Video Monitor for 2 Suggestions???

AnnaS930 · August 2016

Hello all,
Did some searching and went pretty far back without finding what I need.
Those with 2 kiddos already (or with #2 on the way if you've found a great one), I need video monitor suggestions. We currently have a Levana Keera and the additional camera is backordered so I'm on the hunt for the right camera for us, not quite sure if it exists and hard to read all the specs on every single one. Tell me if any of you have a monitor with 2 cameras that does all of this:

- 2 cameras that are mountable on the wall
- Handheld piece that goes into PEEP mode, or basically nothing shown on screen until baby makes a sound
- Has great battery life (we are able to keep the handheld unplugged all day/evening - so a 2 hour nap and 3 hours of bedtime before us, and plug it in over night without it losing battery.. it rarely gives us a low battery alert right before we go to bed)
- Would like handheld to be split screen
- Want handheld to have the ability to be in PEEP mode (see above) and be triggered on by noise on either of the cameras.. does that exist? Like my screen is black, baby #2 makes noise and the handheld knows to light up the screen with his camera? Or even if it brings back up the split screen, but has the audio of whichever room is making noise?

Seems like a lot of the split screens you have to choose which room has the sound on, and if the other makes sound I won't hear it? CONFUSED.

HELP!

K thanks!!

Tippy05 · August 2016

I have one at home (I don't know the brand for sure, but I think Summer) and it sounds similar to what you're looking for. There isn't a "peep" mode per se, but it's video and audio. Also, instead of the split screen, it switches back and forth between the two rooms every 10 seconds or so or you can have it focus just one one room at a time. I love it and this actually reminds me to that I have to pull it back out, put fresh batteries in and mount them.

Ssoccerball · August 2016

We ordered this with a second camera. It's not installed yet, so I can't give you a performance review, but I know that the cameras are mountable and the LED display can be sound activated. It had the best reviews on Amazon and the images seemed very clear.

AnnaS930 · August 2016

@Ssoccerball - excellent, I just read a review comparing this one to a VTech safe and sound expandable. I'll check this one out too.

mrsvoorhees-2 · August 2016

I just felt that I needed to say that I like this thread. That is all.

Sbrown721 · August 2016

@Ssoccerball Does that one connect to wifi? I purchased the Motorola MBP36S (FTM - so only need one monitor at this point), but I am really starting to doubt that this was the right purchase. I'm reading really bad reviews on battery life and warranty. I don't want one that connects to wifi tho.

seitzy3 · August 2016

The Motorola camera is our favorite. We just picked up our third camera for Ava. It can have up to four cameras. This one does not connect to wifi and has a long battery life and option for split screen. The cameras can hang on the wall which I love because I see all of the inside of Cameron's and Ava's crib. I have no complaints about this whatsoever! Love it

ETA: i am pretty sure the split screen lets me know when either girl is up or crying. I usually just have it on Flip mode where it stays on each room for about 30 seconds then flips. I'll have to check about the split screen though

seitzy3 · August 2016

I suck because I keep forgetting to add stuff. You can put the camera on a timer where it stays lit and shuts off 5,10,20 minutes later. Or you could shut it off manually. If it is off however, to my knowledge it won't light up automatically until you touch the monitor.

AnnaS930 · August 2016

Thanks @seitzy3

AnnaS930 · August 2016

So I just ordered the VTech Safe and Sound expandable (VM343) with an additional camera and will try it out. It has my feature of coming on just for sound/video when there is noise in the room which is my biggest dealio. I really don't like the white noise of the monitor on all night once baby starts sleeping better. Wanted to order ASAP to get some good practice before #2 arrives, will report back how it turns out when it arrives in the next week or two! I think it has split screen, but I realized I don't need that all of the time as my monitor for E is set to only kick on when he makes noise, or I can push a button to take a peek at him. Here's hoping it's a good choice and I can sell my first unit.. stupid Levana and not having the camera in stock.

KimmySchmidt · August 2016

We use two foscam home security cameras in conjunction with the live cams pro app. - the phone/computer is the screen.

Because it's a home security camera there's a peep mode, though they don't call it that. I'm not that familiar, frankly our house is too small for the sound function to even be necessary.

Its kind of complicated to set up, but it works well and it works over the internet, so there are no out-of-range issues

(Here we see DD in what will be the nursery, and me trying to figure out how to hang the artwork in what will be her room. The new camera is the HD version, the top pic is SD night vision.)

