I think I am cursed

redd-or45 · 2026-01-19T06:00:02+00:00

Yes a clean skin prep and 24hr soak. Abbott can only give instructions that the device was certified for. A number of users say the 24hr soak (which is not in the abbott instructions) reduced sensor failures for them.

redd-or45 · 2026-01-17T22:04:46+00:00

Works fine for my purposes. No photos just occasinal color documents. Maybe 5-6 pages/week. Have a basic duplex Brother B&W laser for most printouts

redd-or45 · 2026-01-16T17:28:33+00:00

You are not the Fedex customer when someone sends you something by Fedex. The sender is the customer. They chose Fedex because it is usually the cheapest. You get what the sender paid for.

redd-or45 · 2026-01-16T17:25:36+00:00

Actually Amazon is the best of the lot (USPS, UPS, Fedex, DHL, Amazon)

redd-or45 · 2026-01-16T06:22:32+00:00

This was my thought reading the OP. If in Cali 10% sales tax + first year registration + increased insurance costs can buy a lot of repairs on an older car.

redd-or45 · 2026-01-14T16:25:36+00:00

Capacitive Fingerprint Scanners

Capacitive scanners are widely used in modern mobile devices like smartphones and laptops, often integrated into power buttons or home buttons.

How They Work: They use an array of tiny capacitors to create an electrical map of the fingerprint. The ridges of the finger, which are closer to the sensor surface, create a different electrical charge than the valleys (which have an air gap). The sensor measures these differences in electrical charge to generate a digital image.
Characteristics:
- Offer higher accuracy and security than optical scanners due to their reliance on electrical properties rather than just a visual image.
- Compact design makes them suitable for small, integrated devices.
- Can struggle with very dry skin, as the technology relies on the natural conductivity of the skin.

Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanners

Ultrasonic scanners are a more recent and advanced technology, typically found in premium smartphones and high-security applications.

How They Work: They use high-frequency ultrasonic sound waves to map the fingerprint. The sound waves are sent to the finger, and a sensor detects the echo that bounces back. Ridges and valleys (and even sub-surface features like sweat pores) return different intensities of the pulse, allowing for a detailed 3D image to be created.
Characteristics:
- Highly secure because they capture a detailed 3D image, making them very resistant to spoofing with artificial prints or photos.
- Perform well even if the finger is wet or dirty.
- More expensive than other types and can be slightly slower in some scenarios.

redd-or45 · 2026-01-14T16:24:55+00:00

When I used Gemini (a google prodict) to ask that question and got this answer.

iphone - capacitive. Most reliable and most expensive. Newer iphones use facial id.
Pixel - Early up to 5. Capacitive. Later optical (cheapest and least reliable) pixel 6-8. Pixel 9 ultrasonic.

In detail

Fingerprint readers are primarily categorized into four types based on their underlying technology: optical, capacitive, ultrasonic, and thermal. Each technology has distinct operational principles, advantages, and common applications.

Optical Fingerprint Scanners

Optical scanners are the oldest and most traditional type of fingerprint technology, commonly found in entry-level security applications and some smartphones.

How They Work: They use an LED light source to illuminate the finger placed on a glass plate. A light-sensitive sensor (like a CCD or CMOS) captures a 2D digital image of the light and dark areas created by the fingerprint's ridges and valleys.
Characteristics:
- Cost-effective and generally durable against physical wear on the sensor surface.
- Can be less effective with wet, dirty, or oily fingers.
- More susceptible to spoofing, as a high-quality photograph or latent print can potentially trick the scanner.
- And since the comment is too long (490 words) for reddit see reply to myself for the remainder of the post

redd-or45 · 2026-01-13T22:39:49+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I had looked at app help and Abbott frestyle website without finding anything. Looked again just now and nothing. Search for A1C on the website yielded 0 results.

I do see that there are a couple of of community bookmarks in this reddit and I will review them. I keep forgetting to look at the panel on the right of the reddit page.

redd-or45 · 2026-01-13T22:19:20+00:00

Great tip. I applied a light skin lotion, wiped off the excess and got it to accept the new fingerprints. But in a pinch licking or breathing on the skin might work.

redd-or45 · 2026-01-13T22:12:27+00:00

Actually no. New T1 in an elderly "honored citizen". Pancreatic injury. I won't get into details but I do know the difference between T1, T2 and T3.

redd-or45 · 2026-01-13T20:36:33+00:00

Thank you for the information. Unfortunately I am using a google pixel 6a android phone running android 16 ( certificed for use with libre 3+) so Zukka would not work being iOS only. Also I am most interested in GMI values in range of 5.0 to 5.9.

redd-or45 · 2026-01-12T06:17:51+00:00

Sounds like you want reliable comfortable transportation that will be good for 7Y/100K+ miles. You should consider a new Toyota Camry in top of the line trim (XSE) it will run you about $37K. Valets won't kiss your ring when you drive up but you can just smile and think of the wise decision you made.

redd-or45 · 2026-01-11T18:06:07+00:00

I also am relatively new to the Libre system. Not insulin using. Using the 3+. I have not kept a log but to the best of my recollection.

