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Dr. Meter Baby Monitor Review – Overview
If you are looking for a reliable non-wifi baby monitor, there are many brands in the market to choose from. However, we have discovered a little-known brand that may very well become your best baby monitor. We are talking about the Dr. Meter non-WiFi baby monitor, which first came into the market on December 31, 2019.
In our 2022 update of our list of best non-wifi baby monitors, Dr. Meter is among our top recommendations and we liked it most because of features such as remote PTZ, lullabies, infrared night vision, and a decent long range of up to 1000 ft.
Dr. Meter Baby Monitor is a product of Shenzhen Thousandshores Technology Corporation trading under the name Dr. Meter. It is a Chinese-based manufacturer of digital meters, laboratory equipment, handheld tools, and now their first baby monitor. They pride themselves in making products that are reliable and accurate-two qualities that make a great baby monitor!
The Dr. Meter baby monitor has combined all the useful features into one high-quality product that will make monitoring your baby a pleasant experience. This monitor has it all from high-quality resolution, reliable signal, temperature monitoring, and even small helpful features like lullabies and feeding alerts! And the best thing is it’s going for less than $100! Check out the full list of features you will get with this baby monitor.
Key features of Dr. Meter
- 5 inch 720p HD resolution
- 2X zoom
- Remote Pan/Tilt/Zoom
- Two-way talk
- Sound activation mode
- Temperature sensors
- VOX mode with five levels of sound sensitivities
- 1000 ft transmission range
- Automatic night vision with infrared lights
- 5 lullabies
- Feeding alarms
- 2100mAH battery that lasts up to 6 hours in continuous video
- Multiple camera support to up to four cameras
Dr. Meter Baby Monitor Pros
Easy to use
This baby monitor is very easy for anyone to use as the setup is straightforward. You only need to plug the camera into AC for charging and you are ready to receive the signal since the parent unit and camera comes already paired. Also, the parent screen is large and intuitive, with icons showing their functions and shortcuts that are not hard to figure out.
Impressive picture day and night
The monitor comes with a large 5-inch screen with high definition resolution for high-quality colorful pictures. In addition, you can zoom in up to two times to see your baby even more closely or pan 355° wall to wall and 120° floor to ceiling remotely to see the entire room.
VOX mode
This monitor has a Voice Activated Alert (VOX), which allows you to save on charge on the parent screen. With this feature, you can shut off the screen, for example, when you are sleeping, and it will automatically turn back on when your baby cries.
Sound indicator lights
The parent device has sound indicator lights on the bottom of the right side with six levels to show you how much noise is in your baby’s room. This enables you to differentiate between fussing and screaming, so you can enjoy some peace and be alerted when your baby is crying and needs your attention.
With Dr. Meter’s baby monitor, you don’t have to worry about your baby’s signal being hacked because it is relayed using FHSS technology which is hackproof. FHSS stands for Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum, a highly secure technology invented in 1941 for secret communication by the US military during World War 2. This technology guarantees 100 % privacy as the signal hops at supersonic speed from one sub frequency to another over 70 sub frequencies, making it impossible to hack.
Longest transmission range
This monitor relays a reliable signal up to 1000 ft away on an open field, letting you stay connected to your baby as you go about your business at home.
Multiple camera support
The Dr meter baby monitor allows you to add up to four cameras to check on multiple children. And, you can cycle the four feeds every 20 seconds by pressing the CAM button.
Temperature monitoring
This baby monitor is equipped with a temperature sensor and alerts you with sound and lights if the baby’s room becomes too hot or cold, ensuring your baby remains safe and comfortable.
Great pricing
Given the fantastic picture quality and all the features you get with this monitor, a price of about $90 seems an amazing deal.
Dr. Meter Baby Monitor Cons
Short battery life
This monitor uses a 2100mAH rechargeable battery which lasts about 3 to 5 hours when used continuously, which is a bit of an inconvenience as you would need to charge it frequently.
Low volume
Although this monitor allows you to adjust the volume, many find it a bit too low even on the highest level.
Dr. Meter Baby Monitor Video Review:
How to install Dr meter baby monitor
Step 1
Connect the camera to the AC adapter
Plug the AC adapter into a socket
Note: the camera should be placed at least 3ft/1 meter away from your baby
Step 2
Connect the monitor to the AC adapter
Plug the AC adapter into a socket
Long press the power button to turn the monitor on for viewing
Note: the monitor takes about 4 hours to be fully charged and lasts about 4 to 5 hours
This monitor comes with everything you need to get started:
- One camera
- One parent unit
- Wall mount kit consisting of mounting plate and screws
- Adapters for camera and parent device, plus two micro USB cables
- Manual- You can click on this link to check the manual or download it.
