I sometimes awaken at 7am and since I will be getting up at 8am and usually don't dream during that interval, I take off the NovaDreamer. When I look at the data with the SuperNova software, I find that the NovaDreamer has been giving cues while it was sitting on my bedside table. The room is dimly lit and there is no motion for it to detect. Yesterday it gave 11 cues in a two hour period while sitting on the table and today it gave two cues in a one hour period. As I walked around the bed this moring I watched it flashing on the table. Is this normal or is my NovaDreamer malfunctioning?

Hi Geoffrey,

I answered some of this under your other post, but this one gives more info to go on.

You're using the SuperNova software, right?

I've read the ND will give cues if you leave it on, and set it out on a table. I don't know why. But as to your question of malfunctioning, I'd say look at the graphical data you are collecting.

My graphs do show some erroneous cues, but those could easily be caused by normal eye movements when wearing the mask, or the normal awakenings we have during the night we don't remember. But my graphs do most clearly show intense periods of cues, with clear breaks in between them, that seem to corrolate to the normal REM cycles (about every 1.5 hours I think it is?). This is exactly what it should do.

If your graphs also show such patterns, I'd think it's working just fine.

Again, the instructions say the ND mask will give cues if you just leave it out on a table turned on. So I wouldn't worry about that part, unless your graphs don't show normal REM patterns.

Just for info, on Sensitivity 6, I get 20 - 25 cues in a normal full nights sleep.

As well, I've been told to make sure the square sensors in the mask are clear of the mask fabric, so that they can sense your eye movements correctly, and be sure you are wearing the mask with the sensors right over your eyes.

Hope this helps.

I guess I missed that part in the manual (about cues when the ND is on a table and on.) Thanks for the info.

Yes the graphs show patterns, so I guess it is working correctly. I wonder if reducing the sensitivity would reduce the erroneous cues?

In my dream, I removed the ND, and my visual field was still bright red. For some reason, I didn't take it off for real. I got 12 60-second intensity-6 cues that night, and only remember the one. I hope that I will be able to recognize the cues again next time. Thanks again!

Geoffrey,

I wouldn't worry about not catching the majority of the ND cues. Like I said, I get around 20 cues on a good full night's sleep, and might find one or two cues that were in my dreams that I missed.

So I might pull 20 cues during the night, and see only one or two in my dreams. The cool part is, if the cue DOES get into my dream, it usually is powerful enough for me to recognize and get lucid.

I am very excited! Last night I used my brand new Novadreamer for the 2nd time and took a major step. Three times during my dreams the blinking lights played themselves into the story line.

1. I was in a fast food restaurant and a security light on the far wall blinked bright red. I got into a discussion with someone that I had caused the blinking by bouncing reflected light off a ring I was wearing and it triggered the alarm. I did not become lucid, but I kept trying to make the lights blink again. I couldn't.

2. I was in an office when all of a sudden an alarm went off. The red lights were BLINDING! I then had a discussion with the man in the office about the lights (and how they were triggered by the light off my ring--this was a seperate dream!)

3. I was pursuing a bike that was trailing a small wagon that I had to jump in (a movie was being filmed and I had to ride as part of the scene) and the wagon had two blinking red tail lights. Again- BLINDING.

ALthough I did not become lucid (I lucid dream about once/twice a month) I did come to the realization that the lights had entered my dream world. I strongly beleive that next time, my mind will recognize the cue and lucidity will result.

I will keep you all posted.

Question:

Do the total cues add up each day? Is a cumulative number displayed each day or is it automatically cleared?

I had 21 cues the first night and 34 the second. Is that really 21 day 1 and 13 day two?

Dear Michael!

Wow! Three sightings of the NovaDreamer cue on your first night may be a record -- and a fantastic start! And with your attitude, you're bound to catch the cue red blinkin'* handed!*

To answer your question about cue total: The count/data is cleared each time you turn it ON after turning it OFF.

