new dreamStation question

After ten years using the same ResMed machine, I was persuaded I needed to upgrade. The sleep clinic available to me had only the dreamstation to offer and I picked it up today. I am a senior and hate technology, and it is far too compllicated for me. I do not have cell reception where I live except for the very occasional weak signal for a few seconds. Even if I did, I wouldn't want something transmitting near my head - studies have shown that sleeping with a cellphone by your bed is harmful. So my question is - can I just remove the modem? I tired going through the screens to just turn off the modem but there are too many choices - do I turn off wifi? Do I turn of bluetooth (don't even know what that is, except it is something to do with electronic devices)? And with all the pages of instruction, how do I figure out how to just make it do what my old one did - ramp on, provide pressure while I sleep, shut off automatically when I remove it? No point calling the sleep clinic - they were next to useless when I was there (and talked much to fast and with an accent I couldn't understand).

Just relax and go to sleep. There ain't nothin' there going to hurt you. Period.

The modem is not required for proper machine operation.

The modem just keeps track of your use and allows the doctor to download your compliance data. Without the modem you will have to show compliance by bringing in your data card.

That whole stuff about cellphones and cancer and whatever else you heard/read is out of date and will not affect you, your machines or anything else. Millions of people use the same equipment every night and no one has been affected at all by the technology. The absolute least of your worries.

chronic wrote:Just relax and go to sleep. There ain't nothin' there going to hurt you. Period.

As long as you don't have it on a shelf over your bed, near the ceiling you should be ok! However reading studies and news stories are sure to cause Cancer and brain cell death, it did it to all the people that wrote the studies. Jim

Dismissing someone's concern is arrogant, rude, and unhelpful. I asked if I could remove the modem, and how to set the machine to ramp up, turn on and turn off. Only one person even attempted to address my question. I'll ask elsewhere.

Frustrated technophobe wrote:Dismissing someone's concern is arrogant, rude, and unhelpful. I asked if I could remove the modem, and how to set the machine to ramp up, turn on and turn off. Only one person even attempted to address my question. I'll ask elsewhere.

Pandering to someone's irrational fears does them a disservice.

You may not like reality and the truth, but that doesn't make it any less valid.

Hello,

The answer is yes, you can remove it, provided the DreamStation is turned off. Since you don't have a good signal anyway, it may not matter. The DreamStation will run fine without it. Hopefully, the piece of mind you get will help you sleep well.

Some doctors / durable medical equipment providers / insurance companies require that you show compliance that you are using the machine daily. Some companies won't cover the cost of the machine if they don't get proof that you regularly use the machine. For these, the modem gets setup to connect periodically and send them the compliance information from your machine. If they did not come out and setup the network information, they are probably not using it.

If compliance data is required and the modem is out, there are a couple of options.
1. You can take the SDC data card out and carry it into your appointment. They can then check the data they want. (Facing the screen, lift the small door on the right side of the DreamStation. The SDC card is closest to you and the filters are next to the card. Push the card in and it will pop out slightly so you can grab it.)
2. Someone may call you to get the compliance data from your machine. They will instruct you to scroll through the menu options until you get to the My Provider menu, push the Control Dial and scroll to the compliance information, then read it to them. Not fun.

If you decide to remove the modem:
1. Ensure the DreamStation is off.
2. Facing the screen, lift the small door on the left side of the DreamStation.
3. Pull the modem straight out while holding the machine in place.
4. Close the door.

You can use your DreamStation easily, just like your old one, if you don't care to look at your data.
1. Put on your mask and press the largest button on top of machine. This is On/Off.
2. Want to use ramp? Press the smallest button on top of machine to turn on ramp.
3. Sleep peacefully and press the large button in the morning to turn off.

Good night and good sleep.

I suggest leaving the modem alone. The issue about cell phones was about the phone being held directly against your head for prolonged periods (if it's even true). The modem on a night table is not problematic.

That being said, you can safely remove the modem, though I would pull out the plug before removing or inserting it.