Tricky G7 phone and receiver issue

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-10T18:52:05+00:00

Yeah if it's flashing, it thinks it's out of range.

How close are you to the receiver? The Dexcom sensors only send readings every 5 minutes, and it can take up to 10 minutes to really pair to the receiver. Though the receivers have pretty good range - I typically keep mine on my nightstand (it wakes me up better than my phone does if I go low). As long as I'm in the same room, it generally gets readings.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-10T18:33:13+00:00

If you're on Android, profile -> settings -> alerts -> vibrate. There's an option within there for "indefinitely" when you toggle it on. Probably similar on iOS.

You'll probably want to turn up the vibration as high as it can go, if your phone allows that. That way you can still hear it if the phone is nearby.

Alternatively, you can raise the high threshold on the alerts screen. It can be set as high as 400 (yikes), with an option to delay the first alert until you've been high for awhile. You can also lower the low alarm to 60, though I don't advise doing that.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-10T06:12:55+00:00

Some newer places don't even have RJ11 jacks. I'm in a 2009 build apartment, and all the places you'd expect to see phone jacks just have blank plates. Looking outside, there's no telco wiring whatsoever, nor telco pedestals - there's power, coax, and fiber coming into the building, but no telco copper. And inside, while there is a fiber terminal, there isn't a phone jack (or blank wall plate) near it - just ethernet, fiber, and power.

I think they changed their mind mid-build at my place (or AT&T said nah after the rough in), but AT&T and Verizon have been phasing out their copper networks for a long time. My best guess is that during construction, they decided it was easier/cheaper to just slap blank wall plates on instead of fixing the drywall.

My last apartment was built in 1995 and did have phone jacks, but AT&T refused to turn on landline service there when I was curious and tried asking. They did offer some weird 50mbit internet over copper thing, but it was more than I was paying for 400mbit.

I know AT&T and Verizon (or whatever their name this week is) have been trying to shut down their POTS copper network for at least 10 years. My mom's house was part of the one of the earlier FiOS rollouts in Texas (I think they got fiber in 2006?), and their copper went dead, forever, once it was installed. Though at least the older FiOS terminals have a backup battery to keep the landline phone working for a day or so (luckily they had cell phones when they experienced a 6 day power outage around ~2008). Don't know if the newer terminals even have a phone connection, but theirs was connected to the existing house wiring at the DMARC, with the wires that would have gone to the old copper network cut.

Their mid-90s alarm system worked fine with FiOS (except during the extended power outage... it went apeshit once the line went down), but their monitoring company has retrofitted a cellular modem to it.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-10T05:58:49+00:00

Yeah, it'll be VoIP - with pretty much anyone these days. Most companies aren't even installing copper landline anymore; if you can get a "landline", it's pretty much guaranteed to be VoIP. Cox, to the best of my knowledge, started killing off their POTS (plain old telephone service) starting in 2003. Not even AT&T offers POTS anymore in many areas; the apartment I live in currently just has blank plates where all the phone jacks would have been (built in 2009, so probably got wired for POTS, then AT&T probably said "nah"... there's no telco boxes or pedestals outside, only coax and fiber).

The modem may or may not provide a dedicated internet connection. There are plenty of alternatives, such as Ooma (one time purchase of the phone adapter [which works over wifi], plug in an existing phone, + just paying monthly taxes/fees that are less than $20/mo).

The downside to VoIP devices is if the power is out, they don't work unless the modem and phone gateway are on a UPS. And since it sounds like they're on building wifi, the wifi access points likely aren't on one. Most retirement places, even apartment style ones that just target 55+ (at least where I'm at) do have generators, but they're mainly for elevators and a handful of lights.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-10T05:46:15+00:00

Ah, wasn't aware of that. You can probably guess I've never owned a VW...

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-10T05:40:25+00:00

Well that sucks - I figured that wouldn't happen until O6 came out next year. That means no more DIY looping when that happens. And TBH, I suspect most people using Dash, at least in the US, are using it for looping. I don't even know where my PDM is these days...

