Data storage alternatives

Anticipating installation of Encore Viewer . . . I wondering if anyone is saving their data regularly on DVD's, storage websites, or other?

Joy

Store them on your computer and back them up on a regular basis. I use an old laptop specifically for my sleep data. I store my reports on a separate server.

I name the files YYYY-MM-DD-CPAP.pdf. (example: 2009-02-27-cpap.pdf)
I make a PDF each day and keep them all in the following folder structure. This allows me to search for a given day very quickly.
YYYY
YYYY-MM
File
File

Even though I have the Pro version with a database, I still save the PDF reports. Also I delete the card each day after downloading the data. If I ever need to prove that I use the machine I can let the data pile up for some time or submit the PDF files. I do not think anyone will be asking for my compliance information, but I save it anyway. The trends are interesting to see.

I use Encore Pro, but yes, I do save (print) my reports to .pdf files using CutePDF. Then, at the end of the year, I burn them to a CD.

http://www.cutepdf.com/

Den

I have my reports on my computer in PDF form. I use a free PDF program to do that. I only keep a few months there at a time.

I also do a week's report at a time the same way, even though I save daily.

Recently I began putting my weekly data on a flash drive. It's small,handy and another backup.

These are great suggestions.... I am waiting for the Rescan software to get here so I can get the detailed info from my elite II. I am keeping track of my daily info now. I am going to get a folder all set up for this so I will be ready when the software gets here thank you all for these wonderful ideas

I would also keep a copy of your prescription and pdfs of the manuals in the same data storage location that you choose.
I keep a scanned copy of my sleep report too. All of this can be useful. If you travel you should have access to the prescription just in case.

Like Den, I use .PDF for storage, I store on a second hard drive, incase "C", goes bad. I also combine my .pdf files into full months, then save them by year and month. I use the Pro version of Adobe to do this, the free adobe won't combine files. Jim I scan and file everything into .pdf's, used to use .jpg but .pdf does a better jogb and prints correctly. Jim

For anything you consider truly critical, you should have 2 sets of backup, with 1 set at a seperate physical location - in case the 1st location is destroyed / damaged for whatever reason, the data is still safe and secure somewhere else.

There's some online services that provide this. Some of them even proved ~2GB of free storage - in the hopes that you'll overflow this, and then sign-up for their unlimited service w/ a monthly fee.

Personally, I use Mozy - been using them for about 2 years now. Even had to recover some files from them that I had changed a few days before, but after my regular backup. You can set it to backup just the files you want (like you're CPAP directory), when to run (3am, when idle, etc.)

Other than the pay for service, you can also increase you 2GB by ~200-250MB chunks by referring others - I'm upto ~3GB of free space now, since a few of my blog readers started using it.

http://www.mozy.com - link to main Mozy web page
https://mozy.com/?code=P5CTNM - link to *my* referral Mozy page (blatant self promotion - I'll get +200-250MB if you sign-up for Mozy thru this link)

While I agree that redundant backups and off-site vaulting are excellent recommendations for important data, I do not put my "Encore data" in the same arena as even monthly bills much less income tax filings. Who could possibly want to look at last months or last years AHI avg? I know it won't be me and last months it will likely be on today's report.

When my DME checks for compliance, he gets the data right off the machine. To me old Encore data is just not worth any additional expense or bother.

ps. Staples is having a sale on 4G USB flash drive and a FREE PC clean-up.