Camera for Baby's Room

[EmagSamurai]

Can anyone recommend a good wired camera that I could use for a baby monitor? I'd like a day/night camera with audio, and I'd like to keep the cost under $200. My house is currently under construction, so I planned to run a CAT6 and an 18/2 to each place I want a camera.

Having never looked at surveillance cameras before, there are so many options that it's tough to narrow them down.

 

[nov0798]

I use the GE camera from Lowes for 50.00 (http://www.walmart.com/ip/GE-MicroCam-Wired-Colorhee-Camera-With-Night-Vision/10258350?findingMethod=rr) Looks like they are cheaper at Wal Mart. I then I paired that with an RF Modulator from Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202698983/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053).

I then take the coax from the modulator and run it into the wall in the room. I then use that as a "feed" to a splitter, and then use it as a channel on my TV. Since i use HDMI for input on my TV, I use the COAX in for the baby station. I also have it running to a TV tuner on my computer which I can then stream to a web page which I can access from any other computer.

Super cheap, less than 100 bucks, and works great. This camera has been going for 3 years now, and not one problem.

 

[Del91574]

Audio is going to be a hard point to find, since there was a huge crackdown on wire tapping and companies like Supercircuits and others got nailed. Most pro and mid level cameras will not offer such.

 

[tmbrown97]

A lot of the Lorex cameras seem to have audio; this one in particular would probably suit your needs:
http://lorexstore.lorextechnology.com/product.aspx?id=2027

If you're looking for an IP cam and not analog, then maybe even something like this:
http://www.frys.com/product/6483512?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

I learned 2 things from my baby-cam... 1) quality isn't really that important; it doesn't take that much to know what's going on. and 2) two-way audio is really handy.

I actually used audio only for both my kids at first; I upgraded to video when my oldest was at the age of trying to climb out, and in preparation for her getting a regular bed, so I could keep an eye on her. I use the audio all the time to talk to her.

For my needs, I use a wireless digital baby monitor system from Summer; kinda low-tech for this place, but it works for my needs... and when we travel we take it with us for the hotel rooms even. The image quality is really sub-par, but the handheld is very convenient and can control the PTZ, and has the two-way audio. At night, the tiny 3.5" screen would be useless to me, so it's plugged into a dedicated 24" LCD TV in the bedroom that I can see well enough without my glasses/contacts. I've considered plugging it into a video server as well so I can get IP access as well.

 

[EmagSamurai]

Thanks for the feedback!

I should have specified that I'm looking for an IP camera. I was leaning towards and IP camera as it would be much easier to setup a remote viewing webpage so I could use it as a nanny cam when we have a babysitter. I'm really not paranoid except where my kid is involved

We've got one of the wireless baby cameras as well, and we really like it. However, I forget to charge the thing regularly, and I also figured it would nice to be able to check the camera using my iPhone or iPad.