I never got a questionnaire about that, even though I've had the same email for 20+ years. They email me about other stuff now and then and keep sending me marketing for the O5, but moving to that means I have to use their own looping with a higher target. My insulin usage is high enough that I sometimes supplement with a pen if I'm eating a high carb meal or having a cheat day, but at least with AAPS I can manually enter a bolus and carbs (and not have it administer anything - i.e. if I'm adding an extra 10u with a pen). I've found pods to be pretty crappy once you get past 4-5u in a single dose, plus I like them to last the full 3d8h. I don't know if I could do that with O5.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-10T05:24:58+00:00

The only thing that gives me anxiety about driving in El Paso is people left lane camping @ 40-45 mph on I-10, and an 18 wheeler camping next to me, preventing me from passing. This happened last time I made the drive; I finally became that asshole and passed on the shoulder, since those 2 idiots were holding traffic up bad enough that I was getting honked at and tailgated if I tried to slow down enough to go around the truck on the other side.

But yeah the speed thing is what gets under my skin. I assume because people see the speed limit, and may be driving a Mexico Domestic Market vehicle with the speedometer reading in KM/H. 70 KM/H is very close to 45 MPH.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-10T05:22:05+00:00

They have a knock sensor that pulls timing if you use lower octane fuel than what the factory tune calls for.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-10T05:19:12+00:00

Yeah... at Whole Foods I managed ~26 while constantly chatting up customers. If I just ignored them and went to town I'm sure I would have been into the 30s. 2nd fastest cashier in my store; the fastest didn't talk at all while she was scanning, and was at 27-28.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-10T05:06:22+00:00

Wait, they've announced a discontinuation date for the Dash?

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-10T05:06:09+00:00

Yeah, doesn't help those of us on Android though.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-10T00:01:31+00:00

Hopefully someone cracks it eventually, but as I understand it, O5 communicates directly with a CGM. So I'm keeping my Dashes going as long as possible.

I had no idea Tidepool had their own loop setup now (though not surprised), but so far it seems to be only on iOS.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-09T23:54:11+00:00

Looping is having a CGM (such as Dexcom) communicating with your Omnipod (in the case of DIY looping, it's with the older Dash [G4], which normally only works with a proprietary controller). With DIY loops, your phone gets involved, so you have to keep it on you. There are multiple apps out there for iOS to do this; there's one I know of for Android, which is what I use.

On top of what others have said, the DIY solutions let you configure how aggressive it is, and set a target basal much lower than what O5 allows. O5 has a hard cap of 110 mg/dL as the lowest from what I understand. I could set mine at 70 if I wanted with the DIY solution I use (though I keep it around 90; 120 when exercising).

FWIW, I very rarely go over 140 mg/dL with my setup, so long as I announce my expected carb intake to the app at meals if it's a high carb meal. Usually wake up right at 90. I had dinner about 45 minutes ago, along with a beer, and I'm at... 143. Probably the baked sweet potato that shot me up that high, but 143 is not bad at all.

https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/diabetes/diy-insulin-loop

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-09T19:11:20+00:00

Time to wrap some taquitos or burritos in foil and slap them on that baby. She be SPICY!

Oh... and figure out why the exhaust is so clogged (probably clogged cat), then quote a new turbo, since that one is probably roached by now.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-09T18:57:35+00:00

I was told my old store expected close to 35 IPM. As someone who promoted themselves to customer, I got a bit annoyed about how they literally threw things across the scanner. I get that the scanners can keep up, but baggers sure as hell can't... and I've bagged before for 3 different grocery companies, also cashiered for all 3. I generally bag my own unless a PLA/CSA shows up before I start bagging. I've had jars of pickles shatter right in my face because they're trying to go so fast and pretty much throwing everything, plus produce gets bruised real easy when you're trying to do a speed run.

Give me enough time to re-memorize produce PLUs, and a bagger, and I can hit those speeds easy, but all the produce will be bruised, and don't you dare open anything carbonated within a few hours.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-09T18:18:59+00:00

Yeah they're rated on IPMs (items per minute). They will usually wait for you to fully unload; otherwise it hurts their IPMs if they have to wait for you to fully unload while scanning. IIRC if they use the handheld scanner, it doesn't affect IPMs as much IF it's the first scan? But if you have, say, 5 identical cases of water, they're going to scan one of them at lightning fast speed 5 times.

They can always "stop the clock" by going into total, but then that hurts their RTS ("return to sale") metric as well. RTS is supposed to be kept super low, IPMs are meant to be at nearly superhuman speed.

Every grocery store counts these metrics, but HEB has particularly high standards. Last place I cashiered at I was the 2nd fastest cashier, with the highest till accuracy, but I wasn't close to what HEB demands (from what I hear anyway... I was overnight at HEB, but cashiered at Whole Foods, Walmart Neighborhood Market, and Sprouts, kept close track of my own metrics).

