Purchasing Questions

[Madzamboni]

So I am in the "research" phase as I wait for my CPAP prescription to be written. I've scoured this site and believe a lot of this is here but scattered. So after some research I had a few questions if you all wouldn't mind.

After reading here I know there are a few features I need :
1) Data Capable
2) Humidifier
3) Timed ramp-up at a minimum, Preferably APAP
4) Preferably Wi-Fi instead of card based (just my preference)


Questions:
1) Do all data capable machines detect hypopnea? My apnea number is low, my hypopnea numbers are high. This is what will change.
2) It looks like some manufacturer software (Respronics for example) are Windows only. I have a Mac, I am assuming SleepyHead software is Mac compatible since it is opensource?
3) What is the benefit of a heated hose? Is one really needed?
4) I didn't try a chin strap during my tritration, but will probably use one. Is there one style or type recommended?
5) Brands. I see features, but is there one brand that is the "Go to"? Or those to avoid? Knowing my needs above, is there a brand or model you would recommend?

[Pugsy]

1...yes, pretty much all the full data machines detect and report hyponeas in addition to apneas.

2...Yes, SleepyHead has a Mac version in addition to Windows version....the other two manufacturers software that is easily obtained, Respironics Encore and ResMed ResScan only have Windows versions available. Now they can be used on a Mac if you set up a Windows environment on the Mac.

3...Heated hose is primarily thought of as a solution for rain out (condensation) in the mask or hose but it also offers greater customization of the amount of humidity delivered (so you have more control over what you get) plus it also helps with ice cube nose syndrome which is where your nose gets cold because the air isn't warm enough coming from the machine even if humidifier is set to high...this can happen when ambient bedroom air temps are on the cool side.
I coined the "ice cube nose" term because I experienced it. Not comfortable and seriously affected my sleep quality and woke me up a lot.
If you live in the tropics or rain forest where it is hot and humid all the time you may not care about any added humidity or need added warmth...anywhere else...get the heated hose option to have it just in case you need it. You don't have to use it if you don't want to but it's nice to have it available.

4...pretty much all of the machines have some sort of timed ramp available but not all do apap mode so you need to learn the models. APAP machines is nothing more than a CPAP machine with 2 modes of operation...one being cpap fixed single pressure and the second being apap mode which is single pressure but it can auto adjust as it feels the need. So learn your model names and numbers.

5...No machines will give you full data via WiFi unless you use the sleepmaster WiFi thing with the special WiFi card.
The new ResMed machines will transmit some data via the wifi modem and you can pull the information from the internet as to what it shows...but it's limited.
If you are wanting WiFi from the SD card to your computer directly you have to use a special WiFi card and you can do it with Respironics and ResMed machines.
I will find the information on that special card and program and come back with link.

[Pugsy]

Information on the Sleep Master program for using the special WiFi cards can be found here
https://sleep.tnet.com/equipment

[Madzamboni]

Excellent, thank you - that helped a lot.

But I still have that odd question on brands. All else being equal, is there one brand that is known as better quality, or the "go to". What about brands to avoid?

[Pugsy]

It's not so much brands to avoid as it is models to avoid (the bricks with no useful data)..all brands have bricks.

The 4 main brands are
Respironics
ResMed
F & P
DeVilbiss

and they all do their jobs excellently. I prefer either ResMed or Respironics because I am much more familiar with them (having used both) and they are also probably what you will find most of the forum members here using.
We do have some F & P and DeVilbiss users here but they are in a small minority.
The 2 main players are of course ResMed and Respironics...between the 2 brands in all honesty it's pretty much a toss up. Each has minor pros and cons the other might not have.

Without knowing pressure needs or more specifics I do think I would suggest the latest ResMed AirSense AutoSet for Her model (even if you are a guy) because it has 2 apap modes available and while you may not need the special apap mode it might come in handy for you especially since you say that the bulk of your events were hyponeas.
That special algorithm for Her will also flag RERAs which might be useful for you to know if you have them or not.
RERAs is only available in the "for Her algorithm"...why they targeted women I don't know because men could also potentially benefit from it.
Also with the ResMed machines their EPR exhale relief I think might be a bit more comfortable if a person is using higher pressures (in the teens) because of the amount of relief that you can get as well as the way it is delivered.

I think you will find that I often suggest that a person get as much as they can even if it isn't needed or someone doesn't think it is needed right now because I am a firm believer in it's better to have something and not need it than to need it and not have it....especially when the cost is the same and with insurance...the cost is the same.

Heated hoses...optional of course and not horribly expensive to add later but what I do is use a heated hose year round. It lets me use a constant humidity delivery which keeps my nose happy and I use warmer temps in the winter and cooler temps in the summer and all I do is change the air temp and I don't have to worry about how much humidity is going to be delivered...what ever choice I make is constant no matter what temp I use in the hose.

[palerider]

The new ResMed machines will transmit some data via the wifi modem and you can pull the information from the internet as to what it shows...but it's limited.

it's important to note that the machines are not wifi, there are no wifi capable machines that I know of... the resmed air series have built in cellular modems, not wifi.

[palerider]

Excellent, thank you - that helped a lot.

But I still have that odd question on brands. All else being equal, is there one brand that is known as better quality, or the "go to". What about brands to avoid?

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=99737&p=928111#p927976

[Pugsy]

the resmed air series have built in cellular modems, not wifi.

Crap...I had cellular typed out and changed it to wifi...I can't get them straight in my head.
I will try to remember better but you know me...some stuff sticks like glue and some stuff slides right out of my brain.

[palerider]

the resmed air series have built in cellular modems, not wifi.

Crap...I had cellular typed out and changed it to wifi...I can't get them straight in my head.
I will try to remember better but you know me...some stuff sticks like glue and some stuff slides right out of my brain.

I can't figure out how you have room for so much in your brain as it is.... a bit of confusion on a minor technical point is nothing in the face of everything else you've got in there *lol*

I only mention it, because the OP seemed to be wanting to wifi his machine to his local network to pull data... and as you pointed out, the only way to do that is with a wifi sd card.

[Nick Danger]

With respect to "data capable", you need to KNOW which machines are bricks by either their model numbers or model names. The DME will tell you, "of course this machine is data capable" even if it only keeps track of hours of use per night.