Do keep us posted on your eminent success! Keelin

Michael,

Mind blowing, ain't it?

This is what I meant when I said the Nova Dreamer cues that do get into my dream are so overt, so attention grabbing, that's it's darn near "cheating" on getting lucid (hehehe). Hard to miss them, isn't it? I agree with Keelin, won't take you long to incorporate a mental realization that bright, red, flashing lights are a hint and a half that you're dreaming!

I'm glad to see the ND cues enter into your dreams so well. Seems like you've found a cue setting which works well for you. Yes, please keep us posted!

The cue total doesn't clear when I turn it off. Any ideas?

(I will try using the Nova dreamer early next week- this weekend is going to be a marathon filmmaking project so I will need solid sleep. I will report on any success I have next week!

Hi Michael,

I was hoping one of the techies would take this, but I'll offer only what I've experienced with my ND.

When I turn it from 1 to 0 after a nights work, I can then turn it to 9 and it shows the number of cues.

I can then turn it back to 0, and back to 9 as many times as I wish, and 9 will still show the cues from the previous night.

When I turn it to 1 again, however, it recycles the last nights stuff, and starts again fresh.

The idea being that as long as you don't turn it to 1 (or the presaved settings , I think that's 2 - 4), it will keep your last nights data in store for you to analyse. But once you sellect 1 - 4 again, it dumps the data and starts again.

I don't pretend to know all the ins and outs of the ND, but thats what mine does.

Hope this helps.

Thanks loscolt for the info!

Mike,

You're welcome

Dear Michael, Skypony and Masked Dreamers of the Night,

To clarify the issue of cue preservation, here's a quote from the manual:

"The NovaDreamer begins to count the number of cues given in a Sleep Mode after it has been in a Sleep Mode for 5 minutes. At that time, it resets the count to zero. The number of cues given during the last period in a Sleep Mode is preserved and available for review in Mode 9 until the next time the NovaDreamer is put in a Sleep Mode after having been turned off (Mode 0), or until the batteries are removed."

Ah, clarity is good!

Brilliant dreams to all, Keelin

I played with it and was able to clear the cues. BTW- I haven't had a chance to use it since I had my success with red lights in my dreams. I will use it tonight and report any successes.

sweet dreams...

Last night I had the ND set in mode 1 on the dimmest light settings (20 rapid pulses). I woke up to find 32 cues. Not one made it into my dream- and I remember a number of the dreams. I will try again tonight on a brighter setting.

Has anyone used the sound cues? I am afraid it will just wake me up.

Hello Mike, I bought mine a week ago and here is what I think might help you. Choose a night that you don't need to wake up early the next day (e.g.Fri-Sat night) and set the ND to the preset for medium sleep (preset 3). It will probably wake you up if you're somewhat a lighter dreamer. In case this happens, count the flashes you saw. Then substract those from the total number of cues given (12 for preset 3). This number is roughly the point in the cue count that the cues come to your attention. Then set sleep mode one with 2-3 extra cues from the number you found from the substraction and set the rest of the settings to the settings of preset 3. For example I remembered that I saw around 6 flashes. This means that my cue number limit with the current settings is 12-6=6 cues just before they start coming to my attention. I then set the cue count on sleep mode 1 to 8 and observed that I coudl indeed see 2 cues. It all of course depends on how many are enough not to fully wake you up.

Hope this helps. Be well and good luck on your quest! Niko

I'm sorry...i thought the "cue number" was the number of times it sensed REM sleep? Not the number of flashes.

Am I wrong?

Sorry Mike, You're not wrong, I made a mistake. The context of my post should have made it clear for you although I used the wrong wording

When I said: "Then substract those from the total number of cues given (12 for preset 3).", number of cues given meant flashes given per cue. Preset 3 has 12 flashed per cue.

