Horrible step tracker

[skatergirl]

I just got this Galaxy watch. It is my third Samsung smartwatch. This step tracker is terrible and could be the deciding factor of me keeping or not keeping the watch.

I read a very long thread on the Samsung site of people complaining about how poor the tracker is compared to their other watches. I have the Galaxy watch on one wrist and my S2 on the other for test purposes.

I just worked out. I freestyle dance for 60 minutes. My S2 got 7,606 steps in the hour, which is normal when I have a hard dance workout. My new watch, got 4,881 steps in the hour. None of my watches have been this low during a dance workout unless I am not working very hard at all.

I worked hard today over my frustration with this watch. First, I could not activate the phone line because Verizon did not have the device number in the data base, which I spoke about in a different thread, and then the step tracker would not start working.

So, I busted my butt out of pure frustration. The 7,606 number is much more reflective of my workout today than 4,881. And I pride myself on my steps. I am in the Samsung monthly challenge and I do not cheat, like so many who get in the challenge, and I have been firmly in the top 3 percent of all users. I used to be in the top 1 percent, but since no one was paying me to work that hard, I cut back on my steps. This new step counter could mess with my percentages.

You know that saying from the movie Brokeback Mountain, "I wish I knew how to quit you?" Well, that is how I feel about Samsung. When will I have enough of its abuse? The watch is pretty and it feels much better on my wrist than the S2, but my ego and getting credited for my steps is more important.

I'll keep you posted. I may have to exchange it with Samsung.

 

[skatergirl]

I just spoke with Samsung. They said there is an update to fix the trackers, but it comes through the provider. Since I have to wait on Verizon to activate this watch, it could be until Thursday, but the rep said for sure it was a known problem and the fix is pushed through the provider. Let's hope so.

 

[Greymire]

I just spoke with Samsung. They said there is an update to fix the trackers, but it comes through the provider. Since I have to wait on Verizon to activate this watch, it could be until Thursday, but the rep said for sure it was a known problem and the fix is pushed through the provider. Let's hope so.

Interesting. I wonder what the version number is for the fix. I have not seen one that mentions steps and I have Bluetooth only. But I could have just updated and not read it. I seem to be ok step wise so I probably did get it.

 

[skatergirl]

As soon as I get activated with Verizon, I will let you know what the version is. The rep said it will always look like the software is up to date if the update needs to come through the provider. I am wearing my S2 for now until I can get the watch activated and updated. Yesterday the Galaxy watch provided 38 percent less steps than the S2. Not good.

 

[Greymire]

R800XXU1BTK3 is my current version. TIZEN 4.0.0.1

 

[skatergirl]

Thank you for providing the software info. My TIZEN is the same. The software version is different, which gives me hope, though it may be different because my watch is LTE? The version on my watch is R815USQU1BRJ3.

 

[skatergirl]

If anyone reading has a LTE watch that is running properly, can you tell me what your software version? Thank you!

 

[arunma]

Build version is R805USQU1BRJ6. I've got the T-Mobile Galaxy Watch. No issues with my step tracker as far as I can tell.

 

[skatergirl]

Thank you for the information. Glad your step tracker works fine. I checked online and saw a different version of my software, as a Verizon update, so as soon as Verizon gets this device number activated, I can check my step tracker again. Can't say I am not totally disappointed in how this situation has played out. Had I known that buying directly from Samsung was going to require jumping through a hoop to activate, I would have started this process a week ago.

 

[skatergirl]

Even activated and with the updated software, steps are still off around 30 percent. I will be speaking with a Samsung representative in the "office of the president" probably Wednesday. I will report back what she has to say.

 

[11B1P]

I'll play devils advocate with you. You've been using the S2 for....a couple years +/-, so you've been going with those numbers for years, with nothing else to compare to...until now. What's to say the S2 isn't way off and crediting you for more steps than you actually got? What if your arm swings have been recorded as a step on the S2? What if the GW is actually recording a more accurate count?

 

[JWhales]

I'd second that. I have seen the step tracker on the GW accurately counting my steps on treadmills with my arm raised and not moving while staring at the watch.

 

[skatergirl]

I'll play devils advocate with you. You've been using the S2 for....a couple years +/-, so you've been going with those numbers for years, with nothing else to compare to...until now. What's to say the S2 isn't way off and crediting you for more steps than you actually got? What if your arm swings have been recorded as a step on the S2? What if the GW is actually recording a more accurate count?

