Summer Infant Baby's Quiet Sounds Video Monitor
by Tiny Love
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List Price: Category: Baby Product See more product details |
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Baby Products Reviews of Summer Infant Baby's Quiet Sounds Video Monitor
Customer Review: Good video monitor, depends on your location
Summary: 4 Stars
We purchased this video monitor before our daughter was born, and have used it for all of her 8 months. For the first six months we lived in an apartment and it worked GREAT. But a couple months ago we moved a few states away, into a house, and since then I have not gotten very good receptions, and generally every few seconds we get a little wave of static and a loud noise. I am not sure if it was the move (although we packed it back in the original packaging), or the new area, or what happened. I have not contacted Summer to see if they can remedy this yet, I plan to. I must say, though, that I LOVE having a video monitor, it is definitely one of the best baby purchases we made! You are able to check on him or her without disturbing his/her sleep, and I plan on using it throughout toddler-hood, to keep on eye on her in her play room! I am not sure how this one compares to other brands, as I have never used any other brand. I would reccomend this one, just try it out right away in the room you will be using it in, to make sure you can get a good clear signal, or else return it.
**UPDATE 05/2006: Since this review we have purchased the MobiCam 2.4 Ghz monitor and used it in conjunction with our Summer, and originally I was very excited about the MobiCam, but have found problems with the MobiCam, including lots of static, hard to mount the camera, and the neighbors got a security camera that is also 2.4 Ghz, and they have taken over the channel 1, so now they can see our little girl if they change the channel on their receiver. The MobiCam has a smaller, hand-held video receiver, and is a bit sharper, and can be in color (only when there is light in the room), so it sounded great. The Summer is still working, and actually working better than last review, without any calls to the manufacturer, and has a bigger video screen than the MobiCam, is just easier to see. My husband likes the Summer ALOT better, I am now in agreement.
Note about Interference: Our old 900 mhz cordless phone used to cause lots of problems with this unit, but we got new 5.8 Ghz phones, so that is no longer a problem. We have a wireless network, our modem is on a 2.4 Ghz frequency, and doesn't cause any problems to our Summer monitor, but causes problems when the MobiCam is on Channel 2. We also see major interference on our MobiCam when our microwave is on. Hope that helps.
Customer Review: cheaper can be better
Summary: 5 Stars
I registered for this monitor when I was pregnant with my son (17 months ago). I thought the Safety First would be better because it was more expensive, but I did not want to be greedy so I chose this one. I recieved it and set it up immediately. It was a little frustrating to set up because we had to keep adjusting the camera to get a good view of the crib. We also realized that if you get some interference to move the monitor around. It would work fine on one side of my room and not on the other. After finding the right spot I never had problems again.
After my son moved downstairs to his bedroom I was a nervous wreck. This monitor helped me sleep through the night. I loved the fact that I could turn off the screen, but still had the sound. When the monitor screen is on it can light up the whole room, so if I had to keep it on at night I would have never be able to sleep. Any time he cried all I had to do was to hit the button on the top of the monitor and I could instantly see what was going on. It saved me many trips up and down the steps to check on him. I was even able to see if his eyes were open or not.
At first I thought that the static on the sound was a little loud, so I borrowed my friend's safety first to try it out. I could not wait to return it to her!! It was so loud that I could not imagine sleeping with that on at night. I tried moving it all around as I had done with the Summer, but it did not make a difference.
I used it for my son until my daughter was born 3 1/2 months ago, then she took over the nursery. I just started using it for her now that she has moved out of my room, and I have had no problems with it. I have not had any part break.
I would definately recommend this monitor to any one. It can give you peace of mind. I only wish that they made a second model that worked on a different frequency so I could also buy one for my son's new room. I have a sound monitor in his room, but I miss being able to see what he is doing without leaving my bed.
It is definately a great monitor for the money. I am glad that I decided not to be greedy!! If you buy it and are not pleased with it right away, just try playing around with the placement of the video monitor; it might just work out for you.
Customer Review: THE answer to an autistic child, but be careful.
