Fighting for a better Machine

Would you suggest the s9 autoset with Hi heated humidifier? Is this one easy to get data from? What else do I have to buy to see my data?

newname wrote:Would you suggest the s9 autoset with Hi heated humidifier? Is this one easy to get data from? What else do I have to buy to see my data?

Yes, easy to get data from.
It has a good bit of data on the LED screen.
Software is free. Only thing you might need to buy to use the software and get more details in the data would be a SD card reader if your computer doesn't already have a SD slot (like for SDs from cameras) but even then a cheap generic card read will work..$10 to $15 at Walmart and some cheaper online.

Do I have to download the software someplace?
My laptop has a slot where I insert the card from my digital camera and download photos. Is this what I need? Do I buy the same one I use for the camera?

Now if I understand correctly, I just download software to my laptop, get a new SD card and I'm all set?? Does the SD card go first into my new S9 auto, the I remove it and insert it into the laptop?
Thanks for helping me. I have a Dell Inspiron (poor me). It has Windows 7. it's a 64 bit. I don't know what all that means, but is it compatible with the S9 auto?

newname wrote:Do I have to download the software someplace?
My laptop has a slot where I insert the card from my digital camera and download photos. Is this what I need? Do I buy the same one I use for the camera?

Now if I understand correctly, I just download software to my laptop, get a new SD card and I'm all set?? Does the SD card go first into my new S9 auto, the I remove it and insert it into the laptop?
Thanks for helping me. I have a Dell Inspiron (poor me). It has Windows 7. it's a 64 bit. I don't know what all that means, but is it compatible with the S9 auto?

That card slot will probably work as is. The S9 AutoSet will probably come with a card in it. If not, cards are cheap.

The software will probably work fine with your computer.

By the way, it's "S9 AutoSet" that you want. There's an "S9 Escape Auto" that you should avoid at all costs. If you say "S9 Auto," the DME will probably give you the Escape Auto.

Update : I'm still fighting for my machine (I almost wonder if it's worth it at this point)

This is a long post, The bottom line is can someone confirm that the S9 Autoset says 'Autoset' over the power button and the S9 Escape Auto says 'Escape' over the power button? Is there any other way to physically tell these machines apart?

Today I stopped at my new DME - I wanted to make sure they had the referral from my insurance and to re-check that the machine was an S9 Autoset, not S9 Escape Auto. It should not have been a surprise to discover that what was listed in their system as S9 Escape Auto. There was no Autoset even listed, they said it was 'unavailable' to their company (this is BS, but okay) I told them I'd call back this afternoon after I thought about what to do.

I seriously considered an S9 Elite, and I would appreciate thoughts on this. At least I would have all of the nice data, even if I didn't have the Autoset option. However, I know how this works, and I really think I should be able to get a machine that is already paid for by my insurance.

I contacted a DME I had spoken with last week - they told both my insurance rep and me that they had the S9 Autoset, I didn't chose that DME because they are an hour away from me and I really wanted the convenience of someone closer. I recontacted them to verify that they had the Autoset and not the Escape Auto, she told me she was sure.

With this assurance, I turned my S8 Escape into my original DME. Goodbye brick CPAP I wondered if I might have a change of heart when turning in my old machine and talk to them about working with me again (I really loved the respiratory therapist there) But by the time the transaction was done, I knew I made the right decision.

I called back the out of town DME and said "let's do business" I called my insurance company and changed the referral to the out of town DME and called them back to tell me it was done. The rep I had JUST talked to told me "I just went and checked on our machines in the back, and you're right, they do say Escape Auto" Seriously????? This is PROOF that if it's midnight, and the DME says it's dark, you better go check. I went through the entire explanation of why I wanted this particular machine. It goes like this. Efficacy Data tells me (and my doctor) in real time what kind of sleep problems I'm having, there is no guessing. An auto machine allows my doctor to set a range and the machine gives me the correct pressure, again, there is no guessing, this machine has to sleep with me for the next 5 years, I don't want to have to take off work to visit my doctor to guess about problems that this machine was designed to detect and correct (did I mention my insurance company has no qualms about paying for it?) Once people hear why both features are important to me, they realize that it really is the best solution, they are just lucky because most patients don't know and don't care (the DME's look at me like I have 3 heads - and they better be glad that I don't, because that would mean more CPAP, wouldn't it?)

I was beginning to think that no one carried or would be willing to sell me this machine. At one point the out of town DME told me they could get me the machine but there would be a $500 up charge - HA! I could almost buy the machine on CPAP.com for that.

I began to seriously consider the Elite. I called back the DME I visited earlier in the day and asked about the Elite, he said "our respiratory therapist is in the office now, why don't you talk to her about the features that you want?" We had a long and involved conversation and debated the merits of each machine, and then came to the most surprising conclusion. I asked her "What does the machine say over the power button?" and she told me "AutoSet" She says that the machine is the S9 Escape Auto - it is in their computer listed as that - but on the machine it says "AutoSet" I asked her this about 5 times in a row, and I spelled it. While we were talking I was looking at all the pictures on CPAP.com, the Escape says 'Escape' over the power button. Can someone confirm this for me? Is there anything else I can use to tell an S9 AutoSet from an S9 Auto?? I pick up the new machine on Wednesday morning (I'm without CPAP until then, and not really looking forward to that....) But I really really want to be sure I'm getting the machine I fought so hard for.

Thanks CPAPTALK!

EO, the picture on cpap.com clearly shows the words "Auto Set" on the Auto set, directly above the power button. (BUT NOTE, they show that exact same picture for ALL S9 models)

For added insurance, ask them to check the MODEL NUMBER. The autoset is 36005, 36015 with humidifier. The Escape Auto is 36002 or 36012 with the humidifier.

They can play games with the name, but the model number should give you the certainty you seek.