I apologise for the confusion. And don't worry if the sound wakes you up. You will then know that it's not a proper cue type for you

Take care, Niko

...in short: replace cues with number of flashes in my first post.

Sorry for the confusion.

The last two nights I have dreamed up a storm without a single cue entering my dreams. I had the ND set for medium sleeper. What I have noticed is that I awaken from the dream and a few seconds later the cues begin blinking.

I know that the ND has a delay from recognition of REM to the start of the cues. Perhaps this dealy is too long? Can this be adjusted?

After a success of three dreams with obvious cues appearing- I have had no further success. 29 cues last night. A least a dozen dream fragments that I can recall. No cues in the dreams.

I'll keep trying!

BTW - I did drink alcohol the last two nights (beer). The night I had success I did not drink. Has anyone noticed alcohol effecting ND use?

Hi, Mike!

I think you have to get used to sleep with the mask. You seem unsettled now.

As far as I know there is no way to change the interval between REM - detection and cue.

Re not recognising any cues: There are so many recipes. Just browse the ND - related folders. I had success in the first nights, too. I think the key is trying to keep sensible to the cues. That means doing daytime exercises (looking for lights), changing cue pattern, pausing (in the longer run of ND use), etc.

I didn't hear anyone talking about ND and alcohol. But see postings on alcohol and LD in the folder "Research, ..." thread "Your diet ..." If you use keyword search and alcohol, you get 12 matching pages.

Keep trying

Yours Ralf

A cue made it into my dreams again last night. I think I am narrowing down the settings. I need a short burst of strong signals. Too long and I wake up. Not bright enough and I miss it. I tried it with "beeps" last night (6 med bright pulses) and it appeared in a dream.

I will keep tweaking.

Recognise the light Good luck!

Ralf

Hi, fellow dreamers. I found my novadreamer last night and wore it, although I took it off at some point because my neck was bothering me. But I want to stick with it unless I just get too lousy of sleep. The setting at 3 seems to wake me up. Also the lights go off for no reason sometimes, it seems. I'll try it at 2 tonight and see how that works. I have a special setting at 4 with noise, but that's probably too much. Just a report. Kate

Hi, I just recently purchased a ND. I have had difficulty with the device waking me everytime it gave me a cue in mode 3. As far as sensitivity I don't seem to have a problem, as I am geeting about the # recommended by the manual. I came up with a few of my own presets to try by changing intensities, flash time, and rate. I have not tried the device at the lowest intensity setting, but I have programmed other settings.

My awakenings have all been real awakenings(leading to a crummy night sleep). I have performed numerous reality tests each time to be sure.

My question is for the more experienced ND users. What settings work best for you? For example: short bursts of flashes at high intensity, long bursts of flashes at low intensity, etc. I know everyone is different but I need some help.

Thanks, Brian

Dear Brian!

Welcome to the forum and welcome to the special club of masked oneironauts.

I enjoyed reading your short bio. Being Superman is not too bad...

Brian, it is ok to use old threads here, in fact we don't want to have too many threads here to have a better overlook. Most people get email notification of new post here, like me, or use the "new messages" tool.

Don't know how long you have the ND now. There seem to be different strategies regarding the cue patterns:

1. Make sure you practise looking for lights in daytime and dreams and combine that with RCs. Do you see any cues in normal dreams / lucid dreams?
2. There are people succeeding in having rather bright cues, not so long. They work on adjusting cue intensity, so that they nearly wake up most of the time. That is my preferred setting, because I'm a deep sleeper, but I use the mask rarely. I can use the half awake state to have WILD then. Other dreamers report of exploding dreamscapes in that way, but get lucid and stay in the dream.
3. There are others preferring weaker cues, but longer, so that they have a longer chance to see the odd light effect in a dream and get lucid. This of course requires more training in daytime to increase awareness of light effects.
4. Then you can say: I use this thing only for (morning) naps, like Michael Cook. He uses not so bright flashes, as for as I know, and he is very used to care for light effects. When I used the ND in morning naps, I had to set it to low intensities. All in all it seems more successful to have cues only after three or four hours of undisrupted sleep. Morning naps are for themselves a powerful method to get lucid. So getting up in the night and putting on the mask then is recommended.
5. Some say, you have to use the mask on and off to avoid the brain getting used to the cues and filtering them out. They make pauses of two weeks or a month and then get back to using the mask. All in all you must take in account, that it is important to get enough sleep, anyway! Tired people rarely dream lucid.
6. Some say, you should change the cue pattern time by time to catch the dreamers attention.

