Smar tcard failure/longevity?

Does anybody know how long these Smartcards are supposed to last? The one night I wanted to really see the data, as I am trying a new/old mask, the smartcard failed. ( I found a replacement outer insert for a Fisher/Paykel "Acclaim" mask I had put away a few years ago).... I can't get the card to download anything, and when I put it back in the machine, the machine keeps beeping, as if I put the card in incorrectly....Murphy's law!I found my spare card, and will use that tonight, and that works fine in the machine. I have only had the card since Nov, 06. Any other people with a similar problem? Why do these cards fail?

update..did a search for smart card..and saw that cleaning the card with a bit of alcohol helps...tried it ...no luck. In looking at the the gold square closely, I see 3 distinct wear marks/lines, probably from my taking it out every day...comparing that to my new back up card, there are no lines of course...is that normal to have these wear lines?

Thanks, John

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Smart Card

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Smart Card

My old card that I used with my regular Remstar Auto (no cflex), doesn't work in the newer machine with cflex. And vice versa. So when I switch back and forth between machines I have blank days on the other card. But it's not biggie to me.

My original card is going on 4 years old and still works.

John,

You didn't say what the error message was (if you noticed) when your machine was beeping.

The wear lines are normal.
Do you have the Encore Pro software to re-format (setup or erase) the card?
I doubt that it's permanently corrupted, but I suppose it's a possibility. I've read other cases where people have had these types of problems, but don't know the actual cause.
One thing......don't remove the card while the machine is still running. I suspect that's what corrupts some cards.

Good luck,

Den

There is no error at all....that's what is strange...no error message on the machine, just beeps and flashes.......when I insert the card into the card reader, it accepts it, although the last 5-6 days. that has been sporadic, sometimes I would have to unplug the reader and re-insert the card. I am thinking that the card was beginning to fail during this time?........ I then go through the normal routine of dloading it onto Encore Pro....at that point, Encore Pro does not do anything, with no error message. When I then put the card back in the machine, it just beeps and the blue lights blink, the same thing happens if I insert the card backwards. If it is a card failure, it seems premature.

I just tried to re-format the card... using the "Erase" function on Encore Pro. it says it's not a valid Respironics card...which is not correct...have been using it for 3 months...then I tried to use the "preview" button on the Encore Pro, and that came up as "the Smart Card is corrupted"...strange.

How does one erase and re-format the card if Encore Pro will not do it?

Thanks, John

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Encore Pro

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Encore Pro

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): respironics, Encore Pro, Smart Card

the reader is supposed to be good for 100,000 cycles.