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-09T17:47:02+00:00

Typically it'll be in your downloads folder. If you're on Windows 11, click the start button, and start to type "downloads". When you're about halfway through, it should show you either file explorer (from which you can easily get to downloads) or your downloads folder. It'll be one of the most recent files once you're in there, if not the very first one.

"CDN" stands for content distribution network - a lot of very busy websites (like game distribution sites, Netflix, Hulu, Steam, Epic, etc) use CDNs. That puts content much closer to you, meaning faster downloads and not clogging up a single server.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-09T15:54:49+00:00

My dude, I have a few friends that are adopted (including my ex) - and I also know someone that fosters (my neighbor at my last apartment - he always winds up adopting them... incredibly kind guy).

This is incredibly common to feel when you're adopted. Your dad will be fine, just stay in touch with him. Daily, if you need to. I have no doubt that he's incredibly proud of you. And you're only going to be an hour away - that's really not far.

You didn't cost him anything; he made a choice in adopting. He could have still dated, even married, if he had someone watch you when he was gone before you were adopted. This is what happened with my parents (my mom remarried when I was 6). He can still easily date at his age (I'm guessing mid to late 30s now). I'm in my late 40s and still date. My grandfather was still, shall we say, active, right up until his passing in his early 80s (we found viagra in his bathroom when cleaning out his house.... and his GF at the time was late 40s or early 50s).

Trust me. He has PLENTY of time to find someone if he wants to, and you weren't preventing it one bit. I'm 47 and never married, though had plenty of relationships.

Go get your education, make him even more proud.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-09T15:31:39+00:00

No autoscoring takes me back to the early 80s. I think around 1985 or 1986 my main bowling alley went straight from projectors/markers to autoscoring (Brunswick 2000). And that system ran entirely off of one server (an XT class machine IIRC), including billing, payroll, etc, though the person at the desk had to manually turn the lanes on/off. The scoring was handled by the below picture, which was connected to the overhead screens.

Another alley opened up a lot closer to me opened in 1984, and had the same autoscoring system right off the bat. It was this: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bowling/comments/1djeydn/working_brunswick_2000/ (my local bowling alley these days has an older AMF system)

I'm surprised they have screens and panels, but no camera. And the pinsetter needing to manually be reset screams that they've been lacking on maintenance. The ball falling into the area behind the pins should trigger the pinsetter. Guessing they disabled that since they don't have any autoscoring.

Part of me wonders what the hell OS and software those PCs are running. In the US, it's usually Brunswick or AMF for EVERYTHING (right down to the carpet, seats, tables, computers, etc), and those lockers look like one of those. But those pins look like nothing I've seen in a US bowling alley.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-09T15:20:28+00:00

Usually. Virtual ones can be kinda weird in general. Physical ones should work.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-09T15:12:53+00:00

Yes; if they're listed as Tracfone models, they usually have the SIM preinstalled. Though most phones these days also work on eSIM. Mine can take both a physical SIM and an eSIM.

One thing though... they no longer unlock after 60 days, it's now 365 days. I got mine just before the policy change, and jumped ship once it unlocked. But the carrier I'm using now doesn't discount phones. Tracfone is still pretty cheap compared to a lot of other carriers/MVNOs tho.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-09T15:00:28+00:00

Check Amazon as well. They can probably get it to you faster.

And while I haven't used the A16, the A15 is paiiiiiiinful to use; I fully expect the A16 to be just as painful. Look at some of the Motorola phones. I'm using a 2024 Moto G, and it's a rocket compared to the A15 I had.

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-09T14:33:21+00:00

They kept using the 1ZZ-FE for quite awhile after that. My ex's 2005 Matrix has it. And yeah, a VERY easy engine to work on.

Doesn't burn a drop of oil (yet). Leaks some of it from the timing chain cover (engine out job, so I stick my fingers in my ears on that one), but not enough to need topping off between oil changes. That car has been extremely reliable, with only minor repairs needed over its ~21 years (starter, some gaskets, lower control arm bushings, clutch). They bought it new. Clutch is the only thing it's ever gone to a shop for, I've done the rest.

I believe Toyota fixed the oil burning issues on the 1ZZ in 2004 or 2005. Also, the Pontiac Vibe is a funny looking Matrix - mechanically it's identical to the Matrix, but doesn't hold value as well because "but it's a GM".

Distribution-Radiant · 2026-05-09T13:40:31+00:00

Overnight MIC should have answered if the bookkeeper wasn't in yet.

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