Hope that helps. Keep us posted.

Yours Ralf

I've found the posts here to be very helpful, so I decided to post my own experiences for others who follow...

Yesterday I received my ND (NovaDreamer) in the mail. There are 3 basic presets you can choose from to get a quick start. I put on the ND and tried each setting. My initial reaction was that level 2 was quite bright, and would probably wake me up, so I decided to try level 1 to start with.

I was unable to fall asleep wearing the ND, so I put it on my nightstand. About half way through the night, I woke up (that happens to guys over 40!). Before going back to bed, I decided to give the ND another try. It took a while, but this time I was able to fall asleep. In my dream, I saw no lights, but I did experience confusion, and the feeling that something was going on. After the dream, I woke up. (I've been practicing doing that for the past several weeks.) I decided to set the ND for level 2 and try again. I fell asleep fairly quickly this time. While I was dreaming, I experienced exactly what I saw when I tried the ND settings before going to bed: 5 bright flashes which blocked out my entire view. I immediately recognized this as the ND, and wondered why it was coming on in the middle of a business meeting. I reasoned that I must have fallen asleep during the meeting. I later awoke and wrote down my experience. In the next dream, the same thing happened. This time I was in the middle of helping my son wash his face when the ND flashed. I thought to myself, "How annoying. It's midday, and I know I wasn't asleep. The ND must have a bug in it." (Being a computer programmer, I tend to think everything has a bug in it!) Later in the same dream, the ND flashed again. I told my son, "Don't worry, it only lasts a few seconds. I'll fix it later. I promise."

The plan for tonight is to increase the number of flashes, and hope that this time I recognize the flashes for what they really mean. I'm dreaming!!!

John - Sounds like some near misses. You're probably getting close. I only either sleep totally through the flashes, or they wake me up. I guess, depending on where I am in the sleep cycle. It shouldn't be long now...

2nd night with ND:

In my previous post, I referred to the three preset modes as Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. From now on I will refer to them as Mode 2, Mode 3, and Mode 4 respectively, so as to be consistent with the terminology in the product manual.

Mode 2 has 5 low-intensity flashes (cues). Mode 3 (what I was using when I saw the flashes in my dreams) actually has 12 mid-intensity flashes, not 5 as I mentioned in my previous post. It's worth noting that I never actually saw all 12 flashes in my dreams, only perhaps 5 or 6. After my near-success last night with Mode 3, it was my intention to set Mode 1 to be just like Mode 3, but with more flashes. Instead however, I mistakenly set Mode 1 to have less, not more, actual flashes than mode 3. My confusion resulted from assuming all the modes had the same number of flashes as Mode 2, and from experiencing only about 5 of the 12 flashes in my dream when on Mode 3. Tonight I will set Mode 1 to 16 flashes (cues).

If you use this approach yourself, please note that Modes 2, 3, and 4 differ in rate, intensity, and cue.

Dear John and Kate and all NovaDreamer Users,

Hi John! Welcome to the Forum -- and especially to the Masked Dreamers Club! [*]-) Thanks for the humorous report of your first night with the NoveDreamer and for providing an excellent reminder of how important it is to do a reality check whenever even the topic of "NovaDreamer" flashes into mind -- like NOW!

