F&P Icon vs. PR System 1

I'm in the market for a new auto machine. I'm going to purchase it from our host, however I'm in Canada so Resmed equipment is not an option as they are prohibited from shipping Resmed equipment to Canada. I was planning on picking up the PR 1 Auto as I have have a few Remstars and an M Series. I just checked with my insurance and they will pay 80% of whatever machine I choose, but will not cover the humidifier unless it is integrated. As a result, I am considering the F&P Icon, as I have a comfort level with their masks. It will end up cheaper, and I like the intregrated clock but will probabally never use the MP3 feature. l realize the F&F software is harder to get, however it is not a dealbreaker for me as I rarely check the stats anymore. If I need to see the stats I can always use the M Series Auto that I will be using for travel/backup.

Does anyone have experience with these machines or have any information that I should consider before I make this descision?


Chris

I have a F&P Icon Auto and it has worked great for me. I would recommend the heated hose if you can get it, the price difference is only ~$20. The MP3 software is about $20 online if you can find it. You can find the data software on file sharing sites, they don't sell to users. I know SleepyHead is working on F&P Icon compatibility, though I am not sure it reports as much data as the Resmed units. The screen also reports nightly, weekly and monthly stats for AHI, leak rate, hours used etc. The tech geek in me would love all the data the Resmed units but I generally just look at my nightly AHI and leak rate. Note this does not know the leak rate for your mask so you have to look that up and subtract. Overall very pleased with it.

In terms of using the M series for data:

The PRS1 Auto with SleepyHead records and displays a lot more data than the M Series does. Airflow waveforms can be very useful if you're trying to understand a problem. The PRS1 Auto also scores events like RERA and Flow limitations.

Re: Integrated humidifier

Many people will say the humidifier on the PRS1 is integrated, but it is optional. On humidifiers, non-integrated usually means a separate device attached by a hose rather than an optional part for the blower unit.

Of course, insurance companies live in their own fantasy world, so they may not see it that way.

If the PRS1 is better for you, you could just eat the $80 insurance benefit for the humidifier.

Not many members here on the forum use the F& P Icon and of those that do I don't know if anyone has gone from Respironics machine to a F & P machine.
They are different brands with different algorithms and different ways of doing things like any exhale comfort features. You might like the change for the better or for the worse.

SleepyHead will soon support F & P Icon data though. F& P software can be found I don't know how the data the Icon collects compares to the data that the PR S1 collects. I saw a report once but I forget exactly what it offered..seemed like it didn't offer centrals or flow graphs but I can't swear to it.
So whatever data is available should show up on SH when it is F & P compatible.

If you do decide to go with the Icon please post back about how you feel it compares to the Respironics machines.