DME nightmare(S)

GumbyCT wrote:

123.Shawn T.W. wrote: Am I making more sense today?

Well you were until...

You said

123.Shawn T.W. wrote:(they were extremely helpful in answering LOTS of questions, and gave me a free night too!)

You do understand - "There is no such thing as a FREE Lunch", right?

Yeah, I know ... But if you read the other thread, I was wondering the motive ... As I had delivered some constructive criticism ... But had also gotten them hooked up with a new out of county Dr!

Spent 41 minutes on the phone with the DME ... After a bit I found out that they wanted to give me the 550 model! So I asked them if it had the integrated heated hose on the humidifier like the Dr had requested on the Rx? After being told how great a machine the 550 is ... (which I don't doubt, just not what I wanted) and that they make a hose that can be heated ... I told her that the Dr and I had a long discussion about what was the best for my treatment, and that it was decided that a machine and humidifier/hose that were designed to work together would be the best for MY treatment!

She even suggested that maybe I call around to see if I wanted to see if somebody else might have it in stock ... I guess it is not enough if a profit for their liking ... But that's too bad!

She also told me that I have to be careful about going online getting info, as there is so much out there that it is easy to be confused by what was best for me, I told her I can alway turn off the APAP and run straight cpap at a later time, but not the other way around if I had gotten what she wanted to give me yesterday ... And it is pretty easy to leave the humidifier turn off, or disconnect it all together ...

They have to special order it, as they don't carry it ... But, if I wanted a 550 I could come in tomorrow and get started right away! I'll wait the almost extra two weeks, to be sure it is in!

I've changed my home time request, so I won't be going this weekend ...

Yes, you need a Windows emulator to run the Encore software on a Mac, BUT Sleepyhead will eventually support the 60 series.

FWIW, I spoke yesterday to the great Mac Paramedic here in the Sacramento area, whose services I've used for many years. I wanted to ask him about Windows emulation software because our Macs will not run the oximeter software -- at least not yet. He said that Parallels is the best, many members of the local Mac Users Group use it and it's seamless. He said once you download it, then you can also download Windows at the same time and get everything set up in one process. The only rub of course is the cost of buying both Parallels and Windows, as someone posted in an earier thread a month or so ago. Oh, and if you wanted an oximeter, add on the cost of that too. But for those who have the $$ it sounds like it's worth it because no restarting of your Mac is needed to use the emulator software. Sounds nice. But the total cost is not so nice!

For your purposes I would take the PRS1-50 for 2 reasons at this time.

1. The DC cable for the PRS1-60 was just released on 7/9/12, IT IS DIFFERENT from the old PRS1 DC cable. I have not seen the new cable yet, but was lead to believe that it is much like the S9 one, i'm not sure if this is due to the increase for 60W to 80W or not since I don't know alot about electricity and such. The connector to the CPAP is also different. I took the CPAP to every local Radio Shack and even some electrical supply stores, none of them had a DC cable with that particular connection. There is a picture of the connection in my photobucket link in my profile.

2. Even though we ordered the DC cable on 7/9/12 (the day it released), we recieved notification yesterday that it was on backorder.

So for the PRS1-50 it's as simple as going to you local Radio Shack and picking up a DC cable, however it is not that simple (atleast not in my area) for the PRS1-60

That's good info. Sounds like a lot of trouble for climate control. The 60 hasn't been around long enough to have been compared with the 550.

I didn't get the climate line for my S9 until my second winter on cpap, and then just because I saw one online at a bargain price. It was nice on the really cold nights, but I put it away in the spring and put my slimline back on, just to avoid wear and tear issues.

The first winter I used a Reptile heater and that worked fine, but I didn't really need it. I was playing and still using the humidifier. Do a forum search on reptile heater. There are several threads and I imagine someone has run one on DC.

After all of this, you may find that you are one of us that runs in cpap mode with the humidifier off or in passover mode and a slimline hose!

Remember, You can get a Climateline hose for your wife's autoset for 40-50 bucks and just swap machines.

Just my thoughts.

My DME is ordering the cable also ... If it is still on back order when I'm ready to pick up everything else ... I'll just plug it into the inverter I have (300w)

Liz,

A ClimateLine hose is already at my house with the S9 ...

Remember 90% of use will be in my truck, so better to just get what I may need up front, lots easyier to turn off the heater, than try to add one.

Is she on the hose yet? How is it going?

@shawn - so you know akcpapguy is one a very few respected DME posters on this forum. IF he says it is hard to get - it IS hard to get.

akcpapguy wrote:For your purposes I would take the PRS1-50 for 2 reasons at this time.

