Apr 012013
VTech Communications Safe & Sound Digital Audio Monitor with two Parent Units
- DECT 6.0 digital technology provides crystal clear transmission, eliminating the annoying white noise you hear from analog monitors; The only sounds you hear are coming from your baby
- Extended range Up to 1,000 feet of range allows you to feel safe and connected to your child while you go about your day
- Remotely communicate to your baby from the parent unit to the baby unit; Speak to your baby from another room or even from outdoors
- Includes one baby unit and two parent units
- Rechargeable batteries with up to 18 hours of monitoring time, have the freedom to carry the parent unit everywhere you go without the hassle of a power cord
Safe & Sound Digital Audio Monitor with two parent units with DECT 6.0 digital technology provides crystal clear transmission, eliminating the annoying white noise you hear from analog monitors. Extended Range Up to 1,000 feet of range allows you to feel safe and connected to your child while you go about your day. Talk-Back Intercom System Remotely communicate to your baby from the parent unit to the baby unit. Soothe your baby from another room or even from outdoors.Keep connected with your ba
List Price: $ 59.95
Price: $ 45.09
Apartment living and no external interference.,
I had this unit shipped overnight after our NTM-910YLW – Sony Baby Call Nursery Monitor unit started having constant issues with a ticking noise that would not have been very sleep-friendly for parents. Prior to this, we would get interference with cell phones and other electronic devices intermittently, but we perservered.
Let me note first that I have only just got the VTech today, but already I like it. I chose the model with two receivers so that we could have them permanently in the two rooms most frequented (bedroom and living room).
The parent units require an initial 11-18 hour charge before unplugging and using without the power cord. There are two different instructions. Therefore, I would suggest going with the longer charge to ensure the battery is well conditioned.
Aside from the hiccups that our Sony had, let me point out some major ‘user-related’ differences.
The Sony NTM 900 that we bought had only one parent unit. This particular VTech monitor came with two parent units. Sometimes when going to bed, I’d forget to grab the monitor, so it’s one little hassle I don’t have to consider now.
The Sony NTM 900 is analogue and while you can adjust channels, if you have a lot of electronics, or many neighbors, you will probably find this is not the model for you.
The VTech is digital and uses DECT Technology (the same stuff as is used with cordless telephones). I’m not sure that a police scanner won’t pick up on your baby conversations, but they claim it’s very secure. So far, I have no outside interference, funny noises etc (unless you count the baby babble).
Even though we have a sound machine in baby’s bedroom and the lullaby is always going, the Vtech monitor is barely picking it up, but it will respond when baby starts to make a noise. I like this, because I’m starting to go a little crazy with Rock-A-By Baby and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
The Vtech has different options for being alerted to baby noises. You can set it to vibrate, have a sound alert, or actually hearing the baby. It also has the ability to talk from the parent unit to the baby unit so that if you wish to soothe baby without going in and disturbing him/her, you can. The Sony NTM 900 was one-way only.
This was the first time I had chosen one day shipping and am very pleased with Amazon (and UPS’s) service. It was worth it. I can sleep in my bed again tonight and not in the nursery.
Update 09/23/2012: Roaming distance outside is at least 250-300 yards (at a guess because I’m not good with guessing distance) and product is still working perfectly without interference. I’d definitely recommend a digital monitor over an analogue one.
Update 05/04/2013: Product worked great, but after the baby unit was disconnected from the wall recently (by mistake), we have been unable to resynchronize the parent units to the baby unit, which renders them pretty useless. So, while I rated this as a good product, it could be something we’re doing wrong, so I’m a bit loathe to downgrade my initial review just yet. Just note that I’m not the only person to have had this issue.
Was this review helpful to you?
Excellent Monitor,
This monitor was our third try at getting a decent monitor for a decent price. The first one was good but broke within a couple months. The second was used for 1 day before we sent it back. We have been using this monitor for a couple weeks now and only have one complaint. They are too sensitive. We run a sound machine that generates white noise in the toddler’s room. We always thought it generated a smooth white noise, but it doesn’t. This monitor picks up and amplifies all the inconsistencies in the noise. However, we put a washcloth over the monitor unit in the toddler’s room and were able to use the feature that allows for adjusting the sensitivity of the receiver (each receive can be set at a different sensitivity level) to completely eliminate the white noise from coming through the receiver. We still hear our daughter but don’t hear any of her sound machine.
We have both been very impressed with the well thought out engineering that went into these monitors. I was impressed when I first opened the box. The packaging was plastic clamshell but it came in two pieces — a top and a bottom. I just slid off the top piece and 2 seconds later had the monitor out on the table. We both like the rechargeable batteries that came with both receivers. Just unplug and go.
We don’t have a very hostile environment where the monitor runs. We live in a house by ourselves with the monitor and receiver on the same floor two rooms (30 feet) apart. We don’t have a wireless phone system, just two cell phones (one of which charges 2 inches from the receiver without interfering with it). We have a wireless internet router that does not interfere with it either.
Overall a very good product that was intelligently engineered. Will post a followup later to see how it holds up.
Was this review helpful to you?
Great sound – much better than expected,
As a new father, I wasn’t sure what to expect. After trying a few older models by different brands, I ended up just getting something cost efficient by looked stable based on reviews. When I ordered these, I had pretty good hopes, but was very surprised. They are amazing. Before our baby came, I would be in the nursery setting up things and could communicate very easily to others throughout the house (was on a ladder). After a bad thunderstorm, we lost power, and they still worked just fine.
They now work great with baby in the nursery and we are so happy we got this brand/model!
Update: My original review was made a July, but I should have waited a little longer. It’s now October, and just one night the units all started beeping at 3am and told me they were “Not Linked.” There wasn’t a power-outage or anything like that. When I finally got in touch with VTech they told me “oh yea, that happens some times. If you followed the instructions in the manual then they are broken and won’t talk to each other anymore. Sorry… Oh, and you can’t return them because you don’t have the original box.”
Was this review helpful to you?
Feb 8, 2013 12:48:40 PM PST