Monday, December 31, 2012

What is a great digital baby monitor to buy?

Q. What is a great digital baby monitor to buy? Any suggestions?

A. If you want to buy one,make sure it has features that you want. Here are many kinds of baby monitors. You can consider buying
1. Quad View Digital 2.5 Inch LED Video Wireless Baby Monitor
http://www.accessbuy.com/Quad-View-Digital-2-5-Inch-LED-Video-Wireless-Baby-Monitor_4309.html

2. 7 Inch Baby Monitor with Wireless Night Vision Camera, Remote Control and AV
http://www.accessbuy.com/7-Inch-Baby-Monitor-with-Wireless-Night-Vision-Camera-Remote-Control-and-AV_3552.html

3. 7 Inch Digital Wireless Baby Monitor with VOX, Two-way Communication, Night Vision, Zoom
http://www.accessbuy.com/7-Inch-Digital-Wireless-Baby-Monitor-with-VOX-Two-way-Communication-Night-Vision-Zoom_3506.html

Good luck!


Should I put the baby monitor in the dogs room at night in their new room in case they start barking?
Q. I'm afraid they're going to get lonely not sleeping with me at night. I got the baby monitor at a garage sale.

A. Wait. The dogs have their own bedroom? And a baby monitor?

No, don't use the monitor - you need your sleep. How about hiring an overnight nanny?


How can I improve my signal strength with a 900mhz wireless video baby monitor?
Q. We recently purchased a wireless video baby monitor, and although it does work, there is significant interference in the signal due to my computer room with several PC's and servers. Is there a way to boost this signal to compensate for the interference, or to set up a repeater for the signal?

A. If you have interference any sort of repeater or amplifier will only repeat and / or amplify the interference (noise) along with the desired transmission (signal). The problem is likely a signal to noise ratio problem and interference.

I presume you have done all you can with repositioning the units to make them closer together without getting closer to the interference. If not try that

With the electronic interference it becomes even more difficult to address. A baby monitor is nothing more than a microphone in the baby's room and a speaker in the monitoring room linked wirelessly. Can you use a wired system? This may be your only practical choice. Perhaps a 5 MHz


Can a baby monitor be used to listen in on a conversation?
Q. I wanna use a baby monitor so I can be a witness to a "special" conversation. Will the monitor be detectable/make noises?
Can I get an intelligent answer please?!
Instead of someone who's trying to be a smart aleck but just sounds like a retard that didnt read the complete question!
James you are a dumb fuck!!!!!! I was asking if the monitor would make noises and you totally just made up something to be a smart ass dumb shit!

A. No, baby monitors will only pick up noises that babies make. it has space age computer components inside that block out the voices of anyone over the age of 2.





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i have to keep telling my wireless connection to connect?

Q. I have a ZyXel Router connected to one PC and that works fine. No loss of connection.
I have a Belkin 802 11g Wireless Card in the other PC. It is this PC that keeps loosing connection.
I have done a number of things to try to stop this from happening - from enabling to disenabling Windows to find a connection; disenabling and enabling windows zero wireless configuration.
Getting fed up now!

A. The most likely cause of your problem is radio interference. A WiFi card is just a radio transceiver, and they are susceptible to interference from other devices, like cordless phones and baby monitors, and especially, from other WiFi networks. With the proliferation of WiFi access points in neighborhoods and apartment buildings, more and more people are having this kind of problem. You should also keep in mind that the clear air broadcast limit for WiFi access points as around 300 feet. If you're inside a structure, walls, furniture, and equipment limit the range even farther. I have one laptop computer that won't pick up a signal, or gets a very low signal, where my other ones work just fine. I have to move it closer to the router to get a good signal.

If you go into the configuration utility for your router - I can't be more specific than this - you should be able to change the channel it broadcasts on. That may help your problem. You won't need to do anything with the computers, since they'll find the channel on their own. If it doesn't help, try a different WiFi card. They work best when they're made by the same company as the router.


What do this numbers for wireless routers mean?
Q. 802.11g
802.11g+
802.11b
802.11a
Are they supposed to be better than the next if so which is the best

A. IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for local wireless communication which has evolved through several revisions, including the numbers you list. I don't know what g+ is, and guess it to be a manufacturer's proprietary 'enhancement' to the g standard.

802.11a used the 5GHz band which is a relatively uncrowded spectrum, so preventing interference from other devices (microwaves, phones, baby monitors, etc) but suffered from a lower effective signal range. Subsequent 802.11 revisions use the more crowded and therefore potentially more interference prone 2.4GHz band, however overall performance saw 802.11b adopted as a standard which has since been refined and speed-boosted through g and (almost) n revisions.

Average routers currently sold offer the g standard (54mbps) and allow backwards compatibility with b with mixed mode networks if required. Spend more on n for the extra speed and range if your equipment can use it, and bear in mind this standard is not finalised.

See a complete and long reference at Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/802.11


How do speed up my file transfer speeds across my home network?
Q. I have a D-Link rangebooster G gold series router which is apparently supposed to have network speeds up to 108mbps or something like that right? I'm trying to transfer some files across but its going at an embarrassing 1.5mbps. I would almost make sense I had just put them on my external hdd first..

is there a way to speed this up?

A. I think there are two problems here that are leading to confusion. I suspect (but I could be wrong) that you're confusing megabits with megabytes. The 108mbps you should be able to get is megabits per second. It's possible that the 1.5mbps you're getting is megaBYTES per second. If you do a file transfer, chances are it will give you a speed in megabytes, rather than megabits. A megabyte is 8 megabits, so you might actually be getting 12megabits per second of your promised 108, rather than the 1.5 you thought you were getting.

Also, that 108Mbit promise has a couple unspoken conditions (probably listed out in fine print as a footnote of a footnote in the Chinese language section of your manual). For instance, since 802.11g only supports speeds up to 54Mbits, you need to have special D-Link wireless cards in order to support that full 108Mbits. Without it, you're only going to get up to 54Mbits.

Also, that 54Mbits is total throughput, not the speed of each connection. So if you're transferring from one wireless computer to another, then you're only going to get (at best) half of that speed (about 27Mbits), since it needs half the bandwidth for the transmission to the router, and the other half for the transmission to the other computer.

Finally, if you take into account this is consumer hardware and you probably don't have ideal conditions at your house, there's no reason why that won't cut the speed in half again, leaving you with about 13Mbits expected speed and 12Mbits actual speed.

All that being said, let me address your question of how to speed this up:

The first thing you should do is eliminate the second wireless leg (if it exists). Put one of your computers close to the router (or the router close to one of the computers) and connect the router to the computer via a wired Ethernet connection. That should provide a hefty boost of speed (it should nearly double).

Next, make sure you have an 802.11G card in your wireless computer. If it's 802.11B, then it will max out at 11Mbits. So getting an 802.11G network card for it will increase your speed dramatically.

Also, upgrade your firmware on your router. If there's a new firmware available, you should be able to get it from DLink's website. This might give a minor speed increase.

