xDrip » Features » xDrip & Dexcom » Stop or start G6/Dex1 Sensor
If you are starting a new transmitter, please follow the instructions here.
However, if the transmitter has been used before and you are only starting a sensor on it, this guide is for you.
Never stop or start a sensor if there is a transmitter connectivity issue. Resolve any connectivity issues before proceeding.
Before starting a new sensor, you need to stop the previous one. When you stop a sensor, you are stopping the current session on the transmitter. The transmitter and xDrip communicate only for a few seconds every five minutes. In the meantime, the stop command remains in the queue and can be seen on the status page.
As long as the stop command is in the queue on the status page, the transmitter has not received it, and the session has not stopped.
If you start a new sensor before the current session has successfully stopped, the transmitter may not recognize the new sensor. In this case, it might stop when the old sensor was due to stop. Therefore, you should stop the previous session and confirm the queue on the status page is clear before proceeding.
The transmitter has an anti-restart mechanism and can detect when it is not attached to an inserted sensor. After you stop a session, if the transmitter detects that it’s disconnected for two consecutive readings, it assumes you’ll be using a new sensor next.
However, if the transmitter detects disconnection for only one reading or not at all after the session is stopped, it will interpret any start command as an attempted restart, and the start will fail, even if you’re using a new sensor. To avoid triggering a false restart attempt, keep the transmitter out for at least 10 minutes (two reading cycles) after a successful stop.
Only after the previous session has stopped, you have confirmed a clear transmitter queue on the status page, and you have kept the transmitter out for 10 minutes should you proceed with snapping in the transmitter and starting the sensor.
If you start a new sensor and see readings before a 2-hour warm-up, check the status page. If the Sensor Status shows anything other than “0,” it means you started too soon, and the transmitter still thinks it’s on the previous sensor. Follow the restart instructions here as soon as possible to resolve this.
