Software and card reader question

I have a Phillips Respironics REMstar Auto A-Flex cpap machine with a humidifier (that I own) that I would like to buy a card reader and software for. I have a terribly high insurance deductible and I'm trying to avoid seeing my VERY expensive specialist and just provide them or my regular doctor with the data my cpap machine provides. I am someone who tries to avoid technology, so I really appreciate any suggestions?
Thanks!
Mark

A better idea might be to take the money you would spend on a card reader and apply it to the purchase of a newer technology machine that uses a generic SD card. You wouldn't necessarily have to buy a new machine. You can get help here purchasing a low-hours used machine with humidifier.

Anyway, a backup machine is good to keep on hand. Keep your old machine as a backup.

I use your old Remstar as a back-up, but it was my first machine and I went to the trouble of setting up Encore and writing to China for the reader (you don't have to do that now but it's still hard to find). I personally would keep it as a back up now and get a newer machine with more options from e.g. Secondwindcpap.com who are terrific to deal with - call and talk to them if you like - and you won't have the problems you could if you use the old machine as your only one. There are also people here selling new machines for less than new prices and we can help you find the right stuff.

Guest wrote:Phillips Respironics REMstar Auto A-Flex cpap machine

Exactly which machine is it? There's a model that uses the Smart Card (about the size of a credit card) and there's a model that uses a SD card (about the size of a postage stamp). M Series models and older use this Smart Card.

If it's the Smart Card model you would need this card reader.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Respir ... r-USB.html
and it goes with this Smart Card
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... -card.html
and you would need Encore software...Windows only though. If you don't have a Windows PC or some way of putting Windows on your computer there's no sense in getting it because there is no other software that will work with the Smart Card.
We can get you Encore and it not cost you anything.
See this page and follow the links for Encore... https://sleep.tnet.com/reference/docs/e ... icsoftware

Now if you have a PR System One machine that uses a SD card then you are wide open for several alternatives which are either free (software) and at the most you might need a SD card reader/adapter if your computer doesn't have a slot for SD card and those card readers are cheap.

Now there is some basic information available on the LCD screen and depending on exactly which model you have that might be sufficient for you.
There's some basic AHI and leak information. How to see that information depends on which model.
Go here and request the clinical/provider manual for your machine.
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual

If unsure about exactly which model you have look on the bottom of the blower for the model number and post it here.

Looks like it's a model 550P and it does have the postage stamp size card. I would love to get the data off of the card, there's years of it. I have not gone back to see the sleep doctor since my sleep study some 10 years ago. My primary doc felt it wasn't necessary since my results have been good.

I'm not averse to updating my machine sometime in the coming months. I had not considered that it was an outdated machine or that it might fail. Thanks for pointing that out.

What is the most popular or best performer? I image it would be hard to choose which unit? It's not like you can test drive them. How do you choose one??

Thanks for the help!
Mark

The Model 550 is the PR System One Auto CPAP and it's a full data machine and there's easy to obtain and use software.

SleepyHead will work just fine with it.
https://sleep.tnet.com/equipment

If your computer already has a SD slot then you are good to go.
If not you can use one of the USB ports and plug in a SD card reader/adapter into that USB port and on the other end plug in the SD card.
Cheap generic will work just fine.

The Respironics DreamStation Auto CPAP is the latest version of what you are using.
ResMed has a similar model and the latest version is called the AirSense 10 AutoSet.

In between your 50 series machines there were the 60 series machines in Respironics and S9 in the ResMed line.
If you are buying out of pocket and not using insurance you can get new or gently used machines on the secondary market easily if you wish.
Either from places like cpap.com or secondwindcpap.com (they have some used machines or new open box) or even private purchase from an individual.
Just make sure you know the models.
So you might want to think about getting another machine to have available if something should happen to yours. It might go another 10 years and it might die next month or next year. We never know if/when it will happen. But it's always at the most inconvenient time.

Thanks so much for the excellent advice!
Mark