Doctor just told me t get an autopap....

[Cubegleamer]

My doctor just told me to get an autopap machine. I don't have insurance so I will be purchasing this on my own. I read some posts here and found secondwindcpap has some good prices. I'm not really sure what to get. Where should I start looking for a machine?

[Pugsy]

Devilbiss Intellipap Auto
PR System One Auto CPAP with AFlex
ResMed S9 Autoset

Those would be the 3 main players. I prefer the PR S1 or the ResMed S9 because I like the data available on the software best. They come with SD cards. I think the Intellipap also needs a module to get the data from the machine to a SD card.

A brand new PR System One Auto CPAP with humidifier, hose, travel case and SD card is $619 from cpap.com.

ResMed S9 AutoSet with humidifier, hose, travel case, and SD card is $1,072. It has an optional heat hose.

Devilbiss Intellipap Auto with humidifier is $420....with smart link stuff for software and SD card make it around $545 from cpap.com

Giving you these new prices so you can just either new open box or slightly used at secondwind.com prices for comparison.

Don't forget you need a mask also.

I have used both the ResMed S9 and PR S1 machines. Both are excellent. Couple of pros and cons to each but none are deal breakers. I have never used a Devilbiss machine but other forum members use them and really like them.

[chunkyfrog]

The Devilbiss, although the least expensive, is the only one that can work off your car lighter with an under $30 cord.
Good to know if your electric power is unreliable.

[Cubegleamer]

Great. Thanks for the info and quick reply.

[archangle]

The Devilbiss, although the least expensive, is the only one that can work off your car lighter with an under $30 cord.
Good to know if your electric power is unreliable.

Not correct, the PRS1 works just fine off of a cigarette lighter socket, including the humidifier. $24 from cpap.com.

ResMed S9 requires an extra cost DC-DC converter.

The IntelliPAP does not record waveform data, which is a very powerful tool to have at your disposal.

If you go for the S9, be sure to get the AutoSet, not the Escape Auto. AutoSet records a lot more data.

Don't buy a ResMed S8 machine or a Respironics machine that doesn't say Philips Respironics. These are older machines that give you a lot less data capability.

[dtsm]

Don't buy a ResMed S8 machine or a Respironics machine that doesn't say Philips Respironics. These are older machines that give you a lot less data capability.

The S8 autoset II is a great unit and provides sufficient data...it's the model before the S9 came out. If money is an issue and you can find them, this unit is a solid investment. I've had my two units for two years now; one for home and one for travel.

[archangle]

Don't buy a ResMed S8 machine or a Respironics machine that doesn't say Philips Respironics. These are older machines that give you a lot less data capability.

The S8 autoset II is a great unit and provides sufficient data...it's the model before the S9 came out. If money is an issue and you can find them, this unit is a solid investment. I've had my two units for two years now; one for home and one for travel.

It's very difficult to find the card readers. Be sure to include the cost and effort to get a card reader into your calculations.

The card reader requires device drivers. Are you sure the device drivers will be there for the next version of Windows a few years down the road? SD data cards will be usable on Windows for a LONG time.

It doesn't work with SleepyHead.

Does the S8 AutoSet II record flow waveforms? Detect clear airway apneas?

[dtsm]

It's very difficult to find the card readers. Be sure to include the cost and effort to get a card reader into your calculations.

Point taken

Does the S8 AutoSet II record flow waveforms? Detect clear airway apneas?

[/quote] No

[archangle]

I suspect the S8 AutoSet II is a fine machine. It's just that S9 AutoSet is a LOT better.

It's like buying a perfectly maintained low mileage 1970 model car vs. a similar 2010 model car. CPAP is still new and rapidly evolving.