If you have any baby monitors, home phones, etc that are "2.4Ghz," turn them off, they can interfere with your wireless signal and slow your transfer speeds.

If you can get your speed up to 40Mbits (5 megabytes per second), then you are doing about as well as can be expected from consumer networking hardware. I doubt you'll get over about 25-30Mbits (3-4 megabytes per second), though.

On a side note, back in college we used to be able to get about 5-10 megabytes per second transfer speed by loading files on an iPod (via 400Mbit Firewire), walking down the hall, and loading them on another computer. You could probably achieve similar results with your external hard drive, as you suggested. So I'd go that route for large transfers such as this.

Good luck!


What it is best Wireless Channel for a Belkin n+ router?
Q.

A. The strongest chanell for best signal is 11. BUT if there are alot of routers running on the same channel around you you may get interferance. you should run at least 2-3 channels bellow. so if router A is running channel 11 then router B should be running at least on channel 9-8. this is because the diff in frequenceys between channel 11 and 10 are not much.

Home wireless networks based on the 802.11b or 802.11g standards transmit their signal in a narrow radio frequency range of 2.4 GHz. Various other electronic devices in a home, such as cordless phones, garage door openers, baby monitors, and microwave ovens, may use this same frequency range. Any such device can interfere with a Wi-Fi home network, slowing down its performance and potentially breaking network connections.
Likewise, the wireless networks of neighbors generally all use the same form of radio signaling. Especially in residences that share walls with each other, interference between different home networks is not uncommon.

The 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal range is divided into a number of smaller bands or "channels," similar to television channels. In most countries, Wi-Fi equipment provides a set of available channels to choose from. In the United States, for example, any of the Wi-Fi channels 1 - 11 can be chosen when setting up a wireless LAN (WLAN). Setting this Wi-Fi channel number appropriately provides one way to avoid sources of wireless interference.

Many wireless products in the U.S. ship with a default Wi-Fi channel of 6. If encountering interference from other devices within the home, consider changing the channel up or down to avoid it. Note that all Wi-Fi devices on the network must use the same channel.

Unlike television channels, some Wi-Fi channel numbers overlap with each other. Channel 1 uses the lowest frequency band and each subsequent channel increases the frequency slightly. Therefore, the further apart two channel numbers are, the less the degree of overlap and likelihood of interference. If encountering interference with a neighbor's WLAN, change to a distant channel. Both channels 1 and 11 do not overlap with the default channel 6; use one of these three channels for best results.





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Will my Dell Studio XPS 8100 run very high or ultra high graphics games like Crysis or GTA 4?

Q. I just ordered a Dell Studio XPS 8100 Desktop with 64bit windows 7 intel i5 750 @ 2.66Ghz 8 MB Cache 6 GB Dual Channel DDR3 @ 1333mhz 4 DIMMs RAM nVIDIA Geforce G310 512MB DDR3 Video Card 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 16 MB cache Dell ST2010 HD widescreen Monitor. Will this computer run GTA 4 or Crysis in very high or ultra high?
What video card should I get?
and what power supply do I need?

A. Only if you upgrade the graphics card (and possibly power supply, depending upon which card you select). The G310 is an entry-level card which can't even run cutting-edge games like Crysis on medium. You'd need at least a Radeon 5770 or GTX 260 (roughly $175 cards) to run at very high detail, and a Radeon 5850 or GTX 285 is more like it.

For maximum detail you'd need an ultra-powerful GPU... that's what $400-$500 cards like the Radeon 5870 and GTX 295 are for.

For gaming computers the graphics card is the single most important component, having twice the impact of your CPU on frame rates.

*** Update***

You can run $75 cards like the Radeon 4670 and GeForce GT240 without having to upgrade the factory power supply.

The Radeon 5770 requires at least a 450W power supply.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003

The GTX 260 and Radeon 4890 require a minimum 500W power supply which supplies 36 amps on the +12V rails. So for those cards, get something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341010
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

The Radeon 5850 is much more powerful, that's the card to get if you've got $300 to spend. Check the user reviews:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102857
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103085
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131184

The same power supplies linked above (for the GTX 260/Radeon 4890) will work. Although with one of these babies, you'll have more breathing room for future upgrades:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005


How big of a power supply should I get for my new computer build? (details)?
Q. I was thinking the 750 watt but just making sure it will be good for all I have :]

ty ty ty

Does it look good?

P.s. : Pc will be used for basic use + gaming ^_^

Thank you :]


Case: http://www.geocities.com/lifeis2evil/Pc.html
MANUFACTURE NZXI
MODEL NEMESIS ELITE
CASE TYPE MID TOWER FULL SIZE ALUMINUM CASE
FRONT PANEL MATERIAL ALUMINUM / PLASTIC / ACRYLIC
DIMENSIONS (W x H x D) 205 x 436 x 450 mm
COOLING SYSTEM

FRONT, 1 X 120 mm Blue Led Fan (included)
REAR, 1 X 120 mm Blue Led Fan (included)

SIDE PANEL, 1 X 120 mm Blue Led (included)
DRIVE BAYS 9 DRIVE BAYS
4 EXTERNAL 5.25" DRIVE BAYS
2 EXTERNAL 3.5 " DRIVE BAYS
5 INTERNAL 3.5" DRIVE BAYS (Removing accessory box)
Screw less Rail Design
MATERIAL 1.0 mm Aluminum Construction
EXPANSION SLOTS 7
WEIGHT 6.5 KGS (W/O Power)
MOTHERBOARD SUPPORT MOTHERBOARDS: ATX, MICRO-ATX, BABY AT

Motherboard: BIOSTAR TForce TA790GX A3+ AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138141

PCU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGIBOX - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674

Harddrives:
OS Drive: Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 1.5Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136033&Tpk=74GB%27

Games Drive:Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 1.5Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136033&Tpk=74GB%27

Storage Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433

(x2 using cross fire) Video Cards: BIOSTAR VA4893NDG2 HDMI Radeon HD 4890 1GB DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814141091

Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145218

Power Supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

Monitor: Dell S2309W 23" Widescreen Full HD Flat Panel LCD Monitor - 5ms, 1920x1080, 1000:1 Native, DVI, Black
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4516148&csid=ITD&body=REVIEWS
Oh and my budget is $1,600 :]

A. The PSU should be decent as is. Corsair PSUs are usually under-rated. I have read a review stating that the 750w PSU can handle 900w of load without getting out of +12v rail ranges. I also own this PSU and it is VERY quiet. It is so quiet, sometimes I worry of the fan is even moving any air.


Building my own computer (look at details)?
Q. Does it look good?

