Brand new to cpap (overloaded with information) Start where?

It is cpap because the maximum pressure drop for exhalation is 3 cm. (EPR on Resmed machines)
Bilevel/ bipap can have a greater pressure drop, making exhalation even easier.
Sometimes this helps with higher pressures, and/or aerophagia. (Swallowed air).
Both ways can be an awesome comfort feature.

Thanks for explaining that bipap doesn't mean bi (two) pap but that it means bigbipap, meaning more than 3cm of water difference!
I was pretty confused until you explained that.

So far I'm just getting used to the machine, and found these two manuals:
- 22-page User Guide: http://www.resmed.com/us/dam/documents/ ... er_eng.pdf
- 44-page Clinical Guide: http://www.shermanoaksmedical.com/v/bro ... -CPAP2.pdf

The nice thing is that pressing the power button and the home button simultaneously for a few seconds puts me in the clinical setup mode, but it drives me nuts that I can't figure out yet how to turn off the airplane-mode nag screen.
- Airplane Mode is currently On, do you wish to turn if Off?

What I want to turn off permanently is that silly question!!!!!!!!

In addition, I think I saw mention of two software packages that work, one of which is the venerable SleepyHead, but the other is a ResMed package (the Philips Encore Basic didn't work with the ResMed).

Any more information on the ResMed software?
Is it worth the effort?

verbatim wrote:Things I don't like:
- 24VCD means it won't work from a car battery
- Airplane mode constantly nags me to turn it off
- Humidifier is required (or a $20 plate has to be ordered)

Things I don't understand:
- Why does it have both WiFi and CDMA?
- Does it spy on me via Verizon cellular somehow?
- They called it CPAP but it has a different exhale pressure (so isn't that bipap?)

* 12-24v high efficiency converter available.
* unplug the modem board.
* leave it off and empty.

* it doesn't, it's got GSM.
* no
* no, "bipap" is a trademark of respironics. EPR gives you the effect of a *limited* bilevel experience.

verbatim wrote:Thanks for explaining that bipap doesn't mean bi (two) pap but that it means bigbipap, meaning more than 3cm of water difference!

"bipap" is a respironics trademark, much like "mustang", you wouldn't call a muscle car from chevy a "mustang" would you? vpap/aircurve is what resmed calls their bilevel machines, bilevel, two pressure levels on each breath.

verbatim wrote: Any more information on the ResMed software?
Is it worth the effort?

it's great if your a masochist. to answer your final question. no.

This video will show you what ResScan looks like...see if you are interested in trying it.
http://montfordhouse.com/cpap/resscan_tutorial/
If you want to try it go to the apneaboard.com forum and register and log in and there are instructions in the forum on how to request it. Windows only though.
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual

Pugsy wrote:This video will show you what ResScan looks like...see if you are interested in trying it.
http://montfordhouse.com/cpap/resscan_tutorial/
If you want to try it go to the apneaboard.com forum and register and log in and there are instructions in the forum on how to request it. Windows only though.
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual

he's over there, posting the same comments and complaints

Pugsy wrote:This video will show you what ResScan looks like...see if you are interested in trying it.
http://montfordhouse.com/cpap/resscan_tutorial/
If you want to try it go to the apneaboard.com forum and register and log in and there are instructions in the forum on how to request it. Windows only though.
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual

A lot of people here do not like ResScan, but I personally prefer it. I would recommend trying it and then using whichever you like best. No harm in checking out your options.

zoocrewphoto wrote:A lot of people here do not like ResScan, but I personally prefer it. I would recommend trying it and then using whichever you like best. No harm in checking out your options.

That's why I try to tell people how to get and use ResScan when I can....let them make the choice as to what software they want to use. Heck...people can use both if they want to. That's what I do but the quick day to day software is SleepyHead because I can be totally done with it while ResScan is still thinking about opening.

I also keep Encore for my Respironics machine.

palerider wrote: * 12-24v high efficiency converter available.

