Anyone else having big problems getting the pod and Pdm to communicate? I suppose I should just call Insulet but I was curious if it’s just lucky me who got a bad apple.
are you using new or old? are you close to the PDM? need more info so someone will be able to help.
I’m on the new one. I have it in my hand and the pod is on the back of my arm. I thought the new system was supposed to give us more distance. It’s a pain
I agree that the new one has definitely got a decreased range with regard to my own body.
It may have an "increased" distance at which it can communicate with the pod (likely helpful for parents of kiddos with T1), but I think it must be more directional or something b/c I am constantly having to turn the PDM around and point it straight at my body (wherever pod is at) and I used to not have to do that.
It is not a deal breaker but is *definitely* annoying to say the least!
I have not noticed much difference in the distance to communicate from the old to the new. also, if the pod is on the back of my arm and the PDM is in front of me(like on the table), I will have to move for a direct line of sight, usually just a couple of feet. I feel your frustration, but I think they keep the distance down per the FDA. good luck
Thank for the quick responses. I feel like I have to put the Pdm right on my pods at times to get them to communicate. I may just call Insulet and see what they say. Bradford maybe we just got bad pdm’s?
Let me know what they say!
Perhaps we did get bad ones. I know I was disappointed/annoyed to have to start constantly waving the PDM around my body (b/c I can't recall where my pod's most recent placement is) to try and get a successful "beep beep" lol.
Hank hmm maybe it’s just my fat arms right 
I am working on that so maybe the thing will work better.
Bradford that is exactly what I do wave it all around me. I’m sure this Pdm has less distance than the old one. It’s disappointing for sure. I will let you know what I hear.
YES! And I was surprised also, since I thought the new PDM was going to have a greater distance. I understand the idea behind identifying myself each time to make sure I am not bolusing someone else; however, I would have to be awfully close to another person to actually bolus the wrong person = ). I find myself turning, twisting, squating etc. and waiting for the confirming beep to let me know I finally got close enough. Pod Aerobics!
This is what I'm seeing too - if the pod is on the back of my arm the PDM has to be really close.
I suspect that the change in radio frequency (increase, so it's closer to a microwave) means that our bodies block the communication more.
John Bowler
I have the same impression - less range than the old PDM.
I've found that it can have better range, but not usually. Like in your case, when I wear the pod on the back of my arm the range appears to be much shorter than the previous pod system. It's only a longer distance when there is nothing between the PDM and the pod. But noticeably shorter if there are obstructions. Oh well, at least it works.
+1
Hmm well sounds like a few of us are having the same experience. I have the pod on my side now and I’m still having the same issue. Another thing that is just a pain is that no matter where I put the pod besides my arm something goes wrong. I know it sounds like I’m complaining and I am somewhat but it is certainly much better than shots The temp basal alone is worth any problems I experience.
So I had to change my batteries today and my Pdm reset and made me reset the clock etc… It deactivated my brand new pod so I called Insulet. They are replacing my pod of course and also my Pdm. I did tell them about the range issues as well but they were going to send me a new Pdm before I got to that. So I will let you all know if the new Pdm works better as far as range goes. My luck it will be worse
A few days ago there was another post on the reset/deactivate behavior. In that case the PDM also seemed to have excessive battery usage (including requiring battery replacement within less than a day). It seems like there might be a number of bad *PDMs* out there.
I'm still trying to make sure I have no more pod alarm issues with the new system or I would pull the batteries overnight and make sure I didn't see a deactivate (overnight is enough to require the clock reset.) Other people are, apparently, pulling the batteries on the new PDM (to avoid the annoying behavior after a pod change) and haven't had deactivate issues.
John Bowler
Yeah, I agree with you Alisha, and Bradford. The new one is supposed to reach 20 feet instead of 5 feet like the old one. But it definitely seems worse. I thought the same thing, that I must have a defective pdm. Well they sent me a new pdm and it is not any better! I didn't expect 4 times the range to mean that I would have to get the pdm pressing against the pod for it to work. I think there were a lot of oversights with the new system. Oh, and does anyone else getting annoyed with the rattle sound it makes while moving around?
Jason are you talking about the "rattle" inside the pod that happens from time to time? If so, then YES. I think it is part of the spring/recoil mechanism from the insertion aspect of the device. Once it has deployed it seems to not "sit" very firmly inside the pod, and so from time to time when you're walking around, running, etc, you can hear it jingling. I'm a pretty OCD/Type-A person, so the little noises like that drive me crazy.