Okay, how many ND users reading this message actually paused to do a reality check? If you didn't, here's your second chance. The reason for making a point of this is because unwavering diligence is essential if one is truly serious about working most effectively with the NovaDreamer. Okay, enough lecture! ;)

Returning to John: It's not so much "back to the drawing board" for you, as it may be "back to the manual". When you refer to "Level", I suspect you actually mean "Mode" -- and a quick reference to the manual will explain in detail that Mode One is the only one in which you can adjust the settings according to individual preferences.

What you won't find in the manual is the acronym "NIRTS" which may help you remember what the dial numbers refer to:

5=N = Number of cues per signal 6=I = Intensity of cue (brightness) 7=R = Rate of cue (flashes/beep per signal) 8=T = Type of cue (synchronous/alternating L-R flashes, beep/no beep, etc.) 9=S = Sensitivity (and cue count data)

Looking forward to hearing more of your adventures. May you seize the Qs in your Zs soon!

And Kate -- or anyone else struggling with the NovaDreamer: If you'd like some personal guidance with it, I'd be happy to assist. It may take a while to discover one's optimum personal settings, but it's well worth the effort. The journey itself can be rewarding -- and entertaining!

Keelin

Thanks Keelin. My problem was not related to understanding the manual, but in knowing what values modes 2-5 are preset to. I now know that mode 2 does 5 flashes, and that mode 3 does 12, but I don't know the exact rate or intensity of those modes. I find it difficult to be sure of the values by just looking at the unit, as the differences between rates and brightness are subtle. I looked in the manual for that information, but didn't see it. For the moment, I want to set mode 1 to match mode 3, but with a higher number of flashes, and perhaps with slightly more brightness. I will then adjust mode 1 as I progress, depending on the results I obtain.

Hi John,

My NovaDreamer manual dates back to 1993(!) -- and yes, I've done a reality check! ;), so unless they've been changed, here's the scoop on the pre-set modes:

Mode 2 = Light Sleep:

• 2 seconds cue length
• intensity level 2
• 2 flashes per second
• cue type 1 (both eyes simultaneously, no sound)

Mode 3 = Medium Sleep:

• 6 seconds cue length
• intensity level 4
• 2 flashes per second
• cue type 1 (both eyes simultaneously, no sound)

Mode 4 = Deep Sleep:

• 10 seconds cue length
• intensity level 5
• 2 flashes per second
• cue type 4 (both eyes simultaneously, with sound)

Best dreams, brilliant dreams! Keelin

Nerts!

3rd Night with ND...

My brain seems to have decided to block out all input from the ND. :-( I had many dreams, but nothing resembling flashing lights, or light of any kind. Nothing blinking. No lightning. Zip. Nada. I had the unit set to give 20 rather bright flashes, and I didn't even wake up! I did have a headache in the morning, though. I've never before woken up with a headache first thing in the morning.

From reading other's posts, this product doesn't seem to be generating a whole lot of success. This one fact bothers me. Perhaps the brain quickly adapts to the stimuli of the ND, rendering it ineffective. If this expensive unit isn't much more effective than other methods, then I wouldn't recommend its purchase. Perhaps you're better off just following the techniques outlined in Dr. LaBerge's book.

I'll give the ND a try for another week or two. Giving my brain a rest for a few nights might help. I noticed they used to sell a unit called a P.E.S.T. which vibrated at random intervals during the day. Then at night it would vibrate during REM sleep. I wonder why they don't sell it anymore. I think that might be more affective for me, as I tend to block out things when I'm concentrating. On the other hand, the brain is very good at adapting.

Zzzzzzzzzzz'

You've only tried it for three nights? Is that really a fair trial? Seems a bit impatient to me. You might have to use it for months before you can decide if it works or not, nothing is instant success. I don't use a nova dreamer, but if I did, I wouldn't quit after only three nights. I'd give it a solid three-month trial, constantly doing reality checks whenever you see flashing lights or shiny reflective things.

