New Machine Advice

[GrantT]

Hi all,

My health care plan at work has renewed my CPAP allowance so I figure I should probably look at a new machine one of these days. Not that my current one is not working (far as I know), but to avoid a breakdown of the old one etc...

Currently using a Resmed S9 with humidifier, so wondering what else is out there?

[Pugsy]

ResMed latest and greatest is the AirSense/AirCurve 10 model line.
Avoid anything from ResMed with AirStart in the model name...bricks with no frills at all except they are cheap dollar wise. Not even heated hose capable at all.

Respironics latest and greatest is the DreamStation model line.

[D.H.]

ResMed latest and greatest is the AirSense/AirCurve 10 model line.
Avoid anything from ResMed with AirStart in the model name...bricks with no frills at all except they are cheap dollar wise. Not even heated hose capable at all.

Respironics latest and greatest is the DreamStation model line.

Here's my review of the Phillips Respironics Dream Station Auto CPAP; the good and the bad. It’s my fourth machine since 1999; the others were all “bricks.”


Advantages:
• Automatic means that it will raise the pressure as needed when it senses distress. I think I fell more refreshed than before.
• Good statistics are generated, so you can see how you slept, and make adjustments as needed. In addition, stats are good for your doctor to see how you are doing.
• Machine is very quiet.
• Heated hose is very good, never had rainout despite full setting on humidity.
• Automatic altitude adjustment (good for travel).
• Leak compensation.
• Auto/on and auto/off can be activated and deactivated separately.
• Puts out the prescribed pressure more precisely than my old machine (yes, I verified this).


Disadvantages:
• Machine is a bit larger than the major competing machine.
• Sometimes, there is a burning smell, especially after a potty break. I’m pretty sure it’s harmless.
• Frequently, the water does not last the whole night. I generally wake up at least once overnight, so I refill it at that time. This might not work for everybody.
• Some have complained about the brightness of the display when you turn it off and back on, such as for a potty break. I don’t find this a problem. In fact, I use the light to reattach my mask to the hose.
• The power cord has a proprietary signal, so you cannot use a different cord, even if the voltage, wattage, amperage, and fitting are all identical. This means that if you need a replacement cord (or a spare cord), you have to get the cord specific to Dream Stations. If you want to use a battery (such as for camping and electrical outages), you have to buy an $80 proprietary device to generate this signal.

[Guest]

If you want to use a battery (such as for camping and electrical outages), you have to buy an $80 proprietary device to generate this signal.

That may be for the Resmed- the Shielded DC Cord for DreamStation CPAP Machines is $30.
Search for Shielded DC Cord for DreamStation CPAP Machines.