Synchrony Bipap S/T and Encore Pro

[Bella]

I recently received the Encore Pro software (thanks CPAP.com!), and am trying to figure out how to download the information from my machine. I've checked the manual and it appears that there are two ways: 1- by modem to the DME or wherever (not what I want), and 2- by cable to my laptop (what I want). The Synchrony has a 9 pin plug and I have a similar one on the laptop. Can I just go get a cable at Radio Shack, or equivalent, or is there a special Respironics cable that I need? The manual names one, but I don't know if it would be special or not.

Thanks for any advice that you can give!

[laurabel]

Bella, Good luck! I think you will need the special cable from Respironics. I tried Radio Shack and would not work. I do not get all the data that they talk about here--only compliance data and my encore will not work at all. Maybe I am doing something wrong--I have encore pro from the download previously posted here. I would appreciate help from anyone!!!

[Bella]

Another poster from here, with the same machine, had told me that she received the cable with the software. She sent me the link to the software to order and I did. I'm guessing that she got hers sometime ago when the cable was part of the package. I think the one listed in the manual is an RS232. The way they explained it for sending through the modem, made it sound like a special cable was needed, but if you're just going from the machine to the pc, I don't know why. Both articles have 9 pin male plugs.

Any techies out here who might be able to explain, or advise how we can get the Respironics cable?

Laurabel, your pix at the bottom show a smart card reader. Is that what you've been trying with?

Bella

[laurabel]

Bella,
the smartcard reader is for my old machine. I tried the radio shack cable but nothing would happen, so I got the cable from respironics and do get info but not much. I talked to the RT and from what she said that is all we are going to get. If we were hooked up thru the modem to the sleep link, they would get all the info.

[Bella]

All of that information is in the bipap and we can't get at it? It doesn't seem right. I have the clinician's manual too, and from reading that it sounds like whoever is connecting to the PC should be able to get the same information as is sent over phone link. Before I read that I thought that the information was limited. And someone else pointed out to me that we should be able to get it all.

If you click on the image of our machines, and then enlarge the label, it indicates at the bottom that we should get all of the data that works with Encore Pro.

It sounds though like you have tried everything. I'm definitely disappointed. Not only did I buy the software, but I've really been looking forward to reading the data to help me understand what is going on with me.

Did you get your cable directly from Respironics, or through your RT?

Thanks

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): respironics, bipap

[ozij]

Check these links for getting detailed info from Encore Pro - you apparently have to look for it - but it's there in the Remstar line, even though some doctors and DMEs think it isn't. It makes sense to me to think it would be there for the Synchrony as well.


If the DME isn't using different software, then you should be able to get what he/she does. A modem connection is just a way of bringing the data from one place to the other. The tea I sugared will stay sweet, whether I keep it in the original cup, or pour it to another one.

The first page that comes up in the Viewer will be an uninteresting page.

The scroll bar on the righthand side of the first page in a "Full Details" view of Encore Pro data just scrolls to the bottom of Page 1. It fooled me the first time I used Encore Pro. I thought, gee, is this all there is? I knew I had clicked "full details". I thought that sliding the scrollbar down would go through all the pages of the report, but it doesn't. You have to use either the PageDown key or click the little green down-arrow at the top to move through the report pages.

The juicy stuff (charts/graphs) begins on page 4 of Encore Pro reports. Approximately 5 days of detailed data are all that are stored on the Smart Card at a time before newer data is recorded over the old, on the Smart Card.

In viewtopic.php?p=60313#60313
See also:
viewtopic.php?p=19203#19203

[laurabel]

I have 7 pages of "stuff" but nothing about AHI or SI. These are the charts that I get Breaths per minute
Patient triggered breaths
Peak Flow
Minute Vent
Tidal Volume
Epap Pressure
Ipac Pressure
Apnea Alarm
Shouldn't there be more? Would appreciate any help.

