New member, smart card issue

[Tdoriot]

Good afternoon all! My name is Tracy and I've recently purchased a RemStar Auto, M series AFlex system. This unit has the humidifier attached to the left. I purchased this to help with a snoring condition. I've read hundreds of posts on this forum and found the information very helpful and illuminating. Getting used to the whole cpap thing hasn't been too horrible. I tried the nose mask, but have nasal congestion just often enough that I cannot depend on breathing thru my nose. This led to a change to the face mask style that works quite well. I have used this around 6 times. I find that I wake and have the urge to remove the mask about once a night. Hopefully as I acclimate to having an alien device on my face all will improve.
My current question is the smart card data collection. I bought a smartcard reader which as you all might have guessed did not read the card. I never guessed that a smartcard reader wouldn't access a smartcard! Much of this stuff comes to light when we find something doesn't work ! I did a bit of research on here and it seems that there is a special card reader ! Who has figured out a straight forward solution? I see that you can buy one for 80 bucks, but that seems nuts ! I'd like to get some data collection for the sleepyheads software.
Secondly, the Remstar unit I bought turned out to have 11000 plus hours ! That being said, it seems to work very well. After much reading and experimentation I have found that running in the AFlex setting on 3, seems to cure most of sleep issues. As long as I don't take the mask off and shut things down, all is well.
I have not consulted a physician or had a sleep study done. I may do this in the coming month, but didn't have health insurance, so paying for all that out of pocket wasn't a hot idea.
So, for the moment, please help with the software issue ! Tracy

[drj130]

Hi Tdoriot and welcome to the form. You'll find a lot of smart people here who know just about any answer that you might be looking for.

That is the good news. The bad news, and I could be wrong on this but I don't believe that I am, but the only way to get the information from one of the smart cards used by the M series machine is via the card reader. Now there might be someone here who may still have their card reader from when they used a M series machine and they may be willing to part with it. The only way to know is to ask. I would give mine up, but I still use my M series as a backup and still have need of my reader.

I wish you the best on your journey in the world of Sleep Apnea.

David

[jdm2857]

The only way to read the Respironics smart card is with the Infineer DT3500 Infineer from Mako.
It's the only one that will work with the Respironics device drivers.

[Goofproof]

Do to the high number of hours, you have two options, get the DT3500 reader or get a newer full data version machine, the newer models use sd cards, that don't require a special reader. It's good to have a spare machine anyway.

Someone here may be able to sell you the needed reader, or a later machine at a good price. Jim

[Pugsy]

The M Series needs the Mako Infineer DT 3500 smart card read. No other reader will work.
The only software that will work with the DT3500 smart card read and the information the M series gathers is one of the Encore software products.
SleepyHead is useless with the M series machines.

I know one place on the interenet where the DT 3500 is $40 plus 6.50 shipping and handling.
I can help with both the Encore software and the place where the cheapest price for the SD card happens to be.
Private message me if someone wants it.
CPAP.com will price match if you prove a lesser price..

[DreamDiver]

Good luck with your new "snore reduction" system. I hope it works for your purposes.

[Tdoriot]

Thanks all for the speedy replies. I am looking for a newer machine due to mine being so long in the tooth. A newer model with the SD is obviously the ticket. This is the first week in a year I haven't done the walk of shame to the guest room, so the snoring is gone with this system. I need a newer machine that does the same thing, preferably doesn't look like a vaporizer on steroids on the night stand. I like the form factor of the Remstar as well as the slide in tank. However, I am a neophyte, so suggestions are welcome. Thanks !

[archangle]

Be careful about what machine you purchase. There are many machines with SD cards that collect very limited data. Look at the links in my signature line to see what machines you should consider buying.

Avoid the "brick" machines. Even if you're going through a doctor, you can get screwed.

[jdm2857]

It would only be the walk of shame if you secretly had a guest in the guest room.
And then it would be the walk from the guest room in the morning.

[Tdoriot]

Got the smart card reader, but data shows 8 min sleep and 12 min sleep, when I had many hours. Blower time was accurate. Any ideas besides getting a newer machine ?

[Pugsy]

Can you please post an image of the nightly detailed report showing the weird hours (or minutes) of sleep?
Don't know how...we talked about it here
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=81072&p=737779#p737779

[Tdoriot]

I'll try that tomorrow. I am using the Resmed software that you provided the link for. My machine won't work with sleepyhead will it? I got a lead on a S9 auto set . If that works out perhaps I'll have a better data set !

[jdm2857]

Since you have a Respironics M-Series machine, I think you meant Encore software (from Respironics).

And, no, SleepyHead will not work with an M-Series machine.

[Tdoriot]

Yeah, that's what I thought ! Hopefully I can scare up a S9 auto set. Anyone here have one for sale ?