Encore Pro software

[fstanmyre]

I'm a newly diagnosed sleep apnea victim and like many of us, am having trouble adjusting. I'm using a Remstar Auto machine and have installed the Encore Pro software v1.4.87. I find the feedback that this software provides to be absolutely invaluable particularly with regard to mask selection. I don't know how anyone can do without it. I have one annoying little problem however that frustrates me and neither Respironics or the cpap machine supplier are any help at all, nutz to them. On the software opening page the "interaction list" shows the correct day and date but all the reports are currently showing January 1998. Seems like somehow or other my computer has to tell the Encore smart card what the date is, and then the card will tell the Remstar. Respironics did tell me that the Remstar has a built in real time clock but nobody I could contact had any idea how to reset the clock, thanx very much. I'm reasonably computer literate but can't solve this problem on my own. This forum is my last hope. Anybody out there have any ideas? I sure would appreciate it.

[Grant I]

Fred,
The dates on the interaction page are generated when you do the downloads--using the computer's calendar/clock. This is why the page shows the current date. The REPORT uses the machine's calendar/clock to generate dates--the Encore database entries include date/time of each event. I would think that while your daily data shows 1998, the heading on the report prints the correct date, right??

The only reason your reports are saying "1998" must be your APAP's calendar/clock is not set correctly. HOWEVER...the internal clock is NOT resettable except by the FACTORY! If you do a search on this forum, you'll find some threads in the past concerning this. The idea of using the smartcard to synchronize the clock won't work. There is no way to enter time on the smartcard (that we're aware of).

Please scream bloody murder at Respironics--ask them how to fix it, short of returning the machine to them. Let us know what you find out.

Grant

[fstanmyre]

Thanks Grant, I was afraid that would be the answer. Fine, if Respironics doesn't trust me to run their software, or even to reset the clock, they (or the middleman supplier) can drive the 40 miles to replace the "defective" machine.

[wading thru the muck!]

Thanks Grant, I was afraid that would be the answer. Fine, if Respironics doesn't trust me to run their software, or even to reset the clock, they (or the middleman supplier) can drive the 40 miles to replace the "defective" machine.

I like your attitude!

[snork1]

I have a Remstar stuck in the 90's also. I know exactly what you mean. The Encore Pro software knows the date, but the machine insists I am in the 90's....Although I have finally gotten into 1999. I wonder how its going to handle the Y2K bug? I also wonder if this machine is old stock? How long has the Remstar Auto been manufactured?

My Sleep doc even remarks about the date problem when he attempts to read the smart card but has no clue. Of course the DME has no clue and insists its not to be covered as a defect, since I shouldn't be reading that kind of data from my machine as a mere layman either. (DME's will say anything to avoid calling anything a warranty issue).

Let me know if you find a solution or if you get it taken care of as a defect...which will at least give me ammo for getting my DME to deal with it.

[fstanmyre]

Fortunately, I'm 65 years old, retired with plenty of time available, and not about to put up with a runaround. As we stand today, Repironics says the Remstar has an internal clock and setting it is part of the "calibration process". They tell me that middleman provider (dallas), should set the clock. My provider told me three weeks ago that they didn't know how but would find out and get right back to me, they never did. I've resurrected the issue with them this morning, my position being that the Remstar is defective and must be replaced/fixed. Frankly, it's not that I can't live with the date anomaly but firstly, I shouldn't have to, and secondly, it's all part of process to milk as much money out of me/us as possible by requiring direct instructions from a doctor so they can charge. Btw, my doctor has never heard of the Encore software, doesn't have a card reader, and doesn't use it. Before I bought the software and reader, the procedure was that the doctor calls the remstar supplier and asks for the smart card printout that he knows nothing about. The the supplier comes to my house and picks up the card, provides the printout to the doctor but not to me. I then call the doctor to get a copy. He never gives me an interpretation of the printout, probably because he doesn't understand it. I've since sacked him. He provides no value whatsoever, however they all make money.

Bottom line on all this, I consider the whole arrangement a setup between Respironics, the equipment provider, and the sleep laboratory, to milk the system for as much money as possible without regard to the patient's needs. Imo, there is no way that a patient, or anybody else can select masks, adjust masks, set pressures without immediate feedback. Respironics could have made software that was user friendly, or even a lcd readout that would provide at least some of this feedback, but instead they decided to make software (Encore) that was solely intended for the use of providers. Unless you are willing to shell out big bucks to all and sundry, you won't get the feedback and chances are the cpap device and the mask just aren't doing their job. I think this is obvious from the comments in this forum.

Trust this will liven up this forum. Comments/criticisms are welcome.

[fstanmyre]

Finally got this sorted out. Turns out that Repironics uses a separate card and software called sleep link to set the internal clock in the Remstar. This software is also used to do some serious calibration work like setting flow vs pressure and calibrating pressure, so it is probably best left to the experts at Respironics. My DME claims they didn't know anything about this and didn't have the sleep link stuff. Anyhow to make a long story short, my DME jerked me around for several weeks until it turned out that I owed $150 on the Remstar. I phoned the DME and told them that I wasn't paying unless the clock was fixed. They immediately exchanged the machine after presumeably getting the go ahead from Respironics. Bottom line, it's clearly a design failure, but the internal clock can only be set by someone with the sleeplink setup and that is probably only Respironics. Btw, since they didn't have the same Remstar Auto, they gave me the new Remstar Auto with C-Flex. For me anyway the C-Flex really works.

[rested gal]

LOL, Fred! I love your attitude!!

You got a better deal, making them swap. You have C-flex added now, whether you need it or not. It's a nice bit of extra comfort for many. I like it. WTG!

[littlebaddow]

I'm a newly diagnosed sleep apnea victim and like many of us, am having trouble adjusting.

... and if you apply the same attitude and perseverence to the treatment, you will adjust and feel the benefit.

A good example to us all.