Software - where do I start?

Leatherneck · Post by **Leatherneck** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:27 am

I am relativity new at about 4 weeks and am still not making it through the night even though I feel better than ever! I am determined to do whatever I need to make it through a full night's sleep. I have an S8 Elite and would like to take advantage of any info I can pull from this machine via the chip and whatever resources are out there. Is there a reference somewhere that I can look at a glossary or a place to start?

Thanks

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:41 am

A browse through "Our Collective Wisdom" (yellow light bulb) and "CPAP FAQ" (red balloon) will help you a lot.

And you'll find a professionals' glossary here:
http://www.sandmansleep.com/resources/glossary.cfm

Welcome to the forum and good luck.
O.

Leatherneck · Post by **Leatherneck** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:17 am

Thanks I'll have another look. I went there first, but the "software" listing was blank.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:42 am

I guess I didn't understand what you're looking for.

If you're wondering which software will read the data from you machine, and how to get in to your computer, you'll find the info here:

http://www.resmed.com/en-au/products/cl ... u=products

I your worried about understanding the software info, rest assured you will find people here to help you learn it.

O.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 5:46 pm

You need, not only the software but also the cable reader.

And, until you get the software and cable reader you can access quite a bit of your data via the LCD screen IF SmartData has been turned on.

Try pressing the Left and Right buttons and holding for 3-4 seconds. Efficacy Data should appear on the LCD screen. Then it is just a matter of Left button to Enter, Right button to Exit, Up button to return to the previous screen and Down button to access the next screen. You can NOT intentionally or accidentally alter your therapy settings from this menu.

If you can not access the Efficacy Data menu it is because they have not turned access to SmartData on. PM me and I will tell you how to access that to turn it on.

Keep in mind as you check the prices for the software and cable reader that Resmed, Respironics and Fisher & Paykel have recently instituted MAP (minimum advertised pricing) policies for online DME suppliers, so be sure to call and ask if they have an "unadvertised sale price" for what you want.

Also be SURE you KNOW the exact name for your device as the Resmed S8 Elite will utilize the ResScan 3.3 or even older AutoScan 5.7 software very nicely, BUT, if you have the Resmed S8 II Elite you will NEED ResScan 3.4 or higher AND if you have Vista on your 'puter you will need ResScan 3.5.

Velbor · Post by **Velbor** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:18 pm

Slinky wrote:You need, not only the software but also the cable reader.

And, until you get the software and cable reader you can access quite a bit of your data via the LCD screen IF SmartData has been turned on.

Slinky I'm sure meant to say "card reader" rather than "cable" reader. (It is possible to hook up your machine to your computer with a data "cable", but you would need additional parts, and it's much less convenient and offers no advantage over using the data card.) So, you would want software and a ResScan data card reader (with a USB connection).

Also, Slinky is as usual right on target with her summary of which versions of what software you will need. The key question is whether you have the S8 Elite, or the S8 II Elite. Makes a big difference as to what software will work.

Leatherneck · Post by **Leatherneck** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:38 pm

I am able to access certain data via the two side buttons pressed. Just need to cypher it now!

Thanks for the help thus far.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:58 pm

First thing you want to look at is the leak rate ... under 0.2 you are most likely doing fine with it, between 0.2 and 0.4 and you may have some leak problems, and above 0.4 and you definitely have leak problems to resolve.

Velbor · Post by **Velbor** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:21 pm

Leatherneck wrote:I am able to access certain data via the two side buttons pressed. Just need to cypher it now!

Let me try to give you a very quick summary of what you're seeing. Ask, and more details will be provided.

First: The machine has an internal clock (which for now we'll assume is set correctly). A "day" runs from noon to noon. At noon, "last night's" data disappears. So you want to look at and copy down data before noon each morning. It's also cleanest to wait for 15 minutes after you've turned the blower off in the morning, so that the machine knows that your night's "session" is over.

There are two "sub-menus", Efficacy and Usage. Up and down arrows will move you between them. The button under "Enter" will take you into one of them (and the button under "Exit" will take you out.) In each menu, the first data entry you see should be for the last "Day". Left key will take you through median data for the last week, month, 6 months, and year.

In the Efficacy sub-menu, there are five pieces of data:

--Pressure. For your machine, this should always be the pressure the machine is set to deliver, measured in centimeters of water.

--Leak. This reflects the amount of air which escapes "abnormally" out of the system: air which "leaks out" between the plastic and your face, or which "leaks out" of your mouth. Some leak is expected, and up to a point the machine will "blow harder" to compensate for leaking. Since you have a Mirage Swift, your machine should be set (left button Menu) for the "Mirage" (NOT Mirage Full) (EDIT: if "Swift" is an available option, that would probably be the best choice) so that it knows how much normal venting to expect. The leak number - technically the 95th centile for the night - is roughly a reflection of your "worst" leaking though the night. It will hopefully be well under 0.40 liters/second. Much above that could indicate that the machine will have trouble sensing and adjusting what's happening.

