With a 2.4GHz digital transmission and a range of up to 150 metres, the Watch & Care V100 works through floors and walls. I set the camera up in my sons’ bedroom on the second floor of our house and it transmitted perfectly to the parent unit on the ground floor – through two ceilings! Despite the wide coverage, the unit offers secure transmission, so no one can listen in.
Both the parent unit and the camera can be mains or battery operated, and the product comes with a 24-month manufacturer’s warranty. There’s even a helpline (call charges payable) if you have any problems.
What we love
My daughter Gracy is 9 months old, but I still like to check on her a few times when she’s asleep. The amplicomms Watch & Care V100 saves on trips up and down the stairs – and the chance of disturbing Gracy – because all bar one of the functions can be operated and adjusted from the parent unit.
When the Voice Operated Transmission (VOX) system picks up any sound, it activates the 2.4-inch LCD colour screen on the parent unit. The display is very clear and there are five brightness settings. The level at which sound is detected can be adjusted, so you can decide if you want to hear every gurgle or just louder noises.
My favourite feature is the night-vision function, which automatically kicks in when light levels are low. The camera is fitted with four infrared diodes, so the picture relayed to the screen is in black and white rather than colour. It’s like watching an episode of Most Haunted – without Yvette Fielding!
You can even play five lullabies through the camera by choosing this option on the parent unit.
There’s also an Intercom function (talkback), so you can speak to your baby without entering the room. This feature encouraged me to try the Watch & Care V100 in Gracy’s brothers’ bedroom. Fynn, 6, and Harry, 3, share a room on the second floor, so it’s a trek from the living room if they call out during the evening. Fynn has a habit of trying to turn the main light on so he can read or play once I’ve gone back downstairs. The first time I used the Intercom, he shot out of bed and turned the light off. Now he knows that the screen is activated if he’s on the move, so he’s less inclined to leave his bed. This goes to shows that a digital video baby monitor can be put to good use once it’s no longer needed for its original purpose!
The temperature in your baby’s room is constantly displayed on the screen, so you can ensure it’s not too hot or too cold. There’s also a built-in nightlight – so no need to turn on the bedroom light if you want to enter the room.
The paren’t unit is charged on a cradle, but it has a rechargeable battery too and can be carried around cordlessly or hung from a belt by its clip.
What to watch out for
Though most functions can be controlled from the parent unit, the camera angle can only be changed manually. This is slightly annoying if your child is a wriggler and the camera can’t be positioned to encompass the whole cot/bed. I’d also like to have a zoom option on the camera.
The unit must be located at least 1 metre from other electronic equipment to prevent mutual interference, though this is not unique to this monitor. I did try leaving the parent unit next to my laptop, but it affected the wi-fi signal. Placing it the obligatory 1 metre away, however, cured the problem and I could still see the screen when it was activated.
Who is the amplicomms Watch & Care V100 Monitor best for?
Parents, grandparents and childminders who want to keep an eye on a sleeping child in another room without disturbing them.
The amplicomms Watch & Care V100 has a clear screen, great transmission and is reassuring to use. Although the camera has to be altered manually, the monitor offers a useful range of features that can be controlled from the parent unit. The vibrate mode means it’s ideal for people with hearing problems, too.