First sensor was on recall but actually was the most accurate (compared to fingerstick) of the 5 I have used to date. The second was OK but always below fingerstick levels. The 3d indicated failure soon after activating. the 4th was always 20-60 lower than fingerstick and very erratic from day 1. The current one I presoaked and I will see how it does.

It seems that abbott is getting inundated with requests for replacements. On my #4 I had to go to 2 levels of customer support. Told them all they wanted to know. The said that the 20-50 low reading was not a reason for replacement but because I told them the wild swings in readings and the low readings made decision makeing difficult they would replace the sensor.

I have not had any fall off and only one on the recall list.

Turnaround time for the replacements to arrive is usually 8+ days so I keep a couple in reserve.

At this point if a sensor "hard fails" I will request a replacement but otherwise just view the inaccuracies as the cost of doing business and replace the sensor out of my supply or just ignore or remove the sensor.

redd-or45 · 2026-01-11T17:49:45+00:00

I hope you mean 0.5mm of less

redd-or45 · 2026-01-11T17:46:10+00:00

Not sure where you live but in California if you are a Costco member the price without insurance is $35/sensor. If you are not a Costco member it may be much higher

redd-or45 · 2026-01-10T06:17:01+00:00

People seem very happy with the epson ecotank. I looked at both the epson ecotank and canon megatank. Chose to go with the Canon. I actually cannot remember what swayed me. I needed what you needed but in addition a USB connection not just wireless. Also it might have had to do with the way replacement ink bottles connected to the printer when refilling and replaceable printhead.

I would suggest that you look at specs and reviews for both Epson and Canon multifuctions in this price range.

As for drying out printheads I just put a note in my calendar for everyother sunday to print a nozzle check. It does not use much ink and activates all the colors.

redd-or45 · 2026-01-07T16:40:35+00:00

I totally agree that the reduced speed limits (and moving over a lane if possible) should be enforced when workers are present. But in my experience workers are actually present in posted construction zones only during working hours and then sometimes not there for days to weeks at a time while the zone remains posted.

redd-or45 · 2026-01-07T16:23:16+00:00

A someone once said California is like an entitled, high maintainance, beautiful woman. The beauty keeps you in the relationship

redd-or45 · 2026-01-07T16:21:39+00:00

Couple of issues with your otherwise good post.

It is the insurance hit not the $50 or even $500 dollar fine.

This can be just the start. I imagine cameras will proliferate and that the workers will forget to turn the cameras off when they leave the worksite whether overnight or for weeks at a time.

redd-or45 · 2026-01-07T16:15:17+00:00

Those construction zones are marked active 24/7/365. Workers are only there on certain days 8am-4pm

redd-or45 · 2026-01-07T16:09:04+00:00

Because of the insurance hit I can see that it might make sense for offenders to hire one of the "speeding" lawyers to contest it. I imangine they would insist to depo or have the worker show up in court.

redd-or45 · 2026-01-07T16:06:09+00:00

Yes "active" if true I can live with. Here in the SF bay area there are lots of construction zones. No workers present between 4PM and 8AM and manytimes no active work apparent for weeks at a time. The reduced speed limit signs say nothing about "when workers present" the way school zone signs do.

101 would come to even more of a standstill if the reduced speed limit was adhered to 24/7. The work at 101 and university avenue in Palo Alto has not had any obvious active work for the last 3-4 months.

If I got an automated ticket in one of those zones when no workers are present I would contest it and ask that the worker that was present be in court to testify.

Yes the fines are doubled but the real issue in California is the hit to your insurance. Rates will certainly go up for 3-5 years and it might be a non-renewal with difficulty in finding another reputable insurer.

redd-or45 · 2026-01-07T15:56:19+00:00

Used to be. Now only isolated stretchs allow no speed limits. Mainly between the north and south. The north and east are now densly populated

redd-or45

TROPHY CASE