P.s. : Pc will be used for basic use + gaming ^_^

Thank you :]


Case: http://sale4now.com/computer/case/nzxt/jpg/nemesis_elite_black_1.jpg
MANUFACTURE NZXI
MODEL NEMESIS ELITE
CASE TYPE MID TOWER FULL SIZE ALUMINUM CASE
FRONT PANEL MATERIAL ALUMINUM / PLASTIC / ACRYLIC
DIMENSIONS (W x H x D) 205 x 436 x 450 mm
COOLING SYSTEM

FRONT, 1 X 120 mm Blue Led Fan (included)
REAR, 1 X 120 mm Blue Led Fan (included)

SIDE PANEL, 1 X 120 mm Blue Led (included)
DRIVE BAYS 9 DRIVE BAYS
4 EXTERNAL 5.25" DRIVE BAYS
2 EXTERNAL 3.5 " DRIVE BAYS
5 INTERNAL 3.5" DRIVE BAYS (Removing accessory box)
Screw less Rail Design
MATERIAL 1.0 mm Aluminum Construction
EXPANSION SLOTS 7
WEIGHT 6.5 KGS (W/O Power)
MOTHERBOARD SUPPORT MOTHERBOARDS: ATX, MICRO-ATX, BABY AT

Motherboard: BIOSTAR TForce TA790GX A3+ AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138141

PCU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGIBOX - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674

Harddrives:
OS Drive: Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 1.5Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136033&Tpk=74GB%27

Games Drive:Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 1.5Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136033&Tpk=74GB%27

Storage Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433

(x2 using cross fire) Video Cards: BIOSTAR VA4893NDG2 HDMI Radeon HD 4890 1GB DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814141091

Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145218

Power Supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

Monitor: Dell S2309W 23" Widescreen Full HD Flat Panel LCD Monitor - 5ms, 1920x1080, 1000:1 Native, DVI, Black
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4516148&csid=ITD&body=REVIEWS

A. Great build. however, if you are doing a completely new machine, you should go i7. it's worth the price. If you don't, the 955 is the next best. I would also change the case to a nzxt tempest, antec 900, or coolermaster cm 690(my fav). Overall, good build.


Will this be a awesome computer? (Building computer look at specs)?
Q. Does it look good?

P.s. : Pc will be used for basic use + gaming ^_^

Thank you :]


Case: http://www.geocities.com/lifeis2evil/Pc.html
MANUFACTURE NZXI
MODEL NEMESIS ELITE
CASE TYPE MID TOWER FULL SIZE ALUMINUM CASE
FRONT PANEL MATERIAL ALUMINUM / PLASTIC / ACRYLIC
DIMENSIONS (W x H x D) 205 x 436 x 450 mm
COOLING SYSTEM

FRONT, 1 X 120 mm Blue Led Fan (included)
REAR, 1 X 120 mm Blue Led Fan (included)

SIDE PANEL, 1 X 120 mm Blue Led (included)
DRIVE BAYS 9 DRIVE BAYS
4 EXTERNAL 5.25" DRIVE BAYS
2 EXTERNAL 3.5 " DRIVE BAYS
5 INTERNAL 3.5" DRIVE BAYS (Removing accessory box)
Screw less Rail Design
MATERIAL 1.0 mm Aluminum Construction
EXPANSION SLOTS 7
WEIGHT 6.5 KGS (W/O Power)
MOTHERBOARD SUPPORT MOTHERBOARDS: ATX, MICRO-ATX, BABY AT

Motherboard: BIOSTAR TForce TA790GX A3+ AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138141

PCU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGIBOX - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674

Harddrives:
OS Drive: Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 1.5Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136033&Tpk=74GB%27

Games Drive:Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 1.5Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136033&Tpk=74GB%27

Storage Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433

(x2 using cross fire) Video Cards: BIOSTAR VA4893NDG2 HDMI Radeon HD 4890 1GB DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814141091

Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145218

Power Supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

Monitor: Dell S2309W 23" Widescreen Full HD Flat Panel LCD Monitor - 5ms, 1920x1080, 1000:1 Native, DVI, Black
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4516148&csid=ITD&body=REVIEWS

A. looking good, but u should use a single gtx 295 instead and use a 1000watt psu so u can go quad sli later, 4890s are equivelent to gtx 275 which in sli is as fast as a gtx 295 with more power consumption plus all the games that are optimized for nvidia..





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RC Car on 49mhz frequency does not work unless the antennae are nearly right next to each other. ?

Q. My two boys each got an RC car this Christmas. They are on two different frequencies, yet each only has one band. Anyhow, they got them at the grandparents' house and they both worked fine there. However, when we got them home, I noticed that my younger son's woud not work unless the control and car antenna were really close to one another - almost touching. The other one (which is on a slightly higher frequency works fine still). I chalked it up to it just being broken. However, something got me to thinking that might not be it.

So I bought another RC car which is bigger and a little more advanced from a friend today and brought it home. Well, I tested it out and it is doing the same thing that the one that does not work is. I have to be really close to the car for it to work. It does need a good charging, but still had some juice left. So I thought that might be the problem. However, as I turned it over to take out the battery pack, I noticed that it was also 49 mhz! So that has gotten me to think that this might be a different issue with something else in the house (it has been too cold here to try them outside to see if there is any difference). Would interference cause this to happen? I am pretty sure it is not my wireless router as the frequency is WAY higher than 49mhz. I do have a baby monitor that might be the source as I think it is much closer. Does this sound right?

Thanks!

A. This may help a little but can't give a genuine true answer for the exact reason but you are correct this is a sign of interference.

Examples of of different frequency bands up to 49 Mhz.

29.0-29.7 Mhz 10 meter ham
29.7-50.0 Mhz low band


So basically something using 49Mhz is interfering with the RC car. Now here is where it gets really tricky. what is it exactly.
The 49Mhz frequency is usually reserved for RC cars/trucks.

However it has to accept ALL interference.
Unsure about the baby monitor though. I have seen older ones only transit up to 15 feet in-line so it could be your monitor. However the newer ones I do know operate at a much higher band and frequency.

Try playing with it in a large parking lot during closing hours. Away from any electrical interferance.


What is the SSDN radio network?
Q. Scottish Schools Digital Network I had to find it on my own with no help thanks alot guys

A. The Scottish Schools Digital Network does not have a radio network or service associated with it. The only place I see SSDN radio network listed is in the Smart Systems weather stations manuals. In that case, the SSDN radio network is just a name they give to their method of transmitting data from the sensors wirelessly to the weather station. It uses a common unlicensed frequency band, 49MHz, which is also used by older cordless phones, kids walkie talkies and baby monitors. It transmits digitally using CDMA which allows for multiple sensors to be used at the same time.


