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spike
10-02-2006, 12:20 PM
Anyone else having trouble with the Mini tearing the top black layer from the working end of the strips upon insertion? I'm on my second meter and the problem is identical to the first one. I've run about 6,500+ strips per year through mostly LifeScan meters starting in 1996 and no Ultra meter I've used has had such a hard time accepting the strips as the Mini. The same vial of strips, when used with my US, or Ultra2, or Ultra, insert easily. It's also not a "new meter" issue either--all my other Ultra-type meters accepted strips more gracefully when brand new than the Minis.

Too often the Mini won't turn on when I insert the strip, because there's resistance, so I have to give it a second "jab", which is tearing the strip covering. (At least the meter works, but it's a PITA, nevertheless)
Clint
10-02-2006, 12:44 PM
my ultra did that also, what I do is insert the strip at a slight angle and then push it in... seems to work 99% of the time.
spike
10-02-2006, 12:46 PM
my ultra did that also, what I do is insert the strip at a slight angle and then push it in... seems to work 99% of the time.

Do you mean you hold the back of the strip up a little? That's how I always load the meters.
Clint
10-02-2006, 12:48 PM
I angle it to the side a bit so that one edge of the blue top goes in then I pull it to the middle and push it in..
spike
10-02-2006, 12:50 PM
I angle it to the side a bit so that one edge of the blue top goes in then I pull it to the middle and push it in..

Can't go in from the side on the Mini--the housing surrounds the entrance to the slot.
Clint
10-02-2006, 12:55 PM
hmm.. well.. sounds like a defect to me.
gettingby
10-02-2006, 01:06 PM
I'm starting to have a problem with my UltraSmart and the strips. Sometimes it will take a couple of tries to get the strip in and the meter to come on. I thought it was me. I'll have to try the angling with my next test to see if that helps.
Clint
10-02-2006, 01:07 PM
my ultra smart never did this, only my Ultra...
gettingby
10-02-2006, 01:11 PM
It's just a small hassle. I don't see any reason to call them about it. I may not get a replacement anyway. I got this meter off ebay and if I have to provide a receipt, then I don't have one.
Clint
10-02-2006, 01:12 PM
yup, I changed how I inserted the strip and problem was solved.. :)
gettingby
10-02-2006, 01:18 PM
Ok, this is sooooo weird. I tried accessing the Lifescan website and I keep getting a 403 Forbidden error.:hmmmm2:
Clint
10-02-2006, 01:22 PM
I was able to get to it just now...
spike
10-02-2006, 01:22 PM
hmm.. well.. sounds like a defect to me.

LS will be sending me Mini #3. I'll report if that one works more smoothly than the 2 I've had.
spike
10-02-2006, 01:23 PM
Ok, this is sooooo weird. I tried accessing the Lifescan website and I keep getting a 403 Forbidden error.:hmmmm2:

you need the "www." before "lifescan.com". I get 403 error if I leave off the "www"
Clint
10-02-2006, 01:23 PM
cool, let us(me) know if this one is better. I am thinking of getting a mini as my 'emergency' meter...
Clint
10-02-2006, 01:24 PM
yup, same for me, I tried it with and without the www and it only works with...
gettingby
10-02-2006, 01:25 PM
Yeah. I did leave off the www. Got it when I put that in. LOL.
spike
10-02-2006, 01:25 PM
cool, let us(me) know if this one is better. I am thinking of getting a mini as my 'emergency' meter...

I still like the meter. It's just an annoyance that I have to jam the strip in forcefully, some of the time. It'll work ok a few times, and then it'll be a bear to get the next strip in.
Clint
10-02-2006, 01:26 PM
cool, I would still like to know if the next one is a pain like the previous ones you have.
Dewey
10-02-2006, 01:26 PM
Cin, I've had issues on occasion where the strip wouldn't turn the meter on. Like Clint, I just angled the strip differently & problem solved.

Just wanted you to know that you're not alone. :)

Spike, I've also noticed that you have to give the strip an extra "push" to get the Mini to come on. Not sure why it's like that...Is it a design flaw or something?
spike
10-02-2006, 01:30 PM
Cin, I've had issues on occasion where the strip wouldn't turn the meter on. Like Clint, I just angled the strip differently & problem solved.

Just wanted you to know that you're not alone. :)

Spike, I've also noticed that you have to give the strip an extra "push" to get the Mini to come on. Not sure why it's like that...Is it a design flaw or something?


I know it's tighter than the other Ultras, but are you guys getting torn strips? The black top coating is being torn, just behind the contacts, on the right side only (looking at the strip from the "handle" end).
Clint
10-02-2006, 01:32 PM
sometimes mine will tear, but if I push with a constant pressure kinda slow, alot of times it will go in with out tearing..
spike
10-02-2006, 01:36 PM
sometimes mine will tear, but if I push with a constant pressure kinda slow, alot of times it will go in with out tearing..


Stop writing porn, Clint... :) j/k.
Clint
10-02-2006, 01:37 PM
lol, didnt think about how i was wording it... trying to post and code at the same time ;) no worries... lol
Dewey
10-02-2006, 01:39 PM
Lately, no strips have torn, but earlier on, I did get one or a couple that lifted/separated.
spike
10-02-2006, 01:40 PM
Lately, no strips have torn, but earlier on, I did get one or a couple that lifted/separated.

Maybe the same thing I'm getting? the black layer.
Dewey
10-02-2006, 01:41 PM
Maybe the same thing I'm getting? the black layer.
Yes, I believe it was the same thing, where the black layer lifts/separates from the bottom one.
Clint
10-02-2006, 01:44 PM
that has happened a few times, but not since I changed how I insert the strips..
spike
10-02-2006, 01:46 PM
that has happened a few times, but not since I changed how I insert the strips..


ok, walk me through it slowly again. :) When you said "blue" earlier, I thought you meant a different meter.
Clint
10-02-2006, 01:49 PM
its the top layer of the strip, which I thought was blue, is black.. so we are talking about the samething
Harold
10-03-2006, 11:29 AM
Bought one a week ago and I have only used it twice. Inserting the strip the resistance seemed about the same as my US. The channel where the strip inserts is narrower, and possibly deeper, than the US so getting it to start on one corner is more difficult but doable.
spike
10-03-2006, 12:04 PM
Bought one a week ago and I have only used it twice. Inserting the strip the resistance seemed about the same as my US. The channel where the strip inserts is narrower, and possibly deeper, than the US so getting it to start on one corner is more difficult but doable.

Will you let me know what you think of it after running a couple of vials through it? Mine doesn't jam every time I insert a strip--maybe every 4-5 times. Never had that problem with any other Ultra meter. I'll have a 3rd Mini in a day or two.
Harold
10-03-2006, 12:22 PM
For sure, that is why I mentioned only using it twice. Although it will probably be a long time before running 2 vials through it, so I'll keep track on the first vial and let you know. Just going to use it for the unscheduled readings for now.