Sandman Info Software v1.2 versus v 1.4

[mars]

I might be getting to the end of my search for the machine that will suit me best at this time. I rented a Covidian Info for a month, which ends on Friday.

I have got rid of the Swift 11 mask as not workable for me, and now have a FF Quattro.

On-going monitoring is very important to me and the Sandman Info appears to have appropriate data.
I checked out cpap.com and find that the 1.2 bundle is US$200, and the 1.4 bundle is US$270. In AUD that is about AUD$140 difference.

Can anyone tell me if the upgrade of the Sandman Info software from 1.2 to 1.4 is significant, and what exactly it is. I know only I can evaluate that in dollar terms.

Without this forum I would have been like a blind and deaf man struggling 10 feet below the surface under an icepack, not breathing, not knowing, and slowly sinking, whilst being told that all was well.

Thank you all.

cheers

Mars

[Mtnviewer]

It seems to me that the v1.4 software is pretty new and there may not be enough time for folks to upgrade and to compare the 2 versions? I also haven't been able to find any info out there on v1.4 listed to compare the two via specs. The 1.2 software, while not perfect IMO, is pretty good, albeit the manuals are horribly lacking in user therapy info. I don't know how the Sandman software reports compare to others. My main beef with it is that the Wave Form charts cannot be exported as PDF's or printed without doing a screen grab and or using software like Photoshop to copy the screen grab into. To me, the Wave Form report is also the most useful report. Hopefully access to that report was changed in v1.4 and it would be the only reason that I can see to upgrade? But I also can't find anywhere online to even buy an upgrade from v1.2 vs. having to buy the entire v1.4 program.

Also, shop around at online stores for the software and card reader as I found CPAP.com to be amongst the most expensive and I saved $60 by finding it for less elsewhere and then had CPAP.com match the other and online retailer's lower price. Just submit the page link to the less expensive retailer to CPAP.com in the comments box in your order and they will match the price before charging you and before shipping.

Also realize that the card reader does not carry changes to the machine but only reads data. To make changes from your computer or the Therapy software, you need the USB cable. I just do it manually by pressing the two arrow keys simultaneously for 2-4 secs to get into the Clinicians Settings Mode. The card reader is a bit of a hassle, but then so would be the cables, and both are proprietary so that means there are no other options for downloading data or linking to the machine. I'd think that v1.4 is the same?

[mars]

MtnViewer

Thanks for getting back to me. I was beginning to think that I was the only person in the world to be thinking about the v1.4 Sandman Info software.

I see my sleep specialist this afternoon, and will then decide if I keep this machine or not. If I keep it, and get the software, 1.2 or 1.4, and get stuck in decyphering it, would you be able to help out. I am not bad at figuring things out, but my brain function has decreased over the last few years.

I will check out other on-line suppliers as you suggest, and thanks for the settings info, I was just about to do a search for that.

Being on a pension, I just need to try better at looking after what money I have.

Thanks again.

cheers

Mars

[Mtnviewer]

As mentioned, I'm interested in v1.4, but I can't find anywhere to just buy or get an upgrade, vs. having to buy the entire program again, which I won't do.

I bought my machine very slightly used from cpapauction.com at a HUGE savings from new AND I also bought my Quattro mask brand new from cpapauction.com again for a HUGE savings, $40? or so vs. $120+. If you're patient you should be able to do the same.

I also saw the v1.2 software for sale on cpapauction.com some weeks after I bought mine and wish that I had waited instead of paying for it new, though I did save some money by shopping around. The software isn't 100% needed as the LCD of the unit gives average results for the On Off periods of use, meaning if you turn off the machine 1 or more times during the night, such as for bathroom visits, then the LCD gives you basic summary reports for the hours of use for each session per night. Then you can try to see if the software comes up on cpapauction in the future, maybe as folks upgrade to v1.4, they'll sell v1.2 if they had to buy the entire 1.4 version?

I'd be happy to try and help you if I can, but don't just ask me, as I'm still fairly new to this having only been using the Sandman since early January and there are others on this site that are MUCH MUCH more knowledgeable than me about the Sandman and it's reports. I'm just starting to make sense of things as I'm getting more success with my therapy and after some experimentation when I wasn't having success.

Good luck with your purchase. Deals are out there if you're patient and like you, I need to shop very carefully.

Also, the Sandman isn't the ONLY good machine out there, though you are familiar with it, but if you can find another for a very good price don't think that you'd be shortchanged by not having the Sandman. My other choice was the IntelliPap, for budget reasons and the good reviews, and I got the Sandman only from the timing of finding one at the auction site and the reviews of the software sounding a tiny bit better than the IntelliPap. (I wonder if it is better vs. just different, as the Sandman Therapy software IMO could be better, though it's meant for clinicians to interpret vs. users). There is an IntelliPap for sale on cpapauction.com right now at a pretty savings, and it won a user competition just recently via CPAP.com and there are other good machines out there that a search on this site will help you find info on.