You can't just strap that thing to your head and expect to be an instant master lucid dreamer.

Just my opinion, no offense intended.

Dream well

John,

I hadn't realized until I clicked on your profile, that you're in Dallas too! I was looking at the Oneironaut Network, and it seemed like there was nobody else here in Tx. We should meet for lunch some time.

The Nova Dreamer was a total breakthrough for me. I had been working on LD'ing for about a year, when my partner gave me the ND for a birthday present. I went from a frequency of about one LD per month to being able to have four or five a week if I take the time to work on it. For the past few weeks, I've been too busy, getting to bed late, stressing over work, etc., so I haven't been LD'ing - but it's just because I haven't been able to approach it with the kind of sensitivity and care it needs.

It's almost like feeding wild deer by hand... you have to start by being very still and patient, then they slowly get closer and closer as you watch them and lure them with food... but it's going to be a long time before they're eating from your palm.

Things that I've learned about the mask:

I find that the medium-sleep setting is about right; doesn't wake me up from my sleep, but it definitely shows up in my dreaming. However,it also tends to blind me in the dreams - so I have set Mode 1 to have similar intensity and speed, but fewer flashes. I know that each person is different, but it seems like too many flashes will interrupt your brain's ability to maintain the dream images. Maybe this caused your headache?

I only use the mask when I do the Magic Nap in the morning, waking a couple of hours before my wake time, then going back to bed. This is the most fertile time for lucid dreams in general, with or without the mask - and like your accounts earlier, I usually recognize that it's the mask making the flashes; it only occasionally shows up as other flashing lights. If you're interested, I've posted some of my ND experiences on the forum, or email me and I can send you a link to my dream journal. I don't wear it all night - it made my face sweat when I tried that.

It eats batteries like nobody's business. The first thing to go is the eye sensor - the thing that watches for your REM sleep. After just a few (like 3 or 4) whole nights of sleep, it becomes noticeably less sensitive. I switched to using rechargeable alkalines, because that way I can put "fresh" batteries in it every few days. Nickel Metal Hydrides don't work, neither do Nickel Cadmium batteries, because they're too low-amperage.

Increasing the sensitivity is a good way to make sure you're getting enough cues - if you don't get enough cues (I usually look for about 3, because I'm only using it on one REM session) then up the sensitivity until you do. Turning it to number 9 will give you the number of cues, counted out in little flashes of light. The sensitivity setting is also changed at number 9, by pushing the RC button one at a time, to walk through the sensitivity levels.

Hope that's at least a little helpful. From the dreams you posted earlier where you found yourself in a meeting with the mask on, etc., you are obviously getting the signal through - you just need to work on your ability to recognize the fact that it means you're dreaming. The Nova Dreamer is a helpful tool, but it's only a tool - the dreamer still has to do the real work.

Wishing I were flying, Michael

Michael,

Thanks for that info. You've given me new hope. I didn't check the sensitivity or number of cues, since it worked perfectly the first night. OOPS! Now that you mention it, the first night was the only time I got false cues while awake. I hope that's all that's wrong. It would be great to get another crack at this. I really don't want to have to return the ND. If it can make it into my dreams, I'll handle the rest. (Get it, "rest"?)

Hi John,

If you've not yet seen any cues incorporated into your dreams, here are a few considerations:

1. Depending on the number of cues delivered (and this is worth checking after each night's session), you may need to adjust the sensitivity level. According to the manual, "Useful numbers of cues are usually greater than 15 for a night's sleep of 6 hours or more."

2. Day practice is essential! The NovaDreamer will do its part, but it cannot force lucidity upon even the most wishful dreamer. The "Course in Lucid Dreaming" workbook that comes with the NovaDreamer offers valuable exercises for training the mind to recognize the significance of the cues. It's worth devoting the time to truly absorb each of the five unit's lessons.

