Troubleshooting issues with xDrip+ and Bubble Mini

Always keep location (GPS) on phone or watch turned on! Without it, bluetooth will likely NOT function or (re)connect. This may seem ridiculous and unnecessary, because that's what it is. In 2019, Android (read: Google) made it mandatory for any app to have location permission in order to work with Bluetooth devices. This is an abomination and drains battery, but cannot really be avoided.

 

Placing Bubble Mini on sensor

• Don't stick the Bubble to the sensor with adhesive, only to skin. This way, the Bubble may be less securely connected, but if sticked to the sensor, the Bubble causes additional friction and pull and the Libre sensor will likely fall of before the 14-day lifetime of the sensor. The Bubble may fall of once every few days, but is easily reattached. A sensor that comes loose from skin cannot be used anymore. 
  
• Manually check whether Bubble is positioned correctly over the sensor, before sticking it to skin. Before sticking the Bubble Mini to skin, it is best to first manually place the Bubble over the sensor, to find a location which results in readings in xDrip+. If you're sure the Bubble generates readings on a given location, then use the adhesive to attach it.  
  

 

No readings on phone or watch

1) Check "System Status" (three vertical bars in top left of xDrip+ main screen)

• Data Source should read: "Bubble"
• Bluetooth Device should read: "Bubble Mini". If it does not, press three vertical stripes in top-left, choose "Bluetooth scan". Bubble Mini device should be found/show, select it.
• Connection Status should read: "Connected". If it reads "Connecting [some time]", then the bluetooth connection between Bubble Mini and phone or watch is not working.
  

2) Check "View events log" (three dots in top right of xDrip+ main screen)

• If you see a message "No sensor has been found" then the Bubble is connected with the phone, but not scanning the Libre sensor. Move the Bubble to a different part of the sensor. 

Watch not collecting readings

When I do not get readings when using watch as collector, this is often because somehow my watch's bluetooth will not pick up the signal from the Bubble. Perhaps because the Bubble gets paired to my phone sometimes. My troubleshooting approaches when this happens:

• Check xDrip+ logs to see whether bluetooth connection between Bubble Mini and watch is the culprit: In xDrip+ main screen, press three dots in top-right corner, select "View events log". There are many messages here, some difficult to understand, but if you see a message saying "No sensor has been found", it means your Bubble is not well attached to your Libre sensor, so fix that, because connection between Bubble and watch is probably fine. If you see a message saying "Aggressively restarting collector service due to lack of reception: backoff: [some number]", then the watch is not connected with the Bubble.  
• Use phone as collector: In xDrip+, go to "Settings" in xDrip+. Select "Smart Watch Features". Choose "Android Wear Integration". Untick all boxes, but keep "Android Wear Integration" on. Go back to main menu. Perhaps you have already received a new glucose reading from the Bubble on your phone now. If not, choose "Bluetooth Scan", if Bubble Mini is found, select it. If Bubble is not found, reset your Bubble Mini and try again. Perhaps you have already received a new glucose reading from the Bubble on your phone now. If not, go to "System Status" and select "RESTART COLLECTOR".
• Check whether OOP is running correctly. Open OOP algorithm app in watch menu. It should show a message like "Algorithm worked correctly".
• Reset Bubble Mini. See below.
  

  

Resetting Bubble Mini

The picture below was taken from https://www.bubblan.org/docs/guide/diabox/how-to-reset-your-device/. You insert the bottom of Bubble Mini into the slot with the tiny magnet, until the red light on the Bubble lights up.