[ozij]

Hi mars,
You could try asking either the company, or cpap.com what the difference is in the features.
Two question I would ask specifically are:

1. Does version 1.4 have an option to export the data to Excel?
2. Does version 1.4 let you do real time tracking?

Looking at the Sandman's software reports, you can see the software is closely related to its predecessor, Puritan Bennett's SliverLining. Both the above were features of SliverLining that had disappeared from version 1.2 - and my have been returned to version 1.4

We discussed some of the 1.2 characteristics on this thread: Sandman and its Reports

O.

[Diver71]

I have 1.4 which I will happily send on if people want it - managed to get both the software and card reader gratis after a little bit of haggling

[Mtnviewer]

Have you used v1.2 and if so are there any improvements over v1.4? I'm wondering too if v1.4 is to accomodate their new Bi-Pap machine? Also please check your Private Message area.

[Mtnviewer]

FYI, I found a release history of the Sandman Softwares up to the lastest v1.4. It seems that the biggest changes and fixes were made in v1.3, which I'd never heard was even availible. It seems like an upgrade to v1.3 or v1.4 would be useful for those that want to save and print Wave Form data.

Release History

Version 1.4 January 2009

- correct a bug in installation program (when upgrade from previous versions)

Version 1.3 December 2008

- add Sandman Duo/Duo ST management

- printing waveforms pages in Waveforms report

- print settings from direct connection on device

- erased data after download from memory card or on direct connection

- correct a bug on download from memory card on sandman info/auto

- correct a bug on PDF/print report of the night calendar.

- Japanese UI.

Version 1.2 July 2008

- add global usage information on Intro

- correct a bug with Intro files management (recorded with version 1.0)

- correct a bug if no compliance is started (empty data) on memory card.

Version 1.1 April 2008

- add 2 devices: Sandman Info and Sandman Auto.

Version 1.0 January 2008

- Sandman Intro compatible only.

[spacetoast]

I recently got the bundle deal on cpap.com that included the v1.2 software and had a couple of questions.

1. Is there any way to zoom on the waveform graph? I think I'm out of luck on this one because I cannot for the life of me see how to do that.

2. Are you able to do this in v1.4?

3. Does anyone have a tutorial on how to import v1.2 data into excel and set it up as a graph?

Thanks!

[mars]

[quote="spacetoast"]
1. Is there any way to zoom on the waveform graph? I think I'm out of luck on this one because I cannot for the life of me see how to do that.

Hi spacetoast

In 1.4 I click on the plus or minus sign at the bottom of the report, there are also shift bars at the bottom. Don't know about 1.2

2. Are you able to do this in v1.4?

Yes - as above

3. Does anyone have a tutorial on how to import v1.2 data into excel and set it up as a graph?

I thought about that and got good suggestions from members, but eventually decided I was too sleep deprived to learn Excel. That was when I started on cpap. What I decided to do was to keep my own analysis in a 13 column cash book, using the machine lcd data, and the software report data. The actual writing of this make me more aware of the figures, and although I probably could learn Excel now, I will keep with my manual system.

If you upgrade to 1.4 look up my post - For Sandman Software users only

Welcome to the world of Sandman software

cheers

Mars

[spacetoast]

Thanks, Mars!

I don't think you can zoom in v1.2 like you describe for v1.4. I think I'm out of luck on that one.

I'll check out your post for sure, though.

[mars]

Hi Spacetoast

According the Mtnviewer's release history, which you will find above, magnifying the wave form report was not part of the updating from 1.2 to 1.4, so presumably it was in the previous releases.

However, evidently not, but it might be worth your while to check it again.

There are a number of 1.2 users in the forum, so I would think you will get your answers fairly soon.

cheers

Mars

[spacetoast]

Thanks, Mars.

I don't see a plus or minus sign at the bottom of my report. I see some icons for creating a pdf, printing, adding notes, and exporting data.

I do recall in the manual that plus and minus signs were mentioned. I wonder if I need to re-install my software....

Can a v1.2 user verify for me if they have the plus and minus sign at the bottom of the report?

Also, I'm using Windows XP.

[mars]

Hi Spacetoast

Can you quote what the manual says?

The plus and minus signs are between the bottom of the report and the icons on 1.4

cheers

Mars

[spacetoast]

Well, it looks like the manual doesn't specifically mention the buttons, however, I can see them in a screen shot in the manual:



And here is a screen shot of my software running:



I only have two days of data on my machine, so I don't know if that's a factor or not for the icons to show up.

I'm a little puzzled because being able to zoom in on the wave graph would be helpful, I think...