposedly the watch uses something besides steps to measure floors. Recently I logged 2 floors when walking uphill along side a road.

There are other measures that leave a lot to be desired with the Sense2, including measuring sleep. It has claimed I'm awake during the early part of the night when I know I slept, but it has claimed I'm sleeping when I've gone back to bed for a bit at 6 a.m. 

Part of me thinks: I paid $200+ for this??? And part of me thinks: What would you expect from a watch?

[JuanFitbit]

@LOIj , thank you for sharing your insights and thoughts. 

You are completely right , arm movement is important for the Sense 2 or any other Fitbit device. 
Fitbit devices have a finely-tuned algorithm for step counting. The algorithm is designed to look for intensity and motion patterns that are most indicative of people walking and running. When working at a desk, cooking, or performing other activities with arm movements, a device on your wrist may add some steps. When you’re doing activities that involve arm movement—such as working or cooking—you often walk a few steps in-between stationary periods as well, so the device tries to give you credit for those steps. For most customers, the number of extra steps added by arm-based movement isn’t significant when compared to your overall stats. For more information, see How does my Fitbit device calculate my daily activity?

Regarding the floors: 
Fitbit devices detect floors with an altimeter, which is a sensor that calculates altitude based on atmospheric pressure. Your device is designed to detect pressure changes based on elevation gain, but other types of pressure changes—such as a gust of wind, a weather change, or opening a door—can occasionally cause your device to register extra floors. Your device registers 1 floor when you climb about 10 feet, which is the average between residential and commercial floor heights. If you climb long staircases you may find that the floor count on your device doesn’t match the number of floors you climbed when the staircase is taller than 10 feet.

More about this can be found here: How accurate are Fitbit devices?

@Highhorse3 Thank you for your reply! 

As our friend @LOIj mentioned, do you move your arms when walking or are your wrist hanging or holding something when you are doing your activity?
Does this happen with a specific activity?