Hi,
@alasdair.mitchell , there's been a couple of app updates for bugfixes, now up to version 2.1.6, and this seems to have ironed out a few glitches.
After the initial novelty of having a new toy to play with wore off, I've not used it that much, maybe about 10 days in total spread over 2 sensors, but certainly, after those 2 glitchy days, and since the app updates, I felt it was working pretty well, usually fairly close to meter, indeed, closer than the reader. It doesn't use the same predictive algorithms as the reader, so there can sometimes be divergent readings during rapid changes just on account of that which can take a bit of getting used to.
For holding it on, I got one of these:
http://www.freestylesticker.de/Produkt/ambrosia-blucon-nightrider-fix/ .The blucon isn't waterproof so you need to take it on and off for showers so the armband is a bit handier than faffing about with big plasters. Used surgical tape for a while but I was getting a mild allergic reaction.
I recall reading something about a warranty period but can't recall how long it was. The construction is fairly decent, solid, and at the end of the day it's just a bit of electronics with a changeable battery so it should last a while.
As you say, it doesn't have alerts, but they say they are working on it and that will come later (also some sort of carer sharing update which sends results to other phones), so I'll just have to wait and see what happens with that. They won't be drawn on when that might be. I'm wondering if it's more a medical licensing/authorisation issue than a software one, but I'm just speculating along the lines of do alerts make it a medical device which needs authorisation.
Alll in all, I don't regret the purchase, it was kind of amusing getting results pushed to my phone but I think I'll probably just keep it on the sideboard for now and if they get round to running alerts, would then be handy for overnight wear for alerts when I've been out for a few beers at the weekend. I'm not that fussed about day alerts or midweek night alerts, so don't want to get all dexcommed up, but it would be handy having an occasional alarm available for after the odd night out on the town!
One little quirk was that it kept on measuring ( accurately) for twelve hours after the sensor had officially died. Has done that with both sensors I've used it on, so, hey, at least, I've had a free day out of it! I was really interested in seeing how long it would run for, was hoping I might get an extra week or so, so a bit of a pain it ended after only a 12 extra hours.
Ambrosia is a tiny little company. I think they've been overwhelmed by the logistics of getting it to market, so you're never going to get the same level of support you get from Abbott.
PS: just noticed Glucoangel the other day, see link below. Another start-up offering a libre add on to provide alerts, but currently only selling in Spain. The construction looks kinda flimsy and vulnerable to breakage. At least the blucon is a fairly sturdy and compact little piece in comparison.
http://glucoangel.instead-technologies.com