Baby monitors
Looking For A Baby Monitor With 2 Cameras?
Sometimes, 1 camera for a baby monitor is not enough. This is true if you have more than 1 child to monitor. So, what baby monitors allow you to hook up to 2 cameras or more? These models come highly recommended
- Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor with 3.5 Inch Color LCD Screen
You can hook up to 4 cameras to this baby monitor. It is very simple to pair up the extra cameras and it works flawlessly. You can select which camera you want to view or use the “scan” option which toggle views between cameras every 12 seconds. You can only view one camera at a time, no split screen. The camera has night vision. This model has great range, clear picture, and the ability to pan, tilt and zoom. This baby monitor uses 2.4Gigahertz FHSS technology. It won’t interfere with your WiFi and the transmission is secure.
You can order the extra camera here: Motorola Additional Camera for Motorola MBP36 Baby Monitor
- Lorex LW241 LIVE sense Wireless Video Home Monitor
You can have a maximum of 4 cameras. Pairing the handheld LCD monitor to the extra cameras is hassle free. The cameras have built-in infrared LEDs that provide up to 15 feet of night vision. The digital transmission is secure, the video and audio is very clear. You can view your children online through skype. Use your PC, iPhone or iPad to keep tabs on your home. There is also a record function. Store the recorded videos on the included microSD card. You can later transfer these videos to your personal PC or share them online. This monitor uses a 2.4Ghz FHSS frequency. Even though other wireless devices may have competing signals, FHSS has proven a reliable and effective technology at co-existing with other wireless devices. This can function more than just a baby monitor but as a home surveillance system.
You can get the extra camera here: Lorex LW2401AC1 Add-on Wireless Color Camera
All You Need To Know About Baby Monitor Bandwidths
Before you buy a baby monitor, you should know what frequency it uses. Many times the performance of baby monitors are affected by interference and static. This happens if there are other electrical household items transmitting at the same frequency as your baby monitor. Below I will list for you the common frequencies used by all baby monitors.
Baby Monitor Bandwidths
49MHz
There are not that many baby monitors using this bandwidth. If they do, they are usually cheap, audio baby monitors. It is the oldest and cheapest frequency available. It is good for short range only, maybe a few hundred feet. So if you have a big house or want to take your baby monitor receiver out to the yard, this may not be a good choice. Monitors on this frequency is susceptible to interference from electrical devices in your home. However, most electronics these days are using 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz. So a 49 MHz baby monitor may be the right product for you.
Best 49MHz baby monitor: Safety 1st Crystal Clear Baby Monitor
900MHz
A baby monitor that uses the 900 MHz frequency is usually an analog monitor. Some cordless phones, remote controls, security sensors and wireless speaker systems use this bandwidth. Check around your house for items transmitting on this same frequency as it could interfere with the baby monitor.
The good thing about using a 900 MHz baby monitor is that it won’t interfere with your wi-fi or vice versa. However, it is not a secure transmission and your private conversations may be picked up by someone else.
You may have several channels to choose from in the 900 MHz band. If you are getting a lot of static interference on one channel, you can change to another channel. However, this does not guarantee that your problem will be solved.
Best 900 MHz baby monitor:
Angelcare Baby Sound Monitor
Summer Infant Deluxe Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor with 2.5″ Screen
2.4GHz
This bandwidth is very popular nowadays and is used by many wireless systems. So much so this bandwidth has become over-crowded. This means there is a high chance your 2.4 GHz baby monitor may experience interference from similar frequency devices around your house.
So, you may be getting fuzzy pictures on your video baby monitor because of your 2.4 GHZ cordless phone. So you either have to change to a 900MHz or 5.8GHz cordless phone or buy a baby monitor with a different bandwidth.
Another concern with this bandwidth is interference with wireless computer networks (Wi-Fi). Many people have complained about how the baby monitor slows down or blocks their WiFi connection. However, this is not always the case. You’ll just have to do a little research on the baby monitor and see what other users have said. Some 2.4GHz baby monitors seem to work fine without disrupting the home’s WiFi connection. If not, you could try getting a dual band router and switching your network to the 5GHz band.
