Versa 4 won't track my GPS data accurately

[Ttraylor]

At first I was having problems with the Versa 4 even connecting to GPS but a reset of the Versa got it to working, sorta!!  Today I did a 24 mile ride on my bike and my iPhone tracked the ride without problems but the Versa 4 did not.  It tracked my ride as 11.11 miles but the map shows it connected to GPS only 12 times and just showed a straight line between each connection.  My Versa 3 was always correct but I think it used my phones GPS, at this time I am sorry that I upgraded to the 4.  If I can’t get this working, I am thinking about returning it for something that does work.  Any help would be appreciated.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[MarreFitbit]

Hi there, @Ttraylor. It's nice to see you around the Fitbit Community Forums. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I'm sorry to hear that your new Versa 4 is not tracking your GPS data accurately. I understand your concern, I will do my best to help you with this!

As a first approach, please note that unlike Versa 3, the Versa 4 does not have a built in GPS only Dynamic GPS. 

Dynamic GPS is automatically used whenever your phone is within Bluetooth reach while doing an appropriate exercise. All details can be found here How do I use GPS on my Fitbit device?

GPS signal disconnects, your phone or Fitbit device continues to search for a signal. Note: If you previously turned off GPS for an exercise, turn it back on before you start the activity.

Nevertheless, if your device can’t connect to GPS satellites, or if gaps appear in the map of your route, try these tips:

• Restart your Fitbit device.
• Follow the recommendations for wearing your device for exercise. For more information, see How do I wear my Fitbit device?
• Try loosening the band 1 notch.
• Make sure your device doesn't touch your wrist bone.
• Wait until GPS is connected to start the exercise.
• Note that if you’re using GPS for the first time in an area, connecting to GPS satellites might take several minutes. Heavily wooded areas and tall buildings can increase the time it takes to connect to GPS satellites.
• If GPS didn’t connect the first time, wait 5 minutes before you start the exercise again.
• To reduce the time it takes for your device to connect to GPS satellites, hold your arm parallel to your body near your head and at least 2 inches away from you when you connect to GPS and start an exercise.

Fitbit devices use the formula below to calculate distance. Your stride length is determined by your height and sex. Steps x Stride Length = Distance Traveled

When you track an activity with GPS, your device calculates your distance using GPS data rather than steps. If you begin moving before you get a GPS signal, your device calculates distance using your steps until GPS connects.

To update your stride length, track a run with GPS or measure your stride length manually. For more information, see Can I change my stride length in my Fitbit account?

For more information about GPS, see How do I use GPS on my Fitbit device?

Lastly, please make sure that your Versa 4 is up-to-date. For more information, see How do I update my Fitbit device?

[Ttraylor]

1. My phone was within 2’ of my watch the whole ride.
2. I had restarted my Fitbit.
3. I was wearing the Fitbit properly and it wasn’t tight.
4. It wasn’t touching my wrist bone, I wear a cloth sweat band over my wrist bone.
5. The GPS did connect before i started my ride.
6. I have used the GPS a number if times and the connectivity is getting worse.

It did connect to GPS to start my ride and appeared to be accurate for the first mile or two.  Then it started setting a mile point every 2 or 3 miles with straight line in between the points.  I have ridden this route before and I know the distance.  My app Ride with GPS had my ride at 24.3 miles which is correct and my Fitbit had it at 11.11 miles which is way off.

So what can I do to get my Fitbit to track properly.  At this point I have tried everything that you have given me to try.  My Versa 3 was accurate and I thought the 4 was an upgrade.

[Ttraylor]

I went on a ride the first of the week and did a restart of my Fitbit before the ride and it recorded the complete ride.  Today I did another ride and did not do a restart of my Versa 4 and it connected immediately to the GPS but then lost connection after 2.51 miles and did not record the remaining 15.3 miles.  On my next ride, I will do another restart of my watch before the ride, but I really shouldn’t have to do that.  Something is wrong with the watch or the programming because it should work like it was advertised to do.  I am guessing I may not get any additional help from Fitbit, but I will keep posting what is happening. 

[Ttraylor]

I did another ride today (24 miles) and reset my Versa 4 before I started.  I started my ride and 1,28 miles into my 2hr ride my Versa lost connection to my GPS.  It did record that I rode for 2hr 8 min, got 250 zone minutes, burned 1,619 calories and had an average heart rate of 126 but almost no GPS information.

I see that after your canned response to my problem, that didn’t work, that you have gone silent.  So much for Fitbit support.  The GPS use to work fine but after updates, it stopped working properly.  Could it be that you screwed up things with your new and improved updates???