Among digital baby monitors, there are two kinds- DECT baby monitors and those without this advanced technology. What…DECT? DECT stands for Digital Enhanced Cordless Communications. Regular digital baby monitors might operate on the 2.4 GHz frequency but DECT ones use a special frequency, 1.9 Ghz that is reserved for voice technologies.
With its uncommon special frequency, it is very unlikely to have other devices using that same frequency and causing interference of signals. If you are not too sure what digital baby monitors are, read our guide here.
Digital, Analog, or DECT?
Unless you live in a household that is totally free of other electronic devices, it’s possible that you’ll get some sort of interference with both digital and analog baby monitors. You may need to try several types to find the one that works best for you. If you’re not up for the trial and error, the one sure thing in baby monitors is DECT digital technology.
Recommended Models & Reviews
Currently, there are only a few DECT baby monitors on the market, and the majority still cost more than $100. Philips-Avent was the first to introduce DECT digital baby monitors. Their entry-level DECT monitor, the SCD 510, starts at about $110, and they say it’s guaranteed to be interference-free. Safety 1st now offers the fantastic High-Def Digital Baby Monitor for about $60, which brings DECT technology to a much more affordable price range.
Philips Avent was the first to sell digital baby monitors using DECT technology in the U.S. The SCD510 digital baby monitor uses DECT to provide a secure connection between the parent and child monitor units that is guaranteed to be interference-free. You can adjust the sensitivity of the microphone, and the monitor automatically scans 120 channels to make sure there’s never a disruption (aside from any that your baby may make). There’s a talk-back feature, too, so you can talk to your baby from another room. You can plug it in or roam up to about 1000 ft with the rechargeable batteries. I like the long battery life on this baby monitor.
Philips SCD 589 Digital Baby Monitor Review
- DECT technology guarantees a crystal clear connection with zero interference between the baby’s monitor and the parent unit. Because you want to be the only one listening to your baby, the DECT technology automatically finds an unused channel and switch to them.
- Enjoy total reliability with the visible link indicator showing continuous connection between the parent unit and the baby monitor.
- Small, portable cordless parent unit allows you to move freely in and around the house
- Parents can remotely monitor baby’s room temperature, activate the starry night-light and play five soothing lullabies from parent unit
If you consider a top-of-the-line monitor to be the only option for your baby’s nursery, then be sure to check out the Philips DECT Baby Monitor. Although it is a bit pricier than other monitors and night-lights, it has the electronic “extras” one has come to expect from Philips.
- Perhaps the most unique and welcome feature is that one can remotely monitor the room temperature in a baby’s nursery, activate the night-lights in the shape of tiny stars or play a series of soothing lullabies from the (thankfully) small parent unit.
- The parent unit and the base unit placed in the nursery have two-way communication capabilities, which means the DECT Baby Monitor can work as a walkie-talkie.
- Our testers love the ability to talk to a baby even before they enter the room.
- We also find toddlers and older children like to use the walkie-talkie feature, and we were even able to use this monitor as a portable intercom system to make communication between people in different areas of a home more convenient.
- The DECT Baby Monitor also proved to provide exceptionally clear audio. In fact, Philips guarantees that other nearby devices (such as cordless and mobile telephones) won’t interfere with the DECT Baby Monitor.
- Automatic channel selection. More than 60 channels are available, and as soon as the monitor detects another device using its channel, it switches to an unused channel.
- Comes with a handy travel case, and you can always tell if you are in range because of visible and audible link indicators. Additionally, the sensitivity of the nursery unit can be adjusted to suit nearly any situation.
Overall, the Philips DECT Baby Monitor is at the top of the baby monitor and night-light price range, but it is loaded with extras and performs at a sophisticated level we love.
(4.5 out of 5)
(4.1 out of 5)