--AHI: Apnea-Hypopnea Index. This is the number of times per hour, across the whole night, that your breathing was sub-optimal. The AHI is the sum of the next two numbers. You will likely hear that the AHI should ideally be 5.0 or less, though this "cutoff" may be a bit simplistic.

--AI: Apnea Index. This is the number of times per hour, across the whole night, when you stopped breathing for 10 seconds or longer. (Actually the criteria for "apnea" are a bit more complicated than that, but the details needn't concern you at present.)

--HI: Hypopnea Index. this is the number of times per hour, across the whole night, when your breating was reduced (again, the details are complex and not of concern for now), but didn't quite stop.

Within the Usage sub-menu, there are three pieces of data:

Used Hours: the number of hours, cumulatively, you have used the machine (as usual, there's more complexity to this, but of no concern)

Usage: the number of days the machine has been "used" since the first "usage", and the total number of days (used or not) since the first "usage." (ditto re: complexity)

Usage: the total amount of time during which the blower was blowing last night, in hh:mm format. As in the previous sub-menu, the Left key will take you through the median usage time for the last week, month, 6-months and year.

That's ResMed LCD Screens 101. Once again, any questions, just ask.

Regarding the limitations of this information, and the benefits of "software", I would refer you to one of my previous posts:

viewtopic.php?p=283499#283499

If that is more than you're ready for at present, ignore it for now.

Welcome to the forum. Be ready for much good information, many different opinions, and lots of support. Good luck!

Velbor

brazilian · Post by **brazilian** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:15 pm

I finally got my ResMed Card Reader and ResScan v. 03.05.010 (courtesy of a very special person...)

Everything seems installed fine, as the following screens report, but ResScan simply can not find the card.

The card was inserted correctly in my S8 Vantage EPR Auto, which indicated data was correctly transferred. It is now correctly inserted in the reader, as reported by ACS software QuickView (screen shown below).

Any help, please? After almost one year of therapy, I am really anxious to know how it is developing....

Many thanks in advance

Brazilian.

=======================

Device Manager
http://www.baumgratz.eng.br/resscan/ACR ... anager.jpg

Device Properties Tab #1
http://www.baumgratz.eng.br/resscan/ACR ... s_tab1.jpg

Device Properties Tab #2
http://www.baumgratz.eng.br/resscan/ACR ... s_tab2.jpg

Device Properties Tab #3
http://www.baumgratz.eng.br/resscan/ACR ... s_tab3.jpg

ACS QuickView Report
http://www.baumgratz.eng.br/resscan/QuickView.jpg

ResScan does not detect the card
http://www.baumgratz.eng.br/resscan/Res ... vices_.jpg

There is no device to select...
http://www.baumgratz.eng.br/resscan/Res ... evice_.jpg

ResScan About
http://www.baumgratz.eng.br/resscan/ResScan_3_About.jpg

Computer configuration
http://www.baumgratz.eng.br/resscan/Qosmio.jpg

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 6:41 am

I know this sounds very basic so please do not be insulted but: are you inserting the card in your Vantage w/the gold square DOWN - and when inserting it in your cable reader are you inserting it with the gold square UP?

pianomagoo · Post by **pianomagoo** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 7:28 am

Brazillian,

It's possible it may be your card reader. I had a problem with my cardreader being recognized and after a frustrating week emailed support. Because cpap.com has a disclaimer regarding support I contacted support in Austraila. I worked with a tech for about a week, every day to try to find a solution to what was wrong with the cardreader. After a week I suggested if I could send it to him to find out what the problem is and have a replacement. He thanked me for having patience to work with him to try to solve the issue and said he would have a replacement out for me plus an updated version of Rescan 3.5 by the next day. He was so nice! I sent my card reader to him in Austraila and I received my replacement cardreader plus an updated version of 3.5 software within 2 days. I still don't know how I received it so fast. I thought they must have sent it by personal jet.

Afterward a lady at cpap.com told me I could have returned the cardreader to them and they would have replaced it for me. I didn't realize that as they had a disclaimer regarding support. Anyway, it all worked out and I am happy. ResMed support in Australia is super great! cpap.com is also good from my experience.

Anne

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:08 am

Brazilian, I've had that same ResScan 1 There are no devices image pop up in my ResScan too.

1] Hit OK, pull the card and insert it in the reader again
2] Give it some time. I don't know how fast your 'puter is, but mine sometimes takes a bit of time to respond from this screen
3] Are you using an extension cable from the back of your 'puter to plug your cable reader into? I've not had a problem w/the Resmed cable reader doing this, but my Respironics cable reader will NOT work w/an extension cable at all. I have to plug it directly into the back of my 'puter. Grrrrrrr!

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:26 am

Brazilian, I'm no 'puter guru to put it mildly. But "maybe" it is where you have placed your ACU38 driver file???

Mine is set up:

Program Files\Resmed\ResScan3\Drivers\Data Card\Drivers\USB\signed

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:32 am

Velbor,

Thank you for how carefully and precisely you worded that explanatory post. The subtle shading in that simple explanation helped me a great deal.

jnk

Mask

Mask

Additional Comments: ResScan v.3.5

Software - where do I start?

Software - where do I start?

ResScan does not recognize my card...