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been dealing with video monitors to keeps tabs on our autistic son for three years now, and we've gone through 2 Summer video monitors, each lasting only 1 year. I tried going with another brand using 2.4 MHz technology, but had tons of interference from everything (fans, a/c, 5.8 MHz phone, etc), so went back to Summer.
*** Note that each of the currently sold Summer 900 MHz monitor and camera models are not intercompatable *** Their current models 02180, 02060, 02090, and 02100 all "use different circuitry" (according to the manufacturer), and can't be mixed and matched in your home. (It would be nice to have two cameras, one table-top monitor for the kitchen, and the handheld monitor for carrying between different areas of the house, hence buying the 02090 and 02180 systems and use them together - but no, they're not intercompatable - you won't be able to see both cameras with both monitors. Go figure.)
Two fundamental facts I've come to learn about video monitors:
1. Interference is very much house-dependent. There's no way to predict which system will work in your house and which one will be just a sea of static. It's like a box of chocolates - you just have to take one and try it.
2. None of these monitors are made very well - based on the reviews (and my confirmatory experience), most of them seem to break in a year or so. So be gentle to them, and turn them off (or at least turn off the video screen) when you don't need it, and just plan on their life being about 1 year. If you get longer, then you're doing real well. And if your merchant offers you a replacement protection plan, for heaven's sake buy it!
One other note: nightvision on this is much better than Lorex. However, you can combine cameras to boost your night vision. Keep those old system's camereas and make the night resolution much, much better.
Customer Review: Overheats, gets very HOT !
Summary: 1 Stars
I registered for two of these monitors and received them as gifts. The large square electric wall plug connected into both the camera and into the TV screen PLUS the TV monitor itself would heat up so hot that you could fry an egg on them. It would get so hot that you could barely touch it. To add to the issue, they would not cool down when you turned them off. If you have the unit on for a few hours and turn it off for 8-10 hours, it barely decreased the heat exuding from the various parts of the unit. You have to manually unplug the unit for several hours to decrease the heat to a cool temperature. One would expect this to function as a baby monitor, so you can get used to unplugging the outlet to the TV screen when it is not in use, but it is very inconvenient to unplug the camera side of the unit. This is because if you unplug the camera side (which is the only way to get the unit to cool down) you loose focus on the baby's crib, and have to readjust the view every time. It is easier to be able to leave it, but I would not trust this hot surface plugged into the wall next to my babies crib. Please note that I had two of these and found the same issue with both of them, my cousin bought one and had the same problem. I returned both of them and spent the extra $50 to upgrade to the more reputable brand of video monitor. Personally, I upgraded to the 'Safety 1st' and found the picture to be less clear than this brand. However I would choose a picture that is slightly less clear than living in fear of the unit overheating.
Customer Review: THE BETTER, CHEAPER MONITOR!!!
Summary: 4 Stars
I've been looking for the best monitor out there for me and the Summer monitor is the one. This is a much better monitor than the Safety 1st and it's alot cheaper! I had to return the Safety 1st monitor since it didn't work out for me. There is too much interference! However, this Summer monitor really works for me. I have three 900MHZ phones, three computers, and alot of other stuff going on in my house and the picture is very clear most of the time. Of course, I do get interference only when I use the phone right next to the monitor (because of the similar frequency) but once I move the phone further away, the picture is clear again. Just imagine how perfect it would be if I upgrade my phone (it's time that I do).
The only negative thing is that the picture does get a little less clear at night but this is not a big problem. The picture still looks good and most monitors get less clearer at night. I live in a two-story house and I can still see my daughter downstairs when I'm cooking. I can hear her really good too, over all the other noises around her.
Overall, this is a great monitor and I am very satisfied with its performance. The picture is clear most of the time anywhere in my house. If I didn't have the 900MHZ phones, the clarity will be perfect. All I know if that the Safety 1st monitor should've been better for me because of the higher frequency but it wasn't. This Summer monitor is alot better even with the similar frequency of the phones I have. That just says how great this monitor is-BETTER & CHEAPER TOO!