Respironics BS / Encore Pro

dkeat · Post by **dkeat** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:53 am

Greetings

Have been using a Respironics machine for two years now. Am very happy with it.

I am, however, seriously annoyed with the company attitude of, "You are not a doctor, so we will make it impossible for you to adjust your machine".

My Encore Pro SW no longer works with Vista and as far as I know there is no upgrade availalbe or even on the horizon. And when it does become available I will probably not be allowed to buy. Despite the fact that I legally purchased a copy for XP from CPAP.com.

I would really like to receive a few suggestions from others as to which brand of machine I might consider switching to in the near future. My specs would be:

1. Same functionality and quality as Remstar CFLEX Auto
2. Software available that will STAY available to CUSTOMERS
3. Programming the device is not an undiscoverable secret

In my not so humble opinion I am sick and tired of the Medical Monopoly and Corporations in cahoots to protect their profits. CPAP use is not rocket science. Nearly anyone can set a machine if they briefly inform themselves. At least I want to have that option. Others can pay a fortune to have their Sleep Labs do it for them. Fine with me.

I am going to put my money where my mouth is. If Respironics wants to lock me out, I will go to another company that won't. I would highly recommend that others of a similar mind also consider "sending a message" to our friends at Respironics.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:37 am

Well, Respironics didn't start this software/reader snafu, my favorite brand, Resmed did.

The only one left, to my knowledge, still allowing availability of their software is Puritan Bennett and their GoodKnight 420E (auto) with the Silverlining software (no cable reader needed). However, to my knowledge, PB does not offer C-Flex or EPR type of exhalation relief.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:53 am

Encore Pro 1.8i works with vista, and was for sale for a short time to patients. It has now been yanked... Some people might have ideas as for how to get ahold of it.

Anyway, it's simple enough to adjust the machine settings without any software whatsoever. Unplug it from the back of the machine, hold both the left and right arrow buttons down, then plug back in. Keep holding the arrow buttons until you hear two beeps. Adjust away.

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:55 am

The PB 420E, as Slinky mentioned, does NOT have any exhalation relief. It is, however, an excellent machine, has a small footprint and, through the software, is highly adjustable and provides great data.

oldvaham · Post by **oldvaham** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 6:59 am

Amen, brother, and well said. I couldn't agree more.

There's only one person responsible for your health and that person is you. Everyone else offers suggestions, recommendations and opinions. Some you pay for while others you simply get for free. While the professionals would like you to believe they have your best interests in mind, I tend to believe that it's really in their best interest and bank account. Yes, they can be concerned. And, yes, they want to do what they can. But, in the end, it's the individual that must decide what's best for him (or her) self, good, bad or in between.

Ken

dkeat · Post by **dkeat** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:14 am

blarg wrote:Encore Pro 1.8i works with vista, and was for sale for a short time to patients. It has now been yanked... Some people might have ideas as for how to get ahold of it.

Anyway, it's simple enough to adjust the machine settings without any software whatsoever. Unplug it from the back of the machine, hold both the left and right arrow buttons down, then plug back in. Keep holding the arrow buttons until you hear two beeps. Adjust away.

Yes, I know how to adjust the machine as well. The point is, if you can't access the software you have no clue how to adjust the machine. You would have to totally go with a subjective sense of "having slept well" or something like that. You NEED the software. If anyone knows how to get a hold of the software version you mention I would appreciate knowing about it.

I am wondering if, as a legally licensed customer, I don't have certain legal rights to obtain future updates of the software. Normally I would hold my vendor, in this case cpap.com, repsonible for providing it to me, but if they can no longer get it from Respironics there is not much that they can do about it.

dkeat · Post by **dkeat** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:17 am

WillSucceed wrote:The PB 420E, as Slinky mentioned, does NOT have any exhalation relief. It is, however, an excellent machine, has a small footprint and, through the software, is highly adjustable and provides great data.

Hi Will

Nice cat. I have two myself.

I have tried normal CPAP and CFLEX and I couldn't imagine doing without. It is just so much more comforatble for me.

dkeat · Post by **dkeat** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:21 am

Slinky wrote:Well, Respironics didn't start this software/reader snafu, my favorite brand, Resmed did.

The only one left, to my knowledge, still allowing availability of their software is Puritan Bennett and their GoodKnight 420E (auto) with the Silverlining software (no cable reader needed). However, to my knowledge, PB does not offer C-Flex or EPR type of exhalation relief.

