CPAPtalk.com

archangle wrote:

Bookbear wrote: Mechanically, they are the same, it's just the extra electronics... electronics that I suspect, are already on board the p/c board, just enabled or disabled as needed.

Data capable machines also require an airflow sensor in addition to the hardware a non-data capable machine requires.

The ResMed S9 has 3 pressure sensors. Two sensors are part of a differential type and I expect one is there to shut it down if the pressure gets too high. The sensors are cheap compared to the cost of getting a hole in the plastic mold. Similar air sensors are used in the $10 digital pressure tires gauges.

49er wrote: And when I get my software and can either troubleshoot by myself or with the help of this group and eventually my doctor, it will because of having a data capable machine that will help me get back on track.

Absolutely me too. Having the ability to look at my data not only gives me a sense that I know what is going on, but it helped my doctor and me figure out what the other things were (besides apnea) that needed to be handled. I know that I need to focus on other issues when I have a few days of feeling unrested and cruddy, but the data clearly show that I am having AHIs of less than 0.20.

49er wrote:By the way, unlike alot of people on this board, I do feel I have a good doctor. She told me specifically to get a data capable machine. Due to not having health insurance, I have held off as long as possible in scheduling a visit but I think I am at the point where I can't wait much longer.

Roger that. My new doctor is wonderful. She listens, she thinks, she told me flat-out that she would not consider prescribing anything less than a fully capable machine, and she respects that I am a fully capable human who can understand the machine's data.

archangle wrote:Data capable machines also require an airflow sensor in addition to the hardware a non-data capable machine requires.

True dat. I'd forgotten. I wonder if there are tear down pictures (someone posted a series of such a few years ago here, breaking down a Remstar brick and a couple of other popular models). It would be interesting to compare the guts of say a current System One base model (sans data capabilities) and the next up cpap model with data capabilities. As far as manufacturing goes, it would make economic sense to design and produce one circuit board and one set of mechanics, and then flash an EPROM to provide the various functions needed at each level of machine (adding of course the extra mechanical bits needed by plugging them in to the sockets already present in the unit). Just a thought.

Bookbear wrote:True dat. I'd forgotten. I wonder if there are tear down pictures (someone posted a series of such a few years ago here, breaking down a Remstar brick and a couple of other popular models). It would be interesting to compare the guts of say a current System One base model (sans data capabilities) and the next up cpap model with data capabilities. As far as manufacturing goes, it would make economic sense to design and produce one circuit board and one set of mechanics, and then flash an EPROM to provide the various functions needed at each level of machine (adding of course the extra mechanical bits needed by plugging them in to the sockets already present in the unit). Just a thought.

My sources say the Plus and 250 are one hardware design and the higher models are the same. That info is a few years old, so they may have changed over time. There could be more hardware designs, or they may have added function to one of the two reference designs over time.

Wouldn't it be cool if we could just plug a 3rd party dongle into an S9 Escape?

The 1st S9 AutoSet I purchased in December 2011, although brand new & never used, was manufactured almost 7 months before I purchased it & it did not have the latest Software Version 0903 in it.

I requested & was granted an exchange for another S9 AutoSet whose manufacture date was much closer to my purchase date.

One of the options they offered me was they would send my 1st S9 back to ResMed & have ResMed " physically replace the board in it with one that did have the latest software version".

Fortunately that was not necessary because ResMed had an S9 in their San Diego location that was manufactured only a couple of months before my purchase date & it did have the latest software version in it already. So, I exchanged my 1st S9 for that one.

POINT I AM MAKING is that obvioulsly even ResMed canNOT just "flash" the new Software Version on an S9. They must physically replace the entire board. Yea, kind of lame in this technology age - but that is what ResMed explained to me.

I am so impressed with the knowledge you have.

My Doc won't consider any machine but the basic brick. The only reason my machine may be more capable is because of the DME who had no basic machines in stock. I had to pay more....

Time to become more involved in my own care. My sleep doc isn't.

DaveL
Toronto Ontario Canada.