S8 Auto Set Vantage??? What do YOU think?

Rastaman · Post by **Rastaman** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:18 pm

I have a Remstar M Series w/ C-Flex CPAP. I informed the DME that I would be willing to pay the difference between my CPAP and an APAP today and she's now willing to swop them out for $35, which is for the water chamber on my Remstar. I have zero problem with that. I'm going in tomorrow morning to switch them out. My opinion has just risen that my doctor made a good choice referring me to this particular sleep center.

Early today the same DME said I would have to pay the difference between the machines, so part of me is wondering if this is a USED model. I'll ask ofcourse tomorrow. I'm bringing the old unit, minus my Swift Mirage Pillows Mask plus $35 for the exchange.

Does this seem like a good trade to YOU? Is there something I don't know about here?

Rastaman · Post by **Rastaman** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:48 pm

Rastaman · Post by **Rastaman** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:57 pm

Paul B · Post by **Paul B** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 3:20 pm

It's a great deal. Jump on it!!!! Especially, if the Resmed Vantage is a new unit, but even still if it's used. My personal opinion, and others will disagree with me, is that the Resmed APAP algorithm best treats the majority, but not all, of sleep apnea flow limitations. I think their quality of manufacture and service are without equal. In fairness to Respironics and P-B users, I have not tried them extensively, but only during my sleep study.

Rastaman · Post by **Rastaman** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:11 pm

I appreciate your post. Very cool. Anyone want to challenge or confirm this?

I have to admit I'm a little giddy at this point. Happy happy joy joy! I know I've LEARNED the Remstar M Series and it's a very sleek and well designed unit along with the fact that it really does look like a clock or something sitting on the night stand. The S8 Vantage looks more like a mini vacume cleaner to me, which in it's own way is kind've camaflauge as well. Besides, what do I care anyway?

Also I notice on my sleep doctor's website that they have the Resmed S8 Escape and no mention of the S8 Auto Set Vantage. Is this Escape a new model of the same thing?

john57b · Post by **john57b** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:32 pm

The Resmed S8 Escape is like a standard CPAP machine it is not a Auto CPAP.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:33 pm

Rasta, I too think it would be a good swap, even if it's used with very few hours on it. Remember, your M series is also used at this point. So when that machine is "sold" to someone else, it has to be considered used - even though we all know it's almost new.

So, if the Resmed Vantage only has a few hours on it, and if it comes with a humidifier, then I think you will be happy with it. Bull up a little bit if they try to get you to pay for another humidifier.

Good Luck.

Rastaman · Post by **Rastaman** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:45 pm

Sweet! So, as long as they don't sell me a used one that dies in a month or 6 I'm good. Yeah, now the question becomes do they provide a similiar carry bag like they did with my current unit, and do they include the humidifier as well. I have some nose pain already as it is. In fact, last night that was one of the things that woke me up.

On the bright side, I'm not changing out the swift mirage pillow system which, overall seems to be working. I hope this particular mask works in conjunction with the auto feature of my new unit.

And yeah, Linda, you make a great point. Even my machine must be consider used at this point and they never told me if it was brand new or not. I suspect not. I suspect that it's been returned before based on the status on the bag of manuals and filters. So, exchanging used for used should be good.

Question: Are they going to try and charge my insurance full price for used? Would they have done so with the current system I have now? I know you can only guess but what's your guess?

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:56 pm

Rm-
Congrats!! I know that this is what you've wanted, and having it will give you some peace.

I also have an S8 AutoSet Vantage/H3i, and I really like it. Its tiny, VERY quiet, and VERY WELL BUILT. Its comes with a very cool carrycase that looks like a modern laptop carrycase. It has only one thin power cord, and no two-corded power brick. It also looks sorta cool with its white and purple coloring, in sort of a hip way. I know Respironics felt that more folks would by there M series if they designed it to look like a clock-radio, but frankly, I find clock radios to be boring. One of the BEST features is that you can access both efficacy (Pressure, AHI, AI, HI) and compliance data on the LCD screen every morning, without having to download data to your computer, though you can download complete data to your PC using the included SmartCard and, optional ResMed AutoScan software.

The part that I respect the most is ResMed's practice of listing all the research conducted on their algorithm, on their web-site and giving direct links to the actual articles so that you can read them yourself. Respironics doesn't do that. I respect any company proud enough of its product to encourage consumers to look for themselves at the scientific literature evaluating their product, so that consumers can form their own opinion.

You'll find that ResMed Autopap machines are used in far and away the largest majority of scientific studies evaluating autotitration. I believe that this is for a reason, but judge that for yourself.