That's interesting information, because 12 volts is de rigeur for camping for a whole bunch of reasons, not the least of which is that 12V gel cells are ubiquitous.
I'm an ex engineer and marketing guy, so, I know that the two sides generally have different opinions.
Does anyone know WHY they went to the non-standard voltage?
Mainly, how does 24 volts confer an advantage for us?

palerider wrote: * unplug the modem board.
* leave it off and empty.

That's a GREAT idea.
Thinking about how to implement that, we'd have to ensure that the SOFTWARE that asks the nag question is tied to the hardware.
Do we know that the nag question will not get asked if the board is unplugged?

palerider wrote: * it doesn't, it's got GSM.

That's interesting, not the least of reasons being that the rest of the world uses GSM almost exclusively, while here in the states, Verizon is strong with CDMA while T-Mobile & AT&T are on GSM.
The screen clearly says CDMA, so, I guess the ResMed engineers don't have their software synced up with their hardware.
However, if that's true, it's odd that sloppy engineering would be in an American medical device, so, I think the question bears further scrutiny.

palerider wrote: * no, "bipap" is a trademark of respironics. EPR gives you the effect of a *limited* bilevel experience.

Ah, Marketing. Indeed.
Seems to me we (as users) should simply "invent" a generic word that works for all machines, as you have done.
So, from now on, I'll try to remember to call it "bi-level" or "bilevel", which, to me, means a higher inspiration pressure than expiration pressure (by any amount, large or small).

Thank you very much for those key clarifications that a new user would found confusing.

palerider wrote: "bipap" is a respironics trademark, much like "mustang", you wouldn't call a muscle car from chevy a "mustang" would you? vpap/aircurve is what resmed calls their bilevel machines, bilevel, two pressure levels on each breath.

I'm with you on the car terminology example, where a noob would succumb to the marketing lingo (which is exactly what the marketing teams wants us to do).
For example, anyone calling a BMW car a beemer is instantly and obliviously showing himself to be a noob, simply because a beemer and a bimmer are two totally different things from BMW.
So, it seems similar here, so I will simply avoid the use of the bipap(tm) trademark, using "bi-level" or "bilevel" to indicate a different inspiration pressure from the expiration pressure.

palerider wrote: it's great if your a masochist..

Thanks for letting me know the ResMed software decision is dead on arrival.
You saved me a lot of effort so I do appreciate that you provide that information.

Even the Encore Basic software didn't seem to be all that useful over and above the Sleepy Head software, so, it seems I'll stick with Sleepy Head and be happy!
I do very much appreciate your learned advice!

Pugsy wrote:This video will show you what ResScan looks like...see if you are interested in trying it.
http://montfordhouse.com/cpap/resscan_tutorial/

That was a nice find from the Atlanta CPAP users' group.
"How to get around in ResScan 3.12"
I like that it gives the median, 95th percentile, and maximums in easy graphs.
They seem to use summary histograms in addition to the typical detailed line graphs.
And they seem to keep the panel steady while they move the graphs within the panels.
They also allow you to easily change the order of graphs and the range (magnification) for values, which makes the graphs more usable to individual needs.

Pugsy wrote: If you want to try it go to the apneaboard.com forum and register and log in and there are instructions in the forum on how to request it. Windows only though.
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual

Thanks for that advice.
When I first looked up which is the best single forum for learning about sleep apnea, two forums came up most frequently, so I posted my questions and revelations to both.
For efficiency, I usually find the best single forum, and just stick with one.

palerider wrote: he's over there, posting the same comments and complaints

While I posted the same questions and similar revelations to the other forum under the same user login name, I wouldn't characterize my initial assessment of the ResMed as "complaints".
I don't know you so I don't know if you're a pessimist or a realist, but I'm a realist, which, in this situation, simply means that the ResMed isn't absolutely perfect yet, but my questions are centered around getting it there.

I'm simply trying to post information and ask questions to clarify what confuses me.

