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I was just looking for a new machine, primarily so I could take it camping and run off of battery backup in case of power failures (last winter's 3 day outage here was no fun).

My old machine is a PB Goodknight 418 which has a 24VDC power input. I decided that a 420 series machine would be a good fit as it takes 12VDC and has support for recording data that can be read via software. I was thinking that AutoPAP might be a useful thing to get to add flexibility in the future, but wasn't going to push my doc on that part.

So, I called the doc office up Monday to see if they had a 420 that supported software data downloading and they said they had one. When I picked it up yesterday, it turns out that it was a 420E auto machine. The tech didn't even know that there was a 420SP (no auto, but with software support) model. We set it up for my old CPAP pressure and tweaking the settings works the same way it did on my old 418G. Also, (knowing that I wanted software support & battery backup) the tech went ahead and gave me both the user manual and clinic manuals so I have the docs on how to set it up as well as the DC cables to hookup up to "cigarette lighter" or a battery.

The upshot is that it's really nice to have a DME that you can talk to and who's understanding & accomodating.

Now all I have to do is get the battery/backup power source and figure out how to get the new ComfortLite2 mask I got to fit right...but that's a different topic .

Ramble...ramble...

DreamStalker wrote:Good point but there is another perspective ... Wouldn't the $150 be worth not having to go back and forth to the doctor or even worse, the sleep lab, until they get your correct pressure tweaked?

I'm not going into the titration error issue. I see your point. Just think my point is good too.

Was initially placed on no-frills CPAP at 14 cm. Can you say aerophagia? Good, I knew you could. On APAP, with median pressure of 7.4 since getting it in December of 2006, the aerophagia is nearly non-existent. The last week's AHI shows 0.9 with AI 0.0, the last month's AHI was 1.4 with AI 0.0. Were I still on CPAP at 14 cm, I would not be using a machine. (Waking at 2:30 AM with significant abdominal cramping is not conducive to a good night's sleep.)

Whether this represents a "titration error" I will let each individual decide. Lower pressures are decidedly more comfortable to me - and I'm not talking about ramp pressures while falling asleep. I know that I'm not alone in this, as I've read several accounts here regarding folks having decreased aerophagia with autos.

scottbla, you're probable luckier that you now.
The difference between the 420S and the 420SP it that the latter uses a standard hose, without the typical PB pressure sensing tube.

However, the diff. between a 420E and the 420S (and I'm pretty sure the SP too) is the data they gather. You don't get that wonderful details screen in CPAP mode.

Use your SL3 to open the 420S demo file, and you'll see what I mean.

O.