Questions re Dreamstation and Airsense

[JJJ]

5. I understand that the Airsense uses some kind of cellular connection to send data automatically to the DME and it cannot be disabled except by putting the machine in airplane mode. I understand less about the Dreamstation's wireless connectivity. My dim grasp of it is that it uses wifi so it has to connect to your home (or nearby) wifi network. I find this less objectionable (assuming I am right) because then I could connect to the wifi with my computer and download data for Sleepyhead, while blocking a DME from getting past my firewall. Someone please clarify this for me.

OK, I went to see the Kaiser Permanente sleep specialist and just got home. I bought the Dreamstation (298.80 co-pay) and I have some comments, although I haven't actually used it yet. (Tonight!) Before I start I should add that I liked my Resmed S9 Autoset better than the PR System One that I started with six years ago, so I was trying hard to make the Airsense Autoset my number one choice. But the deal killer for me was the cellular modem that you can't remove or defeat without putting it in airplane mode. Now, the sleep specialist mentioned that, even though they sell the machine with the cellular device, they never check up on patients without input to and from the patient - "We have 40,000 patients with sleep apnea and we have 13 sleep specialists, so no way do we have time to check up on people." I already kind of figured that, as she had said in a previous visit that I was welcome to take the modem out.

Then I asked about wifi (by this time she was well aware that I monitored my own data) and she said that wifi was available but it was a separate module. And, indeed, I found reference to it in the Patient Welcome Guide. Presumably it pops in the same place as the cellular device. The Dreamstation that I came home with has just the cellular device, which she took out and dumped in the bag while I was there. So later today I am going to scout around online to see if someone will sell me the wifi module. And yes, I have a Flashair (if I could find it), but my bedroom is just too far from my office and computer. Sometimes my computer couldn't even see it, and when it did it was hard getting a connection. The problem is that there is little room in an SD card for an antenna. I am hoping that the Respironics wifi gadget will work better. If not, there is an ethernet jack in the bedroom and I will just add a cheap access point.

One of the issues that I brought up right away was that, considering my pressures, should I be using a BiPAP? She looked at the week's work of data that I brought her from the PRS1 loaner and she agreed with me that my pressures should be at least 12-20cm, and that maybe a BiPAP was called for. But after reading the full page of information that provided her she said that I really needed to see the sleep doctor, mostly about my fragmented sleep, but also about the BiPAP. "OK, then I shouldn't buy the Dreamstation until after I see the doctor?" I asked. "No problem" she said, "the Dreamstation can be upgraded to a BiPAP - it's just a software upgrade and you'll have to pay a bit more - probably about $100 or so." So I bought the Dreamstation and we'll see about the BiPAP conversion later when I get to see the doctor.

A couple other issues:

Many complain about the light in the panel being too bright. According to the User Guide one feature is an 'ambient light sensor' which is located on top, centered just behind the power and ramp buttons. We'll see soon if this is real.

Also according to the User Guide there is apparently a 12mm hose available. Mine came with a standard 15mm non-heated hose, made in Canada. (Note to self: tweet Trump and tell him to lay off NAFTA.)

The User Guide also had information about disinfecting methods that would not damage the humidifier, including various products to use, or a thermal method that said to keep it in plain tap water at 75C (167F) for 30 minutes.

More later.

[Sleeprider]

If you ever figure out how to change a Dreamstation Auto CPAP to a BiPAP Auto, we all want to know the secret. It would require a machine swap, so that statement is not credible. The backlight issue was resolved in some early firmware updates, and we have them available on Aonea Board if needed.

The decision to go Philips rather than Resmed on the basis of the data transmittal is interesting. I hope that works out for you in terms of comfort. My advise would have been, with a relatively high pressure requirement, the Resmed actually acts like a bilevel with up to 3-cm of pressure support, while the Philips offers up to 2-cm of pressure relief in Flex, but it does not resemble BiPAP in its implementation. The AutoStart feature, data output and noise level on Resmed is also superior. Some people still find the Philips more comfortable, and I hope you are one of them.

[JJJ]

OK, that huge online place that we all love to hate would sell me the wifi thing for US$100 and I didn't find anyplace else much cheaper, but then I found a place that would sell it to me for CAD29.98 plus 6.64 for shipping. Mouse click - click - click and it's on it's way to me. None of the places asked for a prescription.

[JesseLee]

OK, that huge online place that we all love to hate would sell me the wifi thing for US$100 and I didn't find anyplace else much cheaper, but then I found a place that would sell it to me for CAD29.98 plus 6.64 for shipping. Mouse click - click - click and it's on it's way to me. None of the places asked for a prescription.

I'm interested in what you are going to be able to pull through the wifi module. I don't know why I'm under the impression that communication with the machine was only possible with the provider software. Please tell how you set that up when you get the hardware.

[SarcasticDave94]

OK, that huge online place that we all love to hate would sell me the wifi thing for US$100 and I didn't find anyplace else much cheaper, but then I found a place that would sell it to me for CAD29.98 plus 6.64 for shipping. Mouse click - click - click and it's on it's way to me. None of the places asked for a prescription.

I'm interested in what you are going to be able to pull through the wifi module. I don't know why I'm under the impression that communication with the machine was only possible with the provider software. Please tell how you set that up when you get the hardware.

