philips respironics Remstar C-Flex

[Aintnoddin]

Hello, I am new to this forum. Like its not obvious. I desparately need to retrieve the data from my old machine in order to get my CDL lisence. Its the last requirement for the job I am trying to get. I love my machine, but I cant find anyone to help me out.
I know absolutely nothing about software or data on these machines. It counts hours. it shows onthe display. thats about all I know. I use it 5 night a week sometimes more. I got it probly 15 years ago and still use it religously. Anyone know about these?

[Wulfman...]

Hello, I am new to this forum. Like its not obvious. I desparately need to retrieve the data from my old machine in order to get my CDL lisence. Its the last requirement for the job I am trying to get. I love my machine, but I cant find anyone to help me out.
I know absolutely nothing about software or data on these machines. It counts hours. it shows onthe display. thats about all I know. I use it 5 night a week sometimes more. I got it probly 15 years ago and still use it religiously. Anyone know about these?

Which specific Model is it?
Does it have a data card in it?
If it doesn't have a card or is non-data-capable , about all you can do is use the hours it has been used.
Have you or anybody ever recorded the User or Blower hours from it before?

When you plug in the power cord, there should be numbers that display in the LCD. The first set of numbers should be the firmware version. Followed by the number of blower hours and then the user hours.....which remain in the LCD

Den

.

[Aintnoddin]

hello, thank you for the reply. the model is REMPlus w/C-Flex Dom model no.1009586. there is no card that I can find. I would have to taake the screws out to get the cover off. the only thing that comes off is the filter cover and the humidifier base. there is a n old type wire connector in the back. Kinda looks like a cb radio wire connector, then there is a dc power input, and the ac input that the base wire plugs into. I have a serial nomber too. I didnt know what the nombers meant when you first plug it in. thats proby the most info ive gotten yet.

[Aintnoddin]

If the only data available is what apears on the display then I'm sol. I'm required to prove a certain amount of hours of usage over the last 3 months. And I don't know of a way to figure that from the minimal data that it gives?

[Pugsy]

There has been several Remstar models from Respironics over the years.
Some have easy access to the data and some don't.

I take it you never needed to access the compliance usage data before now. Is the trucking job a new job?

The compliance usage data is there but you need some way to get it and that requires some sort of device to store the data on and software to use that device.

Let's figure out exactly which model machine you are using. A search for that model number is a bit confusing as it takes me to machines that use the Smart card for data storage and also to machines that use a simple SD card.

If your machine is 15 years old that puts it around the time the System One model machines were released and they use a SD card but you didn't mention System One in your description. The models prior to the System One models used what we call a Smart Card for data storage and it isn't so easy to get the data from the Smart card because it requires a very special kind of card, special type of card reader and special software not so easy to get or use.

Does your machine look like this one?

1.... https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... cpap-cflex

or this one

2.... https://www.cpap.com/productpage/remsta ... ap-machine

or this one

3.... https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... cpap-cflex

If not number 3....you are probably as you say "screwed".
Number 3 uses a SD card which is easy to obtain and the software (OSCAR) is free and easy to use.
Numbers 1 and 2 use the smart card which is still fairly easy to find but the card reader isn't easy to find and it's expensive and then there's the software that is needed and while it can still be found it's a real PITA to use.

[Aintnoddin]

number one is the one I have. i have the base and water tank with it. But yes thats the one. The job is new to me. nobody has ever tried to read the machine before. didnt even know they had that kind of info on them. But thank you you have been veery helpful. Im not sure if ill persue it further? As I am very short on moneyand not very tech savy. Tahnks again!

[Pugsy]

I suspected it was number 1.

It's doable but not easy and not cheap.

The most expensive item would be the card reader.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... reader-usb
and it is the ONLY card reader that would work.
Now there is a way that a machine supplier could get the data off the machine but finding one that would/could do it after all these years would be a real challenge. They quit using that stuff many years ago and probably haven't kept the items needed.

You would also need the smart card
https://www.directhomemedical.com/10042 ... acard.html
The only one I found, from a quick search, is on EBay
https://www.directhomemedical.com/10042 ... acard.html

Not sure if the recent Encore Pro (Windows only) software is still compatible with that older machine. Rumor control a few years ago was that Encore Pro wouldn't continue to support those older machines. I don't know if they ever implemented it though. That software can be obtained over on the apneaboard forum and free.

Encore Basic will work (Windows only software) and I think it can still be found (free) over on the apneaboard forum.

It's doable....but not easy and not cheap and the only data available on that machine is the compliance hours of use data.
No other data is even stored on the machine to get written to the smart card.
Your really need a newer model machine that has easier access to data but then that means you can't get the past 3 months of compliance usage data....and a newer machine costs more money that I doubt you have right now.

I am sorry that I don't have more positive information for you but now you at least know what is needed.
My husband is an over the road truck driver and while he doesn't have sleep apnea and doesn't need the machine he does sort of keep me up to date on the medical requirements from the DOT. They are pretty inflexible in regards to medical requirements needed to get the medical card you will need.

I have been on cpap since 2009 and my very first machine used that smart card so I am familiar with its use and the software (which is why I say it is a PITA to use) but I no longer have any of those old items (sold them long ago) or I would try to help you out.

[Janknitz]

I wonder if any of the members who have been here a long time might have a card reader they can get to you???

[Aintnoddin]

I got a better look at the picture number one and the machine i have is basicly the same but maybe even less features. themain body is the same, but no card slot thing on the side and the display on mine is much smaller. so i think it is even older than the one in the picture. crazy! Sounds like im done for now. some good has come from it though, I learned that i for sure need a new machine. thank you so much for your response. I really have called, sat on hold for so long, and visited in person all the leads i could come up with locally and couldnt even get someone to talk to me. I learned more in this chat then i think anyone locally knows. what im trying to say is thank you for your time and knowlege. its much appreciated.

[Wulfman...]

There are too many variables in this situation.

Assuming you DID have a data-capable machine with a smart card, the problems arise when matching the computer operating system with the software and hardware needed to extract the data from the card.

Finding a card reader isn't all that hard:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/235138782550?_ ... %3A3458402


Any computer running Windows 10 or 11 and is probably a 64-bit machine and you would probably need a 32-bit system

the problem is that the website where you could download 64-bit drivers is gone.
And, finding the right version of Encore Pro or Encore Viewer is also another problem

In summary, it is almost an impossibility to do it these days. Too many things have changed.
Believe me, I've pondered all of these variables in my own situation the last few years.
In March of 2010 I purchased two identical Windows XP desktop computers and have configured them identically and download my card to each one every day, If both of them crash, I'm screwed as far as continuing to keep my sleep data. I also have two HP laptops with Windows 10 and 11 because too many websites have made the browsers that run on XP obsolete and I needed to upgrade for that reason.

Good Luck in your own situation.

Den

.

[Aintnoddin]

Wow thats some crazy stuff there. I am for sure going to get a newer machine. And im sure i can retest at some point in the future. Thank you for your help on this. I do appreciate your time and knowlege.