3. As others have pointed out, learning to work effectively with the NovaDreamer is an individual process. The best approach I've found is that of a curious mind, a steady pace, and a keen appreciation for the missed cues along the way (plus, of course, the sincere intention to catch them next time!).

There are many reports of success with the NovaDreamer posted on the Forum, especially in the archived folders under "NovaDreamer Experiences" that may offer you further encouragement. And on a final note, I wouldn't be surprised to find you adding your NovaDreamer-cued lucid dreams there as well in the very near future!

May your dreams be merry and bright, Keelin

4th Night

At Michael's suggestion (see earlier post), I cranked the sensitivity up. (See Operation Manual pg 19, Mode 9: The Sensitivity Adjustment Mode) I went from a setting of 4 to 7. After sleeping for 4 hours at the higher setting, I checked the number of cues I'd received, and found zero! Geez, no wonder I haven't been seeing many flashes in the past 2 days! Next, I turned the sensitivity to 9 and tested it. Now the unit senses my eye movement, but I'm not sleepy anymore. Maybe I'll take a nap later. I've heard taking a nap later after getting up very early is a good way to induce ND's.

I think the manual should make a big point of the fact that sensitivity drops way off after only a few nights. Perhaps something like: "NOTICE: USERS ARE ADVISED TO CHECK CUE COUNT AFTER EACH AND EVERY USE, AS SENSITIVITY DROPS OFF VERY SIGNIFICANTLY AS THE BATTERIES QUICKLY WEAR DOWN."

THIS DEVICE SUCKS UP BATTERIES LIKE A VACUUM

Later on...

Took a nap this morning after getting up very early. Was awakened twice by the ND while dreaming during my nap. I consider this a good thing, because it proves I haven't adapted to the ND as I had earlier believed. It seems the sensitivity dropped off a lot after the very first day, thereby drastically reducing the number of cues. If you're a new ND user reading this, you might want to consider turning up the sensitivity by 1 or 2 before each use, then checking the cue count afterward to make sure you're staying within the recommended range. That way, you won't lose a night every time the cue count drops. If the count drops anyway, you'll know to turn the sensitivity up by even greater increments the next time.

few nights. Perhaps something like: "NOTICE: USERS ARE ADVISED TO CHECK CUE COUNT AFTER EACH AND EVERY USE, AS SENSITIVITY DROPS OFF VERY SIGNIFICANTLY AS BATTERIES BEGIN TO WEAR DOWN."

Okay, so it's not in all-caps, but my manual says, "it is a good idea to check the number of cues you received after each night of use, and if the number has dropped below your preferred number, increase the Nova Dreamer's sensitivity level (mode 9)." (page 21, the inside back cover of mine)

I've found that the rechargeable batteries (I use Ray-O-Vac) help a lot, because you can be sure that they'll be freshly charged. They hold about twenty-five cycles of discharge and recharge, which also represents a big savings in cost and environmental impact.

I've also found that I can test the sensitivity by a different manner than just counting cues: I turn the ND to the sleep mode I plan to use, put the mask on, and wait through its five-minute startup period... then start moving my eyes as if dreaming. It helps if you imagine yourself dreaming, and looking around at your imaginary dream environment. Within less than a minute (after the 5 minutes have gone by) it should detect your eye movement and send a cue. It's also good "practice" - if you've done a good job with your imagining, you should be visualizing a scene going on around you and the ND cues will surprise you - at that point, think to yourself, "OH, that's right, I'm dreaming!" and if you like visualize doing something lucid and fun.

Michael

Hi John,

The batteries will actually last longer if you keep the NovaDreamer in the dark during the day/when not in use. Even in the "off" mode, there is still some drain on the batteries as required to maintain the settings.

Bright dreams, Keelin

Keelin,

Thanks for the tip. I remember seeing that one in the manual.

