My S8 has no read area

[Sharbysyd]

My insurance didn't cover my cpap so I had to buy it out of my pocket. I found a store that sold used machines and bought a used S8.

After using it for a while and not having as much success as I'd have liked and after reading about being able to get readings from the machines, I went back to the store with my machine and they said that normally the S8's have an opening in the back but mine has a plastic cover over it which they couldn't remove.

When I (finally) went to see an RPA a few weeks ago, I asked him about getting readings in order to find out how I was doing with my cpap, he said those readings don't matter, but from reading the posts on here, it seems that they do.

Questions: Has anyone else seen an S8 that doesn't have an opening in the back and if so, could that piece that's on there be removed to put a read card in there?

Are those readings helpful?

Thanks.

[big_dave]

The cover is just a plain piece of plastic and can be removed fairly easily by pulling upward. The actual connections for the data card are on the main circuit board (not the contacts on the edge of the card, but further back). It will accept the data card; I have tested this with my machine. Keep in mind that ResMed does not recommend doing this (it could have voided the warranty when the S8 still had a warranty).

[wilsonintexas]

You asked if the readings were useful..... YES

My machine was set up wrong and I had induced centrals of 59 per hour...... so YES. You need to see if the machine is addressing your problems. If it is not set correctly it could be making it worse. The only way to do that is to review the data.

If the RPA said that it was not important, I would be looking of a new RPA. Serouusly, if they do not take this seriously you need to find one that does.

(We do not have youe full history, so it could be that the RPA knows something that we do not.) But this is a swrious condition, ans should not be taken lightly.
Get the data, look at it, anf if necessary find a new DR.

[LSAT]

You don't indicate what model of the S8 you have....If it is the Elite or Autoset models, some data is available on the LCD Screen. The Escape model has little data available. The card reader for the S8 is hard to find...even at many DMEs.

[ChicagoGranny]

Are those readings helpful?

Some of the data:

Mask leak - if it is too high your therapy could be partially or totally ineffective so you need to adjust your mask or try a new mask.

Events - if there are too many apneas, hypopneas, snores your therapy is poor and some adjustments to pressure settings may be called for.

Also, if all the data looks very good you may be able to lower the pressure and still have good therapy and sleep better because the lower pressure is more comfortable.

Your RPA sounds ignorant or evil or both.

You can easily download the software for the S8 but I think you will have trouble getting a card reader.

There are several different models of S8 - https://www.cpap.com/productSearch.php?query=s8

Try to figure out exactly which one you have - it might not be data capable.

[RandyJ]

There are a few card readers on ebay right now. The best 'buy it now' price is $70 but there is an auction which ends in 3 days: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid= ... r&_sacat=0

Just make sure that you have an Elite or Autoset before bothering to get the card reader.

[Sharbysyd]

Thanks to everyone who responded. My machine says Resmed Compact S8. I don't see anything about Elite or Autoset so I'm not sure what the model is. I'll see if I can find out.

I had thought it was odd when he said the read data doesn't matter. I don't recall the reason he gave at this point. I'll have to ask again when I see him again.

[Pugsy]

My machine says Resmed Compact S8

The Compact doesn't offer any data beyond how many hours you used it.
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/S8-Compact-CPAP.html

per the spec page
Data Storage, Used hours and usage days available from flow generator

Compliance data only. Nothing useful to you....no leak, no AHI, no nothing.
So it doesn't matter about the read area...nothing to read.

You need a different model machine that offers full data capabilities. So sorry to tell you that the machine you have doesn't offer anything. It is a basic machine. Any chance you could get the funds together to buy a machine that offers data? We and help you determine which ones that offer full data and those that don't.
How important do you feel data is to you? Do you feel like something is not working in regards to your current therapy?

[ChicagoGranny]

Yes, a "brick".

Good work as usual Pugsy!