Baby monitors on 2.4GHz are digital and many come with security features such as Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum. You’ll get crystal clear audio and video transmission. Plus, there is no chance of other people eavesdropping or picking up your signal and seeing images of your baby on their baby monitor.
Best 2.4Ghz baby monitors:
Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor with 3.5 Inch Color LCD Screen
Lorex LW241 LIVE sense Wireless Video Home Monitor
1.9GHz
When baby monitors are described as using DECT 6.0 technology, they are in fact using the 1.9 bandwidth. DECT stands for Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opened up this bandwidth for use in 2005 and dictated that it could only be used for voice only applications. So you don’t see overcrowding like you do with the 2.4GHz bandwidth. So using a DECT baby monitor means no interference. You won’t get those annoying crackles and buzzing. You’ll hear your baby crystal clear. High audio quality is the main point here. Furthermore, you don’t have to worry about it interfering with your WiFi that’s using 2.4GHz frequency.
Best 1.9GHz DECT baby monitors:
Philips AVENT Basic Baby Monitor with DECT Technology
Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor with 1.5 Inch Color LCD Screen
WHICH IS THE BEST BABY MONITOR?
Which baby monitor to buy depends on your budget, what’s important to you and your home environment.
If you want a cheap, basic audio baby monitor, these usually use the 49MHz or 900MHz bandwidth. There’s no security as they are analog monitors. The signal can be picked up by outsiders or your neighbor’s baby monitor that is on the same frequency. The range is also not very wide. It is suitable for you if you have a small house or live in an apartment, and you don’t really care if people can listen to whatever your baby monitor is transmitting.
If you are using wireless internet in the house, a 49MHz or 900 MHz baby monitor will not interfere with it. However, the sound quality of the baby monitor may not be very good.
Digital baby monitors perform better than analog monitors as they are less prone to interference and it can encrypt the transmission making it impossible for outsiders to eavesdrop. Digital baby monitors use the 900MHz, 2.4GHz and 1.9GHz bandwidth.
When it comes to 2.4GHz baby monitors, you have plenty of choices. Many video baby monitors use the 2.4GHz bandwidth. Although these baby monitors are better quality and have a variety of features, many electronic gadgets in your home are also using this bandwidth. Therefore, a 2.4GHz baby monitor may not work as it should in your home. It is best that you check the bandwidth of the gadgets in your home such as cordless phones and microwave ovens. Remember that wireless internet runs on the 2.4GHz bandwidth also. (However, some manufacturers indicate on their package that their 2.4GHz monitor is internet friendly). There have been feedback by certain consumers that their WiFi and baby monitor are working great together. (link) So, you don’t have to strike off all 2.4GHz baby monitors off your list if you have WiFi.
The 1.9GHz DECT baby monitors are the best right now in avoiding interference because not many electronic gadgets use this bandwidth. Some cordless phones are DECT but it seems there is no problem when using both DECT phones and baby monitor together. You get crystal clear transmission and your wireless internet is unaffected. Unfortunately there are not many baby monitors using the DECT technology.
It is very difficult to predict how well a baby monitor will work for you. The same brand of baby monitor that works fantastic for one person could be rendered as a waste of money by another. There are many factors that come into play such as the quality control of the product, the setup and size of your house, the electronic devices in your house and also interference from your neighborhood. When you purchase a baby monitor, check the retail’s return policy and don’t lose the receipt.
Although it seems like you need luck when buying a baby monitor, you can raise your chances of getting a good one by looking at ratings and customer reviews. To cut short your search, I’ve already looked through Amazon and searched out the best rated baby monitors for you. You’ll find the list here: Baby Monitor Reviews
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Bandwidth, Privacy and Baby Monitors
Click here to read about the pros and cons of Philips AVENT Basic Baby Monitor with DECT Technology.
Click here to see if Lorex LW2401 LIVE Sense Wireless Video Home Monitor will give you the security you need.
