Baby monitors for coop?

[patricium]

Does anyone know of a baby monitor where the transmitter runs on batteries rather than AC power? Most seem to have battery-run receivers but the transmitter needs to be plugged in. I was thinking of using one for the first few weeks in our coop while we discover what kinds of predators we might have around. Our coop is moveable, so it doesn't have power. We could run our outdoor extension cord out there if all else fails.

 

[DiVon80]

How about those walkie talkie thing a ma jigs..? We have a set good for 15 miles. Just another thought.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Most 2 way radios are not built to broadcast 24/7 an will automatically kick off after a few minutes if you try.

Also anything that did broadcasts 24/7 would suck batterys dry quickly.

 

[patricium]

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. We have lots of rechargeable batteries, so it wouldn't be a big deal to replace them every day. But if they transmit continuously rather than being sound activated, a fresh set of batteries probably won't last the night.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Sound activated would be an option but all the radios I have that have that option have a triple digest price tag.
Your best bet would be a car battery($50), a power inverter($25), an a solar trickle charger($19).

 

[ERnoleGuy]

I've got a pair of 2-way radios that I picked up from Sport Authority for $39.99 and they have a VOX (voice activated) feature. So you could get something like that & set the one in the coop on VOX and when it hears sound over a certain threshold, it will transmit to the one in your room or whatnot. Also, mine are rechargeable. So you could let them charge during the day.

Now, if you want a really cool fix, get a little security camera with audio from Wal-Mart for like $50.00. The wired ones work WAY better than the wireless ones and come with usually 150 ft of cord, and its a single cord that runs the power, audio, & video. Then you can plug it into your TV in your bedroom and leave it on, volume down of course, all night. That's what I have and it's so funny to watch them sleep. They are like little kids with their bobbing heads sometimes. LOL.

Here is the one I use. The night vision automatically kicks in when it gets dark out too.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=6538284

 

[patricium]

That security camera is a cool idea - we might go for that later. For now, I found a place that has a sound-activated FM transmitter.
(http://www.electronickits.com/kit/complete/surv/ck205.htm)

It's in kit form, so needs to be soldered together, but I know how to do that. You can adjust the level at which it activates, so that should help with tuning. Use any FM receiver to listen in. And it runs on 2 AA batteries.

Thanks for all your ideas and inspiration!

 

[klutzyruth]

I've done something similar. I have a Safety First baby monitor.
Like this one
http://tinyurl.com/l56739

The transmitter uses batteries or can be plugged in.
It lasted a good while, since I only had it on over night.
It worked a good 150 feet away.

 

[annette'spets]

what a great idea! Thanks for the walmart link- we will get one of those-.Something got in the barn(with wire on windows and doors) the first night we put our baby,3 week, chicks inside. Probably a snake- killed one baby-not eaten- in a cage with light. Now it's hot here so I let them out to perch.Then got the good idea to put our old pigmy goat in with them at night. They seemed happy to see him and slept nearby ever since. So far,no problem.

 

[ERnoleGuy]

Awww, you have got to get some pics of them sleeping with the goat. Would love to see those.