Disappointed with Respironics M Series

I was at my DME's the other day and I decided to bite the bullet and actually take home the M series auto. I turned on the unit and it is noticable noisier than my Respironics auto that I have been using. What I also have noticed is that I get an error beeping with my own previous smart card. I use the M card and I have no beeps. I read the card on my smart card reader and everything is ok. The M smart card works fine in my Respironics auto so the newer card is backward compatible but not the old card. Perhaps I need to erase the data on the old card.

Anyhow, the humidifier is small and kinda sucks too. It is a bit tricky to insert inside the unit without spilling. You also can't preheat your water like you could before. The unit only heats if the blower is on....really stupid. Also, the temperature levels are the same but you have to have a higher setting than the previous one. Depending on the night, you may run out of water before you wake up.

I really like the onboard display of the unit that shows your AHI data. It also has a true ramp feature from 0 minutes and up. Something the previous model doesnt have.

However, this unit is smaller than my auto but with the ridiculous add on of the heavy power adapter (why it's not built-in is anyone's guess)it really weighs just as much as at the larger Respironics. So there is no benefit design wise unless you lack room. Speaking of space, I tried to separate the unit from the humidifier and I couldn't actually, neither could my DME.

I am disappointed in this unit. Respironics has made some improvements with this machine but screwed up big time, IMO in other areas.

Just my 1/2 cents.

I believe Respironics were responding to the very real demand for smaller - travel style machines & needed a unit to fit this category.

Believe me the standard Remstar AUTO w/cflex is one of Respironics great efforts & a reliable machine that does a great job.

Size doesn't matter as much as health & success

Cheers

DSM

In my opinion, the M series is Junk. Here is why:

1) I've programmed, issued, done pressure checks and trained pts on thousands of machines. Out of those thousands.....about 1/5 of them were M series. The remainders break down into approx 2/5 Remstar plus with cflex, 1/5 Remstar Plus cpaps, and 1/5 other brands/bipaps etc. Out of all those machines, the ONLY machine I've ever had a pt return to say it's too loud...is the M series. Every day I have pts bring their M series in, complaining that they can't sleep due to the sound it makes as you exhale. You can actually hear the machine wheezing with each breath. I have pts that have traded in 5-7 yr old tranquilities and classics for a new M series, but brought them back, wanting their 5 yr old machine back because it was quieter. We end up having to issue them a Remstar Plus w/cflex, which they love. Lucky for us, we kept a few around...just in case.

2) M series is the ONLY machine that has an internal water chamber/humidifer setup that was poorly designed. People constantly forget to empty the water before traveling with it to the doctor or on vacation etc. There is nothing to block or even hamper water from sloshing the 3 inches into the flow generator if the machine is not kept perfectly still and/or level. This results...DAILY....in us having to send off machines for repair due to water damage. This is from travel, and the machine simply being bumped on the bedside table by the user, a kid moving it, tubing being yanked, or a pet. Out of all the machines we process for repairs, the one that makes up only 15% of our issued machines, makes up 90% of the machines we send off for repair. Out of those 90%, 90% of those are for water damage.

3) The initial software did not keep track of therapy hours. It was not until the machine had been out for 4 months that respironics realized the brainfart and updated the software on new machines. However, they did NOT come up with ANY fix for updating machines already issued. Beyond the most recent 30 days, we have no way of calculating usage beyond guesstimation based on blower hours.

4) It is touted as a smaller, more travel-friendly machine than the Remstar Plus w/cflex it was sposed to replace. However, with its 2-fist sized power converter it weighs nearly as much, and is a pain in the arse for anyone who is not really electronics-savvy to assemble, wind up, and travel with safely.

5) The travel bag it comes in barely has enough space for the machine and cords, let alone tubing and mask. Yes, you can fit those things in the outside pocket, but I've had to replace about 39 masks that have been damaged due to the tiny space the mask has to be squashed into to carry it with the rest of the equipment.

6) The ONLY machine I've had to do warranty exchanges on for screen glitches, is the M series.

7) The only machine I've ever seen that has a tendency to vibrate itself so much that it unplugs itself, is the M series. If you have one of the versions that allow you to remove the flow generator by sliding it off the humidifer base, you probably know what I'm talking about. Respironics, based on the realization of another brainfart, changed THAT design as well on the NEW machines and made it so it snaps on vertically now, but once again did nothing to fix the tens of thousands of machines already out there.

8 ) One of out of 6 Remstar Plus with cflex machines needs to be calibrated after 6 months or so. One out of two M series needs to be calibrated after 1 month. One out of ten Resmed or Goodknight machines need to be calibrated after a year.

IMO....the M series was poorly designed and thought out from the git go. I feel that Respironics rushed this into production and cut alot of corners in quality to try and quickly make up for market share that was going to the smaller, more compact travel friendly machines being marketed by Puritan Bennet and Resmed.

