Money, money, money
One thing for sure
Don't spill your beer on your Infineer reader. My last words unless I can find where to buy the DT3500 cheap.
Fred Stanmyre
Smart Card
I have 3 computers that have built-in the usual range of card readers.
(SD, MS, Smart Media, CF). The sales info says 8-in two readers - I had a hope that one of these would read the RemStar but to no avail hence I went searching in HK 2 weeks back.
I was sure I could find a cheap reader but my web searching indicated that the RemStar style smart card is not a common type & once that turns out to be the case the price can go wild.
I agree that with luck we should be able to find a garden variety reader in places like HK but if the card type & reader type are not garden variety then it gets difficult.
The pinout (connectors) on the RemStar card look a bit like the Smart Media ones but of course Smart Media cards are very thin compared to the shape & thickness of the RemStar card. I haven't had the chance to look at how the contacts get made when the card is inserted.
I am willing to do some more research on this type of device but as always, it would be great to have one to pull apart to check out what is really inside it - but to get one to do that is my immediate problem.
Cheers
DSM
(SD, MS, Smart Media, CF). The sales info says 8-in two readers - I had a hope that one of these would read the RemStar but to no avail hence I went searching in HK 2 weeks back.
I was sure I could find a cheap reader but my web searching indicated that the RemStar style smart card is not a common type & once that turns out to be the case the price can go wild.
I agree that with luck we should be able to find a garden variety reader in places like HK but if the card type & reader type are not garden variety then it gets difficult.
The pinout (connectors) on the RemStar card look a bit like the Smart Media ones but of course Smart Media cards are very thin compared to the shape & thickness of the RemStar card. I haven't had the chance to look at how the contacts get made when the card is inserted.
I am willing to do some more research on this type of device but as always, it would be great to have one to pull apart to check out what is really inside it - but to get one to do that is my immediate problem.
Cheers
DSM
xPAP and Quattro std mask (plus a pad-a-cheek anti-leak strap)
- SnoreNoMore2005
- Posts: 228
- Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2005 12:58 pm
Software and firmware costs
My company develops computer software. It is true that the cost to sell someone a CD (or download) with our $100 software on it is only pennies. However, the cost to initially develop and provide ongoing support for that sofware which goes on the CD can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition, many people illegally copy software which means we have to charge our law-abiding customers that much more in order to recoup our costs and hopefully make a profit.
Just something to think about next time you think a software program is overpriced.
SnoreNoMore2005
Just something to think about next time you think a software program is overpriced.
SnoreNoMore2005
For Snore
Firstly, everybody understands development costs etc. must be rolled into the price of any commodity. Resmed does obviously with a gross corporate profit margin of 25%. Secondly, the easiest way to avoid software copy problems is make the software free, build the cost into the machine itself. Thirdly, you might want to read the string again, I don't believe anybody questioned the cost of the software which by the way is $100 compared to the reader cost of $150 which is what is being questioned. Finally, one of the posters mentioned he was quoted $1000 for the encore reader and software. One of the DME's selling the package on EBAY does indeed quote $1000 as the MSRP. Wonder how Respironics came up with that number?
Fred Stanmyre
Re DSM comments
I don't really know how the protection works. The Infineer card reader appears to be a generic device, encore and respironics are not even mentioned, and is probably used for many different applications but I assume there is some kind of code built into the readers sold to Respironics so that only the encore smart card can be read? Maybe the encore smart card can be read by any DT3500 reader if you have the software? Over my head here, maybe some computer hardware folks out there have the answers?
Fred Stanmyre
Those devices are the software companies way of preventing their software from being copied and resold on the black market.
I have a custom cabinetry business and the software available for designing is really expensive. The lowest priced basic programs that do drawings and presentations run about 2000 dollars. If you step up to the programs that to cutlists, pricing and output to CNC routers you are in the 20,000 range. The companies protect these programs by making you put a device called a KEY on your serial port. The program will not run without the key in place. If you want to install the program on two computers you need to buy a second key which usually runs about the base price of the software if I am not mistaken. You also cannot buy the program and key from another shop and use it on yours legally without paying a transfer fee which is usually the same price as buying the software. That is the part that really sucks because if you find the software doesn't do what you want it to you are pretty much stuck with it plus the cost of the new software.
I have a custom cabinetry business and the software available for designing is really expensive. The lowest priced basic programs that do drawings and presentations run about 2000 dollars. If you step up to the programs that to cutlists, pricing and output to CNC routers you are in the 20,000 range. The companies protect these programs by making you put a device called a KEY on your serial port. The program will not run without the key in place. If you want to install the program on two computers you need to buy a second key which usually runs about the base price of the software if I am not mistaken. You also cannot buy the program and key from another shop and use it on yours legally without paying a transfer fee which is usually the same price as buying the software. That is the part that really sucks because if you find the software doesn't do what you want it to you are pretty much stuck with it plus the cost of the new software.
Re: Re DSM comments
I think you may well be right on this point. If we assume the card is nothing more than memory fitted in a resilient form factor (the RemStar credit card shape, which appears standard, certainly for the DT3500), then the DT3500 reader is surely going to be able to access the memory just as if it were any USB memory.fstanmyre wrote:Maybe the encore smart card can be read by any DT3500 reader if you have the software?
