It's not fancy, but it's UltraClear!
Written: Jun 09 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Super sensitive reception, no interference, and 2 receivers
Cons: The transmitter MUST be powered by electricity ~ does NOT take batteries
The Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a monitor with clarity that’s inexpensive, and easy as pie, look into the UltraClear™ Nursery Monitor by Graco. It’s an excellent value.
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| marybatson's Full Review: Graco Ultraclear Monitor (2 Receivers) |
When selecting my first baby monitor, I had two prerequisites:
1. Battery power was essential as I wanted the freedom to meander throughout the house without having to be “plugged in.”
2. I needed a system that could reduce interference from other phones because we live in the 5th largest city in the nation.
Graco’s UltraClear™ Nursery Monitor fulfilled both requirements and more. I’ve actually grown accustomed to the gentle hum emanating from the unit during the nighttime hours. In addition, I have peace of mind knowing there’s an ear, or two listening in on my son. The monitor is lightweight, and quite portable. We travel frequently, and it’s never given us trouble in any venue.
Reception & Clarity
The reception is so clear that it picks up breathing. Initially we only used one of the receivers as our son slept next to us in a cradle. The receiver lived in our family room, and was usually positioned at the lowest volume setting. Both the transmitter and receiver were always ON, so even if the stereo was turned up, I could still monitor my son with the signal lights. Although, I didn’t solely depend on the signal lights, because the unit is so sensitive that the lights will “come alive” when the A/C unit kicks on.
I began using the 2nd receiver when we moved our son into his own room. The reception was so sensitive I couldn’t sleep because I heard every little peep, plus every barking dog in the back alley. I opted to put the 2nd receiver back in the drawer so I could catch-up on my sleep. 4-months later, we bought a new home with a split floor plan, the master suite, and office at the back end of the house. For the last 2½ years, I’ve continued to monitor my son both at night and during the day when he naps.
Interference & Static
I do receive a bit of interference from one of my portable phones (270 mAH), but I have to be right next to the monitor for this to happen. Otherwise, interference has not been an issue, even with our cellular phones. I don’t recall picking up others conversations, and I only receive static when I walk out of range. A word of advice, do not position your receiver too close to the TV, or stereo as the electrical equipment can and will interfere with the transmission causing static.
Range & Distance
In the new house, the transmitter sits high on top of a shelf probably 10’ away from my son’s face, yet I can detect the slightest whimper. I rarely remove the receiver from its position next to my bed, but there have been occasions when I’ve needed to go “unplugged” while my son naps. I am very impressed with the range on this monitor. I haven’t measured the distance, but I can say it’s a lot further than the range on my portable phone.
Battery Operation
As far as the battery-powered feature goes, I almost never use it. I find that odd, considering I thought it was a necessity in the beginning. I do clip the receiver to my belt upon occasion, but the 9- volt battery runs down so fast, something like 3 or 4-hours, I’ve decided it isn’t worth it. Additionally, there have been a few instances when I would have liked using the monitor during a power failure, but the transmitter doesn’t run on batteries. Also, there isn’t a low battery indicator on the monitor, so a soft bleating whine dispels from the unit like a whoopee cushion going off. It lasts for about 30-seconds, so if you aren’t actually holding the unit when the batteries run out, you may not know it’s dead, because it just shuts off.
Description:
First off, my UltraClear™ Nursery Monitor isn’t green like the image displayed. It’s white with teal accents; thus, it’s neutral and blends in with any nursery. Checkout the following site if you’re interested in seeing that color option:
http://www.thebabyoutlet.com/image_all/dualmonitor.jpg
Graco’s UltraClear™ Nursery Monitor uses cordless phone technology, which reduces interference from other electrical equipment. It operates on one or more of the following frequencies: 49.830 Mhz, 49.845 Mhz, 49.875 Mhz, 49.890 Mhz. Its maximum signal strength is 10 millivolts/meter at 3 meters. I copied that from the Owner’s Manual just in case someone might be interested.
The system is rather basic. It includes is a Nursery Unit, or transmitter, and two Parent’s Units, AKA receivers. Each unit includes a separate AC adapter, which allows one to plug into an electrical outlet. Additional features include:
Nursery Unit:
● On/Off switch
● Power light
● 2-Channel selector
● Easy to carry handle
● Flexible antenna
● AC adapter jack
Parent’s Units:
● On/Off volume control
● 4-volume settings
● 2-Channel selector
● 7-Signal indicator lights
● Power light
● Easy to carry handle
● Belt clip
● Flexible antenna
● Battery compartment
● AC adapter jack
WARNING:
● Do NOT use with extension cords.
● Do NOT place the Nursery Unit within reach of child’s reach.
● Use only with 110-120 volt AC electrical outlets.
As far as comparison-shopping goes, keep in mind the UltraClear™ Nursery Monitor does not include the following:
● The receivers do not have a “lights only” feature
● The receivers are not rechargeable
● The transmitter is not battery operated
● No low battery indicator
● No out of range signal
● No earphones
Happy Monitoring ~ ☺ ~
Mary
Other Graco Recommended Products:
NeatSeat™ Highchair
Graco Children’s Products Inc.
Customer Service Department
P.O. Box 100, Main Street, Elverson, PA 19520
Telephone: 1-800-345-4109
In Canada 1-800-667-8184
www.gracobaby.com/
Recommended:
Yes
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marybatson
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Member: Mary
Location: Phoenix
Reviews written: 169
Trusted by: 189 members
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