Today, baby monitors have become increasingly advanced as technology continues to evolve. Baby monitors on the market come in various shapes and sizes, offering different features.
There are baby monitors that transmit audio-only. Some carry audio, and you can see videos from your baby’s room in real-time with a wifi baby monitor. Depending on your needs and budget, these devices can perform a specific function for monitoring your baby.
If you already own a baby monitor, you might have heard the special feature called VOX. But what is VOX on a baby monitor, and how does it work?
What Is the Vox Mode?
The VOX mode is Voice-Activated Transmission, often called Voice-Activated Exchange. When a wireless device is configured with the VOX feature, it can sense the sound and activate the receiver in standby mode. You can start a conversation without pressing a button or activating the device. It responds to your voice like Alexa, Siri, or Cortana.
How VOX (Voice-Activated Transmission) Works on Baby Monitors
In baby monitors, VOX is a voice-activated function that transmits the noise in the baby’s room to your room in real-time. When your baby sleeps, the baby monitor goes into sleep mode, stops audio transmission, and turns off your screen. However, the microphone will remain working, and once the sound is sensed, the monitor will start transmitting again. In some baby monitors, you can adjust the VOX sensitivity level to make sure that you or your baby is not disturbed by little noise.
However, you cannot control voice-activated baby monitors. The monitor will go on and off according to the voice and sound your baby makes in their room. This means that when your baby is sleeping, the monitor will minimize its monitoring level. It becomes active when it hears any sound. When the monitor detects the audio and video, it is relayed to the equipment that is monitoring.
Like Alexa or Siri, VOX on baby monitors recognizes the noise coming from your baby’s room. The level of sound it detects will depend on the sensitivity settings you use. The sensitivity settings are vital in understanding how VOX works. Here are the VOX sensitivity levels and their description.
- Lowest Sensitivity
The VOX sensitivity is at its lowest when your baby’s noises can be heard easily, as if you’re next to the room.
- Low Sensitivity
A low-sensitivity mode is recommended when your baby cries loudly and makes sudden, sharp noises.
- Medium Sensitivity
This mode is perfect for when you have a toddler who is learning to talk and speak in loud murmurs. It cuts off almost silent and soft voices.
- High Sensitivity
This level eliminates the background noise, but you can still hear the softest sounds of your baby.
- Highest Sensitivity
Setting VOX mode on the highest sensitivity means your device detects your baby’s softest sounds and all the background noise coming from their room.
There are four approaches by which VOX works in baby monitors
- Sound detection: When the microphone recognizes the noise in your baby’s room based on the sensitivity level, it automatically transmits the audio to your device.
- Movement Detection: When VOX mode is configured with video sensors, it captures your baby’s movement and quickly sends out an audio and visual feed to your device.
- Activation and Transmission: VOX mode switches on your device if the movement or sound of your baby is beyond the preset threshold.
- Standby mode: In this approach, the monitor remains in sleep mode until the microphone recognizes any voice or motion in your baby’s room. This mode saves battery and restricts the transmission of EMF waves.
VOX vs. Traditional Baby Monitors
VOX baby monitors offer additional benefits compared to traditional baby monitors.
- VOX baby monitors provide you with more freedom to do other chores or work while you monitor your baby in their room. Unlike regular baby monitors, you may need to keep checking your baby monitor even for the slightest sounds.
- VOX baby monitors will alert you when the monitor detects any movement or sounds in your baby’s room, and they keep away unwanted noise. In regular baby monitors, it’s difficult to distinguish the noise from your baby’s sounds, which can make it difficult to hear your baby crying.
- VOX baby monitors have an eco-mode with low EMF emissions, and it can save battery life for longer. Compared to standard monitors, EMF emissions are higher, and the monitor needs to be charged more frequently.
