Graco Digital Deluxe iMonitor Baby Monitor
by Graco Baby
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List Price: Category: Baby Product See more product details |
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Baby Products Reviews of Graco Digital Deluxe iMonitor Baby Monitor
Customer Review: not too bad, but a few major issues that parents should be aware of
Summary: 3 Stars
After an initial difficulty, where this monitor was incredibly static-y, we finally got it worked out, and it has been working reasonably well ever since. the range is not great, but not bad. However, the main reason for writing this review is for two main drawbacks with it.
A number of the reviews complain about the loud beeping it makes when it can't find the base. while this is sometimes irritating, it is a great feature to make sure you're not missing it if your baby does get into trouble. That said, there are two serious flaws with the beeping. The first is that, when the battery dies, it simply goes to sleep. The LEDs turn red, and the monitor just shuts off, with absolutely no audio indication that it has happened. If you're asleep, and it's not on its base, it will just quietly stop monitoring your child - not very safe.
The second major flaw (which is actually probably more dangerous) is the very strange fact that if the monitor is on the base, and the base loses power, the monitor goes to sleep, exactly as if the batteries had died. even with a full battery, it simply stops monitoring. In other words, if you keep your monitor plugged in, and you have a power failure, even if it lasts just a few seconds, the monitor will no longer be monitoring.
While we have been generally pleased with the monitor other than these, these two problems make it not a safe option as a baby monitor.
Customer Review: *The* baby monitor for a high-tech home
Summary: 5 Stars
I was very worried about *any* baby monitor in our high-tech home. Many reviews of other monitors raised red flags about interference with wireless networks and cordless phones. So for reference, scattered around our two-story home are a cordless digital phone system, an Apple Airport Extreme Base Station, and two Apple Airport Express Base Stations connecting a wireless network of several machines. Initially when we set up the system we didn't experience any problems, but after a week or so, both receivers would randomly beep as if they were "out of range." Luckily, the first attempted solution was the last -- we simply rearranged the position of the monitors with the cordless phones' and Voila!, problem solved. Battery life is acceptable, as I've left the receiver(s) off the charger for at least two hours before being beeped at. The iMonitor is very sensitive; we have an iPod set up in her room more than 8 feet away from the monitor and even on the receiver's lowest setting, we can hear the low-volume music. Last but not least, if you're debating between the "2 Receiver" and the "1 Receiver" models, only go with the latter if you don't have a lot of square footage in a one-story home. Having a child taxes your memory enough without having to remember yet another thing -- and you will inevitably forget to bring receiver with you, leave it downstairs when you're upstairs and vice versa.Customer Review: Almost Perfect
Summary: 5 Stars
It seems like all the baby monitors had mixed reviews including this one, but my wife and I definitely wanted digital because we live in a townhouse with several neighbors near by. These were some of the more reasonably-priced digitals. We've been using them for over 4 months now and it's been great. Background noise is hardly noticeable and there's rarely ever any static. We have 2 cordless phones and a wireless router that run on the same frequency as the monitors and there's no interference. Volume adjustment is great. Receivers light up red and beep if they lose communication with the transmitter so you know that the monitor is working. That communication loss doesn't happen very often and usually only for a few seconds (turn off and back on). We have 2 floors and a basement and have taken it outside over 50 feet away and it works fine. Beeps when battery is low too. Receivers are light-weight and can attach to your belt. They're durable too. I dropped the receiver on tile floor twice now and it still works fine. The only drawback is the battery life. We only get about 3-4 hours out of a receiver. It's not much of an inconvenience though because the monitor can sit in the charger at night and still works fine (plus there's 2 receivers). We are planning on getting a second set of these or the vibe model for my parents-in-law for when they watch our daughter or other grandkids.Customer Review: I hate this monitor
Summary: 1 Stars
When I got this, it was a new product and had great reviews. Well, problems surface over time with this junk. I needed something with long range to accomodate our 6,000 square feet ranch. This works ok around the house, but I will get out of range once in a while even when unit is sitting still and nothing moves in front of it. Our child is in the family bed so we only use it for naptimes. Thank goodness. If I had to use it at night, this would be in the trash by now. All the snap, cracle and pop and occasionally beeping out of nowhere, how can people take that in the middle of the night? To adjust the volume you have to push on the button which beeps with each push with the same volume frequency. Yes, it is very loud. And the rechargable batteries? Great thought, but these things don't hold any charge. After one year of using it for couple hours a day, it holds charge for about 1 hour. Thank goodness I have two units and can take the other one when first one dies. Replacement batteries not available anywhere that I could find. even our battery store couldn't help and I refuse to buy anymore products from Graco regarding this monitor. They already stole my money for it in the first place. What a junk. This was the WORST baby expense I have made. Honestly. I absolutely hate this monitor but suffer with it for the naps. Baby is growing up and soon this junk will go in the junk.Customer Review: Frustration of the BAD outweighs the Good
Summary: 2 Stars
After reading all the great reviews on this unit, we thought we found the perfect monitor. We already have the Fisher Price sounds and lights from when our first child was born 3 yrs ago. That one has worked fine for us... except for the sometimes loud static and the fact that one (or more :) ) of your neighbors also owns the same unit. SO, we wanted a new one for our new baby that was super quiet (THIS ONE IS!)and that was not a "spy gadget" for our neighbors to listen in on. So far so good... but then this iMonitor unit will randomly pick up static (kinda like older cordless phones) and seemingly lose it's signal. It is good that it then tries to re-establish itself with the base unit, but makes a VERY LOUD beep-beep-beep-beep sound if it loses connection to the base. That's SO ANNOYING at 3 am. (or any other time too). Any time our power even flickers, the base unit shuts off -- then you have to reset it AND the receivers before it works. Again, quite annoying. That said, we live with the frustration but not sure for how long. The design is AWESOME, as the receivers are both recharged (NO CORD ATTACHED!) on their bases and you can just grab them and move them around the house. No need for batteries! The sound quality and sensitivity is fantastic. For $90, I'd hope it wouldnt have any problems, but it does. So, I would not recommend this unit.