46 MHz cordless phone interference suddenly occurring.?
Q. I have a Uniden XCA-650 46 MHz analog cordless phone. I got the unit in 1997 and have used it daily since then. About a week ago, a horrible static sound is on the phone when away from the base unit. Usually the phone could go across my entire house and about 50 feet away outside. Now its staticy when you get more then 5 feet away. I have moved the phone to basically every place in my house possible, and the interference does change per each location. Today I noticed that if there is nothing else plugged into the outlet with it, and its not on a surge protector, it works okay. Nothing has changed by the phone or the outlet that its plugged into in several months, all of a sudden its full of static now. The strange thing is this: The handset communicates with the base unit when it "Talk" mode and "Remote" which plays the messages on the answering machine. This is what I do not understand at all, when I use the "remote" function, the static is hardly there if at all, but when I switch it to "talk" theres tons of static. and I know its not the phone line because if I connect the handset to the base via talk with the phone line unplugged, its the same static. What could be causing this interference, and what can I do to help eliminate it? Changing the channel has little to no affect, basically all it does is give a different sounding static. Right now I have the phone plugged into the outlet, no surge protector, and nothing else in the outlet, and its useable, however there is still annoying amounts of static when further from the base unit, like on the deck, where it used to be okay.

A. That phone is too old! 46mhz and 49mhz are easy to pick up on with baby monitors and walkie talkies as they use similar frequencies. You should upgrade to a DECT6.0 Uniden phone. Uniden is a great phone and I have used mine for a few years.





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Sunday, December 30, 2012

Why are wolf spiders intent on depositing their babies in my garage?

Q. Tonight I stomped on a female wolf spider about the size of a silver dollar just before she scuttled into my garage. Then I spent another minute or two stomping the zillions of babies that ran off her. Why is my garage sought out as a haven for wolf spiders and scorpions, and is there any way to dissuade them from entering?

A. you said it yourself. your garage is no doubt a relatively safe
place for spiders to nest. (a haven)
normally wolf spiders burrow in the ground, but do wander
in search of food at night. if they are threatened in any way,
they will seek refuge anywhere they can be safe.
wolf spiders are not aggressive to humans, and would only
bite if you grabbed one and squeezed it in your hand.(or perhaps
trap one under clothing against the skin).
A wolf spider made a home behind my computer, where she
lived for over two years. she was never a nuisance.
on a couple of occasions, I had to deal with a hundred spiderlings
all over my desk,keyboard,monitor, chair etc. this is short lived
however, as for the lack of food, they resort to cannibalism,
and soon kill each other off. after a couple days, no more spiders.
I get crickets and roaches, and while the spider was around,
I had very few of them. My avatar is a closeup of this spider.


How to transition pet cat to new baby?
Q. I have a cat that I adopted last July. We recently had a baby (on the 27th of April). Our cat is very jealous and has become extraordinarily clingy. She used to be quite independent. How can I make my cat feel like a valued member of oir family again, and also teach her to leave our baby alone? I don't leave them alone together, but my cat tries to climb in my lap while I am feeding our baby, tries to get in our baby's face while she is in the carrier, etc.

A. First of all ALWAYS greet the cat before you deal with the baby - the cat was there first. Treat it like an older sibling. These are typical reactions and you should not push the cat away. Most cats are more curious about the new baby and I found it was better to just monitor their interactions to the baby.

Talk and pet the cat as you take care of the baby and be sure to clip the nails weekly and/or get SoftPaws nail caps to prevent problems.

Added: the above are typical actions and myths that are said about cats/babies. None of it is true. My son was raised with cats and kittens and no one got hurt. They never bothered the baby and as my son grew and started to crawl he was taught how to be nice to the cats. They never had to defend themselves - my son was never scratched. Its possible to have both, but the more you "separate" them the more the cat will be determined to find out why. As I said, treat this as an older sibling who wants to know his younger sibling!


How easy is it to get pregnant if you are breastfeeding?
Q. I recently gave birth to a healthy baby boy and am breastfeeding. I plan to breastfeed until he is about one year. I know the hormone prolactin(released when breastfeeding) is supposed to prohibit your menstrual cycle but also know of people getting pregnant when breastfeeding. I don't necessarily want to get pregnant again, but don't believe in birth control, so basically, I was just wandering how easy it is to get pregnant when breastfeeding or if it is a rare circumstance that one would get pregnant when breastfeeding. Any experience or logical/factual answers would be appreciated and where information like this can be found would be appreciated too!!!

A. Some people refer to breastfeeding as natural contraception. It's true that a woman who is nursing a baby may experience a delay in the return of her periods, and that in general, nursing moms are less likely to become pregnant than moms who are finished nursing or who didn't nurse. But breastfeeding is by no means a foolproof method of preventing pregnancy. The longer you nurse, the more likely it is that your periods will start again while you're still breastfeeding. And since you ovulate (release an egg) before that first period comes, you can even get pregnant without having a period.

If you do get pregnant, there is no need to stop breastfeeding. Nursing, in itself, won't harm either your older child or the developing baby. It can be hard on you, though. Both breastfeeding and pregnancy make extensive demands on your body, and it's vital that you get enough nutrition and fluids to support your child, your fetus, and yourself. That can be hard if you're dealing with nausea, fatigue, or other symptoms of early pregnancy -- not to mention caring for your older child. Despite your best efforts, you may find your milk supply drops as your body struggles with competing demands. Make sure your health care provider and your child's pediatrician know you're nursing, so they can monitor all three of you for appropriate growth.

If you want to get pregnant and your periods have not yet returned, be aware that your fertility is, if not eliminated, probably diminished. If you want to get pregnant soon, you may want to consider weaning to increase your chances of conception. If you're willing to take your time, then you can simply have regular unprotected sex in hopes that you will conceive soon after your fertility returns. In any event, it's wise not to try to conceive too soon; closely spaced pregnancies can increase your chance of pregnancy complications such as preterm labor and low birth weight. Studies suggest that a new mother should give her body at least nine months to recover before she conceives again, meaning births should be spaced at least 18 months apart.


What does it mean if a new born's heart is beating too fast?
Q. A friend of mine gave birth 2 days ago and has been told there is a problem with the babies heart- that it is beating too fast. What does this mean? Is it serious?

A. The baby is alittle tachycardic and babies hearts do beat fast when they are newborn and even in utero. If it is beating even faster than what is normal than that could indicate a problem, maybe with the valves to the heart.

I am sure they have consulted a cardiologist and will do all cardiac function test like: Ekg, Echo cardiogram and blood work. They will find the problem and deal with it appropriately, don't worry to much.

The baby will be monitored closely and will not be released until things are stable for a certain amount of time. Evey thing will be ok.

Just make sure they are seeing Pediatric Cardiologist and not adult ones. The recommendations are completely different.

Wish the family much luck and try not to worry, they will do there job!





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What are those Audio recordings that Record Ghost Voices unheard by the human ear?

Q. What are those Audio recordings that Record Ghost Voices unheard by the human ear?

And What are they called? Name?

A. Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) concerns unexpected voices found in recording media. It is a form of after death communication. ITC is a newer term that includes all of the ways these unexpected voices and images are collected through technology, including EVP.

There are 3 types of EVP's

Class A
EVP is a message that can be heard without headphones and that people can generally agree on its content.

Class B
EVP requires a headphone to distinguish message content and not everyone will agree on the message.

Class C
EVP requires headphone, often needs amplification and filtering and will seldom even be heard by others.

