machine costs

[pottsy1044]

I need to buy another machine, so Iwent onto cpap.com to check it out.
I find a wild divergence in costs...from $250.00 to well over $1,000.

Are the cheap ones garbage, or are the expensive ones over-priced or is it somewhere in between.

Can anyone recomend a good manufacturer who is inexpensive too?

[Pugsy]

Do you currently have a machine? If so what kind?
Is this one you are looking for a backup unit?

Cheap ones aren't garbage but they have less features available. Depends on your wants and needs.....

CPAP vs APAP, different types of machines.
APAP units can also be used in CPAP mode (so 2 machines for price of one)
CPAP machines straight continuous pressure only.
Then do you want to see your own data? The very basic CPAP machines at the lower end of the price spectrum won't let you do that.

All depends on what your needs and wants are.

[pottsy1044]

I had my last machine ruined by British Airways. By the time I replaced it I had snored by head off for almost two months.
I don't want to go through that again (either does my wife), so i'd like to have a replacement handy.

The machine I have now is a Remstar M series. It has a feature where the pressure eases off when you exhale, so I think that puts it in a different category from a plain cpap. It's nice feature, but not necessary. I slept fine before. I also don't care about the sound level, as both my wife and I like the "white noise" effect of it.

[Pugsy]

Check your machine carefully for what is written on it.
Respironics M Series does offer the Pro with CFlex and it is a straight CPAP.

If you see M Series Auto (with either CFlex or AFlex) on your machine then you have an auto unit. Will look like the one I have in my profile.

You might also check the cpapauction.com for a back up machine. Sometimes some good deals on gently used machines.

Are you wanting the exact same machine as you have now for backup or just a plain jane backup?

[jdm2857]

Almost everyone on this forum recommends machines that collect efficacy (effectiveness) data. Some of the data can be viewed on the machine itself, but to get the most useful information you need to buy a software package and a card reader.

Since you want exhalation relief, you are limited to ResMed and Respironics machines.

You also have a choice of straight CPAP (single pressure all night) or APAP (pressure adjusts within a range according to events it senses)

So your choices are:

Respironics:

M Series Pro with C Flex (CPAP)
M Series Auto with C Flex (APAP)
M Series Auto with A Flex (APAP)

Respironics software is Encore Viewer and you also will need a Respironics (or Mako Infineer) card reader.

ResMed:

S8 Elite II (CPAP)
S8 AutoSet II (APAP)

ResMed software is ResScan, which for legal reasons is no longer sold to patients in the US. It can be ordered from http://www.cpapaustralia.com. Also needed is a ResMed card reader (or an ACS ACR-38).

Take a look at these machines at https://www.cpap.com (the site's sponsor) and come back with any questions. Remember that they will price match any legitimate online price.

[Slinky]

You might want to price check the Covidien (Puritan Bennett) Sandman Info and Sandman Auto. Puritan Bennett has produced excellent CPAPs for a long time now.

DeVilBiss is a good company which has recently released the DeVilbiss IntelliPAP AutoAdjust. Its the first CPAP or APAP that has a 3 year warranty rather than a 2 year warranty. A product challenge was held by DeVilbiss and cpap.com. 30 Respironics M Series Auto w/A-Flex users were provided w/a DeVilbiss IntelliPAP AutoAdjust to use and compare to their M Series. The DeVilbiss IntelliPAP AutoAdjust got the higher rating from these users.

Fisher & Paykel has also recently come out w/a fully data capable APAP that users a smart stick for data. F&P makes a sturdy, durable xPAP.

When comparing prices at cpap.com don't forget to check for the lower "unadvertised" price on the Resmeds and Respironics prices.

cpap.com also allows you to do a comparison amongst the xPAPs that are of interest to you so you can check for the features most important to you.

[Birddog]

I bought 2 machines on cpapauction cheap 1 a strait cpap for $96 and a respironics with c flex auto machine for $132 so the deals are out there if you look

[mattman]

My opinion would be to hold off on buying anything.

The machines don't break down all that often and if you know what you want then you can just buy one cash online and have it in maybe 2-3 days tops.

Save yourself many hundreds of dollars until you actually need to spend it is how I look at it.

[GumbyCT]

Agreeing with Slinky - also if you shop now you could find a deal - rather than waiting until it becomes a crisis.

Think I would try the Sandman tho I do like the USB stick on the FP - plus their software was real cheap.

[Muse-Inc]

I had my last machine ruined by British Airways...

I'm sorry, did you have it tagged it as a medical device and did you board early to be able to stow in the overhead bin? We have several threads about airline travel carrying your equipment.