I'll Ditto adding that info for my education. Thanks.

[JJJ]

OK, that huge online place that we all love to hate would sell me the wifi thing for US$100 and I didn't find anyplace else much cheaper, but then I found a place that would sell it to me for CAD29.98 plus 6.64 for shipping. Mouse click - click - click and it's on it's way to me. None of the places asked for a prescription.

I'm interested in what you are going to be able to pull through the wifi module. I don't know why I'm under the impression that communication with the machine was only possible with the provider software. Please tell how you set that up when you get the hardware.

I'll Ditto adding that info for my education. Thanks.

Oh, good or bad news, I definitely plan on sharing here. I'm in western US and the seller is in eastern Canada, so it will take a while to get here. Stay tuned!

[Walla Walla]

I think you might of wasted $100.00. I found this link on a search. http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...-over-Wifi

[JJJ]

If you ever figure out how to change a Dreamstation Auto CPAP to a BiPAP Auto, we all want to know the secret.  It would require a machine swap, so that statement is not credible. The backlight issue was resolved in some early firmware updates, and we have them available on Aonea Board if needed.

The decision to go Philips rather than Resmed on the basis of the data transmittal is interesting.  I hope that works out for you in terms of comfort.  My advise would have been, with a relatively high pressure requirement, the Resmed actually acts like a bilevel with up to 3-cm of pressure support, while the Philips offers up to 2-cm of pressure relief in Flex, but it does not resemble BiPAP in its implementation.  The AutoStart feature, data output and noise level on Resmed is also superior.  Some people still find the Philips more comfortable, and I hope you are one of them.

As for converting to BiPAP, I'm just repeating what the KP sleep specialist said. And it may not happen, because it depends on what the sleep doctor says. And I don't even have an appointment with her yet,so it will be a while. If it does happen I guarantee that I will share here how it works. And even if the sleep doctor says no to the BiPAP I will still ask her for more details on how it is done. I'm curious too.

Having said that just now I looked at images of the Dreamstation BiPAP and the exterior looks exactly the same as the Dreamstation Auto. Why wouldn't the BiPAP use the same motor, switches, and other hardware? I don't know why it couldn't be done with software. The sleep specialist said I would have to pay an additional co-pay, probably to cover the difference between the price of the Auto and the BiPAP. All manufacturers have to recover the cost of research and development, and since they sell fewer BiPAPs the cost has to be spread over a lower number of sales.

As for comfort level, I have never found the high pressures uncomfortable on either my old PR System One or my (now deceased) S9 Autoset. The only problem I have is leaks, but that happens equally on both machines, and is really caused by my high activity level while asleep.

[JesseLee]

I think you might of wasted $100.00. I found this link on a search.  http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...-over-Wifi

That post looks really familiar, may be where I got my inclination that the wifi was a provider solution. In some areas cellular is still not available. Wifi will offer an alternative compliance reporting tool but it's patient equipment reliant and less reliable then cellular reporting. I'd imagine that the same transmission protocol is used (cell and wifi)  and a single server out there somewhere handles all the traffic. For some reason I also think that the reporting was all web based and the information was on a secure website, therefore requiring credentials to access.

[JesseLee]

If you ever figure out how to change a Dreamstation Auto CPAP to a BiPAP Auto, we all want to know the secret.  It would require a machine swap, so that statement is not credible. The backlight issue was resolved in some early firmware updates, and we have them available on Aonea Board if needed.

The decision to go Philips rather than Resmed on the basis of the data transmittal is interesting.  I hope that works out for you in terms of comfort.  My advise would have been, with a relatively high pressure requirement, the Resmed actually acts like a bilevel with up to 3-cm of pressure support, while the Philips offers up to 2-cm of pressure relief in Flex, but it does not resemble BiPAP in its implementation.  The AutoStart feature, data output and noise level on Resmed is also superior.  Some people still find the Philips more comfortable, and I hope you are one of them.

As for converting to BiPAP, I'm just repeating what the KP sleep specialist said. And it may not happen, because it depends on what the sleep doctor says. And I don't even have an appointment with her yet,so it will be a while. If it does happen I guarantee that I will share here how it works. And even if the sleep doctor says no to the BiPAP I will still ask her for more details on how it is done. I'm curious too.

Having said that just now I looked at images of the Dreamstation BiPAP and the exterior looks exactly the same as the Dreamstation Auto. Why wouldn't the BiPAP use the same motor, switches, and other hardware? I don't know why it couldn't be done with software. The sleep specialist said I would have to pay an additional co-pay, probably to cover the difference between the price of the Auto and the BiPAP. All manufacturers have to recover the cost of research and development, and since they sell fewer BiPAPs the cost has to be spread over a lower number of sales.

As for comfort level, I have never found the high pressures uncomfortable on either my old PR System One or my (now deceased) S9 Autoset. The only problem I have is leaks, but that happens equally on both machines, and is really caused by my high activity level while asleep.

I can vouch for the Dreamstation BiPAP Pro looking identical as the Auto. All the dimensions are exact to each other. The difference is noticed on the startup screen when it greets you with what it is. The menu is identical in style, but the BiPAP has obviously different settings.