The Advantages of Using VOX on a Baby Monitor
With VOX baby monitors, it is easier for you to rest or focus on other tasks while taking care of your baby. Here are some of the advantages of using VOX on your baby monitor:
- Real-time monitoring of your baby
As soon as your monitor senses your baby is crying or giggling, you will receive an alert immediately. Since you can’t be with your baby all the time, the VOX mode will give you peace of mind. No matter where you are, your baby’s noises will be sensed by the microphone and will be transmitted to the baby monitor for the first time, activating the sleep state. Additionally, VOX can provide you with clear audio quality, ensuring that you can hear your baby without worrying about other noises or interferences.
- Saving the baby monitor’s battery life
The VOX mode matches the monitor’s sleep mode. As sleep mode is in a standby state, the screen does not light up. This mode saves battery drain on the baby monitor and does not interfere with your rest at night. This mode also allows you to control the sound activation of the monitor. If there is no sound detected for 30 seconds, it will stop the audio transmission and turn off your screen. When the baby monitor detects sound above the sensitivity level, it will start transmitting the signal to your device again and turn on your screen.
You can adjust the sensitivity level of VOX mode to prevent the screen from turning on due to interference or noise. With VOX, the baby monitor will only start transmitting when your baby is awake. The monitor will be in sleep mode and will only show video when the monitor is activated.
- Reduced EMF radiation
In normal mode, your baby monitor transmits EMF radiation constantly, which is harmful for your baby. However, in the VOX mode, the monitor is mostly on standby, and there is no transmission of EMF radiation all the time. The VOX mode feature reduces the radiation to a minimum when the baby monitor is not in use.
How to Set Up VOX on Your Baby Monitor for Optimal Performance
Every baby monitor’s VOX settings may differ slightly, depending on the model you purchased, and the steps to set up the VOX mode can be different. However, here is a general guide to set up VOX in just a few steps:
- Press the Menu button on the parent unit
- Go to the VOX section under Settings using the up and down arrows.
- Now select the Sensitivity Level using the volume buttons to meet your needs. Press left to lower the sensitivity level, or press right to increase the level.
- The device will ask you for confirmation by pressing the Menu or Central button.
- Once confirmed, turn on the sound detection alert under Settings. You will see a sound-on icon on the status bar once you turn it on.
When to Use VOX: Best Scenarios for Voice-Activated Monitoring
VOX mode is not recommended for use at all times. Here are some scenarios where using it is beneficial.
During nighttime or naptime
At nighttime or naptime, you don’t want to disturb your baby’s sleep. You can’t visit your baby’s room to check how they are doing. In VOX mode, it only sends an alert when your baby is awake, crying, or struggling with discomfort. The noise in their room will alert you.
In environments with varying levels of background noise
VOX mode can be really helpful if the environment is too noisy and the normal mode sends false alerts. It will automatically filter the background noise so you won’t be disturbed. The monitor is activated when the baby cries or makes noises.
If you want to minimize screen time or audio feed monitoring
Baby monitors can be annoying at times. You don’t like to see the screen all the time and get disturbed by the audio feed. In VOX mode, it keeps the baby monitor on standby all the time. It makes the monitor active when the baby makes any noise. You will receive alerts when something happens.
Potential Drawbacks of VOX on Baby Monitors
Although VOX baby monitors offer many benefits, they can also encounter issues. One major problem you may encounter when installing VOX baby monitors is where to place them. Placing them in the wrong area can trigger noise based on sensitivity levels. Remember to place your monitor in the right place.
- If the monitor is too close to your baby, it may alert you with frequent notifications, even if you set it to the lowest sensitivity level.
- Keep the baby monitor at least 3 feet away from your child; make sure the angle of positioning covers a wide are and can offer close views of your baby.
- You can set the sensitivity level to a lower setting if you use a white sound machine to listen to your baby’s voice better.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know what VOX is on a baby monitor, it’s easier to decide whether this feature is best for your baby. VOX can make monitoring more efficient by reducing constant background noise and alerting you only when your baby need immediate attention.
While it does com with a few challenges, these can be managed with simple settings and right positioning. VOX baby monitors is a helpful device that gives you more peace of mind while staying connected to your baby.