EVP's are also part of the blanket term of AMC which are the initials for "Afterlife Media Communication".

Devices used for AMC communication:

_ Video recorders - voices or visual messages, including ITC
_ Audio Recorders - recorded messages (also termed EVP)
_ TV or Radio - White noise
_ Computers - through word processors and web cams
_ Email - messages typed out in an email and then sent
_ Telephone - voice messages
_ Baby monitors and/or walkie-talkies - voices
_ And any other devices used to establish communication


Have you ever heard a deceased loved one speak through your baby monitor?
Q. This is called Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP).
Shawna P: No, but I just started experimenting with it. I have also tried using a cassette tape recorder. The voices of ghosts cannot normally be heard with the human ear, but can sometimes be heard on recording devices during playback, and on baby monitors. This is what paranormal investigators call EVP.

A. um. i havent experienced this myself but i have heard of it. but dont be worried unless ur child is being hurt or scared. the loved one probably just wants to see the baby.


Would a baby monitor be good for an EVP listener ?
Q.

A. Baby monitors have neither the sensitivity nor range requirements for picking up audio that even inexpensive digital recorders have. Add into the mix the potential for static due to normal radio interference and the tendency for EMF fields to exist where a ghost is, and you have a recipe for not being able to pick up anything.

A decent digital recorder that works can be found several places online for under US$50 plus shipping.


hearing things on baby monitor? any monitor?
Q. Some peole claim to record ghostly voices (EVP) on recorders. Have you ever hear any such voices on a baby monitor or recorder?

A. One of my amateur radio friends this morning was telling me about shuttle transmissions picked up on their baby monitor. But if the voices are telling you to do anything strange, I'd consult a professional.





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Has anyone used a video baby monitor?

Q. How do they work?
What are the pros and cons?
I am thinking about buying one that you can have two monitors and see two rooms at once and was wondering how many people prefer it.

A. Congrats on baby #2!

I couldn't live with out my video monitor!! I have the Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor. The picture is so clear both at night and during the day. I love being able to check on my baby with out waking her. I don't even have to get out of bed unless she really needs me! I think if I only had the audio, I would have been getting up a lot more often to investigate every sound, especially during the first few months. The handheld part has a button on top so you can turn off the video screen if the light bothers you at night. Then if you hear something you feel you need to check on, simply click the button and the video comes back on. I read the reviews for this product. Many people say they could not get a signal. I never had a problem. I also read that they can interfere with wi-fi. My husband is a web developer... he never would have allowed wi-fi interference!

I highly recommend this monitor to all my friends. The only con I can think of is that I have had to change the channel due to static. Seriously, it's a flick of a button and I've had to do it maybe 3 times in 7 months. No biggie! I know you can get an extra camera for this monitor, but I don't need one yet. Here is what one person commented: "We bought a second camera to go with the monitor we already had. I love being able to switch back and forth between my two kids' rooms. Only issue is if the monitor is too close to one camera, you can have interference when trying to check on the other one."

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2265802

Hope this helps.


Is it possible to be 6w6d and be able to see a yolk sac but no baby?
Q. Hi I had an ultrasound last thus hay, I should be 6 weeks and 6 days. They found the yolk sac but no baby. The doctor told me to come back in a week. It was to early to tell. I�m completely freaking out. Is it possible to be 6w6d and be able to see a yolk sac but no baby?

A. Yes, it's normal. Don't freak out. Sometimes it takes a while to see the baby inside of the sac. As long as there is a sac, then there is a baby.
It's normal.
I had that happen to me also.
Right now your baby is so tiny all you need to see is the sac.
As long as your doctor can see the heart beat on the screen of the monitor, everything is ok.
A baby has a heartbeat at 6 weeks - 7 weeks.


How do I give my boyfriend full custody of my child?
Q. I will be attending school, and if he has full custody of her she will be covered by his insurance. She will be living with him in another state, while I'm in a different state for school. How should I go about doing this considering that we are in two different places?
We are already broken up but we are good friends

A. Use a certified mediator. He/she will create the motion and final order for the court. He takes this to the Clerk of the Court who certifies it and sets a court date. The two of you go to court, the judge swears you in, and ask you if you agree to the mediated order. He signs it and you're done. Cost about $500 for the mediator, plus court filing fees.
http://ch08a-mediation_4_family_court_cases.dads-house.org/

I would suggest there be fire wire Web cams in the child's room that run 24/7. Four of them can be connected together that you can access at any time to see the baby.
http://unibrain.com/Products/VisionImg/Fire_i_DC.htm

There a lot you can be doing to remain involved using technology, including adding a flat screen monitor inside the crib that you can appear on, just think outside the box.

I would like to compliment both of you on this decision, though I would rather have seen the child having both of you in the home. I work with fathers who are frequently denied access to their children. I assume you're under age 24, so this shows a maturity not generally found in young folks your age.

If there's any additional help I can be, just email me.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


Has anyone ever owned a Boa Constrictor?
Q. I am being given a small boa Constrictor and my wife have some concerns. Are they good pets or do they bite often. The snake is about 12 inches or so. If they do bite what kind of problems will it cause?

A. They can make good pets, for the right keeper. They certainly aren�t for everyone though. Red tails are very large, intelligent, medium to high upkeep snakes that can be a bit moody at times. Just because of their size and care needs, I wouldn�t recommend them to people without at least some experience handling large reptiles, and I wouldn�t dream of recommending them to beginners. I have owned five of them, so I'll type up a care sheet for you for further information on them. :)

Size: Males average between 5-8 feet, females average between 7-10, though I have had females that have been 11-12 feet in length. Keep in mind that a snake that large is very awkward to handle, and can be fifty plus pounds. If you don�t have someone to help you handle the snake as it grows; I would suggest getting a male. It simply isn�t safe to handle any constrictor over eight feet long without another person around, no matter how docile your snake may be. Accidents can and do happen.

Feeding: Feed one appropriately sized rodent weekly. The general rule of thumb is to feed a prey item that is roughly the same in diameter as the widest part of your snake�s body. They have a massive feeding instinct, so it is often best to offer food on tongs. They are capable of taking rats from the time they are babies, and some of the larger females do best with rabbits. PLEASE remember that with rats in particular, it is imperative to feed pre-killed or at least stunned rodents to your snake. I NEVER recommend offering live rats. Rats are very intelligent animals that will fight back; and are quite capable of seriously injuring or even killing your snake.

Temperament: They are generally docile, but must be handled regularly throughout its life in order to make it as friendly as it can possibly be. Babies can be nippy when young, but usually grow out of that stage with frequent handling. Most of them are quite mild mannered, and are one of the best tempered larger constrictors. Please remember that you�ll need someone to help you if you handle any snake longer than six to eight feet long. They seem prone to being moody at times, (particularly the females, for whatever reason) and while not all; some of them will randomly decide that they don�t like certain people for no good reason. For example, my eleven foot female, Bella, loves everyone and is an exceptionally friendly snake, however she absolutely loathes my best friend�s brother. She will strike at him if he so much as walks by her cage, God forbid he get near her when she is being handled. He has learned to give her a wide berth. They bites aren't all that serious (nowhere near as nasty as a Monitor bite), it is about like having a cat scratch. I've only gotten nailed once by one of my Boas (which was completely my fault), and I hardly felt it. I just cleaned it up afterwards and went back to business as usual.

