Has anyone tried a *wifi SD card* with their ResMed?

[archangle]

Transcend responded quickly! But it looks like this idea is a no-go:

Wow, amazing that someone actually answers customers these days.

[STL Mark]

I ordered a FlashAir card from Buy.com to play with. Don't know if I will keep it, but it will be fun to learn how it works in the S9s. I'll provide a review in a couple of weeks and let everyone know my thoughts.

[RogerSC]

Don't have any idea why they don't have wireless built into these high-tech, computer-driven things these days. Trivial to do, and if it doesn't work due to some configuration problem or wireless isn't available, you always have the SD card for hard backup.

Bunch of Luddite manufacturers...

[Darth Vader Face]

Don't have any idea why they don't have wireless built into these high-tech, computer-driven things these days. Trivial to do, and if it doesn't work due to some configuration problem or wireless isn't available, you always have the SD card for hard backup.

The nice thing about NOT having wireless is that it isn't going to get remotely hacked or corrupted. It is a medical device, so keeping the security as simple as just physical security (access to the control panel) is probably a plus.

Still, I'm eager to know how well the FlashAir card works. Even if it provides limited access to files, it will at least let us know how the power aspect of it works. This isn't a mobile device, and energy efficiency isn't at a premium, so you'd think that the SD slot would be constantly powered. But you never know.

[gomer]

I tried a wifi SD card for camera use.... I DID NOT like it at all.!

I returned it and went back to normal SD/SDHC/SDXC cards.

One problem I found was hassle/lack of control when and where not to mention upload to. Every time I near a wifi hot spot it wanted to upload my photos, even places I DID NOT want my data uploaded to.

[RogerSC]

Don't have any idea why they don't have wireless built into these high-tech, computer-driven things these days. Trivial to do, and if it doesn't work due to some configuration problem or wireless isn't available, you always have the SD card for hard backup.

The nice thing about NOT having wireless is that it isn't going to get remotely hacked or corrupted. It is a medical device, so keeping the security as simple as just physical security (access to the control panel) is probably a plus.

Still, I'm eager to know how well the FlashAir card works. Even if it provides limited access to files, it will at least let us know how the power aspect of it works. This isn't a mobile device, and energy efficiency isn't at a premium, so you'd think that the SD slot would be constantly powered. But you never know.

Could be done using encryption, so it privacy wouldn't be an issue. There are also ways of detecting corruption...and again, you'd also have the card for backup if you needed it. I'd love to see wireless be available, obviously *smile*.

[gomer]

the K.I.S.S principle ain't bad...in my book.

KISS = Keep It Super Simple, aka Keep It Simple Stupid (your choice)

[STL Mark]

I have received the FlashAir card and done some initial playing with the device. I have to admit it is amazing what they can do in the small space of an SD card with putting a WIFI system in there.

In the documentation of the FlashAir card it warns you not to format the card with a computer because the files on the card are necessary to make the WIFI system work. I found that interesting but continued by making an image of the FlashAir card and an image of my ResMed card as backups prior to playing. I left the FlashAir files intact and added my existing ResMed files on the FlashAir card in the same file structure as they existed on the ResMed card. Upon inserting it in the S9 I received the SD card not recognized error. My initial guess is that the ResMed machine wants only its files to exist on the card. I will do some more playing at a later time prior to returning the card. I can think of two other tests. But it appears this is not a solution.

Future tests will be adding any small file to ResMed card to see if the addition renders the card useless. If it does then the FlashAir solution can not work no matter what is done. If however I can add files, I may allow the S9 to format the FlashAir card so that it is happy, then copy the FlashAir files back to the card.

Assuming the above roadblocks could be overcome it appears that the FlashAir system only allows the card to work as a server for 5 minutes after providing the card with power. This timer is variable in settings from 1 to 10 minutes. This would mean that power to the card would need to be interrupted to start over that timer and access the card. This may not be a factor since the S9 most likely drops power to the SD card upon going into standby mode between sessions, but this theory would need to be tested.

[archangle]

How do you access the FlashAir card? Through a web site on the internet, as another computer on your network, through a special program on your PC, etc.?

Try copying the Datalog directory onto the FlashAir card and then put it into a camera and see if you can read the files in the datalog directory.

[STL Mark]

How do you access the FlashAir card? Through a web site on the internet, as another computer on your network, through a special program on your PC, etc.?

Try copying the Datalog directory onto the FlashAir card and then put it into a camera and see if you can read the files in the datalog directory.

Special applications on the PC or Mac are not necessary unless you want to change the default configuration of the cards features. The Flashair card has a SSID and Password configuration to connect to using any WIFI device. A web browser is then used to select files to download from the root level of the card. In the below example I have used Safari on an iPad to access the contents browsing to flashair/ in the browser.

As requested my datalog directory

(Click images for larger view)

[archangle]

OK, so if you had a home PC with a wireless router, it wouldn't connect to the router. You'd need to configure your PC to disconnect from the router then connect to the FlashAir card directly, then restore your PC connection back to the wireless router when though.

Or will the FlashAir card connect to a wireless router, become part of your home network, and let you access it that way?

It's good to see that the card will allow you to access non-picture files.

I bet it would work in a PRS1 machine. They don't do the brainless things ResMed does in terms of non-standard files on the SD card.

[Sir NoddinOff]

Whew the travails of WIFI. I tried it once and it didn't work for me, as others have indicated. I did lose my PR supplied SD card once, so I how have a 2" diameter white sauce bowl sitting on the table next to my couch. It's a little dipping bowl used for cocktail sauce etc. When I load my data card into my laptop I put the dummy card in the sauce bowl (cards are all that ever goes into it). When SH pulls my sleep data off the real card, I immediately put the dummy back in the card slot, then I drop the real card into the white sauce bowl. Since it's right next to my coffee cup, I always see the black card in the saucer, plus it's relatively safe and hard to lose in there. Eventually it ends up back in the PR S1 where it belongs. Simple but fairly bulletproof. Also, I'm in the habit of reaching behind the machine and feeling to see if the SD card is in there before masking up. While I'm at it, I check to make sure filter didn't fall out. Man, there's so much involved with this CPAP stuff.

[NateS]

How about attempting to receive the data from the modem attached to some of our machines?

Has anyone tried or considered that?

Just curious.

Nate

[idamtnboy]

Upon inserting it in the S9 I received the SD card not recognized error. My initial guess is that the ResMed machine wants only its files to exist on the card. I will do some more playing at a later time prior to returning the card. I can think of two other tests. But it appears this is not a solution.

It's been awhile since I messed around with the S9 SD card and files, but as you found out the S9 is very particular about how the card is formatted. If I remember correctly there is a directory entry for a journal.dat file. The start cluster for that file is near the end of the card data range. I don't know if the journal.dat file actually exists or not, but the directory entry has to be there and point to a specific place on the card. It's almost impossible to duplicate that entry even with a disk editior like WinHex. And, it may be a calculated figure based on who knows what parameters, kind of like the CRC files. That's all part of Resmed's approach to ensure data integrity from machine to Resscan. Resscan will read an SD card that has had the files written to it with Windows Explorer, but don't change anything about the edf files or the CRC won't match because Resscan does check those.

From what Mac users have said, the S9 won't accept a card that has a strange file added to it like what an iBook wants to put on it.

I'd say the idea of using the FlashAir card in an S9 is a non starter.

[idamtnboy]

How about attempting to receive the data from the modem attached to some of our machines?

Has anyone tried or considered that?

Just curious.

Nate

I believe the modem transmits only summary data.