I have been reading through some old posts about smart watches that can get dexcom readings without the use of a phone and without using a network signal i.e. direct from dexcom to the watch. I understand that using xdrip with a dexcom g6 sensor direct to a Bluejay GTS smart watch was the best option but now that type of watch is no longer made and the current Bluejay model has a terrible battery life because they had to design it to be compatible with the G7 sensor which runs on encrypted readings and takes much more processing than the G6 readings that were not so locked down.
So given the above, it seems like there is no good option currently for a standalone smart watch that receives readings directly from a G6 or G7 sensor and does not rely on a network signal. Can anyone provide further info on what watch to get that would not need be used with a phone or network signal and can receive readings directly from the sensor? I really like the idea of being able to walk away from the phone but still know what my bloodsugar level is (and also not have to rely on a network signal). This is useful in general as a backup device to get readings but also especially useful for watersports where it is not possible to bring a phone around with you. Honestly, at this point I donāt care if the watch is waterproof if there is one out there that would do the seemingly simple function that is not also waterproof.
In an post on this subject from last year, I noticed someone shared this link ( canāt post link as new user but Google: āxDrip+ Wear Setup and Troubleshooting Guide nightscout foundationā and look for watch guide documentationā ) which looks useful but it is referencing G5 sensors so is obviously out of date. It also seems complicated because it seems to reference standalone watches as ones that need to have cellular network signal to collect readings which really should not be necessary to get readings. Needing cellular network defeats the purposes of what I am looking for since I live in an area with unreliable network signal, and I donāt want to have to pay a per month plan for a watch and a phone! To be clear, āstandaloneā = no phone to carry around and no cellular signal needed.
Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I believe the G6 and the G7 use the exact same encryption protocol (AES) because both use BLE (BlueToothLe) which mandates AES.
Current BlueJay watches support the G7, I canāt remember any issues posted here or on TUD. I suggest you try it; itās a lot cheaper than an iWatch:
You may have problems getting one, seems supply is limited and it is a hot-ticket item, or maybe they just went out of business, who knows?
Hereās a Reddit thread which might help with finding a good watch for the G7:
Bear in mind the first comment; never buy anything new.
I use the new Bluejay watch and really like the xdrip collector. I donāt use a lot of the other watch functions (stuff like messages or mail) so the battery life is okay for me. What I really like is that I donāt have to swipe to turn the watch onāthereās a side button thatās easy to press while wearing garden or winter gloves.
Thanks for the suggestions all. I also want to use the xdrip collector with the smart watch. One of the big advantages to xdrip for me is that I can program the alarms so much better than the Dexcom app.
I donāt think Apple watches work with xdrip - is that right?
@catlady What is the battery life of the new Bluejay watch if you are just using for xdrip which is what I would do? Thanks
I use an iphone watch (iwatch? apple watch?) with the G7 sensor; I receive the sensor data directly on the watch, and directly on the phone. To do so requires pairing the sensor with each device (up to five) individually when installing the sensor (usually during or after warmup). If the watch isnāt paired to the sensor, it can get the same information directly from the iphone. I charge the watch daily, so the actual battery life isnāt so much a concern to me. I use the apple watch mostly because it auto adjusts to time zones and when wearing it, my phone is silent, and just vibrates the watchā¦as I donāt hear the phone most of the time, anyway.
The problem just lately is finding a sensor that works. Usually I have the first two fail, before a third will workā¦but this morning, that third one failed, tooā¦fell off the arm. The failure rate isnāt quite as high as the Libre 3/3Plus, but close.
Iām new here so I canāt post the link. Just google for xDrip4iOS and youāll find it. I used it to connect a Galaxy Watch 4 to an iPhone but I now have an Apple watch so I use the G7 direct to watch feature.
I ended up losing the link between the G7 and watch, yesterday. Getting it back was not simple. Worse, I kept getting watch alarms that wouldnāt quit, telling me to go to my phone to restore the connection. The phone said I was connected. I went to the watch, and it said the connection couldnāt be fixed. Something about removing the sensor connection and restoring, so I āforgotā the bluetooth connections on the watch. Somewhere in there a warning popped up not to do that. Eventually with enough button pushing, holding the watch under my arm, and hopping around with a trash can on one foot, spinning a hula hoop with the other and wearing VHF TV rabbit ear antennae(s), it eventually came back, but not until Iād recited all 154 of Shakespeareās sonnets in Greek and promised the woodpecker on the cactus that Iād be good all week. Now it works fine.
Iāve found the Dexcom Apple Watch app to be more reliable these days than it was a year ago, so Iām happy for the improvement. Itās not perfect and loses its connection periodically. One trick that helps sometimes is to force-quit the Dexcom app on the watch.
I get my Dexcom readings on my pump, my watch, and my phone, and all of them lose the connection to my CGM periodically but usually 2 of the 3 are connected at any given time.
If you are using xDrip+ on Android, here is the github site. This PR discusses updates to the existing standalone watch support. It appears to be just a draft but you can take a look at it to see if it works for you.