subject: All About Baby Video Monitors [print this page] Baby video monitors or baby cams are getting increasingly high tech. Nowadays you can get them with a night vision feature. They have infrared LEDs attached to the front of the camera so that the infant can be seen at night. In this article we cover all the basics of Baby Video Monitors.
Brief Explanation and History of Baby Video Monitors:
Baby monitors in general are used to remotely listen to sounds made by the baby. In other words allow the who ever is attending the baby to hear them when they wake up, while being out of hearing distance of the infant. They come in variety of shapes, sizes, features, prices, and even now have video (baby cams). A standard baby monitor consist of a transmitter which contains the microphone and a receiver which contains a speaker. The transmitter is placed near the baby and the speaker is used by the care giver. Some baby monitors include features like "parent talk-back" which means it is bi-directional and you can speak to the baby, while others can play music to the baby.
Can a baby monitor help with SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)?:
Well that's up for debate. It could possible help if you have the volume turned up loud enough and you are so in tune with your baby's breathing pattern you wake up if you notice something off. Although there has been no evidence that baby monitors or video baby monitors can help prevent SIDS, and some doctors even believe they can give the parent a false sense of security. One of the best prevention methods of SIDS is always putting the baby to bed on his/her back not stomach.
More About How baby video monitors Work:
Baby video monitors usually come in either a wired or wireless version, although the wired version is not nearly as popular and widespread as the wireless. The wireless systems use radio frequencies that are reserved by the government for non-licensed use. Most newer ones use 2.4 GHz and higher. The only problem is that these same frequencies are used by other household appliances such as telephones, wireless toys, Wi-Fi networks, and even microwave. As a result one of the biggest complaints or problems with baby video monitors is that the picture is not clear due to the transmission interference.
Digital Versus Analog Baby Video Monitors - Recent technology advances have allowed for digital video transmission and frequency hopping (modulation) so that the image remains clear. Of course this technology is more expensive. Digital systems also have a longer range (up to 300 meters), of course this is outdoor rating. Digital baby video monitors also have the added benefit of being more secure. Analog audio transmissions can be picked up at a distance from the home by a scanner receiver, other baby monitors, and even wireless phones. The Digital transmission especially with frequency-hopping provides a little more protection of your privacy.
Analog wireless systems
* Are usually not secure. Anyone with a similar receiver and who is within range, can receive the signal.
* Can suffer from irritating interference static, whines or squeals.
* Should have more than one channel so that if there is any interference, another channel can be selected.
The Future Baby Monitor? - Recently software for smartphone technology has been written so that a blackberry or iphone can be used for a baby monitor. When the program detects a sound it calls a number and allows you to hear what is going on. Of course one could think of multiple other uses for this technology.
