Please set me straight -- CPAP Smart Card or SD Card ?

I just received my new Respironics CPAP machine. I'm not familiar with such machines and all of this stuff is new to me. I did notice an SD card slot in the back of the machine and an SD card installed. After using the cpap machine for a couple of nights, I was curious and popped the SD card into my computer's SD memory card slot and saw several files created over the days I've been using the machine.

After trying to read the files and interpret the data I wondered "Wouldn't it be nice to have a file reader that could present this mysterious data to me in useful form?" So, a few internet searches turned up Encore Viewer S/W that was stated to work with my machine. One thing bugging me though: many sleep apnea websites, blogs, and forums referencing a "smart card". Hmmm. My card was not a smart card, but an SD card. Did I have a newer CPAP machine that took a different card? Was the industry moving from smart cards to SD cards? As an engineer, I know what a smart card is: it's the little secure processor embedded in some credit cards, DirectTV security cards, and GSM telephone SIM cards. These devices comply with ISO7816 specifications.

SD cards are memory cards...not secure processors. They are used in digital camers, MP3 players, and you'll find readers for them on your laptop or PC.

So, concluding that I have an SD card, and not the older smart card, I confidently ordered my encore viewer S/W without a smart card reader.....I didn't need a smart card reader and couldn't use it. Now, surprise! I get the S/W and it insists on having a smart card reader plugged in. What's going on? Is there newer S/W that I should have ordered or is the whole CPAP industry erroneously using the words "smart card" when they really mean SD card? Do I REALLY need a special SD card reader and not a special "smart card" reader? I think I could have avoided this problem if folks would use the right technical terms to correctly inform.

Somebody in the know.... please clarify......

indy-farmer

indy-farmer wrote: So, concluding that I have an SD card, and not the older smart card, I confidently ordered my encore viewer S/W without a smart card reader.....I didn't need a smart card reader and couldn't use it. Now, surprise! I get the S/W and it insists on having a smart card reader plugged in. What's going on? Do I REALLY need a special SD card reader and not a special "smart card" reader? I think I could have avoided this problem if folks would use the right technical terms to correctly inform. Somebody in the know.... please clarify...... indy-farmer

Indy farmer, Welcome and here's a link to a respironics reader....you may want to list the type of Respironics machine you have so you can get some feedback on data availability for your machine! I have a ResMed Machine and know much less about Encore Software.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Respir ... r-USB.html

elg5cats

At this point you may have the newer machine that came out this fall. I believe it takes the SD card -- and EncoreViewer does NOT work with this model as far as I remember.

indy-farmer wrote:
So, concluding that I have an SD card, and not the older smart card, I confidently ordered my encore viewer S/W without a smart card reader.....I didn't need a smart card reader and couldn't use it. Now, surprise! I get the S/W and it insists on having a smart card reader plugged in. What's going on? Is there newer S/W that I should have ordered or is the whole CPAP industry erroneously using the words "smart card" when they really mean SD card? Do I REALLY need a special SD card reader and not a special "smart card" reader? I think I could have avoided this problem if folks would use the right technical terms to correctly inform.

Somebody in the know.... please clarify......

indy-farmer

I've been using a straight CPAP with C-flex and Smart Card for 4 years now. It's good to know that Respironics (Phillips) is using the SD card. I agree with you: Why should it be necessary to connect a "Smart" card reader? Sounds like you need to call Tech Support for the software. Please let us know what you find out.

Jerry

If you have a really new Respironics machine, you probably have the PR System 1. There is no patient software yet available for this machine and no idea if or when it will be available.

If you have an Respironics Remstar M Series machine, the Encore Viewer software will work with it BUT you do need the card reader as well, and the machine itself has to be a "PRO" or an "AUTO". It should say right on the front of the machine. The M Series machines have a smart card and the software (with the card reader) gives very useful detailed imformation to the patient.

If you have a Respironics machine and it has the SD card, you probably have the newest Repironics machine but the Encore Viewer software will not be any use to you. You will need to have the SD card read by your DME.

Using Google and the name written on the top of the machine may have saved you some time and troubles. My guess is you have this new machine.

PR System One REMstar Auto CPAP Machine
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/respi ... ifications

If so, I would ask my DME for an older machine so your software will work but then you will need the reader.

Or keep this machine and write an application to read your data. The software for the newest machines has NOT yet been released to the public. With the present sleep conditions - I wouldn't hold my breath.

GumbyCT wrote:Using Google and the name written on the top of the machine may have saved you some time and troubles. My guess is you have this new machine.

PR System One REMstar Auto CPAP Machine
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/respi ... ifications

If so, I would ask my DME for an older machine so your software will work but then you will need the reader.

Or keep this machine and write an application to read your data. The software for the newest machines has NOT yet been released to the public. With the present sleep conditions - I wouldn't hold my breath.

