Fisher-Price Sounds and Lights Monitor Not so good

When I bought the Fisher Price Sound and Lights monitor I noticed a low hum each time I used the AC adapter. I returned it to the store and the next one I got also had a hum. I called Fisher Price. They sent a new one (Free of charge and didn't even ask me for the old one back). Unfortunatly, that also had a hum. Because it was a gift, I decided to use it on just batteries. Here's the problem. It takes 9 volt batteries that would only last 2 days (In contrast, the Sony that I have now will go for a week on two AA's). The 9-volt batteries wouldn't be a problem if you could get rechargable 9-volts. You can find the batteries anywhere but, try to find the charger to put them in.

The other problem with the monitors is that the channel selector button looks and feels just like the volume control. Many times in the night I've gone to on the unit or turn up the volume and accidently switched it to a different channel. Looking at it to see what channel it's on doesn't help. Although it says channel A and B on the unit, there are no markings on the button to show you what channel it's on. In order to see what channel it's on, you have to flip the button back and forth. I discovered mine was on the wrong channel when I woke up to a frantically screaming child. I have no idea how long it was on the wrong channel. It could have been weeks. I ended up drawing my own line on the button so it would point to what channel it was on. It helps a little. Now in the middle of the night when I turn the unit ona and I accidentally hit the wrong button, I can turn on the light to see what channel it's on. I guess it's better than getting up, going to the baby's room, switching channels back on forth on the receiver and the transmitter until I've found the right combination. I had to put a line on the transmitter too since that was also not marked.

Another problem is the on-off/volume control. I have no idea why this is intergrated into one button. Maybe it's to save money. Each night you've got to readjust the volume. And the control doesn't have numbers on it so you can't just set it to the number you had it on the previous night. You've got to guess each time. With the Sony the on-off switch is seperate so you find a good volume and leave it there. You can also put it on one volume during the day and another at night.

I ended up buying a Sony mostly because of the Hum with the AC adapter and beacuse of the poor battery life.