I imagine it would cost more than it was worth to add non-standard hardware into their RemStar branded reader just to prevent non Respironics software from reading the devices.
All that is usually needed in accessing a USB memory card such as in a DT3500, is the device driver software written fot that combination. That should come with the DT3500.
I suspect that this is where RemStar may have their own device driver software and that is reasonable allowing that they can't rely on 3rd party drivers. If this is true then the cost beomes the DT3500 + their device driver software.
DSM
xPAP and Quattro std mask (plus a pad-a-cheek anti-leak strap)
Appears that the device driver supplied by the manufacturer at http://www.mako-tech.com/pands/reader_sol/dt3500.cfm is the same one provided with the Encore Pro hardware software bundle. Would assume then that you could buy the software and hardware separately if you could find the Infineer cheaper elsewhere.
Jim
Jim
9-11 cm Remstar Auto w/C-Flex off,
Heated Humidifier & Hose...Breeze, Activa, Ultra Mirage FF, Hybrid
Encore Pro w/MyEncore enhancements
Heated Humidifier & Hose...Breeze, Activa, Ultra Mirage FF, Hybrid
Encore Pro w/MyEncore enhancements
The key is the Card itself not the Reader (more specifically: the information on the newly purchased card). The "empty" card is not really empty. The card is pre-formatted by the manufacturer (Respironics). It means some data are already on the card before the first use. This way the user can only use this card (by Respironics). If putting an unformatted (really empty) card in the machine, it beeps and displays C-nnn error code (where nnn is a number). If you want to read an unformatted card with Encore Pro it says the card is corrupted and it does not even allow to setup the card by the software. So we must use the card preformatted by Respironics in order to be able to use it with our machines and software.
I can imagine that several cards and several card readers (with their drivers) can be used AFTER the card is properly formatted.
Sandor, just doing some study with the card.
I can imagine that several cards and several card readers (with their drivers) can be used AFTER the card is properly formatted.
Sandor, just doing some study with the card.
Dumped the driver that came with the Encore package and installed the win2000 driver from the Infineer website. It's the same driver namely Mako v1.0.1.4, 3/12/2003, not digitally signed. It works just fine. Sooo, we have a multi-use card reader with a free downloadable driver, neither have anything proprietary from Respironics who charge $150 for the reader and presumeably the free driver. Btw, the Encore provides the driver on a disc that is copied by someone from the Infineer site and then affixed with a Neato paste on lable.
I've already sent an email to the Infineer customer service site asking for names of the reader retailers in my area. Response is predictable, nothing after two days. Damn, I hate being ripped off.
I've already sent an email to the Infineer customer service site asking for names of the reader retailers in my area. Response is predictable, nothing after two days. Damn, I hate being ripped off.
Fred Stanmyre
Formatting the cards
The following are assumptions based on 2 points
1) That the RemStar smart card format is soft (ie programable)
2) That purchasing a DT3500 + its driver gives us write access to the smart cards
COMMENTS:
From the comments & discussion todate, it seems quite probable that with a DT3500 reader + the supplied driver, we should be able to read a RemStar card. This should means we can interrogate its format.
The next step would be to write a small program that can mimic the formatting.
All things being equal we can then purchase blank standard smart cards and format them for the RemStar.
But, at the easiest we only need to read the RemStar cards in order to extract the data & put it into our own software.
I am guessing that RemStar will have some simple type of database - I am basing this on the fact that we can remove the card anytime & it will hold x (7-8?) days data.
Next issue then is understanding what data is on a RemStar smart card.
Cheers
DSM
1) That the RemStar smart card format is soft (ie programable)
2) That purchasing a DT3500 + its driver gives us write access to the smart cards
COMMENTS:
From the comments & discussion todate, it seems quite probable that with a DT3500 reader + the supplied driver, we should be able to read a RemStar card. This should means we can interrogate its format.
The next step would be to write a small program that can mimic the formatting.
All things being equal we can then purchase blank standard smart cards and format them for the RemStar.
But, at the easiest we only need to read the RemStar cards in order to extract the data & put it into our own software.
I am guessing that RemStar will have some simple type of database - I am basing this on the fact that we can remove the card anytime & it will hold x (7-8?) days data.
Next issue then is understanding what data is on a RemStar smart card.
Cheers
DSM
xPAP and Quattro std mask (plus a pad-a-cheek anti-leak strap)
My DME gives away the Respironics smart cards. Apparently they read them all the time, throw them away, and send the patient a new one. Somehow or other I have three of them. My main concern is to have a spare reader cuz in due course that will cease to function and I don't like the idea of paying Respironics or the Ebay merchants $150 for a new reader. It's not that I can't afford it, I just don't think it's right. I may have located a source for the DT3500 reader. I'll let you all know.
Fred Stanmyre
Bulk purchase
If you can locate a source, ask for unit price + any qty discount breaks.fstanmyre wrote: I may have located a source for the DT3500 reader. I'll let you all know.
I am sure a few people here would commit to purchase a reader & if the bulk discount is particulary good on say 10+ units, I for one would ante up, in advance, the money (+ P&H).
Cheers
DSM
xPAP and Quattro std mask (plus a pad-a-cheek anti-leak strap)