Lifespan: If well cared for; they can live 20+ years in captivity.

Caging requirements: As adults; they need a minimum cage size of 10 square feet. I generally keep my females in cages that are eight feet long by two feet wide by two feet deep, and my males in cages that are six feet long by two feet wide by two feet deep. They do grow pretty quickly, so be prepared to purchase several different cages for them. They seem to do best in closed top, front opening cages that keep the humidity in. If that isn�t practical and you use a typical tank with screen lid set up, try covering most if not all of the top with a towel or something similar to keep the humidity from escaping.

Heating/Humidity: The temperature gradient in the cage should be maintained with a basking spot of 95-97 degrees with an ambient (background) temperature in the low 80�s. This can be achieved by under-tank heating pads, heat lamps, or ceramic heat emitters. They are medium-high humidity snakes that should be kept with a large water dish for drinking and soaking, and should have their cage misted every other day or so, or depending on the substrate you use, up to twice daily.

Substrate: While there are plenty of options out there (repti-bark, aspen, cypress, paper towels, etc) mine have done best when kept on Eco-Earth substrate by Zoo-med. It is compressed coconut dirt that holds humidity very well, doesn�t need to be misted often, seems resistant to mold, is relatively cheap, looks great, and my snakes have all been healthier and better hydrated since I�ve been using it.

I hope this helps, and if you have any further questions at all on the subject; please feel free to message me and I will be more than happy to assist you. :)

Good luck!





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How do I get my 7 month old to sleep in his crib?

Q. I'm a bit paranoid since our bedroom is not close to his and eventhough I have a baby monitor,I'm afraid to leave him alone.

A. If your bedroom isn't close to his, then move his crib into your room or into a hallway. It isn't safe to have him that far away. What would you do in case of a fire?!

Or make your life simpler, and just put him in bed with you.


How much does it cost the first year to raise a baby and other questions.?
Q. I am not pregnant. This is a protect for school.

What is the annual cost the first year to raise a baby?

Second question. Im going to give you a list of newborn items. Tell me which items are TRULY NECESSARY.

Crib
diaper changing table
rocking chair
baby monitor
baby bathtub
bottles
bottle brush
bottle drying rack
baby swing
pacifiers
infant bouncer
swaddling blanket
play mat
play pen
carseat

A. Crib
Carseat
Bottles
Swaddling blanket
Play mat (can be used on floor as changing mat too)
These are the basic basic needs for me. You can get by without the others but not these.

The annual costs for a baby each year is different for every person. Some woman breast feed which is cheaper than formula. Others use cloth diapers which are cheaper than disposable etc.
I bought a pack of 15 reusable pea pod diapers for $70. These can be used from newborn right up to 3 years, so I only bought 1 pack of disposable diapers during the first year, to see what was better. Diapers are about $10 (new Zealand dollars) a pack. Babies go through about 5-10 nappies each day in the first few weeks, and then about 3-5 a day from around 4 months to a year. So do the math and it'll give you an approximate answer (get the price of diapers from your local supermarket).
If breast fed, it cost nothing. I breast fed, but I also bought a breast pump and baby bottles for $150 in case baby needed to be left with another person etc. if formula feeding, do some research online on the average formula used a month, and then times that by 12 (12 months in a year) get a price from your local supermarket.
Clothes- this depends on where you buy from etc, but I spent about $800 on all clothes up to 12 months. (including shoes, socks, togs, pyjamas etc)
I spent about $20 or so on baby shampoo, soap and powder every 6 or so weeks, so that's about $180 a year.
I bought baby towels and facecloths before my baby was born and they lasted right up until she was four. I spent $30 on 5 towels and a couple packs of facecloths.
Bibs- got given some at baby shower, but bought a few packs for $20 around about, these lasted the whole time needed.
Bassinet/Moses basket - needed for first 8 weeks, cost me $80
Crib- needed up until about 2- cost me $250
Stroller- needed up until about 3- cost me $150
Car seat- Bought a seat that was used from birth til 4 years. Cost $150
Blankets, sheets, duvets for crib- got given some at baby shower but probably costs about $100 for a couple pairs of sheets, blankets etc
Swaddling blankets- needed for first few weeks (I used them but not necessary) depending on brand etc but I got a few muslin wraps for $30.
Baby bath- optional, but I used one. $30
Medication such as baby Tylenol, gripe water, teething gel, teething powder etc about $50 all up the first year (depends)
Baby food- baby cereals, rusks, custards and other tinned foods probably about $90 a month (depends how much food baby eats. This price is based on my baby who at 7 months ate 2 tins a day, at $1.50 each) I also bought veggies and meat, and puréed these myself for baby. (this price will depend, as some babies don't start real food until a year old) my girl at 10-12 months was eating the same foods as I was.
Some people will put their children into childcare, this is another cost.
Where I live, medical attention for under 5's is free, but many people will have to pay for this as well.
Hope I haven't forgotten anything :)
Hope I helped!


What is a good way to lose weight after having a baby from a C-section?
Q. I had a baby 7 months ago. I gained way too much weight (about 80 lbs) and I've lost some of it. Taking care of my baby is time consuming, and it is too cold to take her out for walks. I don't have much time in my day to exercise because when the baby is in bed, I go to sleep as well. I'm too tired by the time she's in bed to even attempt any exercise..

A. A Three-Week Plan
If you want the easiest way to lose weight that will also get you started on a truly healthy path, try this: Follow the weight-loss plan outlined here for just three weeks. That will give you enough time to adjust to new flavors and will also allow you to see significant weight loss and other positive health changes.

The best approach is to follow the plan completely for three weeks. That means you should not sneak ranch dressing onto your salad, add egg whites to muffin batter, or have a bit of chicken with dinner. Only by consistently following the diet will you be able to reap all the benefits and avoid lapses that can lead to weight gain.

So let's get started! Here's what to do:

.Choose the day when you want to start your weight-loss plan.
.Weigh yourself before you start.
.Keep track of your weight during the three weeks.
.Write down what you eat. Keeping a food record and a journal of how you feel while you're on the diet will help you monitor your progress.


What age "should" a baby be moved out of the parents bedroom?
Q. My baby is 7 months old and I personally want to keep her for a long while yet, I love waking up to her smiles each morning..
My husband however, wants her out soon and I'm not happy about that at all..
Just wondering what age did you/will you move your baby into his/her own room?
Forgot to mention she sleeps in a crib beside us.

