This is a MUST have for any new (or not so new) Parents
Written: Oct 26 '04 (Updated Oct 26 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Ability to hear and SEE your baby. A picture is worth 1,000 words.
Cons: Some interference from common home devices, can eat batteries if you're careless.
The Bottom Line: I recommend the system and have no regrets about purchasing it. It offers peace of mind you cannot get from the standard "listen-only" intercoms.
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| gsx1300r's Full Review: Wireless Security Camera and Monitor with 2.5-inch... |
My wife and I started shopping for baby intercoms a few months before our due date because we wanted to make sure we were "ready." Of course, you're never really ready when the time really comes, but we tried. This item intrigued us because, after all, a picture is worth a thousand words, right? What could be better, if one has to be in a different room than the baby, than being able to *see* and *hear* the baby when it cries or makes a sound.
With the other listen-only intercoms, you only know the baby is making a sound -- then it's time to run to its room (up two flights, sometimes, in our case) to see what's the matter.
Also, with the listen-only intercoms, you're always wondering when it's too quiet if something might be wrong. "Maybe he stopped breathing," or "maybe the cat is sleeping on top of him."
Although new it sells for about $300, we found it at the Sharper Images's website in the "Outlet Store" section for about $135. For weeks I debated, and was unable to find any reviews of the item, so could not make up my mind. One day I noticed it there for just under $100 - at that price I just could not pass it by.
Right out of the box, there was nothing complicated to do or to have to know. Simply plug in the camera, attach it to the mini-stand (if you want), plug in the receiver, and set both to the same channel (there are 4 to choose from) and you're in business. My biggest concern was the plastic, fold-down antennas on both sending & receiving units. I thought for sure that after extended use and opening/closing, they would not last. After about 3 months of playing I think it's safe to say I was wrong - the units and their antennas are very durable. We've even dropped both (a few times each) and neither has broken.
You can use double A batteries instead of batteries, and we've found that to be a very useful feature. Sometimes we want to unplug the camera and bring it into a different room for a short while without having to fuss with the cord. And, more frequently, we want to use the receiver in different locations, while the plug remains plugged-in behind the couch in our living room. If there are batteries in either unit, all you have to do is unplug it and it will automatically switch to battery power. Conversely, when you plug it back in, the batteries are spared use. UNFORTUNATELY, the units do not charge the batteries while they're plugged in... this would have been a nice feature!
You can switch the receiver to "sound only" when you're on battery power to save the batteries. Then when you hear something, or are just curious, you can switch the picture back on. This is a nice feature.
We've had good luck with the system and the picture & sound are always pretty good. The camera is usually setup on the 2nd floor and we're free to roam around the first floor, outside on the deck, and downstairs in the basement. Sometimes we'll have to play with the antenna to get the picture good enough to see what's going on, but we've never had a problem getting some sort of picture.
Occasionally, we'll be forced to listen to clicks that are caused by interference with other devices, but we simply lower the volume, unless we're actually too far from our son's room to hear him. Also, we've got a standard sound-only intercom setup in his room that has lights and sound. We generally keep that one on "lights only" so we'll notice if there's any sound in his room while we're watching TV or doing something else that might prevent us from hearing our baby.
The picture quality is pretty good, but the truth of the matter is that it's difficult to see any color, although it is a color screen. You really have to study the screen to discern any color -- I think having it color instead of black & white is an unnecessary feature, anyway!
Infrared. The unit will work in total darkness. This is a really nice feature. You can have the camera in your child's room with the lights out and in infrared mode, you'll still be able to see your child's every movement. And, it LOOKS like you're viewing something in daylight -- it works THAT WELL. The only "drawback" to infrared is that it is black & white only... but, I can hardly tell the difference between black & white (in infrared) and color (with normal use).
Watching on a television screen. They give you the necessary cable to connect the receiver to a television and/or vcr. You *can* watch the action from a television or record to a tape if you want. Later on when our son starts sleeping in his own room, we will connect it to the television in our bedroom - our television has 2 inputs, INPUTA and INPUTB. We're going to connect the receiver to inputB, while our DVD player plugs into inputA. Then we will be able to use our remote to switch the television to inputB when we feel like seeing and hearing what's going on in the baby's room. I've tested it and it works fine.
There are some "negatives" to mention:
If you use the receiver on batteries, they don't last more than a few hours of continuous use. And, it's easy to forget you have it on - so beware! I like the ability to "listen only" and switch to video -- too bad the unit doesn't have a setting that will automatically shut-off the video until a sound (or motion) is detected -- to self-preserve the batteries.
Interference. On one of the channels, the unit interferes with our wireless computer network. When the camera/receiver are on, we cannot check email or surf the web from our notebook computers, which are both wirelessly connected to the router. On a second channel, the receiver picks up interference if it's too close to the computers -- and usually the receiver is near a computer, as mommy (who uses the camera most) works from home! On a third channel our cordless telephones cause interference with the receiver -- and, of course, mom is always near a phone, too! LUCKILY, one of the four channels provides a pretty good, relatively interference-free picture for us.
Cost. Obviously, $300 (the price for a new one) is a little steep. I don't mind buying something that's been refurbished, at least from a reliable company like Sharper Image. But, some people don't like the idea. Would I have purchased this unit for $300, had it not been available to me for less? Having not actually used it, NO. But, now that I have used it, I would definitely spend the money. If mine were to break and there were no more refurbished units available, I would replace it for $300 - no question.
Of course, if I forgot something or if you have a question, DO NOT HESITATE to email me. I would like to help, if possible.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
gsx1300r
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: pete weinman
Location: Staten Island, NY
Reviews written: 61
Trusted by: 9 members
About Me:
Husband, Daddy, NYC Marathon Runner, and motorcycle rider. You can trust me, I'm a lawyer.
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