Remstar Pro 2 - Just bought this from cpap.com and am mad

debst99 · Post by **debst99** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 2:52 pm

I just bought the remstar pro 2 from cpap.com for $540.00 thinking it was the updated version of my remstar pro m I was renting. When I tried to find my ahi and leak percentage on the LED screen, I couldn't figure out how to do it. I called cpap.com and they called respironics and respironics told cpap.com that you could never see those two readings on the LCD screen on either the pro or the pro 2.

I know I was checking the 7 day and 30 day average everyday, so I know that it was doing it.

What is going on? I can't return the machine now as I used it one night and returned my rental this morning.

So from what I understand I have to spend more money on software to be able to see how my therapy is doing?

Is this true?

Thank you all for your answers.

Is this true?

jules · Post by **jules** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:10 pm

The pro 2 is the tank model - pre m series - it is no longer being made. There is no data on it but data can be obtained using encore pro.

Perhaps you needed to do your homework better before making a purchase.

Several of us have used the Pro 2 and are happy with it. It is one of my machines.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:23 pm

Actually, the LCD data is of "marginal" value on the M Series machines, too.....and you NEED to get the software to see the real "nuts & bolts" of your therapy.

If you're REALLY unhappy with that Pro 2.......let me know and I'll take it off your hands. It was my first machine and I'm still using it. I'd take it over an M Series machine any night of the week.

Den

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:47 pm

debst99 in your profile it is showing you have the serial cable software reader -- if you have the reader I would assume you have the software to read your data.

You need to be sure you KNOW what you are purchasing PRIOR to buying.

Unfortunately you must not hang around here much or you would know that there is more than one "pro" model and that the LCD screen information is not worth much as it is unreliable. To get a true picture of you therapy you need the software and card reader.

The only thing I can suggest is to let Den take it off your hands.

If it was me I would keep the one purchased and get the software.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:21 pm

The good and the bad. The bad you didn't do your homework. The good, if you truly got the Pro 2 "Tank", you have the better machine.

Now all you need is the software and reader, and the data you get will be fine, and more useful. Jim

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:22 pm

Another advantage that Pro 2 has is that it won't drop 2 nights of data each week (or at random) like the M Series machines seem to do.
The humidifiers are easier to fill and take off.....and I'm told they hold more water.
Most people who have had both generations of machines believe the Legacy/Classic/Tank models are quieter.

I'd consider it a stroke of luck getting the one you did.

Den

jules · Post by **jules** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:45 pm

*chuckles*

Yep, if I had my choice between a tank and a mseries I would take the tank too.

DJ · Post by DJ » Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:52 pm

Agreed -- my tank was much quieter and easier to live with than my M series machine. The tank model didn't travel well for me, but it sure worked great as a home-based machine. And the Encore Viewer software will give you more date than any Respironics LCD ever will.

Dave

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:05 pm

The tank's a better machine except for travel or if you need Aflex. I don't need Aflex and am very happy with my tank.

You do have to purchase the software to get an accurate reading for either the m-series or the tank. It's more than worth it!

MartiniLover · Post by **MartiniLover** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:17 pm

I wish I had a tank instead of this M series.

debst99 · Post by **debst99** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:56 am

Sleepy Carol-my profile must be listed wrong, I don't have any cable, etc.

Also, when I typed in remstar pro m series on the cpap site, it will only show the new remstar pro 2 and it said it is better now than the pro because it shows snoring also.

I thought with typing in the old machine I had would bring up the right one.

I know people have printed before exactly what I would need for software, etc. at the best price, but don't know how to go to that thread.

I am limited on funds right now as have had lots of medical expenses due to be diagnosed with two more serious medical problems.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 6:06 am

debst99 wrote:I just bought the remstar pro 2

"Pro 2" is the name of one of the older pre-M cpap machines. The older pre-M machines are often referred to as a "tank" or "classic" model by people on the message board.

debst99 wrote: When I tried to find my ahi and leak percentage on the LED screen, I couldn't figure out how to do it.

None of the older pre-M machines give that info on the LED screen. Only the M series models do, and as the others have said, the screen info on the M series machines is not very useful. Not anywhere near as useful as seeing full data via the software.

debst99 wrote: I called cpap.com and they called respironics and respironics told cpap.com that you could never see those two readings on the LCD screen on either the pro or the pro 2.

You can see those readings on an M series Pro, but not on the older pre-M Pro or Pro 2. In fact, with the older Pro that kind of info isn't even recorded onto the Smart Card. It is recorded onto the Smart Card with the older Pro 2.

debst99 wrote:I know I was checking the 7 day and 30 day average everyday, so I know that it was doing it.

Yes, your M series Pro was doing that. The older pre-M machines including the old Pro 2 doesn't have that feature...the pre-M machines can't show that data on the machine's little display window.

debst99 wrote:So from what I understand I have to spend more money on software to be able to see how my therapy is doing?

Is this true?

That's true....if you want to see data about your therapy using the pre-M Pro 2 machine. Shop around the various online cpap stores. If you find the EncoreViewer software (that's what you need) being sold cheaper than it is at cpap.com, cpap.com will price match.

Unless some online cpap store has an unusual savings by buying the software and card reader as a bundle, you can save some money by not buying the card reader from any of the online cpap stores. Buy just the software.

You can buy the necessary card reader cheaper at this Hong Kong store:
http://www.two-factor.com/shop/index.php?productID=115
About $31 or $32 dollars for that card reader, which includes cost of shipping to the U.S.

I wish the machine and mask manufacturers wouldn't keep using the same names when they come out with newer models. Gets confusing, so I can sure see why you'd think a Pro 2 is "newer" than a Pro. Problem is, there's an M series Pro (new) and a non-M series Pro (very old) and a non-M series Pro 2 (old, but not as old as the non-M Pro.) Just plain confusing, I know.

As the others have said, I'd be much happier to get a "old" Pro 2, than a "new" M series Pro. MUCH better humidifier, for one thing. And much more reliable about keep track of the data every night instead of having a glitchy recording skip occasionally like the M's seem to do.

I don't blame you for being unhappy at the prospect of shelling out more money to buy software. But a person is really much better able to monitor and make decisions about their treatment using the software than is ever possible with just the LCD info on an M machine.

I think you'd be amazed and pleased with the amount of data you can get from the Pro 2 if you do get the EncoreViewer software. You've got a very good machine now. I'm not surprised that Den wants to buy it.

elliejose · Post by **elliejose** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:11 pm

I've had both and thank goodness, I was able to trade the M for a tank before my rental period ran out. Unless changes have been made since I owned the "M", the stats your are getting from the LCD screen are not worth the time it takes to read them. Neither my 7 day nor my 30 day averages were ever correct, not to mention, the data that was frequently dropped from software reports. Also, in my case, the luck of the draw, was that I had a very noisy "M". Sounded like the respirator my Mom was on when she died. I feel very fortunate to have been able to switch from the M to a Tank. If it were me, I would definitely try it before I got rid of it.

Remstar Pro 2 - Just bought this from cpap.com and am mad

Remstar Pro 2 - Just bought this from cpap.com and am mad

Re: Remstar Pro 2 - Just bought this from cpap.com and am ma