Versa 4 replacement for my Charge 5. GPS not working on Versa 4

[Loony2nz]

I recently upgraded to the Versa 4 and received it yesterday.  I upgraded from the Charge 5 because well, the Charge 5 went belly up in the surf playing with the kids.  Water-resistant? maybe fresh water.  Anyway, Customer Service said, "We can send you a new one or buy another device at 50% off".

I figured I'd upgrade.

Well, after 2 short walks around the neighborhood, the map tracking is nowhere to be found.  It just shows, the data and not the map tracking.

Look at this image.  The Charge 5 tracked me on the beach, the versa 4 didn't track a thing in the 2 days I've received it.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vgcqEhrswTzLqcZ38

Just to confirm.  I chose the walk exercise on the versa 4 just like I would with the Charge 5.  There was no confirmation that there was any issue with GPS connection.  The app just started the clock.

I know I'm not going crazy.  Is this just something that FitBit does?  Put out crappy products?  I'm going to give this another couple of walks and see if it fixes itself (I doubt it).

If I have to instantiate the walk exercise from the app to get GPS tracking, I'm gonna lose it.

[mjv5460 · Accepted solution]

Check to see you have GPS tracking enabled in the app. I know I had to activate mine as it was not enabled out of the box.

beyond that the GPS has to go through a "training period" for some users, including myself, but after that it should work without issues.

On the watch it self, it will initially say "GPS connecting", and if it never connects the little arrow will turn red. If it turns white and stays in one place that means you are connected and your activity is being tracked by GPS.

[Loony2nz]

Ok..so I checked my Versa app on the watch.

Everytime I chose WALK and tried to swipe up for more options, the app would immediately drop me into the activity.  It never gave me the chance to hit start.  Just immediately gave me 3 secs or so as the circle started filling in.  When I did swipe up quick enough to get to the other options, the walking exercise started.  I never got a chance to see the options.

So I tried "RUN".  Well this time, the app didn't just start the circle timer.  I did have the option to swipe up at my leisure and change some settings.

GPS tracking was already chosen for me.  So I was thinking, "is GPS not an option for WALK?"  Curiously, I went back into the walk app and the exercise did not start immediately.  I did have to enable GPS tracking for walking.  PHEW!

My only problem now is that it's constantly displaying "GPS connecting..." and then it times out with a red arrow "No GPS Signal".

yay 😞

[SunsetRunner]

It took my V4 about 15 minutes with open sky to get a good GPS signal the first time. Now it connects after a few seconds. 

[mjv5460]

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@Loony2nz wrote:

Ok..so I checked my Versa app on the watch.

Everytime I chose WALK and tried to swipe up for more options, the app would immediately drop me into the activity.  It never gave me the chance to hit start.  Just immediately gave me 3 secs or so as the circle started filling in.  When I did swipe up quick enough to get to the other options, the walking exercise started.  I never got a chance to see the options.

So I tried "RUN".  Well this time, the app didn't just start the circle timer.  I did have the option to swipe up at my leisure and change some settings.

GPS tracking was already chosen for me.  So I was thinking, "is GPS not an option for WALK?"  Curiously, I went back into the walk app and the exercise did not start immediately.  I did have to enable GPS tracking for walking.  PHEW!

My only problem now is that it's constantly displaying "GPS connecting..." and then it times out with a red arrow "No GPS Signal".

yay 😞

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You have to train the GPS. See Jlfinkels post. It'll work after some time.  

[Shelster1]

I had this. But it's because you're trying to access the settings via the 'quick access' to the exercise. 

If you press the side button and scroll down to exercise from there, then you can swipe up to browse the settings at leisure.  

Also having no luck with gps connection. 

[Loony2nz]

ahhh..now i get it. ok!

I still think it shouldn't start immediately right after you choose the exercise shortcut.