The Philips Avent SCD603 baby monitor has a sleek, modern look, but it may not live up to your expectations when it comes to functionality. It is easy to use and has some nice features, but it falls below the bar when compared to many other video baby monitors. If you are considering this monitor for your home, make sure to compare it to other baby monitors to make sure you get the best model for your money.
Features of the Philips Avent SCD603 Baby Monitor
 Digital |
Voice Activation |
| 500 ft. Range |
Volume Control |
| 2.4 GHz Frequency |
Rechargeable Batteries |
| Auto Channel Selection |
Battery Backup |
| 2.4″ Display |
Low Battery Warning |
| Night Vision |
Out of Range Warning |
| Night Light |
Sound Light Alert |
| Lullaby Function |
Belt Clip |
Setting Up the Camera
The camera is 4.5-inches wide and 3-inches long. You can position it anywhere in your baby’s room with a clear view, and you do get screws and drywall anchors in the box if you want to mount it to the wall. Make sure to have AAA batteries on hand because they are required for the backup system. If your unit loses power, the batteries will kick in to keep the feeds going for a few more hours. The nightlight is located on the base of the camera, and you can push a button to turn it off or on, depending on your needs.
Once you get the camera positioned, you will find the setup process inconvenient. Instead of offering a printed manual like most modern electronics, Philips offers a CD which takes a bit of work to get to the file where the PDF is hiding. It’s not the best system, but at least the directions are easy to understand once you do find them.
The Handheld Unit
The parent unit weighs less than 5 ounces and is less than 6-inches tall with a 2.4-inch video screen. It’s easy to carry around the home, and you can use the stand on the back when you’re ready to stay in one place for a while. You can adjust the volume and brightness from a switch conveniently located on 
the front panel. Side buttons allow you to power the unit on or off, adjust noise activation setting and play a prerecorded lullaby.
While many baby monitors now allow you to talk to your baby through the parent receiver, this Philips baby monitor doesn’t have that capability. It also lacks a motion detector, so you will have to rely on watching the video and the basic audio feed to determine when your little one is on the move. You may need to find a monitor slightly higher in price if you want those more advanced features.
You can use the power-saving mode to ensure the video screen sleeps while your baby sleeps, but it should light up once noise is detected in the baby’s room. You can choose to keep the screen illuminated at all times, but it will wear the batteries down faster. If your baby starts to cry, you can use three prerecorded lullabies to sing them back to sleep. If that doesn’t work, you will need to go pay your baby a visit.
Functionality & Performance
Many monitors are now offering internet features so that you can watch your baby while at the office, but this isn’t one of those monitors. It connects the camera in the baby’s room to the parent receiver through an encrypted 2.4 GHz wireless link, and it hops frequencies to deliver clear audio and video feeds.
You may find that this baby monitor has more static and interference than some others, especially if you have other electronics operating on the same frequencies in and near your home. You can fix the problem by turning your Wi-Fi connection to 5 GHz, but not everyone has that capability.
While the video feed is satisfying in clarity while you are close to your baby’s room, don’t expect to get great reception further than 150 feet or so from the camera. This is a short range compared to many other baby monitors, so make sure to determine how far you may go from your baby’s room before investing in this model.
There are some good things about this monitor. For instance, the power tends to last longer than expected. You can go as many as eight hours on a charge, since the handheld unit doesn’t shut off immediately when the low battery alert begins. It’s also easy to use and lightweight, so carrying it around the house isn’t a pain. Many parents also appreciate the battery backup on the camera.
Should You Invest in the Philips Avent SCD603 Monitor?
Keep in mind that you have to walk into the baby’s room to position the camera, turn on the nightlight and perform other functions with the camera. Some other monitors now allow you to adjust these things remotely, but that isn’t possible with this video baby monitor. You also can’t talk back to your baby or use the monitor as a nanny cam while you’re away from home.
This is a decent monitor if you can operate at 5 GHz Wi-Fi, but on standard Wi-Fi frequencies you may find that it is simply too noisy with interference to meet your needs. The good news is that there are many competitive baby monitors within the same basic price range which offer more features and far less interference.
For more information and best prices on the Philips Avent SCD603 Video Baby Monitor Click Here
The Philips Avent SCD603 receives a 3.8 out of 5 star customer rating from 71 reviews at Amazon.com
Facebook
Twitter