I wasn't aware of that. Too bad about the whole thing. This is a case of the medical profession seeing an opportunity and "declaring it a disease". They used to call it snoring. Now it is OSA. And yes, I am aware that there are medical ramifications, but slipping on the sidewalk or eating sugar do as well. Now it is a medical matter and sleep clinics have sprung out of the ground like mushrooms, each with a license to print money.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:24 am

Well, now. With the Resmed S8 Elite and Vantage, each morning before noon you can access that night's 95th percentile pressure, 95th percentile leak, your AHI, AI and HI via the good size, easy to read LCD screen. You can make note of that info in Excel or even just a handwritten journal.

That would pretty much give you the information you want and if you've kept record of it you have it to refer back to. And both the Elite and Vantage have EPR (expiration pressure relief).

And programming either one is simple as well. No software needed to reprogram them. Just a matter of knowing which buttons to push.

dkeat · Post by **dkeat** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:17 am

Slinky wrote:Well, now. With the Resmed S8 Elite and Vantage, each morning before noon you can access that night's 95th percentile pressure, 95th percentile leak, your AHI, AI and HI via the good size, easy to read LCD screen. You can make note of that info in Excel or even just a handwritten journal.

That would pretty much give you the information you want and if you've kept record of it you have it to refer back to. And both the Elite and Vantage have EPR (expiration pressure relief).

And programming either one is simple as well. No software needed to reprogram them. Just a matter of knowing which buttons to push.

That is interesting information. Thank you. I really have no clue about other machines from other vendors. I will definitely look into it as a possibility. How did you find out how to program the machine? Is it easy enough to find out?

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:21 am

dkeat wrote:The point is, if you can't access the software you have no clue how to adjust the machine.

Yup, I'm with you 100%.

dkeat wrote:I am wondering if, as a legally licensed customer, I don't have certain legal rights to obtain future updates of the software.

Usually when you purchase software, you are granted a license to use that specific version, and sometimes are given some support for that specific version.

The software you have still works, it's just that you've upgraded to Vista, so no, they're not obligated to help you. People here will though, if they have the chance to.

dkeat · Post by **dkeat** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:29 am

blarg wrote: Usually when you purchase software, you are granted a license to use that specific version, and sometimes are given some support for that specific version.

The software you have still works, it's just that you've upgraded to Vista, so no, they're not obligated to help you. People here will though, if they have the chance to.

Well there you go. Thanks for that.

I see you are using the Aura or whatever they call it these days. I used to use it too. Switched to the Comfort Lite 2. I found it to be leaps and bounds over the Aura. Just love it. I am using an interface that I think is called a "direct nasal pillow". It has two rounded prongs and they just go into your nose. It doesn't look like a babies pacifier. That was also a huge improvment for me. Doesn't seem that many people are using it. For me it is like night and day.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:37 am

My thought is that it would be less expensive to get/keep a computer that still has the XP operating system and continue to use your existing Encore Pro software than to get a new XPAP and then still have to buy the software for it.
Or, at least until something shakes out with this XPAP/software issue.
Who knows, the "good fairy" may leave a copy of EP 1.8 under your pillow some night.

As far as monitoring, after 2 years, I've got my therapy pretty well "dialed in", but it's more of a habitual ritual (curiosity thing) to check it each morning. From the horror stories I've heard and read about Vista (so far), they'll have to drag me into it, kicking and screaming.

Den

BrianRT · Post by **BrianRT** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:06 am

As I've said before....

You should NEVER EVER EVER change your own pressure settings!!! This should only be done by licensed medical professionals who took a LOT of classes and passed a LOT of tests. These people can always be recognized because they wear white coats. This also includes the receptionists at most Dr's offices and the people who develop your film at the local pharmacy.

But seriously.....please keep in mind the seriousness of OSA. I can see how it is possible to have a "declare snoring a disease and make $$$" mindest but this can minimize the importance of the condition and your willingness to treat it. The research is very clear on the condition and the ramifications.

Remember, even though the treatment is rather benign, the condition isn't.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:27 am

Or when you made the decision to go to "Vista", you could have thought a little longer, before you added that 20th garage, to Bills House. Or you could even use your old XP machine, to do your real world apps. If you no longer, have it, you could go to Goodwill, and pickup one that some fool got rid of.

I'll be able to use my Encore Pro for many more years, because I don't buy into htpe, and I plan for tomorrows need, today. Jim

I also wouldn't change from a machine that does what I want, just to spite some corporate fools. Since the software is out there, I find it. I'd also stock up on machines that worked correctly with it, which I did, before the "Classics" ran out.

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