Pugsy wrote: That's why I try to tell people how to get and use ResScan when I can....let them make the choice as to what software they want to use. Heck...people can use both if they want to. That's what I do but the quick day to day software is SleepyHead because I can be totally done with it while ResScan is still thinking about opening.

Interesting that you noted the speed because I noticed that Encore Basic was far slower than was Sleepy Head on my loaner Philips Respironics data.
Encore Basic wouldn't read the information from the ResMed SD Card though, while Sleepy Head had no problem with that ResMed data.

Googling for how to obtain the ResMed software, I find a disconcerting "legalese" in the download page:
https://www.resmed.com/us/en/healthcare ... sscan.html
Where it says: "Caution: Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician".
And, later it says "This content is restricted for the use of healthcare professionals and our commercial partners."

[strike]Is there another download site for the ResScan software that doesn't require so much big brother stuff?[/strike]
EDIT: Found it!

wrote:he's over there, posting the same comments and complaints

Bilevel, biposter.

verbatim wrote:

palerider wrote: * 12-24v high efficiency converter available.

That's interesting information, because 12 volts is de rigeur for camping for a whole bunch of reasons, not the least of which is that 12V gel cells are ubiquitous.
I'm an ex engineer and marketing guy, so, I know that the two sides generally have different opinions.
Does anyone know WHY they went to the non-standard voltage?
Mainly, how does 24 volts confer an advantage for us?

you tell me, mr engineer marketeer? (do you often have horrific arguments with yourself, given the normal diametric opposites that those two professions have against each other?

how about lower current requirements for the same power needs? maybe their blower needs a higher voltage to operate in the very fast response time it does (able to create 1cm pressure pulses at a 4hz rate).

verbatim wrote:

palerider wrote: * unplug the modem board.
* leave it off and empty.

That's a GREAT idea.
Thinking about how to implement that, we'd have to ensure that the SOFTWARE that asks the nag question is tied to the hardware.
Do we know that the nag question will not get asked if the board is unplugged?

searching threads here will answer your question.

verbatim wrote:

palerider wrote: * it doesn't, it's got GSM.

That's interesting, not the least of reasons being that the rest of the world uses GSM almost exclusively, while here in the states, Verizon is strong with CDMA while T-Mobile & AT&T are on GSM.
The screen clearly says CDMA, so, I guess the ResMed engineers don't have their software synced up with their hardware.
However, if that's true, it's odd that sloppy engineering would be in an American medical device, so, I think the question bears further scrutiny.

or I'm wrong.... thought I'd heard someone say it was GSM, but a bit of googling confirms it's CDMA, sorry for the misdirection... here's the chip:

verbatim wrote:

palerider wrote: * no, "bipap" is a trademark of respironics. EPR gives you the effect of a *limited* bilevel experience.

Ah, Marketing. Indeed.
Seems to me we (as users) should simply "invent" a generic word that works for all machines, as you have done.
So, from now on, I'll try to remember to call it "bi-level" or "bilevel", which, to me, means a higher inspiration pressure than expiration pressure (by any amount, large or small).

I didn't invent anything, it's called "bilevel", google it, youtube it.

however there are people who refer to bilevel as 'BiPap' the same way they refer to a copier as a 'xerox' or facial tissue as 'kleenex', any softdrink as 'coke'... but I doubt they'd ever refer to any automobile as 'ford'... *shaking head*

verbatim wrote:

palerider wrote: it's great if your a masochist..

Thanks for letting me know the ResMed software decision is dead on arrival.
You saved me a lot of effort so I do appreciate that you provide that information.

Even the Encore Basic software didn't seem to be all that useful over and above the Sleepy Head software, so, it seems I'll stick with Sleepy Head and be happy!
I do very much appreciate your learned advice!

resscan is worlds better than encore, which seems to be stuck in the early 90's as far as design and user interface goes.

but, it's greatly inferior to the interface of sleepyhead.