A. My baby hated her bassinet, so we moved her to her crib after a week. I hear a lot of people that have so many problems transitioning their kids to their own rooms when they are old enough to realize... "HEY! Where's my mom and dad?!?" It makes me happy with our decision to move her. We have ZERO issues putting her down. Mind you, I do wake up several times in the night, pressing my ear to the monitor to ensure I can still hear her breathing.

You have to do what you feel is right for you, your husband and your baby. You will still wake up to her smiles, you'll just have to walk down the hall to her room... trust me, they will be big and bright the second she sees your face!





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How do you stop a baby monitor from making a buzzing sound?

Q. I have an 'Angel Care' monitor and often it seems to buzz loudly when I have electrical appliances plugged in or lights on - it seems to be effected by the electrical current of my house.
I turn all the lights off at night and leave nothing plugged in, but sometimes it still buzzes and is very annoying when I am trying to get to sleep.

A. Try moving it to a different location in your room, sometimes moving it a few inches one way or the other helps too.

Or you can return it and get a different one. It's electrical interference for sure.


Why is my 49MHz wireless helicopter operating erratically?
Q. Works in the store at the mall with all the nearby stores, but not anywhere near my house or my neighborhood. I turned off the baby monitor, but not sure what else could be interfering.

A. Dear sir you have an interference problem! you need to find the way to change the channel! or change the entire radio in that way you don't have to worry about other people using the same channel that you are working on! I advice that you go to your nearest hobby shop and talk to them about it!
God bless and good luck.


Why would a non-wireless router emit so much radiation?
Q. I have a TP-Link router and it's not a wireless one, yet it seems to emit quite a strong magnetic field of almost two metres, as it causes interference with my baby monitor. Should I be concerned about this? Or is it normal for a router to emit so much radiation? The thing is that the router is under my desk right where I sit to work!

A. Any piece of modern digital electronics emits electro-magnetic interference. The very high speed circuits invoved (several MHz clock frequency) conduct through copper traces on the circuit board in the thing. The copper traces act like antenna and thus emit the "noise" you hear on your baby monitor.

Even the power supply for your router could be the culprit. To achieve small size and high efficiency, the power supply "brick" will often contain high speed electronics which could also be the source of the emission.

Finally, the typical baby monitor is a pretty low quality electronic device. It lacks selectivity and is likely picking up noise from frequencies that are not important to it. A different brand monitor might not suffer this problem.

Also, better quality routers would enclose their circuit boards in a metal housing. Such enclosure would contain the EMI in a so called Faraday cage. I suppose you could put your router in a metal box and accomplish the same thing now.

Astrobuf


What kind of baby monitor do you have?
Q. Do you like your monitor?
What special features does your monitor have that you find useful?
Are there any bad things about your monitor?
Would you recommend it to a friend?
How many stars out of 5 would you give your monitor?

I'm looking to buy a monitor and would like all the info that I can get to make an informed decision since there are so many different ones out there. Thanks.

A. I think mine is a Safety 1st one from Walmart. I received it as a gift from someone before I had my baby and shower. It's nothing special - not the cheapest basic one but not the most expensive either. It's got 2 receivers, and like someone else said it picks up the noise really well. My daughter is 3 1/2, and I still use it when she's in bed and I'm at the other end of the house still up. I have had times where it's had interference, being able to hear other people in other places, but not often enough to be annoying or to stop me from being able to use it. I love it, and would definitely recommend it, I give it a 4 out of 5.

EDIT - this is almost exactly the same one I have, except mine has the light-up nightlight base and 2 receivers. Just to give you an idea...
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2815255





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How common is SIDS and what can you do for prevention?

Q. My baby sleeps in his crib usually on his stomach and I have a baby breathing monitor. The midwife recommended that he sleep on his stomach and he can really get a good sleep that way. What can I do to prevent SIDS? If he sleeps on my top when we are on my bed, is it safe?
I am not asleep when he is on my top so I can't roll over him. He sleeps in his crib for the night.

I told the midwife that SIDS occurs more often in cases kids are put on their stomachs but she said that's just statistics and has nothing to do with SIDS. I don't know...

A. SIDS occurs in roughly 1 in 500 babies(http://www.faqs.org/faqs/misc-kids/sids/), but the rate actually depends on many factors, such as where you live, your lifestyle, your feeding methods, etc.

SIDS can occur up to one year of age, but the most common age for it to occur is between 2 and 4 months. After 4 months, the risk declines. After the 6-7th month, the likelihood of SIDS occurring is very low. It is more common in male babies than female babies.

There is a lot you can do to lower the risk of it occurring.

~don't smoke. AT ALL. Not even outside.

~put your baby to sleep on his back. If he won't sleep that way, you can compromise and put him on his side, using those wedges that keep the baby from rolling over. My first daughter could not sleep on her back due to severe reflux, so we put her on her side.

~don't use pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, or any soft bedding in his crib (or wherever he sleeps)

~don't dress him too warmly

~BREASTFEED. For every 87 babies that die of SIDS, only 3 breastfed babies die of SIDS. Reference: http://www.co.utah.ut.us/dept/healthwic/BreastFeed.asp

Personally, I would not put my baby to sleep on his/her stomach, especially if if they were not past the 4 month mark. If it was needed, I would put them on their side.

As for cosleeping, there is conflicting evidence out there as to whether it lowers or raises the risk of SIDS.

Many parent's beds have blankets and pillows and soft mattress pads, etc, that can raise the risk of SIDS, so cosleeping in that sense would definitely be riskier. However, if you make your bed "baby safe", then I would think that cosleeping would not put your baby at a higher risk and may actually reduce his risk of SIDS, as long as:
~you don't smoke
~your spouse doesn't smoke
~you don't sleep too heavily (as to notice if you roll into your baby's face
~your spouse doesn't sleep too heavily
~neither you nor your spouse are overweight/obese (studies have shown that cosleeping babies with overweight/obese parents are more likely to die of SIDS or be accidentally suffocated by their parents).

As for your son sleeping on top of you, I personally think it's fine, as long as he's on his back and there's no way he can roll off and be injured. If he's on his stomach, but you're awake and watching him the entire time, then that's okay too.

I coslept with both of my daughters, but I slept on my side, and they slept on their sides with their back up against my belly/chest. I would turn them over to nurse and then turn them back when they finished.


How did the cat know what to do?
Q. I saw a documentary on miraculous rescues by pets, and one stands out in my mind. The baby was sleeping upstairs in his room, while the parents were downstairs. They had the baby monitor on. When the baby began having trouble breathing, and the noises were too quiet to be heard on the monitor, the cat actually made strange noises over the baby monitor to get the parents' attention.

How did the cat know to use the baby monitor?

A. The cat may have been distressed because it sensed that the baby was in trouble. The cat could simply have been reacting to its own distress. I doubt that the cat had any idea that it could be heard over the baby monitor.


What is the best baby monitor?
Q. We're welcoming a new edition in a few weeks and we have everything ready to go except the baby monitor. We live in a one story home and I would only need the monitor for when the baby's sleeping. All the bedrooms are on the same side of the house but I always take extra precautions. Thanks so much!