I followed the link by Gumby: https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/respi ... ifications and found this:

"Encore Data Management and Reporting

On-board memory has been added to the CPAP as well as storing information on a generic SD Memory card and reads through any SD card reader. Use Encore Pro 2 Software to monitor therapy effectiveness through a series of reports. A new Patient Flow and Event report enables users to view a weekly breakdown on per-breath basis. Patient data is used to identify particular conditions and events with specific colors."

So, if this is your machine, it seems that Encore Pro 2 Software is indicated.

Jerry

On-board memory has been added to the CPAP as well as storing information on a generic SD Memory card and reads through any SD card reader. Use Encore Pro 2 Software to monitor therapy effectiveness through a series of reports. A new Patient Flow and Event report enables users to view a weekly breakdown on per-breath basis. Patient data is used to identify particular conditions and events with specific colors."

The above description is misleading as the term "users" refers to Sleep Clinics/Labs, Physicians, and DMEs - it does not mean those of us who actually use CPAP machines for our therapy. Currently, per Respironics, only EncorePro 2.1 provides software reporting for the PR-1. Please realize that EncorePro (including earlier releases) is not available for purchase by CPAP users - only Sleep Clinics/Labs, Physicians, and DMEs can purchase EncorePro. Some users (the real ones) that have bought or are considering buying the PR-1 are hoping that Respironics will provide PR-1 support in the user/patient available reporting software, EncoreViewer.

Thanks to all for the kind words of welcome and the well-informed responses. I have a REMstar Auto. What I glean from the above replies is that I need to return the S/W from whence I purchased, or sell it on EBAY. As I'm just now getting used to the CPAP machine, itself, I'm reluctant to return that one for an older machine just so that I could read the sleep DATA.

I guess I fooled myself into thinking that this particular CPAP model wasn't so new that no one was discussing it on the forums.

Best,

indy-farmer

indy-farmer wrote:... I'm reluctant to return that one for an older machine just so that I could read the sleep DATA.

Be careful that doesn't lead to failure.

GumbyCT wrote: Be careful that doesn't lead to failure.

That's a very interesting response that can be taken in so many ways. And here I thought that I was just out $119!
Cheers,

indy-farmer

The point is - w/o data and the software to read it, you don't know how you are doing. It's like walking in the dark. Not many engineers like that. Sometimes new is not better.

Edit:to add - even if you got the software tonite - no one here has seen it or has the experience with it they do with Encore Viewer and Pro. Make sense? Like buying the 1st Edsel? or Pinto? Ford had its days.

A lot of us have more than one machine, so we will have a backup plan. I have 3, you can take your script and purchase another smartcard compliant machine online or on auction, however do your homework first, then you will need the DT_3500 smartcard reader USB type, and if you have the correct flavor of computer you can get the software working. A lot of IF's, but worth it. Jim

Waiting for the software for your new machine is a poor choice, better to get along with your life.

I'm reluctant to return that one for an older machine just so that I could read the sleep DATA.

Let me suggest two more analogies that I think are a closer fit to what you as a new CPAP user on your journey to more restful sleep will encounter WITHOUT "the Sleep Data":

1) Driving unfamiliar country roads at night without headlights, expecting to reach your destination. Would you do this?
2) Playing most any sport blindfolded and expecting your instinctive "feel for the game" to make you a winner. Would you do this?

Please note that most, if not all, members of this forum consider success with their CPAP therapy to be a life enabler/extender, and for some, a life saver and, therefore, would like every newbie who was diagnosed with Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) to succeed. That is why they continue to recommend (repeatedly) that newbies starting off on this CPAP journey get a full data capable machine (records/reports AHI, system leak, ...) AND the reporting software & card reader. We know how difficult and in some cases, impossible, a successful journey will be without nightly feedback on sleep events, mask leaks, pressure trends/spikes, etc.

If you read some of the threads on this forum, you will discover that succeeding with CPAP therapy (achieving a restful night's sleep) is a learning experience with unexpected obstacles and detours in your path. Navigating this path is much easier, much less frustrating, and PROBABLE with feedback on what is taking place when you are hooked up to your CPAP machine and sleeping or trying to fall asleep. I have learned that Sleep Data plus the assistance offered to users on this forum are the key building blocks of a successful journey to a restful night's sleep.

I like many of the features on the new Respironics PR-1. However, the fact that it has no reporting software available to me, a user, guarantees that it will never make my shopping list.

I don't claim to know much about the PR System One models but I do know the older Respironics machines always had low-end models, which are given to new users, that record nothing more than hours of use. I am sure this pattern continues with the new models and the OP has not yet indicated which model he has.

It would be a shame to wait 2 years for the software only to find out you been sleeping for 7.5hrs each nite.

Written across the top of the machine is the make and model of each machine - in the past it was in white letters.
Indy - which model do you have?

indy-farmer wrote:I just received my new Respironics CPAP machine.

btw - they ALL look the same.