That's the data behind the opinion. Compared to ResMed, Fisher Paykel, Goodknights, and even its own kin Remstar Plus with Cflex, the M series is Junk.

Thank you for you candid opinion. I am going to purchase a backup machine in January and have been waffling between the machine I have -- Remstar Auto and the new Auto M. I also have noted that the M machine while slightly lighter has that big power cord and with the humidifier it is not all that much smaller.

Your review makes me sure that I am correct in sticking with the older model (tank as some call it).

Just a question, Jeffro. With your experience and knowledge, why did you choose the escape? You didn't want to participate with the managing of your therapy, by using an auto? Or are you unable to use an auto? I was using an escape for the first 1 1/2 months, was happy with the product minus the exhale relief, auto, and LCD data availability. So far with the M series, I have had no problems. Not noisy IMHO, but then again, I have kids, dog, 2 fish tanks running, so I am not new to noise in my house. I'm sure there are people out there that need it absolute quiet in order to fall asleep. I used to have my tv on to fall asleep, until I learned from the sleep lab that this is not good sleep hygiene. So for now, I am a fan of the M series and am glad I pursued it.

MyNurse33 asked:

why did you choose the escape? You didn't want to participate with the managing of your therapy, by using an auto?

Actually, out of all the machines on the planet, I could have had any one I wanted at no charge to myself. I handle machines daily, and researched machines hands-on for some time before finally settling on this machine, which I find to be top quality and dependable. I have been on a regular cpap for 2 years. So I really didn't need an exhalation relief, and I really don't care to monitor my indexes. Autos are far over-used in my opinion, and really not necessary in most cases. But I respect anyone's desire to be more involved and informed in their own therapy.


snoregirl stated:

Your review makes me sure that I am correct in sticking with the older model (tank as some call it).

Yes, the older model Remstar plus with cflex is a much better quality, and heartier machine than the M series.

I weighed both machines and the M series was a little heavier with the humidifier. It is lighter w/o the power adapter if you remove it from it's base and don't insert the humidifier assemly.

JeffroDoe, that's interesting what you mentioned about calibrating the unit. Is this calibration covered by warranty? I am wondering if my regular respironics auto may need calibrating....hmm.

Any time you go in to see the Dr, or stop by your DME for a machine check, they should look to see what the hours are, and to check for calibration. Meaning....look to see if it is blowing exactly what it is set to blow? If the machine is set to say....8cm, it may be blowing dead on 8cm, or a little high or a little low, or in some cases...a lot high or low. Calibrating a machine is the act of adjusting the machine to actually blow what it is set to blow by using a water monometer. There is usually no charge for this at the Dr's office or in a DME, since those types of adjustments are typically part of package service they provide when they issue a cpap.

Interesting despite your complaints, this new machine remains the top seller in the country, I'll post my thoughts on the M series when my new one gets here next week, I've used the older model since it first came out and have owned every model released since since its introduction.

I remember they said Cflex was junk and the first model was noisy when it came out also, that all turned out to be false and it remains one of the most popular features. Resmed tried to duplicate it with EPR and fell on its face.

Power supplies are seperate because it doesn't require a change to the internals of the machine for every different country you want to sell it, then it is low voltage and since it is around water from the humidifier it is much safter against electrical shock. Every laptop made includes a external power supply for the same reasons yet no one complains about that. It also moves the heat created by the power supply outside the machine so it runs cooler and is more reliable.

Of course I wouldn't expect a DME employee who was flippin burgers last week to understand that.

Hey bucko....it wasn't burgers....it was steak. Get your facts straight!!

You know nothing about me. Tiz ok tho...I shant reply in kind to your attack.

I just finished downloading my data from both machines last night. My data on my Respironics auto was very bad compared to the M series. This makes me wonder if the algorythm is different.

As far as power supplies goes. Aside from the fact that we are accustomed to seeing huge and hot power supplies from our laptops, there really is no reason why Respironics couldn't imbed the same power supply unit as in it's other models into the M series. They both accomodate world power voltages, just the plug or cable is different. It's one more extra piece of hardware to carry.

Usually, anytime there is something new on the market, there is a lot of hype and this can translate into increased sales. Only time will tell what is in store for the M series....btw, remember what happened to Coke and Coke Classic?

Good man Snoredog! Your predictability continues!

KEEP IT UP!!!!

Chuck

JeffroDoe wrote:I have been on a regular cpap for 2 years. So I really didn't need an exhalation relief, and I really don't care to monitor my indexes. Autos are far over-used in my opinion, and really not necessary in most cases. But I respect anyone's desire to be more involved and informed in their own therapy.

JeffroDoe, I'm curious why don't you care to monitor your indexes.

Good man GoofyUT! Your predictability continues!

KEEP IT UP!!!!

Doug

Had a change of heart