I'm wondering how much data these cards hold? And how long these Cards last?

Given how important these cards are, should we buy a backup smart card?


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5'9 234lbs 37 years Old Male
Original Sleep Study: AHI = 30

Owner of Remstar Auto A Flex M series
ResMed Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask
Viewer 1.0 Software, Smartcard Reader
Integrated Heater/humidifier
Prescribed setting: 7-10 Cm

Eh, they are cheap enough, it wouldn't hurt. I can't speak for the Respironics as I have a Resmed but I've had no problems in 19 months and I download the data from the card almost every day. In and out of the xPAP, in and out of the cable reader almost every day.

I do have an extra data card but only because whilst they hold a year's worth of data averages the only hold 4-5 days of individual night's data before rolling the first of the 4-5 night's data into the averages. When I travel and am away from my 'puter I use the second data card the 5th night.


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

sleepIsHell wrote:

I'm wondering how much data these cards hold? And how long these Cards last?

Given how important these cards are, should we buy a backup smart card?

On the ResmEd machines the card is just a transfer medium...you don't use it for storage per-se.  Every time you put the cards into the machine the card get's overwritten with new data.  The archival data storage is on the PC.

Other brands may vary.

Yeah, I discovered that the cards only store 7 days and old data gets overwritten. I don't understand why instead of Smart Cards, these CPAP machines don't use a Flash Memory card. It would store so much more data, and easily transfer to a PC without the need for a Smart Card Reader.

For Respironics, it looks like the Daily data stored on the PC is also limited to 7 days, although it stores the total Values over time.

I also still have no clue how to save the Viewer Files so I can store them for future examination. All I can do is print them out but I wish I could save them to File.


_________________
5'9 234lbs 37 years Old Male
Original Sleep Study: AHI = 30

Owner of Remstar Auto A Flex M series
ResMed Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask
Viewer 1.0 Software, Smartcard Reader
Integrated Heater/humidifier
Prescribed setting: 7-10 Cm

Again, I'm not familiar w/the Respironics but can you save it to a .pdf file and use it in Excel?? We can from AutoScan 5.7 w/the Resmeds (I haven't tried w/ResScan 3.3 and can't w/ResScan 3.4).

I totally agree w/you about useing a flash drive instead of data cards!!! Mebbe 'cause they haven't figured out how to make the "proprietary"???


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

It very well could be the proprietary thing; it could also be idiocy -- the same people who chose to use a smart card also chose to use bright blue LEDs.

And don't forget that poorly designed M Series integrated humidifier!!! Its taken them what? 3 tries to MAYBE finally have gotten a decent design?


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

CrohnieToo wrote:

Again, I'm not familiar w/the Respironics but can you save it to a .pdf file and use it in Excel?? We can from AutoScan 5.7 w/the Resmeds (I haven't tried w/ResScan 3.3 and can't w/ResScan 3.4).

I totally agree w/you about useing a flash drive instead of data cards!!! Mebbe 'cause they haven't figured out how to make the "proprietary"???

There is no option to save to any file. The only Option is to print it out. You can't even Print to File with a .PDF extension because it doesn't work.

Yes, they need their proprietary format to suck more money out of us Sleep Apnea sufferers! A Flash Card memory would eliminate that revenue source for Respironics. [rant off].


_________________
5'9 234lbs 37 years Old Male
Original Sleep Study: AHI = 30

Owner of Remstar Auto A Flex M series
ResMed Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask
Viewer 1.0 Software, Smartcard Reader
Integrated Heater/humidifier
Prescribed setting: 7-10 Cm

Ah, we can't pick on "just" Respironics. Resmed goes w/the data card instead of a flash drive too. *sigh* Proprietary, of course. The data card and cable reader, that is proprietary.


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

These CPAP manufacturers have us by our Throats. =P


_________________
5'9 234lbs 37 years Old Male
Original Sleep Study: AHI = 30

Owner of Remstar Auto A Flex M series
ResMed Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask
Viewer 1.0 Software, Smartcard Reader
Integrated Heater/humidifier
Prescribed setting: 7-10 Cm

Yup, that's the area! Don't they tho? *sigh*


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

@sleepishell and any others

You can "print" to PDF by installing CutePDF Writer (google it).  This is free, no ads, no banners, no spyware, I've used it for years and can highly recommend it.

It installs as a printer driver.  Choose it for your "printed" report instead of your usual printer.  It will prompt you for a filename to save and there's your PDF.

Blessings,
--pseudonym

Wow, thanks for the tip, Pseudonym! Sounds like just what I need.


_________________
5'9 234lbs 37 years Old Male
Original Sleep Study: AHI = 30

Owner of Remstar Auto A Flex M series
ResMed Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask
Viewer 1.0 Software, Smartcard Reader
Integrated Heater/humidifier
Prescribed setting: 7-10 Cm