Smar tcard failure/longevity?

[JohnD]

Does anybody know how long these Smartcards are supposed to last? The one night I wanted to really see the data, as I am trying a new/old mask, the smartcard failed. ( I found a replacement outer insert for a Fisher/Paykel "Acclaim" mask I had put away a few years ago).... I can't get the card to download anything, and when I put it back in the machine, the machine keeps beeping, as if I put the card in incorrectly....Murphy's law!I found my spare card, and will use that tonight, and that works fine in the machine. I have only had the card since Nov, 06. Any other people with a similar problem? Why do these cards fail?

update..did a search for smart card..and saw that cleaning the card with a bit of alcohol helps...tried it ...no luck. In looking at the the gold square closely, I see 3 distinct wear marks/lines, probably from my taking it out every day...comparing that to my new back up card, there are no lines of course...is that normal to have these wear lines?

Thanks, John

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Smart Card

[Linda3032]

My old card that I used with my regular Remstar Auto (no cflex), doesn't work in the newer machine with cflex. And vice versa. So when I switch back and forth between machines I have blank days on the other card. But it's not biggie to me.

My original card is going on 4 years old and still works.

[Wulfman]

John,

You didn't say what the error message was (if you noticed) when your machine was beeping.

The wear lines are normal.
Do you have the Encore Pro software to re-format (setup or erase) the card?
I doubt that it's permanently corrupted, but I suppose it's a possibility. I've read other cases where people have had these types of problems, but don't know the actual cause.
One thing......don't remove the card while the machine is still running. I suspect that's what corrupts some cards.

Good luck,

Den

[JohnD]

There is no error at all....that's what is strange...no error message on the machine, just beeps and flashes.......when I insert the card into the card reader, it accepts it, although the last 5-6 days. that has been sporadic, sometimes I would have to unplug the reader and re-insert the card. I am thinking that the card was beginning to fail during this time?........ I then go through the normal routine of dloading it onto Encore Pro....at that point, Encore Pro does not do anything, with no error message. When I then put the card back in the machine, it just beeps and the blue lights blink, the same thing happens if I insert the card backwards. If it is a card failure, it seems premature.

I just tried to re-format the card... using the "Erase" function on Encore Pro. it says it's not a valid Respironics card...which is not correct...have been using it for 3 months...then I tried to use the "preview" button on the Encore Pro, and that came up as "the Smart Card is corrupted"...strange.

How does one erase and re-format the card if Encore Pro will not do it?

Thanks, John

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Encore Pro

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Encore Pro

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): respironics, Encore Pro, Smart Card

[Guest]

the reader is supposed to be good for 100,000 cycles.