Reading data undetected from ResMed VPAP Auto 25

While waiting for my ResMed smart card reader to come, I would like to know if there is a way to read my data periodically without messing up the DME's ability to read the data (i.e., not erasing any data, not marking records as "read", or anything like that). Preferably, I would like to know if there is any way to read the data without leaving any trace as I don't want to hurt his feelings - you know how they like to feel like "chosen ones" and how showing them you can do the same thing they do would make them feel mortal. I've read in the ResScan manual that it records the card read events but I haven't found any reference to what steps can be taken (if any) to prevent that. ResScan is the latest (3.12) and the machine uses the smart card to copy data from the machine to the computer. I used a Respironics PR System One for a while and that one used a SD card, which made it very easy: just copy the data to a flash drive and read that with Encore Pro. But with these nasty smart cards, and the machine having its own memory, things are more complicated.
McSleepy

I don't know the answer to your question. While waiting to see if someone does know, this thought occurs to me...

As long as the data is left intact, I wouldn't be concerned if there was some kind of sign that a download had already been done. Perhaps your DME is more interested in data than most DME's and has more time than most, but my bet would be that most DMEs are interested only in looking at "compliance" (hours of use) and don't have the time or inclination to really look at anything else in the downloaded info. I doubt the DME would give the download more than a quick glance.

Unless a big red blinking message pops up saying "ATTENTION!! THERE WAS A PREVIOUS DOWNLOAD" I'd bet the DME would not notice -- or give it a second thought if he/she did notice. I expect they're busy and want to get each chore out of the way as soon as they can.

rested gal wrote:I don't know the answer to your question. While waiting to see if someone does know, this thought occurs to me...

As long as the data is left intact, I wouldn't be concerned if there was some kind of sign that a download had already been done. Perhaps your DME is more interested in data than most DME's and has more time than most, but my bet would be that most DMEs are interested only in looking at "compliance" (hours of use) and don't have the time or inclination to really look at anything else in the downloaded info. I doubt the DME would give the download more than a quick glance.

Unless a big red blinking message pops up saying "ATTENTION!! THERE WAS A PREVIOUS DOWNLOAD" I'd bet the DME would not notice -- or give it a second thought if he/she did notice. I expect they're busy and want to get each chore out of the way as soon as they can.

Thank you, rested gal, I agree with you on the DME being... as you describe (to avoid any pejoratives). Now, I only have to figure out how to ensure the data is preserved. I remember reading here that it was quite tricky - there was some obscure setting that must be selected to avoid data being erased from the card after a download. It seems like I'm into a thorough reading of the ResScan manual.
McSleepy

I can't vouch for ResScan 3.12 but can for previous versions up to 3.10. The default for ResScan is to NOT erase the data from the card when the card is downloaded. HOWEVER, many, if not most, DME providers tend to set ResScan to Erase Data when they do a download. Previous download dates are NOT stored on the card they are recorded in ResScan on the date they are done and stored in ResScan never to be reported by the card or the VPAP again.

Thank you, very much! I believe that behavior is preserved in version 3.12. I took the chance and downloaded the data. All previous summary data was on the machine (albeit, no detailed data was available). I will download my data before I take it to the DME so I have it, even though they don't seem to be deleting it. In fact, as it appears that detailed data is only available for the last day, I will have to be downloading every day.
McSleepy

My Resmed VPAP Auto (January 2008 release - the VPAP Auto 25 was the July 2008 release) reports TWO days worth of Detailed data to ResScan 3.10. Check when the download screen comes up to see what Select offers you. You should be able to choose from 1 day, 2 days, 5 days, etc. Regardless of anything you select over 2 days, you will get only Summary data for all but those two days.

Slinky wrote:My Resmed VPAP Auto (January 2008 release - the VPAP Auto 25 was the July 2008 release) reports TWO days worth of Detailed data to ResScan 3.10. Check when the download screen comes up to see what Select offers you. You should be able to choose from 1 day, 2 days, 5 days, etc. Regardless of anything you select over 2 days, you will get only Summary data for all but those two days.

I actually had selected "all", which should have downloaded the last two days, but I think I know now why it didn't. This afternoon I briefly turned it on ("therapy") to check something and it must have recorded that as a new day, for which, of course, it had no data but it counts as a day and it must have deleted the detailed data of the previous day. In fact, I see today's date listed in ResScan but it's empty. It's a bummer, but that's fine, I'll know now to download data every other morning, immediately after waking up. Thanks again!
McSleepy

Actually, I've done a download after noon. You are right, that day will come up empty and there will be Detailed Data for the previous day. Go ahead and save it anyway. Tomorrow do your download before noon. Today will come up empty but ResScan will ask you if you want to overwrite data for today and in this case you would say yes. It will then report the Detailed Data for today and tomorrow.

You can purchase ResMed VPAP Auto 25 at CPAP.com!

I suppose that was clear as mud by saying today, yesterday and tomorrow. I should have used hypothetical dates. *sigh*

I'll try again:

I've done a download after noon on the 23rd. You are right, the 23rd will come up empty and there will be Detailed Data for the 22nd. Go ahead and save it anyway. On the 24th do your download before noon. The 23rd will still come up empty but ResScan will ask you if you want to overwrite data for the 23rd and in this case you would say yes. It will then report the Detailed Data for the 23rd and 24th.

Thank you so much, Slinky, don't worry, I got it the first time; it was pretty intuitive, to begin with. I just can't believe how ResMed (as well as Respironics) would save only two days-worth of detailed data! I can see the files in \Patient Data\ and they are around 40kB - how can more than two of those be any threat to the capacity of a data card? I don't know what those proprietary smart cards that ResMed uses can hold but I bet it's way more than 100kB! And the SD card in newer machines can hold at least 2GB of data (that's what my PR System One came with) - that's millions of days worth of detailed data!
McSleepy

I don't believe it has anything to do w/the smartcard. I believe it has to do w/how much data the PAP itself can hold.

My S8 Elite and S8 AutoSet Vantage could hold 5 nights of data before having to download to the data card. BUT - they weren't collecting as much data as the S9s are.

Slinky wrote:I don't believe it has anything to do w/the smartcard. I believe it has to do w/how much data the PAP itself can hold.

My S8 Elite and S8 AutoSet Vantage could hold 5 nights of data before having to download to the data card. BUT - they weren't collecting as much data as the S9s are.

I agree; then my comment stands about the machine itself - I can't believe the machine can't hold much more than ~100kB of data - with multi-megabit memory storing MCU chips today, and all...