1. The DC cable for the PRS1-60 was just released on 7/9/12, IT IS DIFFERENT from the old PRS1 DC cable. I have not seen the new cable yet, but was lead to believe that it is much like the S9 one, i'm not sure if this is due to the increase for 60W to 80W or not since I don't know alot about electricity and such. The connector to the CPAP is also different. I took the CPAP to every local Radio Shack and even some electrical supply stores, none of them had a DC cable with that particular connection. There is a picture of the connection in my photobucket link in my profile.

2. Even though we ordered the DC cable on 7/9/12 (the day it released), we recieved notification yesterday that it was on backorder.

So for the PRS1-50 it's as simple as going to you local Radio Shack and picking up a DC cable, however it is not that simple (atleast not in my area) for the PRS1-60

I also wondered why you would turn down the 550 machine. It has a proven track record and accessories are easily attainable. Not to mention when a newbie starts out with equipment that no one else has - who are you gonna ask? The 550 is the way to go.

Not only is there a heated cable available if you are handy you could make one. Search here for "Repti heater cable". Not to mention, I made one and bought one, one was given to me. I NO longer use a heated cable and now prefer passover humidity. It seems the heat really heats the body from the inside out.

I know when I am car shopping I prefer last years proven model rather than this years model with all of it's changes that haven't got the bugs worked out yet. I remember from my manufacturing days the saying was "When in doubt, ship it out". So many times things were shipped not bc they were tested but only cuz the schedule said time was up.

I've have learned thru the years that when a reman model is available to take it bc you know any problems have been identified and resolved.

@akcpapguy - bc the pix aren't labeled I am not sure what is what but if the connector is the one I think it is - it looks suspiciously like an F-type connector for a cable TV wire. Give that a shot and let us know.

obtw- thanks for the heads up on the DC adapter - I had no idea.

Lizistired wrote:Is she on the hose yet? How is it going?

No, she didn't get the box until today ... And is not the type to just read and do, more like show me.

So she is waiting for me to help her with that ... When I get home ...

Gumby,

I'm not doubting Akc, I have a plan if dc cord is slow ...

In the last four weeks I've been here, I've read a lot! And I appreciate all the information I've been able to glean ... I've read quite a few threads about which APAP? And usually it ends up a toss up between to 60 & S9. I leaned towards the S9 because the 60 didn't have the 12v cord option ... Even in this very thread you can read "get the 60" type posts ... But now that I've actually stood my ground I'm foolish! I don't understand.

Thanks for the kind words Gumby, has RG been rubbing off on you?

Yes i posted those from my phone a few minutes ago so didn't label them.....but you are correct that is exactly what it looks like and we did infact try one at one of the Radio Schack's. However the "wire" portion in the middle of the cable connection was too large in diameter for the CPAP.

I will specify that we do order direct from Respironics and sometimes that does cause a delay in products (especially new release ones) for us. There are large medical equipment clearing houses and large national and international DME chains that probably place large orders which are shipped possibly a day or two ahead of release so these customers have the product on hand the day of release. So if your DME is large or purchases from one of these clearing houses you may be in luck and get the DC cable. I guess another factor is that alot of Walmarts (or any other box store that's open 24 hours) often have DC cables which will work in a pinch with the older style Respironics machines.

Don't get me wrong, not trying to sell you one way or the other, just giving you some facts to help you make an informed decision.

Read about the reptile hose ... That's not for me.

1. It is AC powered, I'm trying to go all DC(much more efficient use of batteries)

2. Does not regulate humidity. Every night on the road I'm someplace different, with different temp an humidity ... Maintaining regularity is important to me.

I hope you are not doing all this posting while you are driving over the road ...

123.Shawn T.W. wrote:Read about the reptile hose ... That's not for me.

1. It is AC powered, I'm trying to go all DC(much more efficient use of batteries)

2. Does not regulate humidity. Every night on the road I'm someplace different, with different temp an humidity ... Maintaining regularity is important to me.

Understand - you may find that moving all the time that water becomes a problem as it will ruin the machine if not emptied BEFORE moving.

akcpapguy wrote:Thanks for the kind words Gumby, has RG been rubbing off on you?

I think RG has rubbed off on us ALL.

123.Shawn T.W. wrote: Even in this very thread you can read "get the 60" type posts ... But now that I've actually stood my ground I'm foolish! I don't understand.

I am willing to bet if you call them back ask if they might even throw in a heated hose for you if you take the 550. The covering on the heated hose may be enuff you won't need heat each nite. Plus even if it is a DC powered heated hose (I don't know either way) you likely won't use it the majority of time. Have you checked CL to see if any 60's are for sale there?

As akcpapguy said just trying to help you make an informed decision. Consider that whoever made recommendations maybe did NOT know about the DC cord for the 60. I know I did NOT. All I recommended was Respironics, thinking PRS1 and I know I have made DC cords to fit the older models of Respironics and they were ALL the same.

I have zero experience with the 60 or IQ series machines.