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Nursery Monitor
By Amy Glosh

Monitors allow parents the freedom to get chores done around the house, take a nap or simply relax in another room with the comfort that their baby is sleeping peacefully.

In the home and outside, the nursery monitorÕs baby unit transmits a signal through the airwaves to the parent unit. The range of transmitted signal is usually 300 feet. This keeps the frequencies from baby and parent units within the household property. Parents select from one of two preset channels to listen to their baby. The channels permit the nursery monitors to not interfere with another monitor, especially if homes are close.

Another potential problem is interference from household products. Certain products such as portable phones, broadcast to the base unit of the phone to the same frequency as the monitor. This results in signals being picked up by the nursery monitor. In addition, many external conditions can affect the range on the monitor, including electrical equipment, power lines, concrete, steel studs in walls, burglar alarms, televisions and computers.

To make them even more convenient for parents, todayÕs monitors have a variety of features.

Portability
Portability provides parents mobility and freedom with a parent unit that operates from the base or batteries, and most provide a belt clip for attachment to clothing. Some models have the same option on the babyÕs unit as well.

Channel Selection
One of the most important features on a unit is channel selection because it helps eliminate interference. Most monitors have two preset channels, which is similar to having two preset channels on your car radio. If parents experience interference from within the home or from a neighbor, the unit can be changed to an alternative channel. If there is interference on both channels, move the monitor to a different area of the room.

Sound Display Lights
Lights allow parents to see, as well as hear, if baby is making noise, in a loud environment or if the parents are watching TV and donÕt want to hear static sounds from the monitor.

Voice Activation and Continuous Transmission
With voice activation, babyÕs unit will only transmit when it hears a sound. Sound must meet a preset criteria, such as noise at a high decibel level or a noise which lasts for a certain period of time. Continuous transmission means the babyÕs unit continuously listens and sends signals to the parentÕs unit.

The advantage of a voice-activated unit is that you may not hear any background noise while the child is quiet. The disadvantage is that the parent sometimes wonder if the unit is working because if the baby is quiet there are no sounds to indicate the babyÕs unit is transmitting. Voice activation and continuous transmission assure parents if baby makes a noise, they will hear it.

Out-of-Range Indicator
An out-of-range indicator alerts the parents when he/she is out of the babyÕs transmission range. Most of the time, baby may be quiet in the nursery, as parents roam around the home or yard. They may be unsure if they are within range, since the child is not making continuous sounds. An out-of-range indicator, signals parents if they are too far away from the babyÕs unit.

Automatic and Manual Night Lights
A few monitors have integrated night lights on the babyÕs unit. This added feature helps free up an electrical socket and light up the top of the dresser or changing table.

Voice Activated Music
This feature is activated when the child makes noise for a preset period of time. After the music is activated, it plays for about 30 seconds and then automatically turns off.

Intercom
Also available in some product lines are monitors with intercoms. Basically, this is a traditional audio monitor, with a two-way communication features. The added feature allows parents to communicate with their child as they get older, therefore extending the use of the monitor.

Low Battery Alarm
Low battery alarms are an added safety check, especially for the parent who frequently uses the parentÕs unit with batteries. Some units send an audible signal or the on/off lights will dim when the batteries are low, either is effective and very useful.

There are a few final tips to help customers get the most out of their new monitors. Both the A/C adapter and the cord can act as an additional antenna. If these cords are extended as much as possible ø on both the parentsÕ and babyÕs units ø the monitor performance can be improved. Units will work better on household currents than with batteries.

If interference is a problem, moving the babyÕs unit to different location in the nursery can often eliminate static. Commonly, there are areas of the house that have pockets of interference or poor range. All monitors have a preset performance limit, so all perform to basically the same range. It is also very important that both units are set to the same channel. This is simple mistake that is often made.

Hopefully, this article will help clear up some of the confusion about monitors.

Provided by Amy Glosh, Product Line Manager at Evenflo.