€130

Going up against the likes of Withings' Smart Baby Monitor, the Dlink EyeOn Baby 825L monitor relies on a simple set up and high-quality video to persuade parents that they need a connected camera to watch over their children.

There’s plenty of competition out there, so Dlink has to up its game to stand out. The 825L offers a lot – 720p video, temperature monitoring, movement and noise alerts, and even the ability to take photos and video and save them to a Micro SD card or the connected device. Two-way audio, lullabies, soothing lights: the monitor covers all its bases. Its biggest selling point though could be the ability to use Dlink’s cloud service so you can check in on the monitor when you are out of the house.

Inside the box you get an orb-shaped camera with its power adapter, a stand and a fixture to mount the camera on the wall, wardrobe or a nearby shelf should you so choose.

The good . . .

The monitor is simple to set up. Just download the app, hook it into the wifi and you are ready to go in under five minutes. The camera has its own wifi connection too, so you can hook your phone or tablet up to the device when you are out of range of your home network. It also means you aren’t dependent on bluetooth connections, and the associated range problems that you might run into. It won’t solve any interference issues you may have in your house though.

The 825L didn’t drop the connection either, a problem that we’ve experienced with similar monitors in the past. That endless cycle of having to reconnect the monitor is not only frustrating, but if you’ve gone out for the evening and left someone else in charge, it can also render the monitor useless unless they can troubleshoot. The video quality is great, with the infrared camera switching on as soon as the light dims. It’s sharp, even in low light, and there is no squinting at the screen.

The 825L performs just as well with Android systems as it does with iOS; unlike other monitors that are designed mainly for use with iOS and with Android tacked on as an afterthought. That by the way, tech firms, shows, particularly when people complain about the app repeatedly crashing and failing to work properly, and the problems don’t appear to be dealt with. Android makes up a sizable proportion of the smartphone market, so working with Google’s operating system is a tick in Dlink’s favour. Other companies should take note.

The bad . . .

If you are going to use this monitor for your child there is one thing you should note: you’ll need a dedicated tablet or smartphone to use with the camera. It’s fine to use your own personal phone while you’re in the house, but if you need to go out and leave the child in the care of someone else, they will need to be able to access the monitor’s video feed too. And while you’ve got high-quality video direct from the baby’s room, it’s of no use if you have nothing to view it on. Crack out an old phone or invest in a tablet, which should solve your problem.

Taking it on the move might require an optional extra – the USB battery. There’s no rechargeable battery included in this monitor, so once you unplug it, it goes dead. However, as long as you stay in range of civilisation – ie electricity and available wall outlets – this shouldn’t be a problem.

. . . and the rest

If you feel the need to customise your camera, D link has included two different colour rings – pink and blue – to give you the option. It’s a minor thing though, and most people probably won’t other changing from whatever default colour comes on the monitor. Does anyone really care about whether the monitor is decked out with gender stereotypes?

One problem with monitors such as these is that occasionally they freeze, or the video feed drops. Dlink’s monitor, however, includes a date and time stamp, so you can tell at a glance if something has gone wrong.

Lullabies and two-way audio are another way to soothe your child without having to enter the room and, although there are buttons on the front of the monitor to control volume and to cue up the music – there are five to choose from – it can all be activated from the app. If parents are concerned about security, given the tales about baby monitors being hacked that have made their way into the media in recent months, Dlink promises that the encryption it has included will be sufficient to keep out opportunistic intruders, and the remote access function is password-protected.

Still, best to keep up with the latest updates for the device and app, just to be sure. Finally, the monitor is powered by a micro USB connection, which means if you lose the original cable, it’s not problem finding another one.

The verdict ***

Decent monitor, decent price. The high quality video feed makes it a good choice for parents.

harveynorman.ie