no landline

hello I am Yvette and my question today is I do not have a landline for my Merlin@home transmitter for my pacemaker but the hospital has giving me an adapter to plug in to the back of the transmitter because i only have an i-phone so is the set up the same way as if i did have a landline

7 Comments

Landline

by Bostonstrong - 2013-09-29 11:09:23

I don't have a landline either and they offered me an adapter at 15.95 a month. Not going to pay a monthly fee for something I would only use 3 times a year. Also wondering about how they schedule appointments for you to transmit? I work two jobs and travel a lot, can't imagine when I am supposed to squeeze this in if they expect it done on their schedule. Much of the travel is spontaneous, I don't want to be tied down to an appointment for this!

No landline either

by Pollypacer - 2013-10-02 08:10:23

I gave up my landline a while ago. I go to my local hospital's cardiac unit for interogation. But then, my hospital is only 15 miles away. If you can, I'd suggest going to your cardiac unit for interogation. Medicare pays for it, in my case.

Connection Options

by MagicMerlin - 2013-10-10 07:10:45

Hi Yvette!
Is your Merlin@home transmitter an EX1100 or and EX1150? The wireless adapter is not a good investment if you have an EX1100 and will only be transmitting 3 times a year. However, if you have an EX1150, it would be a great investment. The EX1150 gathers information from your implant once every night, between the hours of 2 and 4 am. If the information gathered meets a criteria set by your doctor, the EX1150 will silently send that information to your doctor immediately. This enables your doctor to know about any events within 24 hours of them happening instead of waiting months to find out at an in-clinic appointment down the road or from the ER. It's important to allow the EX1150 constant access to a phone line/wireless adapter for this reason.

If you choose not to use a landline in your home, there are a few other connectivity options for the Merlin@home transmitter (EX1100 and EX1150):

1. Obtain a schedule of dates that your doctor wants you to remotely transmit on. On those days (the schedule will vary by doctor but it is generally once every 3 months) take the transmitter to a landline (at a family member's house, neighbor's house, public library, etc.) and send from there (it will take about 20 minutes). When you're done, pack up the transmitter and store it away until your next scheduled remote transmission.
**INCOMPATIBLE PHONE SERVICES**
-Phone systems that require dialing 9 or any other number to access an outside line.
-MagicJack, MagicJack Plus, Vonage, Ooma, and other VOIP services
-Verizon HomeConnect, AT&T Wireless Home Phone, Sprint Home Phone Connect, US Cellular Home Phone, and other wireless home phone services.

2. Call Integron at 877-300-3606 to order a wireless adapter. The wireless adapter connects using cell towers in your area instead of a landline. The wireless adapter is formatted specifically for the Merlin@home transmitter and is not available through parties other than Integron. There is a monthly fee for the wireless adapter ($16.99/month) and a 3-year commitment. To check for coverage, visit http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/pcc.aspx/ (if your coverage says "Service Provider," check here: http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/pcc.aspx/). If you do not have service in your area, the wireless adapter will not work.

3. Call SJM remote care technical support to return your transmitter for free and schedule an in-clinic appointment to have your implant read.

SJM's remote care technical support group is available Monday-Friday from 8 am-8 pm, EST.


Good luck!

wireless telephone connection

by hkappen - 2015-01-12 10:01:54

I have an adapter on the back of my merlin. I just noticed that there is a red light on it. I always thought it was green. The guy said it was red unless it was transmitting. Is this correct. help

Integron WiFi solution

by snooze - 2015-02-19 04:02:37

I have received and setup the access point and USB wireless adapter to Helen's (the patient) transmitter. Although it seems to be flawless and an absolute no-brainer to setup, I was terribly upset to find that the two items I received were not top-of-the-line products and each were obsolete and being sold a deep discounts at Best Buy and Amazon. Price total is around $100. Integron, as an agent for St. Jude, sells the package for $450!!!

I have written to St. Jude customer service. Their face is on he product!

Bob

re: WiFi solution

by scott02467 - 2015-06-20 01:06:21

The Merlin unit per se is programmed to dial a 1-800 number, login and upload data. I fail to see how buying an off-the-rack device from Best Buy or Amazon, even if such a device clearly would be able to plug in the side USB port, would of itself know how to go to www.whatever.com and securely login that website to upload the pacemaker data. There would have to be some proprietary customization done by St Jude which directs the internet traffic to their servers. Mind you, it may only be a few lines of information (destination URL, login id, password) but without it the Merlin device wouldn't have a clue on the internet where to go.

@scott

by estgad - 2015-07-19 10:07:11

Scott,

The Merlin device is what contains the instructions (programming) on what number to dial, or what web site to connect / ftp to.

The item plugged into the usb or phone jack is the path used to make the connection.

The WiFi device sold by merlin IS a ripoff!
It is only a usb wifi adapter and a wifi router.
There is no reason they can not use a $20 usb wifi adapter (with wps button built into it) to allow a person to connect to their owm wifi router.

You know you're wired when...

Your heart beats like a teenager in love.

Member Quotes

I have had my pacer since 2005. At first it ruled my life. It took some time to calm down and make the mental adjustment. I had trouble sleeping and I worried a lot about pulling wires. Now I just live my life as I wish.