Among the many tough purchases for new parents is the baby monitor, and advances in technology only make the decision harder.
Two years ago, my wife and I went with an audio-only monitor that many of our friends had also used.
After testing a newly released wireless video monitor for the past two weeks, I wish we had gone that route instead.
We encountered two major issues with the audio-only monitor. First, it’s not always obvious from sounds whether your baby needs attention. Second, the monitors often picked up interference.
The Lorex Live Sense Baby Monitoring System solves both of those problems and includes other advanced features, such as night vision and the ability to remotely access the video feed via Skype.
The base system includes one camera and one monitor. The monitor has a 3.5-inch LCD display and is powered by a rechargeable battery. An optional battery pack is available for the camera, but for this test, I just left it plugged in.
The range on the system is terrific. I placed the camera in a second-floor bedroom and was able to receive the video and audio transmission from the basement and backyard.
Video quality is nowhere near high-definition, but is decent enough to serve its purpose, both in daylight and at night.
Lorex says the battery on the monitor can hold a charge for up to four-and-a-half hours. The system I tested had slightly more juice.
Remote access takes some time to set up but works flawlessly. You need to sign up for two Skype accounts (which are free), one for the monitor and one for yourself to use to remotely access the video feed. The monitor must be connected via a USB slot to a Windows-based computer with Internet access.
Other useful features include the ability to record the feed to an included microSD card. You can also talk to your baby and play preloaded tunes through the monitor.
The system uses a digital wireless signal with FHSS technology (frequency-hopping spread spectrum), which Lorex says “ensures no third-party can pick up the audio or video transmission, as the signal is hopping frequencies many times per second.” FHSS also helps to avoid conflicts with devices such as cordless phones.
The only feature that didn’t work well was the thermometer. Room temperature readings on the monitor didn’t match up with my home thermometer.
Cost is the bigger drawback. The Lorex system carries a suggested retail price of $220, though Best Buy’s website listed the product last week for $170. Each additional camera costs $110.
Many audio-only monitors are available for less than $50. But spending the extra money is well worth it for a device you’ll use daily for at least the first 18 months.
In addition to the Best Buy site, the Lorex monitor is sold at http://sylvaniastore.lorex .
Andy Vuong: 303-954-1209, avuong@denverpost.com or andyvuong