Eta: to address another concern, they are wall mountable.

frogdog06 · August 2016

Because the Costco return policy is everything.

https://www.costco.com/Samsung-BrightVIEW-Baby-Monitor-with-IR-Night-Vision-and-2-PTZ-Cameras.product.100301664.html

drmh22 · August 2016

@AnnaS930 I love you for posting this. I've been meaning to post the same thing.

I've been so overwhelmed that I haven't even really started looking at them. Idk why picking a monitor feels so hard this time.

mrsvoorhees-2 · August 2016

@AnnaS930did you get it yet? What did you think?

asht · August 2016

Just a heads up to those that use video, they are very easy to hack from the outside world and it seems there are more and more horror stories behind who is watching where

mrsvoorhees-2 · August 2016

asht said:

Just a heads up to those that use video, they are very easy to hack from the outside world and it seems there are more and more horror stories behind who is watching where

Those are the wifi monitors, the non wifi cant be hacked. Or at least all the ones reported are wifi. Definitely not interested in a wifi monitor!

Piperella · August 2016

Just don't use the standard settings when setting up a wifi monitor/video system. If you use common passwords or the default password, of course they are going to be easy to hack into. If you aren't a techy kind of person, ask someone in your family or close friends that are to help you set it up correctly.

AnnaS930 · August 2016

@MrsVoorhees got the vtech. Enjoying it with just emmetts monitor up so far. True test will come when Baby is here for how it does with both, so far good battery and range, clear picture and has feature of only coming on with noise. I've played with camera #2 but will have to have it on patrol if I want sound (switching between each camera every 10 seconds) but can do so with screen off until noise which I like. We will see, no buyers remorse yet!!

beachmama14 · August 2016

This thread is so helpful. We currently have a Motorola MBP33. It's done its job, but the battery life sucks and the picture isn't great by any means. I also ran over the cord for the monitor with the vaccum a few months ago and the cord died. Got a replacement at Best Buy with the same voltage required (after a call to Motorola and they wouldn't replace it) it gets the job done but it doesn't fit in the socket the same so if you bump it, it falls out. Not the end of the world, but annoying. We can buy a second camera for our unit for $99. But after the less than stellar customer service already, I'm hesitant to put another hundred bucks into it if something else breaks in the next six months.. Thinking I may just get a new set up with two cameras. All your reviews are helpful!

KimmySchmidt · August 2016

asht said:

Just a heads up to those that use video, they are very easy to hack from the outside world and it seems there are more and more horror stories behind who is watching where

The ones that are "hacked" usually just aren't password protected. It's the same as saying your neighbor "hacked" your wifi when in reality you just left it up with no protection. If you take reasonable precautions, it's at least as secure as your wifi network.

AnnaS930 · August 2016

beachmama14 said:

This thread is so helpful. We currently have a Motorola MBP33. It's done its job, but the battery life sucks and the picture isn't great by any means. I also ran over the cord for the monitor with the vaccum a few months ago and the cord died. Got a replacement at Best Buy with the same voltage required (after a call to Motorola and they wouldn't replace it) it gets the job done but it doesn't fit in the socket the same so if you bump it, it falls out. Not the end of the world, but annoying. We can buy a second camera for our unit for $99. But after the less than stellar customer service already, I'm hesitant to put another hundred bucks into it if something else breaks in the next six months.. Thinking I may just get a new set up with two cameras. All your reviews are helpful!

This was us.. a camera for our Levana was hardly going to get here in time and I wouldn't have had time to see if I liked the multi-camera mode.. also the reception hasn't been as good on it lately and the antenna feels a little wobbly. I decided to just bite the bullet and spent $200 on a new system versus the $120 for the new camera. Not a huge money difference, and I'll probably list the old unit on ebay for cheap since it's only in decent condition, maybe make another $50 back and call it even!

Ampip2270 · August 2016

Just wanted to come back and say after much research and contemplating we decided on the HelloBaby monitor. My mom bought it for us, and I decided to use it today at nap time with my 2 year old... Love love love it! Pic quality is great. Simple to use, not bulky, features are perfect. So far so good. If I remember or have time, I'll chime back about battery life after. **And just to toss this out here my husband decided to moon me after he laid our son down and thought it was hysterical

Ampip2270 · August 2016

Well about 8 hours in (between naps, bed and mornings) and still have 3/4 battery.

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