Smart Card Use With 2 Machines

[DNAClone]

Hi,
I have an M Series Auto with A & C Flex. I monitor my results daily with Enocore Pro or Viewer.
I just purchased the same model Machine for a back-up/travel. I was actually looking for a smaller or lesser model for a back up but the deal on this device was exceptional.
The one thing the new machine lacks is a smart card.
Can I use the smart card from my original machine and can they be interchanged regularly or do I need a new smart card? Thanks

[RipVW]

Seems to me that you should be able to use the same card in both machines, but I'm sure some of our wiser forum members will chime in here. Hey, I'd just try it and see what happens.

[MRH]

Yes they will work in both machines. I have a M series and the M series auto with A-flex and used the same card in both before.

Mark

[DNAClone]

I guess the card doesn't need to distinguish the data between either machine. Since I am the only one using the CPAP it wouldn't matter if both machines provide data.
I just wanted to make sure that I wouldn't be altering the card or screwing up either the machine or the data.
Thanks.

[cinco777]

Smartcards are inexpensive (compared to machines and masks). Why not buy another one (or two)? I have six because of the way that I monitor my sleep events each night - each time I get up for a bathroom break, I remove the one in the machine and replace it with a new one. Initially, I needed six smartcards because I was getting up for a "visit" as many as five times a night. Now, 3 months later, I get up at most 2X/night (need 3 SCs) and sometimes only 1X/night (need only 2 SCs). I bought two online at, I believe, a cost of $12.50 each + S&H, bought two on a special online sale for $15 total including free S&H, and received my remaining two with machines, primary + backup.

I think everyone that monitors their sleep therapy with EncorePro, EncoreViewer, or other software, should have at least two smartcards - one for primary use and one for backup. Since my sleep therapy monitoring is so important to me, I am even considering getting a second card reader for use as backup.

I use the MyCPAP card utility to save and format my smartcards (it also does restores). It works like a charm and has never failed me.

Best of success in achieving your sleep therapy goals.

[TheDreamer]

I've wondered about this....how does EncoreViewer handle data from two different cards....can it reconcile the data to form a continuous report? Would DME be able to handle it if I showed up with two smartcards from different machines (or would I want my DME to know if I did get a back up machine, etc.). Or would I just settle for gaps in compliance reporting, could I mysteriously switch machine types?

I've thought about getting another M-Series Pro as backup/travel...or maybe an M-Series Auto (even though I would only use it as straight CPAP, initially)

While, there are other reasons than data to stay with the same series hardware...I'm not yet committed that my backup/travel machine has to be.... At one time I was thinking that I would want it before I pop up to Canada before Xmas (could be hard to get help when I come back and it is the Xmas holidays). But might be something for next year when it may involve much more complicated air travel...flying off to some distant locale (possibly involving in air sleeping) and then spending a week on a cruise ship...

Though it might not be so bad....rumor has it Hawaii is the strong contender (more affordable somewhere that none of have been yet). Though Mediterranean/Greek Isles has also been heard. Before CPAP, I'd be all for any cruise trip (Mediterranean/Greek was actually my idea)..though I'm not quite feeling the same. But, it seems to be the new family tradition....have a 'reunion' cruise every 5 years. First was 2000, last was 2005....so.... Not sure when my next personal cruise is going to be....originally I had planned to go in 2008...for by 40th birthday...but let work come first and other excuses.

I wonder if I had gone on cruise, would I be on CPAP now? I wouldn't have been having my annual physical the day before my 40th birthday...and I don't know if I would've been 'complaining' about health issues as much as I was that time. Leading to my doctor suggesting I get a sleep study, etc. Strange how life works.

The Dreamer.

[DNAClone]

Good question! I am sure more experienced CPAP user with Encore Pro have encountered this issue.

[old64mb]

I actually just got a great deal on a couple of barely used M Series Autos, and discovered the smart card from my A-Flex didn't work on them prior to purchasing them (the fact of which I used to talk down the price a little ).

Was searching to see if I might have ripped myself off, found this thread, didn't see an answer and finally found this older thread that actually has a definitive answer on the issue: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=27179&p=234675&hili ... rd#p234675. It appears that you can't swap cards easily.

Johnny gets $25 of business I guess.

[GumbyCT]

Between like machines - you should be OK. Else you will have to erase the card. When the card is inserted into the machine it writes to it, maybe like formating a floppy? Then all bets are off, unless it is a like machine.

Tell your DME this card went bad.

[jdm2857]

There have been posts about reformatting Respironics data cards. Perhaps a search will tell you how to do it.

[Disart]

I experienced a similar issue when I purchased a used M Series Auto to replace my aging Repironics Pro II "tank". When I inserted the "tank's" smartcard into the M Series it would not accept the smartcard. It beeped and displayed a flashing smartcard icon. I followed the advice of another user on this site and downloaded a free smartcard toolkit utility available at http://www.mycpap.org and used it to erase the card. The card worked just fine in the M Series after that. I would only recommend this if you don't need any of the existing data for compliance purposes. If you do, then it's probably best to have your provider do this for you.

Hope this helps.

[Thunder Road]

In the past I have used the Classic Tank and M Series Auto. I was able to download either unit to EP to create one continuous report. Each machine had its own smart card so I just downloaded it into my file in EP and it read it. EP was able to recognize both machines in my file. I think the file in EP is based upon the user or patient thus making the use of more than one machine possible. You can run reports that track each units use to differentiate the therapy results between them to compare treatment. Hope this helps.

[old64mb]

The next question I'd have is both if it's possible(and if it's worth it) to get into the database to merge the data.

[Wulfman]

The next question I'd have is both if it's possible(and if it's worth it) to get into the database to merge the data.

I would say "highly unlikely" and "No" it's not worth it (or the effort it would take to try to accomplish it).


Den

[DNAClone]

Yes, the 1 smartcard worked perfectly fine with both of my M series Auto machines. The mystery has been solved.