I have been counting my steps for five years with three other watches before this and have never had this low step count. In fact, this morning I retraced my steps from when I first started walking. My watch said 29 steps. I retraced and counted them in my head and it was 105 steps. So, when this happens all day, the watch is going to be anywhere from 28 to 38 percent off.

 

[skatergirl]

I was also told by a Samsung rep that the step tracker was a known issue that was fixed with a software update. It was not fixed all the way and still needs more work. I think Samsung thinks this is a way to stop the cheating on the monthly S Health challenges, by tweaking the sensitivity of the pedometer. Not going to happen. The cheaters will continue to cheat.

 

[skatergirl]

I am so excited that after grocery shopping for 30 minutes and being awake and moving around for six hours that my watch says I have taken 197 steps. Lovely piece of junk from Samsung.

 

[11B1P]

I hate that you're having this much trouble. You obviously have a defective watch. Can you exchange it for a new one?

 

[skatergirl]

I hate that you're having this much trouble. You obviously have a defective watch. Can you exchange it for a new one?

I also recently posted that I have been in contact with a Samsung rep who is working on this issue. We both believe the calibration is off.

So, I am going to give her a chance to work her magic.

 

[osbourne one-nil]

Well I'm giving up. I bought my 42mm watch on Saturday and while I love it as a watch, as a fitness tracker it's horrible.

I wore both it and my Fitbit charge 2 on day 1 just to compare, and the Fitbit recorded my normal 12000 steps but the galaxy watch only recorded 8500. I wondered if my Fitbit was just over recording. I did all the fixes...plain watch face, disabled rowing and elliptical trainer, etc and things seemed better.

I went back to work on Wednesday and did my normal walk to work, walk to and from town at lunch and walk home. The galaxy watch recorded 15000 steps and 40 floors climbed. However, yesterday, on the exact same journey, it recorded 5500 steps and 7 floors climbed. What's more, it suggested my heart rate was ranging between 25 and 221. I think I'd have noticed that.

This morning, it's working fine!

Do any of these watches work? I've been thinking perhaps go for a Garmin as they should be properly tailored towards fitness, but even there I've seen similar issues on forums. Perhaps I should just go back to Fitbit?!

 

[Greymire]

Well I'm giving up. I bought my 42mm watch on Saturday and while I love it as a watch, as a fitness tracker it's horrible.

I wore both it and my Fitbit charge 2 on day 1 just to compare, and the Fitbit recorded my normal 12000 steps but the galaxy watch only recorded 8500. I wondered if my Fitbit was just over recording. I did all the fixes...plain watch face, disabled rowing and elliptical trainer, etc and things seemed better.

I went back to work on Wednesday and did my normal walk to work, walk to and from town at lunch and walk home. The galaxy watch recorded 15000 steps and 40 floors climbed. However, yesterday, on the exact same journey, it recorded 5500 steps and 7 floors climbed. What's more, it suggested my heart rate was ranging between 25 and 221. I think I'd have noticed that.

This morning, it's working fine!

Do any of these watches work? I've been thinking perhaps go for a Garmin as they should be properly tailored towards fitness, but even there I've seen similar issues on forums. Perhaps I should just go back to Fitbit?!

A lot of complaints on Fitbit forums also. I had the Ionic and it was great with heart rate the steps were often off.. I had to manually set my stride rate and then it was ok.. But as for the smart watch features, none of them worked.. Notifications and messages worked 1 out 100 times.. It would control audio on my phone and it was near impossible to upload music... All of that said, steps and sleep tracking, and for some heart rate need work. I have had heart rate mess up twice but all prior to the last update. Turning the phone off and on fixed it. It seemed to happen after charging. I am beyond return date and hoping they update and fix things soon. Ionic was doing nothing. Every update with ionic added features that didn't work for me but didn't fix the bugs.. Oddly enough the ionic works fine with my sons phone and it isn't even supported.

 

[osbourne one-nil]

Well I returned mine, and today picked up a Garmin Fenix 5s. It works! The display isn't as nice as the Samsung but everything works and the level of info it provides is almost overwhelming. It's expensive too, but it works!