jtbmoore
Bakersfield, California
Full Member
Joined: 01/12/2008
View Profile
 Offline
|
Does anyone know of a 2 way radio that you can use as a baby montior as well. I want a radio that you can lock into the talk position so we can leave one in our trailer why the kids are a sleep and have the other by the campfire. Thanks
|
Retired_nuke_ET
Carrollton Va.
Senior Member
Joined: 12/20/2005
View Profile
|
I'm not at home so I can't tell you the brand, but our FRS/GMRS radios have a VOX (voice activated operations) setting. That might work for you if it can be set sensative enough. You might also be able to rig up something with a rubber band to hold the PTT button down.
|
ncscz
H'ville, NC
Senior Member
Joined: 05/29/2002
View Profile
|
It is not a true monitor but many of the FRS/GMRS radios have a "hands free" mode that transmits whenever there is a sound.
The model that we carry with us is similar to these . We have to be careful to NOT active the feature. If the VOX is turned on it will pick up normal conversations even while radio is in a jacket pocket. It could be embarrassing if you get careless.
CarriGo
Model 2320
|
YC 1
Yuba City Calif.
Senior Member
Joined: 01/11/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Locking a hand held transmitter on would run the battery down very fast as well as being illegal. You would be disrupting any others that may wish to use the channel. The radios may also have a time out timer that shuts the transmitter off if held on for more than a minute or two.
The Vox operation might work but would only work if there is sufficient sound to activate it.
There must be some battery operated baby monitors available somewhere.
|
RustyH
Simi Valley CA
New Member
Joined: 01/02/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
You might check Radio Shack for a wireless intercom. I have one that uses AC or rechargeable batteries. rechargearechargeable can lock one of the stations on, so you can hear everything in the ara. The batteries last quite a while (rechargeable not actually measured the time), and they recharge when you plug the unit into AC. RS Part number 43-3102.
Rusty and Pam Hemenway
|
|
|
SCVJeff
Santa Clarita, CA.
Senior Member
Joined: 07/28/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I doubt that any run of the mill FRS radio has a tome-out timer short of a dead battery. I also doubt that locking down the mic is against the rules in that service.
Either way, there are baby room monitors (Fisher-Price, etc.) that have high-gain mics, and are designed for continuous duty. The last one I saw had a wall-wart that can easily be replaced by a 12V adapter.
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350
|
jtbmoore
Bakersfield, California
Full Member
Joined: 01/12/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
I may just go with a baby montior. I might just use a two way radio and if my kids need me I will just show them how to hit the button. I want the 2 way radio also for when the kids are at the playground or riding their bikes they I can get a hold of them.
|
loggenrock
New Hampshire
Senior Member
Joined: 06/28/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
The VOX (voice-operated) setting on most 2-ways works fine - we have used one to monitor our dog in the RV many a time - it would certainly hear a crash/cry/alarm going off. ST
2003 Roadtrek 190P Chevy 3500, and a pair of Limmers...
|
RCMAN46
NorthWest
Senior Member
Joined: 02/24/2008
View Profile
|
SCVJeff wrote: I also doubt that locking down the mic is against the rules in that service.
Wrong. See section 95.181 Permissible communications
(i) A station operator must not communicate:
(15) Continuous or uninterrupted
transmissions, except for communications
involving the immediate safety of
life or property.
I do not believe monitoring children would qualify.
|
Retired_nuke_ET
Carrollton Va.
Senior Member
Joined: 12/20/2005
View Profile
|
Yep, my bad. The rubber band idea was a dumb idea. (it would work, it just wouldn't really be legal ) You look up the FCC rules for allowed communications FRS, GMRS (which is the 95.181 above) even CB and they all state pretty much the same thing for continuous transmissions and none mention anything that could be spun to include baby/kid/pet monitoring.
Now you might try a thrift store for a cheap used baby monitor as folk tend to take their old baby stuff there and I'm pretty sure that's where ours went.
Now back in the late 60's early 70's my old Radio Shack Walkie-Talkies with the CH-14 crystals, telescoping antenna (that got bent within minutes of coming out of the box) and had a pad on the bottom for sending morse code, you could lock the PTT button down. I know 'cause we got caught trying to sneak it into my older sister's room to spy on the girls with it.
|
|
|
