Comparing Trevel Machines

[Rinkrat]

I am new to CPAP and am getting one next week. I travel constantly including going overseas. The 2 models I am considering are the PRI System One 60 series Auto CPAP and the Resmed S9 Autoset CPAP.

Does anyone have any opinion between these two? They seem to be almost exactly the same size but the S9 may be a little lighter.

Technology, portability, functions & features?

[Rinkrat]

I am concerned about the portability but do not want to give up functions and features for this. Looking for others who have researched or know these machines or have direct experiences.

[Julie]

Interesting... neither of those are advertised as travel machines, but the Fisher Paykel Intellipap Auto is, yet it performs as well as the others and is a bit lighter and smaller. You could look at the many different features of all 3 on Cpap.com and chose what suits you.

[Pugsy]

It's a toss up really between the 2 brands. Very minor pros and cons to either.

The travel bag with the S9 is flatter and might be a tiny bit more convenient to lug around but one has to disassemble the unit to use it. A minor con.
The travel bag with the PR S1 is taller but it allows for the machine to stay together all in one piece. A minor pro in regards to need to assemble stuff...a minor pro in regards to size of the travel bag.
Both will easily slide under the seat in front of you when flying on airplane.
So the PR S1 travel bag is taller but not as wide as the S9 travel bag which is flatter. It's a trade off in size.

I have used both brands...it really is probably a toss up.
The S9 has the ClimateLine heated hose option and now the PR S1 has it available in the 60 series machine so that used to be an advantage to the S9 but not now.

Minor differences in the software reports and the data that each machine gathers but none are deal breakers.
If your pressure needs are rather high you might like the EPR exhale relief feature on the S9 better than the Flex (PR S1 exhale relief) on the Respironics machine. Again, a minor difference.

If you ever like to go camping where you might be using a battery for power source the PR S1 has the advantage because it is 12 volt and the S9 is 24 volt. You can still use a battery with the S9 but you need a special converter...costs about $80 I think.

I think that most people here will tell you to get the one that they use...S9 users will tell you their machine is better and PR S1 machine users will tell you theirs is better but most of those people haven't had a chance to actually try the other brand.
Those of us who have been able to try both brands usually will tell you it is a toss up.

[Rinkrat]

Thanks for the comparison and info. I was leaning towards the S9 which seemed sleeker, but it appears that the PR S1 is actually a better traveler in both size and ease. Whatever I do, I need to put this in my carry-on luggage and I carry a briefcase so a 3rd bag won't work.

I was told however, when I travel this is 2 pieces and most only take the main unit of which the S9 is smaller.

These were the 2 options offered by my Doctor and their preferred provider. I think if all things are equal, the PR S1 may be the way to go.

And of course I take the point that people always support what they know and use...

Thank you again.

[chunkyfrog]

The size difference is not that much; but there are two big differences between the two.
Resmed has more info on the screen, and Respironics are more flexible for alternative (12 volt DC) power.
I have an Autoset, but I may consider switching in a few years to Respironics due to Re$med's price-fixing.

[billbolton]

Since you travel overseas, you may find the light weight, 30W power adapter available for the S9 useful for in-flight use. It only powers the blower, not the humidifier, but is very convenient for use with either at-seat or battery pack with inverter power in-flight.

I've successfully used it on a number of long haul international flights

Cheers,

Bill

[squid13]

Last I remember the CPAP bag does not count as carry on luggage.

[Sleeping Manatee]

Interesting... neither of those are advertised as travel machines, but the Fisher Paykel Intellipap Auto is, yet it performs as well as the others and is a bit lighter and smaller. You could look at the many different features of all 3 on Cpap.com and chose what suits you.

Did you mean the Devilbiss IntelliPAP? That is an excllent travel machine, as it has a very small travel bag, and no power brick. Fisher & Paykel's current machine is the Icon, which has pros and cons for travel (the humidifier and machine are permanently combined, so it can never be made smaller, though it does have no power brick and a built-in power cable, so it can never be lost).

I'd vote for the Devilbiss IntelliPAP. Again, it has no power brick, has a very standardized power cable, has the smallest carry bag, and is rated 110-240V, so you don't need a converter, just an adapter.

Also, as squid13 stated, you are allowed a carry-on bag, a personal bag, AND a CPAP machine. It's a medical device, so legally they cannot take it away from you. It's in every airline's policy, and unless you get the new guy at the TSA there shouldn't be any problems. You just put it on the conveyor belt and unzip the bag, they typically take the machine out, swab it, and put it back, and you're good to go.

