Anybody got docs for replacing the G4 transmitter battery? Is it pretty much the same as the newer ones?
I just received a G6 8HXXXX from Dexcom. Does anyone have any experience with that or know how “bad” the block is on this one?
No experience here…will be useful to see if the firmware versions are different than the 8GXXXX transmitters.
For comparison, my current 8GXXXX transmitter info
from the Dexcom iPhone App:
AB 10725201
Firmware 2.18.2.88
Software Number SW11818
Okay, it worked!
But this is a transmitter I’ve used to restart sensors the easy way before. The last sensor I had on was for 32 days and two restarts. This time when I went to restart my sensor a bright red banner appeared saying no restarts allowed! The transmitter starts with 81. But why all of a sudden did it decide not to work this time>?
@maninabag Thank you for the instructions!!! When I did my process it didn’t come out in the exact same pattern. Unfortunately at this point I’m not completely sure what I did to make it work. Next time I will try to write it down for everyone and me lol in a step by step process. There was a couple of extra steps involved and it might be because I was using my iphone and a Dexcom reader. But the basics are what maninabag wrote. Of course thinking I could restart my sensor as normal I went into this process with an expired sensor too.
So the first warning, I had an old transmitter I had saved, but it’s a lot more helpful if you save the number when you save the transmitter. So I had to use a new transmitter number, wrote it down to use temporarily and then put the transmitter in the microwave.
I tried to follow maninabag’s instructions but I got a can’t restart sensor message again. I forgot bluetooth on my phone before the process but can’t on my reader. @maninabag did you turn off bluetooth communication on both devices?
At this point it’s murky and I can’t remember which info I put into what device because I was going between the two and I got the message a couple of times you can’t restart sensor after a half hour. I also wasn’t getting the message asking to pair. I just know that on the last restart attempt I powered off my phone and my reader quickly after and stared lol…okay I have to turn it back on at some point, so I did on my iphone only and now I am getting the pairing request, phew and ignored it and after 2 hours it started working again.
Maybe I should have started with the reader? Maybe I should have done something else differently? Maybe I did something wrong? Timing or ? I’m really not sure, but it did eventually work. I know before I had trouble having the reader and the iphone on at the same time during restarts so I always power one off and you have to use both at the start for this. But the answer might be as easy as turning off my reader or putting it in the microwave after the first restart starts.
But it must be an ap update or ? Because why did this sensor restart not work the old way when it had before? I’m curious what will go on the next time? Do I see if it restarts the old way but then expires or is stopped or do I go for restarting while the old one is still active?
The “Unpaired Bluetooth” method is the method that will work with all transmitter variants and the ONLY one thus far that will work with 8GXXXX transmitters.
The critical steps for the “Unpaired Bluetooth” method is described in the link of my other posts (to give credit to katiedis @ SeeMyCGM). These critical steps are: wait for a BG to update in the iOS App; start a timer for 60secs; while waiting for the 60secs to expire navigate through settings on the iPhone to Bluetooth and press the blue i beside the Dexcom transmitter; after the 60secs expire press “Forget this Device”
I do not have a Dexcom Reader as i use the t: slim X2. In my case, I do have to enter all 8s in the CGM transmitter field on the pump until the warm up period + 5mins ends.
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The other critical thing, though not a step, is that you have to start the whole process so that you can complete the warm up and all before the existing sensor session ends, i.e., >2hrs before the time-out. Is that correct?
No mine had timed out, because I thought I could restart it as I normally do.
But mine was a 81 transmitter that suddenly decided to be an issue.
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It seems to go smoother if this is the case. And on my first 8G restart I followed this method.
On my second restart, this was not the case. This seems to confirm Katie’s Restarting Dexcom G6 sensors – Updated – See My CGM comment regarding sessions that have expired.
IMO, restarting before a session ends is the way to go if possible. One has the benefit of knowing when the transmitter is and is not actively communicating via Bluetooth.
The key seems to be a break in communication…this is accomplished by the “Unpaired Bluetooth” method. Not to muddy the water, but this was the key to restarting my CGM when I was on the 670G as well…a break in communication between the sensor transmitter and the pump allowed a restart.
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Ah yes, prying open that little gap between the transmitter and battery, such PITA.
Anyway, if I understand correctly (big if) the “Unpaired” process centers on starting the “new” sensor session and letting the full warm-up run its course while the transmitter is un-paired with Bluetooth. To do that, you have to do the un-pair (“forget device”) while the transmitter is not sending/receiving data. To do that, in turn, you have to watch your incoming data and when you see a new data point, wait one minute to be sure the data connection has been released. Presumably this avoids the problem I’ve run into the couple of times I’ve tried it, which is that as soon as you unpair, the app doesn’t let you do anything–no options to end, restart or anything else to do with the session appear until you’ve paired up again.
Sure was simpler in the old days…
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Yes and yes to the rest of your reply re: restarting…
…but oh the insight we were missing with respect to the complexities of our individual metabolic responses…insight translates to knowledge and knowledge can be used to power transformative decisions.
Well, I just meant the old days as in “before the newest generation of transmitters, when restarts were pretty straightforward.” I wouldn’t go back to the really old days without a gun to my head. But your point is a good one.
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Hi. I’m not super–savvy when it comes to electronics and apps and so forth. But I can follow directions as carefully as they are provided.