Dr Meter baby monitor vs Infant Optics DXR 8 Pro
Next, we will look at how Dr Meter compares with Infant Optics DXR 8 Pro, one of the top-rated nonwifi baby monitors in the market.
Both monitors come with a large 5-inch high definition 720 P handheld parent device that will show you nice big and crisp pictures. They are both super easy to set up you just need to plug in the camera and turn on the parent device to start viewing. Also, they feature the same buttons placed similarly on the parent units. You will find both monitors to be easy to use and intuitive.
In terms of camera performance, the DXR 8 Pro is known for being the only monitor with interchangeable lenses; you can switch between zoom and wide-angle lenses (sold separately) to see closer or further. In addition, it has both optical and digital zoom to achieve up to 6x zoom. Dr. Meter has 2x digital zoom and no wide-angle lens, but you can pan up to 355° left to right and 120° up and down to view the entire room.
Concerning the range, both monitors have the longest transmission range in the industry, up to 1000ft, ensuring you get a stable signal from anywhere throughout your home.
Both monitors are ideal if you are concerned about privacy because they use FHSS technology which is hackproof. Your baby’s signal is secure and only for your eyes, with either of these great monitors.
The audio quality of the DXR 8 Pro is unmatched; very clear and loud. This is because the monitor uses powerful speakers and Infant Optics patented Active Noise Reduction (ANR) technology which filters background noises from home appliances such as fans and humidifiers to produce very fine audio output. Dr Meter’s sound quality is just okay.
Both monitors have sound-activated VOX that enables you to save the charge in your parent unit. You can sleep the screen on both monitors and noise in your baby’s room will wake the screen and alert you. Also, both monitors have sound levels lights, that way, you will know if your baby is really crying or making soft sounds, which is nice.
Battery capacity is where DXR 8 Pro shines the most, with a remarkable battery life lasting up to 12 hours compared to Dr Meter maxing at 5 hours on continuous mode. In addition, DXR 8 Pro also gives you the option of purchasing an external 10000mAH power bank, giving you an additional 24 hours.
Dr. Meter also has additional nice features such as lullabies, feeding reminders, and temperature alarms. DXR 8 Pro only displays temperature but doesn’t alert you if they go outside of the preferred range. Also, it doesn’t have lullabies to help you soothe your baby to sleep or a feeding reminder.
Finally, both systems are expandable and can support up to four cameras relaying to one parent device. An additional Dr meter camera goes for $58, while that of DXR 8 Pro is $100.
Dr. Meter vs Infant Optics DXR 8 Pro
Below is a quick comparison table showing features of each model:
| Name | Dr. Meter | Infant Optics DXR 8 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | December 2019 | August 2020 |
| Rating on Amazon | 4.4 out of 5 by 371 customers | 4.8 out of 5 by 2727 customers |
| Display | 5inch720p HD | 5 inch 720p HD |
| Transmission technology | FHSS, non-wifi technology | FHSS,non-wifi technology |
| Vox | Yes, sound-activated | Yes, sound-activated |
| Transmission range | Up to 1000 ft | Up to 1000ft |
| Zoom | 2x zoom | Up to 6x zoom with optical and digital zoom combined |
| Pan/ Tilt | Pan: 355° Tilt: 120° | Pan 270° Tilt: 108°You can also buy an optional wide-angle lens with 170° for about $12 |
| Speakers | Regular speakers | Uses 1000mW speakers and ANR technology to ensure crisp clear audio output |
| Battery capacity | Lasts 4 to 5 hours on a full charge and continuous viewing | Lasts up to 12 hours |
| Expandability | Supports up to 4 cameras | Can support up to 4 cameras |
| Lullabies | Yes | No |
| Feeding reminder alarm | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year, but extends to 2 years upon registration for free |
| Price on Amazon | Check Price | Check Price |
Conclusion
Both monitors have great performance in terms of picture quality and transmission range. Very easy to use. But we feel that the XDR 8 Pro has a higher quality considering its 24 months warranty and gives you a better deal with a long-lasting battery and crisp, clear audio. Still, Dr. Meter is a fantastic choice given its wide range of useful features, modern design, and superb picture quality for a price of $109 less than the Infant XDR 8 Pro.
I am Ashley Davis, a mom of three kids and the editor here at Motherhood HQ (formerly 10BabyGear). I have been a parent since 2011 and have been doing full-time consulting as a baby sleep expert since 2019. When I am not researching or testing the next baby gear hitting the market, you’ll find me teaching my toddlers a trick or two – especially over the last few months with the lockdown. I hope you’ll find my guides and reviews helpful as you make your next purchase decision. If you have any questions, you can reach me at ashley.d@motherhoodhq.com.
