Encore Viewer & Respironics Customer Service

Just a quick question and note. I've read it here a number of times, but need to ask about the fact that EV periodically and unpredictably does not record some nights of data. Has it happen last night for the first time (I'm addicted to reading the data, so I'm really irritated!). I wonder if there is any pattern to this that anyone has found, and whether there is some fix for it. Have folks contacted Respironics already to complain and ask this to be corrected?

All the usual discalaimers, but I do want to note that when I called Respironics last week about a different matter, I thought they were pretty responsive. Issue at that time was my discovery that they have no Save function on the program! Hello-o!! (Yes, they did tell me you can save to a TIF file by clicking on Print, then your printer choice for Microsoft Office Document Image Printer.....but not everyone has that option, I think, and it sure isn't user friendly like PDF would be). They got back to me in a reasonable amount of time, saying he learned that they are addressing that and a fix should be put together "shortly." We'll see!

http://www.cutepdf.com/ has their pdf writer (for free) that works just as the Image Printer, but prints to a PDF file. It's a nice little program and while it's only a work-around for your "feature request", it's more than you've got now .

ractar28 wrote:http://www.cutepdf.com/ has their pdf writer (for free) that works just as the Image Printer, but prints to a PDF file. It's a nice little program and while it's only a work-around for your "feature request", it's more than you've got now .

Thanks, ractar28. I'll try to mess with that when I am less tired.

Can anyone respond to my questions about the failure to record data?

The lost data is a standard feature. Generally looses 2 straight days every 30 days or so. Respironics is aware of it but does not feel it is important. It is something in the Firmware in the machine programing not in Encore Viewer or Encore Pro ( They both do it). The only fix for it is to save the data and erase once a week. Sorry!

Jerry

What they didn't tell you, that is they ever do put the .pdf feature back in the program, that since you aren't "Their Customer", it will cost you to buy a copy of the upgraded software. And no it will not correct the missing data problem, because !. It doesn't Exist, according to them, and the problem is really in the machine anyway, you need a "Old Classic Tank", if you want to stop the data loss problem.

Proven by the fact, Encore Pro & Encoreviewer, both have the same problem, with many DT-3500, The common failure is in the "M"eries from the get go. It's a good thing their customers (the DME'S and Doctors), don't care if the data works, all they need is the compliance numbers to get paid. Patients don't need data! Jim

6PtStar wrote:The lost data is a standard feature. Generally looses 2 straight days every 30 days or so. Respironics is aware of it but does not feel it is important. It is something in the Firmware in the machine programing not in Encore Viewer or Encore Pro ( They both do it). The only fix for it is to save the data and erase once a week. Sorry!

Jerry

Goofproof said it best; that is what the "M" is in the M series stands for "Magic" magically lost

Goofproof wrote: (the DME'S and Doctors), don't care if the data works, all they need is the compliance numbers to get paid. Patients don't need data! Jim

That's funny, Jim....in a sorta sick kind of way. What a mess this system is. Sigh.
Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. I need instructions on how to erase a SmartCard, as I see no function on EV software to do that. FWIW, I did tell the CS guy that I would certainly be returning my EV for a refund since it cannot carry out as basic a function as Save without putting it in a picture viewer. Guess that won't get me very far, eh? But I do have Encore Pro, and just haven't been able to get it functioning properly yet. Will need to mess with it now.

To erase Smart card go to http://www.mycpap.org and download the free "cpap card utility".

Every 7 days( sleep sessions) - on Sunday morning for me, I use this utility to format (erase my smart card. I have not lost a night's daily data since I started doing that months ago, except when I forgot to put the card back in the machine!

I have PrimoPDF (free program) and "print" and save my daily reports to "My Documents" in PDF form so I have them. On Sunday morning I also "print" and save in PDF form, a report for the previous 7 days so I can see a trend.

When I get over wanting to see my report every day!!, I may just "print" and save the 7 day report, and then format (erase) the card with that utility.