I use the iOS Dexcom app with my G6 transmitter (SN 8GXXXX) and my Tandem t:slimX2 pump. The directions elaborated by maninabag and DrBB did not work for me. I’ve been working on this for almost a full day, but I must be missing something. Would you be willing to enumerate the sensor restart steps INCLUDING specifically the way you navigate through the t:slimX2 interface when entering the dummy 888888 transmitter ID, and then replacing the dummy ID at the end with the proper 8GXXXX transmitter ID? I’m sorry to be a Luddite, but it would be great if you could dumb your instructions WAAAAAAAY down.
- On my t:slimX2, the option to simply replace the existing transmitter ID (per maninabag’s instructions) was not available. The existing transmitter ID number was dimmed, and the field was unresponsive when I tapped it. On the pump I first had to select Stop Sensor. Only then would the pump let me enter 888888 for the dummy Transmitter ID. And after that, it is unclear to me if I should Start Sensor on the t:slimX2, in which case I am prompted either to enter the sensor code or to choose “no code.” No instructions above were provided for these additional steps, and this may be where I went wrong.
- At the end of 2 hours and 5 minutes, I got one “pair request” from iOS, which I dutifully ignored, awaiting the next one (per maninabag’s instructions). However, a subsequent pair request never came. (I waited for 45 minutes for a second pair request.)
Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. After working on this for 9 hours straight, I have finally decided to rip out my current sensor and replace it with a new one. I need to go to bed. 
Thanks in advance for any help or insight you can provide.
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@talldrinkofwater I have an 81 that seems to be an issue. It didn’t work for me either. The first time my sensor had timed out, so it was different. I tried to restart it the “normal” way and it failed. So then I tried the bluetooth unpaired method. I followed the directions that I could, but went back and forth. I did eventually get it to restart. I couldn’t remember completely what I did as it was late and I just kept trying. I also have a reader and the Dexcom ap, not a tslim.
But the second time I waited so I had 5 hours to work with, I made very sure I followed the directions and it still didn’t work. And then I had a stopped sensor again and knew I had got it to work before. Same thing this time back and forth forgetting the transmitter, restarting and it kept figuring out I had restarted it. Now it was getting late again so I crossed my fingers and turned off the phone for the 2 hours because I’m pretty sure I did that the first time. Nope after the 2 hours I turned it back on, it had a new sensor applied date and nope in a few minutes, it changed back to you can’t restart a sensor, start new sensor and with the old data.
Now same as last time I was trying the same thing on my reader and had stuck it in the microwave. I hadn’t taken it out yet so in the morning I switched my phone to a different transmitter number and powered off. Then I took the reader out of the microwave and it said start sensor, I did, it warmed up for two hours and worked!!! I have no idea, don’t ask. Last time it was my phone I got it to work on. Crossing my fingers, I hit the new pair on my Dexcom ap on my phone and put in the transmitter I was using and the sensor and it started working.
As I’ve said before, this transmitter had restarted the sensor the easy way before this one three times and the one before it at least twice and I had no issues. And now I still don’t know what I did to get it to finally work again. The only thing that seems to be the trend is putting my reader in the microwave after it has started a new sensor for hours! And even though it had started the warm up period it wanted to warm up again.
I have to take it off Friday, so I will be starting a new sensor. I will be curious if I have the same issue with restarting the new sensor.
I’ve tried 3 sensor restarts with my new 81xxxx transmitter, and all have failed. I think I’ve tried everything EXCEPT that I have a t-slim, and couldn’t figure out what and when I’m supposed to enter a dummy transmitter id in the “Bluetooth unpaired” process. Anyone successfully gotten that to work?
I hate only getting 10 days when I used to get 20 every time!
@Lucia It took a lot of back and forths both times. And I’m not sure what made it finally work. Except in both cases I was finally going to give up and put the reader in the microwave. The first time I got it to work in the middle of the night/very early morning on my phone and the second time it was on my reader that was in the microwave when I got up. The phone had to be powered off as it definitely was spotting a restart the second time round.
I wish I knew what I finally did!
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I am in the same boat. Have the 81xxxx transmitter - can’t get it to restart. I think the Tandem has something to do with it, so I’m thinking next time I may try the restart method from seemycgm (stopping before 2 hours prior to sensor end) and take the CGM info out of my pump. Otherwise I think we may be stuck! What a pain.
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They are asking for expired firefly transmitters in the new style (not the old one), so they can figure out how to restart. Should start with 8GXXXX.
This is a link to the full request on fb: Looped | Facebook
P.S. Some people claim to be able to restart by doing this: “I’ve restarted these transmitter (edit: sensor, not transmitter) 2/2 times successfully as of last night.
After the sensor expires, you just pop out the transmitter using a test strip. Wait 20 minutes. Put the transmitter back in and start new sensor with the code you hopefully saved 10 days ago 
that’s it”
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That would sure simplify things if it works. I just started a new sensor two days ago so I guess I can’t try it for a while. Be interested to hear if someone else gives it a shot. I’m also in the “Your transmitter will end within three weeks” period, which in the ordinary course of things can prevent you starting a new session if it’s less than 10 days from the end-of-life setting.
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oops, it was the sensor they restarted, not the transmitter. They want expired transmitters to try and figure that out. Dex always seems to send you the cutting edge stuff, maybe you have an expired one to send off. I’m on the old version, not the new one.
No, I got that, just saying that it may be a while before I can give this sensor restart method a try.