Sometimes it can be a juggling act watching all your children and keeping the house organized. Keeping an eye on children at play or sleeping can be made easier with an in-home video monitoring system. In just a few moments, you can have a wireless video monitoring system watching over your children.
Start with a wireless camera system. Like the familiar cordless phone, we have cameras that can transmit their signal wirelessly over the air to a receiver. Just like the base station of a cordless phone plugs into the phone jack to complete the connection to the phone company, these camera systems come with receivers that catch wireless signals and connect to a television. Typically, the camera system manufactures will claim a range up to 300 feet, but after a few walls or floors are placed between the camera transmitter and the receiver, the range is about half that amount.
Smarthome’s 2.4GHz Wireless Video Camera starter systems contain both parts needed to start a wireless video monitoring system. Place the camera on the included stand and attach the stand to a wall or other firm object. Point the camera at your child’s crib or bed and plug in the camera into electricity with the included AC adapter. The camera will begin beaming audio and video signals to the companion receiver. Place the receiver next to a TV and connect it to the TV antenna or audio and video inputs. The 2.4GHz Wireless Video Camera system includes connecting cables and even an A-B switch to change between the roof-top antenna or cable TV service and the receiver base. Flip on the TV and watch some real kid TV.
These cameras come in either black and white or color. While color has been a standard feature in televisions for decades, cameras with black and white output are still made. While we can all agree that in most cases a color picture looks better than a black and white one, under some conditions black & white models may perform better. In general, black and white cameras have more lines of resolution, which makes for a sharper picture. They also have a lower light requirement; formally known as the LUX rating. Lastly, black & white models are less expensive than color, a big consideration if you are investing in multiple units. If you would like to monitor your child during sleeping hours where the room will be dimly illuminated, consider getting the black and white model. This model contains special ‘infrared illuminating LEDs’ that produce light only visible to the camera. It can make a dark room appear fully lighted.
If you have more than one area in the home that needs monitoring, invest in additional cameras. The receiver base that connects to the TV can receive signals from up to four cameras. The base receiver can sequence or automatically switch between the cameras every one to 10 seconds. Or, get a second complete camera system that contains both the base and camera. The extra base can be attached to another TV. It is possible for multiple cameras to send signals to multiple receivers.
Click to see Smarthome’s line of Modulators. With a few extra parts, it’s possible to view the cameras on any TV in the home connected to the cable or antenna service. The base receiver can be connected to a device called a Video Modulator. It’s a device that will take the audio and video signals from the base receiver and create a TV channel. This TV channel is then inserted onto the same cable as your existing antenna or cable TV service. By flipping channels on the remote control, you can quickly change from your favorite TV program to your very own kids channel.
Reprinted with permission from Smarthome.COM