There is an external antenna that folds out from the back of the monitor that does improve range a little bit when extended. However, keep in mind that most of the other baby monitors out there today are rocking 1080p parent units, so this was a long-overdue update for Infant Optics.

Prior to the internet and video, all you had to select from was which monitor had the best audio quality and range.I appreciated the peace of mind knowing the monitor couldn’t be hacked (a rarity, but still something to consider with a WiFi-enabled baby monitor). It comes with additional interchangeable lenses and both the camera and receiving unit are small, lightweight, easy to travel with (and just as easy to set up and use).

Though it boasts a supposedly longer range than the Infant Optics, we lost connection to the camera several times during each use. I placed it on a shelf in my son's room, and the second I plugged in the camera, video appeared on the monitor. I’m not sure we would be able to mentally do that if it weren’t for the Infant Optics DXR-8 baby monitor, or at least something like this. Infant Optics is a recognized leader in the development and manufacturing of high-quality video baby monitors. This monitor’s camera boasts an LCD display, plus remote pan, tilt, and zoom options, which truly help you get the best view of your little one during nap and bedtime.PCMag is obsessed with culture and tech, offering smart, spirited coverage of the products and innovations that shape our connected lives and the digital trends that keep us talking.

I've been writing about computers, the internet, and technology professionally for over 30 years, more than half of that time with PCMag. That’s why all of our video baby monitors are non-WiFi meaning no hackers can access your camera over the internet. The two-way talk function can easily be accessed by pressing and holding the microphone button on the parent monitor. The signal strength may be reduced when in close proximity to radio or electrical equipment, such as TVs, computers, cordless or mobile phones, fluorescent lights, or dimmer switches.The picture quality on the display itself is about average with a resolution of 320 pixels by 240 pixels. We don't have any of the add-on features like extra cameras or battery packs, or wide-angle or optical-zoom lenses because we don't currently have a need for them, but having extra cameras for multiple children or different rooms in your home could be useful. Over the course of many nights and many naps, we examined the setup process, design, and how well the camera and monitor performed.

All the basic features that we’ve come to expect from a video baby monitor are well-executed, and the DXR-8 goes the extra mile with a few interesting extra features. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. It also comes with an additional zoom lens to increase camera placement options, which is something unique to the Infant Optics monitors.It does have a shortcut button for volume and brightness, but the shortcut is almost the same as going through the menu features, so we still wish it had buttons outside the menu options on the body of the parent unit. With the DXR-8 the presence of a wifi router can actually be a handicap, and what modern household is willing to forego wifi? We can also see that he stays awake staring up at the ceiling for a while after we leave the room, behavior the older model never clearly displayed. Alicia holds a certificate in online teaching and learning and is licensed to teach in Pennsylvania. You can also turn the sound completely off and the light gauge on the right-hand side of the monitor will alert you of any noise or crying, from green (quiet noise or fussing) to yellow (moderate crying) to red (loud noises and/or your baby is screaming).