[Julie]

You're right, it's DeVilbiss!

[louie1961]

I may be biased, since I own one, but I would go ResMed S9 all the way. I have owned multiple Phillips machines in the past (old school remstar and an M series unit) and to me, the S9 is much quieter, and the EPR is much more effective than the A-flex or C-flex, in my opinion.

I recently took my S9 to France, and it worked flawlessly on 220 v power, without any special adapters. The unit auto senses the voltage and adjusts accordingly. No need for a special power converter or anything like that. I have never used it on a plane, so can't comment there. However, during the 2013 Blizzard, hurricane Sandy, the 2011 Halloween Noreaster, and hurricane Irene, I lost power for more than a week on each occasion. I was able to run the flow generator (no humidifier) on a 12 amp-hour lead acid battery, the same kind that you put into an alarm system. The unit draws so little power it ran all week on that battery on all occasions.

Also, and again maybe I am biased, but I will not own a Phillips machine ever again. My 1 month old M series fell off the night stand one night and water from the humidifier got into the flow generator and killed the unit. Phillips refused to honor the warranty, because it was "water damage". I say it was a poor design, and I think they have sort of acknowledged that it was a design flaw, in the way they have tried to design the System One with "dry box technology". Just for the record, I am a bit of a restless sleeper, and my S9 has taken multiple tumbles. Unlike the Respironics unit, water from the humidifier has never gotten into the flow generator on my ResMed.

I also recently rented a DeVilbiss Intellipap. Seemed like a nice machine, and was very quiet. But the algorithm that is uses was not comfortable to me. Maybe I am too used to my S9 and EPR, but I just could not get comfortable with the Intellipap smartflex. The way that it handles exhale pressure relief left something to be desired. It came back up to pressure very quickly at the end of an exhalation cycle and kept getting this sensation almost like a "water hammer" in my throat. It would wake me up all night long. I experimented with it for over 3 months and could not find a combination of settings that would let me sleep. I just could not sleep as well with that machine as with the S9. But that is highly subjective and could differ for you.

[robysue]

Whatever I do, I need to put this in my carry-on luggage and I carry a briefcase so a 3rd bag won't work.

If the CPAP equipment is in its own bag and properly labeled as necessary medical equipment, it does not count as a carry-on. Of course, you still have to lug it around as a third bag through the airports ...

Do note, however, that if the CPAP is in a carry on with other non-CPAP related stuff, that will count as one of your two allowed carry on bags. And you may be asked to remove it from the bag when you go through security.

I was told however, when I travel this is 2 pieces and most only take the main unit of which the S9 is smaller.

If you can tolerate CPAP without any added humidification, sure, just take the blower. But some noses can't stand even one night without the humidifier. Also the sound of the machine without the humidifier is different than it is with the humidifier. I remember trying to sleep without the humidifier on my System One on the first night I camped with the machine. Without the humidifier, the hose managed to magnify the sound of my own breathing something fierce and I just could not find a place to put the hose to minimize the noise. And the nose was bone dry the next morning. I used the humidifier for the rest of the camping trip even though it meant finding a way to recharge the battery more often.

As far as "which is better"---I'm with Pugsy: Most people won't notice much difference between the two machines---particularly if it's the first machine you've ever used. Once you get used to sleeping with a particular brand, you may, however, be a bit uncomfortable if you are forced to switch brands due to differences in how exhalation relief is implemented; differences in how the humidification system works; and even the particular noises the machine makes.

[araminta]

I would base the choice on how you feel when breathing with the cpap. After I narrowed the choice down to 2 options, it was rather clear for me that I felt more comfortable breathing with one than the other.

I travel a fair amount for my profession, and I only travel with carry-on luggage because I just don't want to ever lose my bags. I personally am not bothered by the size of cpap itself. And I never have understood the complaints about "the brick". I have a travel bag dedicated for cpap stuff, and it's no big deal. So for me the size of the device is not the deal breaker.

[Gparr]

I have a travel bag dedicated for cpap stuff, and it's no big deal. So for me the size of the device is not the deal breaker.

What kind of travel bag do you use?

[Rinkrat]

I can bring an extra bag (have lots of them) - all this information has been very helpful. I did not realize that this did not count in the luggage allowance brought onboard. Need to get onto the CPAP on Monday and then many of my questions and concerns will be addressed by first-hand experience.