Anyhow, congrats on your S8. BTW, the S8 Escape is the replacement for the old S7 Lightweight and is equivalent to the Respironics Remstar Plus---that is, basic, stripped down CPAP. The S8 Elite is equivalent to the Respionics Remstar Pro2, and the S8 Vantage is the top of the line APAP machine for ResMed.

Chuck

P.S. I have ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with ResMed or anyone else in the CPAP industry( except as a patient). I'm a state human service administrator.

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:15 pm

..as for value, you can buy a new S8 for $370.00 at Yahoo Auction..

Rastaman · Post by **Rastaman** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 9:27 pm

Thanks GoofyUT, Oldgearhead, & anyone who was kind enough to put their 2 cents worth in.

You're right GoofyUT, everything I read about this unit is impressive. And not only that but it's alot cheaper than the Remstar Plus M Series CPAP that I have right now, atleast through Yahoo Auctions. That price starts to shed more light on why they might not have wanted to make any changes until my 2nd attempt.

Top of the line sounds pretty good to me. But more than that the features speak for themselves. APAP, CPAP and EPR. And as you said it's got a completely different look to it. Since my current unit has a humidifier I expect this one to have one too. And if it does, and it comes with a case, as you described I'm happy as a lark!

I feel like I'll be getting the proper rest I need and deserve. And I also feel like I have a tiny bit more experience to pass on to a newbie. Meanwhile, some here have experience with multiple units and masks and that's quite impressive if someone has a question about that particular item.

Now, sure.....I'll have a few questions about my new machine but I'm learning to use the search feature and get to those detailed posts about how to use something or how this machine differs from that machine. It looks like I'm going from 2.2 lbs to 2.9 lbs. LOL! I can live with that. Until these new M-series came out I believe the S8 Autoset Vantage was one of the smallest machines on the market.

Guess what? Our local news talked about sleep apnea tonight and had someone who's a CPAP user (Sleep Ordered! Not Disordered) and they showed her in her mask and on her bed and she was using Swift Mirage Nasal Pillows too. Millions need these machines. One by one we get them. And from what I'm seeing if you have a unit that works well for you but you end up wanting to upgrade to something else down the road prices are reasonable in the right places.

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 6:18 am

You'll be very happy with your S8 Vantage, RM. Its a great machine with a well proven algorithm. And, it IS tiny, easy to pack, and has only one power cord.

It is NOT a cheaper machine. It is actually a little more expensive than the corresponding Respironics machines, coming from Australia and all (where CPAP treatment was discovered by Dr. Collin Sullivan, hence the "S" in S8).

Post any questions that you have about it here. I and lots of other S8 users will be glad to help in whatever way that we can.

Chuck

Rastaman · Post by **Rastaman** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:50 am

Thanks for all your help! I'm getting the old (LOL! it's only 2 weeks old) unit into a case. This thing is brand friggin new. Other than a few hours of chug chug chug chug chuggin it looks exactly the same. I didn't even get any dust on it. It's back in the travel pack now along with it's hose and power supply and cords and what not. Nice little black laptop looking bag.

I was told they didn't care the complete line of Respironics products yet that they usually carry Resmed's line of products. I think she meant that the only APAP's they have are Resmed S8 Autoset Vantage's, which is fine by me. For basic CPAP's they have PB Goodknight, Resmed, and Respironics all available in house. I think I'm probably lucky that they carry Resmed's line of products but I'm sure all these products do their jobs pretty well.

All I have to say about my DME and Sleep Doctor is they did a really good job in my case. I have no complaints. How could I ? They're meeting all my needs. I called them just now and I'm bringing everything in except for the water chamber in my unit. She was very nice answering my question just now. Really, I have no reason not to sing high and low about how my process went. I know alot of people have different experiences and I'm just glad that things turned out in this scenario.

jcarn · Post by **jcarn** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 10:25 am

the Vantage is a nice machine.

Just be aware that EPR cannot be activated in APAP mode. That was a drawback for me hence the reason I ended up with the Remstar Auto w/C-Flex.

Rastaman · Post by **Rastaman** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:01 am

Yeah, that's definitely true. And I don't know what to think about that except that it should fluctuate and hopefully I can get use to that. I still have options even if I buy this unit down the road. And I do plan on trying out the EPR option sometime too in CPAP mode just to see how that compares with C-flex. In straight CPAP mode, it makes more sense (to me) to have EPR instead of C-Flex....but in the auto unit it kind've makes more sense to have the C-flex. IMHO.

Machine

Humidifier

Additional Comments: Auto range 11-15