Is it normal to have to increase the sensitivity level every night? This seems odd to me. At sensitivity level 9, it only recorded 2 cues last night, during a 5 hour period. I'm going to put new batteries in tonight to see what happens. I wonder if my unit is defective. Do you know if the sensors can get out of alignment? -John

5th night...

Put in fresh batteries. Set sensitivity to 3. ND kept waking me up, even though I set the brightness to minimum. Got three cues during the night.

Decided to approach this more systematically. Tomorrow night I will leave the sensitivity at 3 and turn the flash off, so I can't be awakened. In the next few nights, I will try to determine the optimum sensitivity level, and address this issue of battery drain, if it really exists. Did a bit of research, and learned that most alkaline batteries put out a fairly stable current until they get close to drained, then drop off rather quickly. This would seem to be in conflict with my assumption that draining batteries were causing my earlier problems.

6th night...

Set sensitivity to 3 and turned cues off. Got a good night's sleep. Total cue count received during 8 hours sleep was 3. Tomorrow night will set sensitivity to 6, and repeat the process with the cue turned off. Will continue increasing sensitivity each night until cue count falls within recommended parameters.

Hi John,

Sounds like you've got a good plan for zeroing in on the best sensitivity setting. Re the sensor getting out of alignment, you do want to make sure it stays clear of the mask's fabric. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Bright dreams! Keelin

7th Night...

Set sensitivity to 6. After re-reading the manual, I began pressing the RT button several times at every waking, to ensure all cue counts are valid REM counts. I had not done this previously.

Total cue counts for 8 hours sleep was only 1. Yes ONE! It appears the device definitely isn't operating as it did the first night, when I received several visible cues while dreaming, when sensitivity was at 5 for mode 3. Tonight I will set sensitivity to 10 to see if I can get the count into a reasonable range of 10 or above. I continue to leave cues off, so I am not awakened by the device. For now, I only want to determine how many times the device detects REM sleep.

I think I may have discovered something. I was checking to ensure the sensor was clear of the mask's fabric. Although the sensor was unobstructed, I noticed a crease in the lower part of the pad by the nose. I tried the mask on, and noticed the pad was being pushed up slightly, and may block the sensor. Therefore, I cut off the lower padding.

Dear John

regarding your 7th night:

I don't know, how often you awoke, but remember that one pressing of the RC button sets a delay of 10 minutes. In these ten minutes no cues are counted or delivered.

I press RC button 18 times to get three hours of restful sleep before the flashing begins, if I work with ND. (I'm not currently). In the period of these three hours I have in my SND file no cues counted or delivered.

I have never made experiences like you with the sensitivity. I think, we will fix your problem.

Hope that helps

Yours Ralf

P.S. Of course you can "erase" the delay you have set previously by pressing RC button repeatedly - by pressing and holding the RC button, until ND quits that by showing / sounding the cue in the mode you choose.

8th night...

At the last minute, as I was going to bed, I decided to "go for it" so to speak. Reasoning that I had fixed my ND's sensing problem, I set the sensitivity to 5 (as it was the first night) and put it on mode 2. 5 hours later I awoke to find my ND lying on my bed. The cue count was a respectable 7. Of course, there's no telling how long it had been lying on the bed instead of being on my face counting REMs. So, I believe I've fixed one problem. Wahoo!!! Now onto the new problem of me pulling it off my head during sleep... I suspect I pulled it off during a dream, not wanting to see those "annoying" flashes! Unfortunately, I don't remember any dream like that. :-(

Thank you, Keelin, for suggesting checking for anything blocking the sensor. Next, maybe I should strap myself down so I can't reach the mask while I sleep. Here's another idea: A friend of mine once told me that when she was small, her father put splints on her arms to keep her from sucking her thumbs. Try to envision a little kid that can't bend her elbows, trying to stick her thumb in her mouth. We both had a good laugh over that! But seriously, it sounds a bit crazy, but I think it would work. It's an idea I'll keep in the back of my head should it become necessary to take drastic measures. On second thought, maybe not.