I placed my current transmitter into service on November 2, 2012. It's nine months and a few days old. About two weeks ago, I received a low transmitter battery warning but it went away. Another week goes by and the same scenario occurs -- warning, then it withdraws.
I ordered another transmitter after the second warning and received it recently. I'm waiting for the current sensor session to time out before I replaced the transmitter.
Has anyone else observed this transmitter failure mode; warning, withdraw warning, warning, withdraw warning ...?
Second and probably more important question: As the transmitter ages but before it announces its low battery status, does it yield more ??? warnings or other performance anomalies? What's been your experience?
I think I had more dependable service during the first three or four months of transmitter life. If that's true and my insurance company is willing to buy a new transmitter every six months, shouldn't I just initiate a new transmitter purchase at six months?
Update - I've now had my third "low battery - order new transmitter" warning and it has already disappeared. The Settings > Device Info > Transmitter Battery: OK. You'd think after a warning like that, the device info screen would show "low" or "fail." I don't get the engineering behind this.
I got mine back in February and I've noticed that it's been getting at lot more ??? the last couple weeks and I can't get it to read a sensor past 8 or 9 days. Don't know if it's a battery issue or what but if it is battery I'd love to know and to see if I can get the insurance to get me a new one after 6 months!
I just installed the new transmitter onto an existing 7-day old sensor taped to my skin. I did it during the two-hour blackout period. I intend to use this sensor for one more 7 day period.
The transmitter pairing can only occur when the sensor is stopped. The manual warned against installing a transmitter onto a currently established sensor. I wanted to see if it could be done. I used the plastic transmitter extraction tool that comes with every new sensor. It would be pretty hard to get the two prongs apart that hold the transmitter tight to the sensor. The transmitter extraction tool is the plastic piece that needs to be removed before you can push the plunger in to insert a new sensor.
The antenna symbol appeared about 15 minutes after I hit the start sensor button, so it appears to be working.
I'll update again when the two-hour blackout ends and I start getting some data.
My two-hour sensor restart blackout period is over. The new transmitter is performing normally and well.
I'd like to hear from other G4 users about how their transmitter actually fails. It's be nice to know if what I experienced as described above is representative of the norm.
Do you mean the plastic extraction tool enabled you to get the prongs on the sensor wide enough so you could insert the transmitter? If so, this is good news. I inadvertently twisted the back part of a sensor off yesterday, which left me with the sensor installed but no way to lock the transmitter onto it. Till now! I hope.
Not sure how my November transaction will go. The sensor I just put into service will only be three months old. Will Dex just sell me a new receiver? I plan to replace transmitter promptly every six months. I see no reason to compromise if insurance will pay at six months.
I would talk with Dex customer service and ask them the question.
The extraction tool allowed me to remove the old transmitter; I didn't use it to insert.
I inserted the new transmitter by hand by pressing the transmitter body onto the sensor cradle. I had to use the thumbnail from my other hand to push back against that insertion push until I could hear two audible clicks. That function is usually performed by the little lever that twists off once its job is done.
I don’t know how Dexcom will handle the warranty expiration on the G4. With the 7+ they would only sell a complete system. I’m anxiously awaiting comments from the first users to hit the end of warranty this fall.
I called Dexcom this morning to ask about the warranty replacement cycles of the G4 receiver and transmitter. My receiver warranty is up in late October but my transmitter warranty doesn't expire until February 2, 2014. In the interest of making things simpler, I will wait until February, 2014 to replace both the receiver and the transmitter. I then plan to replace the transmitters every 6 months.
I may replace the receiver in 2013, however, if I hit the major medical annual threshold of my insurance when my out-of-pocket costs goes to zero.
I think, like all things D & insurance, it’s going to come down to differences in policies & individual companies. I called a week or so after the 6 month mark. My insurance would not replace as long as the current transmitter is still working.
Decomposing didn’t seem to put much thought into the 6/12 month warranty & how users might be affected.
In the end, I guess it doesn't make much difference. We just have to manage two technical life cycles instead of one. I'm sure future improvements will iron this out.
On a separate note, I visited my endo yesterday and the office staff took my Dex receiver into the next room to download it while I sat in the waiting room. They had it for about 20 minutes. I was surprised and pleased to see that the receiver only missed one data point during that period. And I was more than 20 feet away from the receiver.