[Guest]

Don't know if this does any good, but if you google:
Respironics Synchrony Bipap S T pin adapter

stuff comes up on where to buy it.

[ozij]

Laurabel,
I've been thinking.
Since the problem for people using the Synchrony is that they don't initiate breathing in a timely way, that "stuff" you're getting is informative. Your apneas aren't the result of obstructions that have to be cleared, they're a result on "non-breathing".

I wonder if deltadave (sleepydave on http://www.apneasupport.org) could give you a few tips on understanding that info. He's a very knowledgeable, and helpful, sleep technician.

If you PM him, or contact him via the apneasupport forum, and he responds, could you please let us know?

O.

[Bella]

I still have not opened my Encore Pro because I wanted to be sure I could use it first. I checked with cpap.com about the Respironics cable and they don't carry it anymore. They were kind enough to tell me that the cable is a standard null modem RS 232 that I should be able to get at Radio Shack. So, off I will go to get one.

Ozij, those links you provided sound great. Of course I will still have to download MyEncore, and with my fragile dial-up who knows how that will work.

PS - I finally saw my sleep doctor on Friday and he thinks that it's great that I'm interested in all of this.

[rested gal]

The following is an excerpt from an old post by christinequilts, who has used a Respironics Synchrony BiPAP ST for quite some time:
_____________________________________
Most of us who use Encore Pro have to stumble around to figure out how to get all the info instead of just compliance so it doesn't surprise me that most DME's have the same problem. Even after using as much as I have I forget to check the complete information option when looking at reports all the time and you don't realize it until you see the report is only 3-4 pages instead of 10-14. When I first got it I also had a hard time figuring how to transfer the data from my Synchrony BiPAP ST since it uses a dirrect cable connection instead of a card. How quickly does the data transfer with the card happen? It takes several minutes to download my data even if its only a couple nights worth- I usually start the download and walk away for 10 minutes since a watched pot never boils. It is nice that it holds up to 6 months full nightly data so I don't have to worry about losing any if I don't do it for several weeks but I wish it was faster.

Machine: Synchrony ST BiPAP
Mask: Mirage Swift Nasal Pillows System
Humidifier: HC150 Heated Humidifier with hose, 2 chambers and stand
Software: Encore Pro Data Management Software 1.5
_________________________________________

That post by christinequilts was in a topic here:
viewtopic.php?t=4346

[Bella]

I'm glad to know that she had such success and hopefully I'll get the cable this week. It was frustrating to know, as Christine says, the machine holds 6 months of information, and it seemed that I would never get at it!

I can't complain about the machine - it doesn't cost me anything. Because I have severe central apnea, the province loans me one for free. On the other hand, I don't get a choice about what I get.

I'm looking forward to getting the data. I have days where I feel so wonderful; days were I feel average (I suppose); and days where I feel like **** and incapable of thought. Sunday was one of those days and I took my bedtime meds in the morning.

[laurabel]

ozij, I did contact deltadave(thanks for the suggestion) and he was quite helpful but the answer was not what I wanted to hear. He has confirmed my suspicion that the info I downloaded is all that there is available from this machine. Can't get all the other options. So, will have to be satisfied with what I got. Thank you for your interest.

[Bella]

Ok, I have this machine that will store 6 months of data at a time. I bought the Encore Pro software so that I could acess it and learn. I need a RS232 null modem cable to connect my computer to the bipap. Cpap.com doesn't carry them anymore but they did let me know that I should be able to get one at Radio Shack as the cables are common. Yesterday I went to Radio Shack (actually here in Canada it is now The Source, by Circuit City, but it is still Radio Shack). They don't carry the cables anymore. Seems they are used most often for black/grey market satellite tv connections. Being "good corporate citizens" they stopped carrying them. They did suggest EBay............sigh. I found a cable at another store that is used for laplink that does appear to have the correct 9 pin female connections on each end. I'll give it a try.

[laurabel]

Bella,
Do you read my posts? The cable that you need is available at
http://www.cpap-supply.com