A. We got an Angelcare movement monitor and I swear by it. I'm a very anxious mom and it helped me get some sleep! Knowing that an alarm would go off if he stopped breathing was the only thing that stopped me from checking in on the baby 10 times a night. ;)

edit: The monitor was suggested by my son's neonatal surgeon, as he was premature...


At what age did you stop using the tick alarm on your angel care baby monitor?
Q. I have been using the angel care monitor with the tick alarm. Its a sensor to monitor the baby's breathing. My baby is now 6 months old and is starting to move all around her crib and when she gets in a corner the monitor doesn't pick up her movement and the alarm goes off. I am considering if i want to stop using it but I am scared of SIDS...

A. Most SIDS cases occur before the baby is 4 months old, after 6 months they're "out of the woods", then after 12 months they're okay. It's up to you, 6 months seems like the reasonable time to stop using it, but I can totally understand your concern - you're a mum and you worry like every other one of us.

Whenever you choose to stop using it, you'll wake up every 2 hours and listen to hear them breathing - like me! Lol.





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Saturday, December 29, 2012

Has anyone tried the prenatal monitor by Graco?

Q. Is it similar to what you hear in the doctor's office? 19 weeks & trying to hear my baby's heartbeat! :) Thanks
I already have the monitor. I want to know how strong the heartbeat will be or if that is even what I am hearing. Not sure about the sounds.

A. i have one you can faintly hear the heartbeat depending on positioning of the baby but i personally didnt think it was that great. definetely nothing like the dopler at the doctors. it also works better once you get to 25 wks or more.


Could you please share your baby list that includes items to buy before delivery?
Q. Hi - I am due this August and in the process of making my baby list, doing research and shopping. I will be grateful if you could please share your lists (including brands/models - if at all available), so I can judge what's actually required and also find out if I am missing out on anything important. It's so easy to overdo baby shopping. I wanted to limit the shopping to really useful items that are worth it.

Thanks so much!

A. Absolutely necessary in my opinion:
-Diapers (sizes one and two to start, newborn are pretty useless)
-Wipes (I like Huggies wipes better)
-Car Seat (I love Graco seats, both infant and convertible)
-Blankets (For an August baby go with thin thermal and recieving, for swaddling and laying on surfaces)
-Baby Bath Tub (I liked Fisher Price Ocean Wonders with the sling for an newborn)
-Sleeping place (I had an Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper, along with a crib for later)
-Diaper Cream (Desitin), Shampoo and Baby wash (Johnsons is good, Burts Bees smells awesome), Medications (Target brand Tylonel, Motrin, Gas Drops, Teething drops), Thermometer (Safety First)
-Bottles if you plan to formula feed (You might want to try one brand at a time til you hit what the child likes)

Really nice to have:
-Stroller (Again, I recommend Graco)
-Bath Towels (I like Target Brand with the hoods, they are soft)
-Bouncer Seat or Swing (Fisher Price is a go-to for good stuff)
-Fan (They say it reduces SIDS and helps babies breath better, not to mention blocks out some noise which makes Mommies feel better)
-Sling or baby carrier (I loved my Mai Tai wrap, it made it so easy to go out with him as a newborn and also to get things done in the house)

Not necessary at all:
-Changing table or pad (We never owned one, never used one)
-Pack-n-play (Unless you travel a lot, we don't use ours)
-Rocking chair (never sat in it once)
-Baby monitor (if you have a small house, you are going to hear the baby...but it is a good purchase once the baby is older...We have a "Baby Call" by Sony and like it)

I think that is all. Remember the usual stuff like clothes, somewhere to keep the clothes, free and clear laundry soap, goodies for you (breast pads, sanitary napkins, pjs for nursing if you are).


What should I ask for on my baby shower registry?
Q. I'm going to be a new mom and I'm going to register for baby supplies but have no idea what I need. What supplies are essential for a new mom? Anything you wish someone had told you about when you were expecting?

A. that depends on what you want to do -- are you co-sleeping or do you want your baby in the room with you? are you breast feeding? do you want to wear your baby?

for me, I found that my sling for carrying my fussy newborn around in was a lifesaver (I recommend the moby wrap). I like my good, compact stroller (inglesina swift) and my convertible car seat. I liked our playmat/play gym thing and we used that for a good 7-8 months. I was happy to have my breast pump when I needed it in the first few weeks but then we got back to him breast feeding full time so all the bottles I got were unnecessary. we had a co-sleeper which was good for naps until he outgrew it, but he was in bed with us from the beginning. my son hates baths so I have to shower with him so we never used a baby bathtub, haha. we cloth diaper too so I didn't need too many diapers.

I'd register for a baby monitor, a music box/white noise machine, plenty of onesies in all sizes, burp cloths, a bumbo, a high chair (we have a hook-on one) and a mobile too. they grow so quickly out of that newborn stage too, so some toys will be nice. forget the wipes warmer (when you're away from the house, the wipes will be cold so it's best to get your baby used to that!) and the diaper genie (a regular trash can with a lid works fine). we didn't use uncomfortable carriers (the baby bjorn, the snuggli) because they put the baby's weight in the wrong place. we have a convertible crib that we never used but would have when he went into a toddler bed -- but it got recalled so yadda yadda. he hated his bouncer but loved his swing. I had a little swing contraption that allowed the car seat to be attached to it and I thought that was pretty cool and we used it until he outgrew his infant seat:
http://www.amazon.com/Graco-SnugGlider-Swing-SnugRide-Infant/dp/B000M4K4BY

so I guess all in all, hind sight is 20-20 and I really didn't know what would work with my son and what wouldn't. some people love their baby bath tubs and bouncers and they didn't work with us. think about your style of parenting that you want to happen and try to go off of that, if that makes sense. sorry this is so long, I've been long winded tonight! keep reciepts!


What are some baby items you really enjoy having?
Q. I'm talking about things that the baby likes, or things that make life more convienent. Not MUST haves, but things you really like having.

A. well, u can go to babies r us website and they have a list for ppl who are going to register..of course it has a lot of things on there that you don't need, but if you weed through you can get what you need out of it...the things i liked;found most useful, etc......

.i would def recommend:
a diaper genie 2; idk why ppl don't like them, there is NO smell in my dd 's room
changing table..will save your back, good for diap changes, clothes changes, sponge baths, etc and you have shelves to store your new baby must haves....i have canvas bins on the shelves to store things that are good to have in reach or easily available...
monitor--i like the graco imonitor, recently bought a second one for another room in the house bc i liked the other one so much, it has been working well for over 8 mos now, and it has good range, battery life, and i can hear EVERYTHING; never any interference....it works great..
boppy pillow with cotton covers, soft ones don't fit as well for some reason
lots of baby hangers, and baby hangers with clips to keep outfits together
primo euro bathtub
prince lionheart diaper depot and wipewarmer; ours works well and the wipes are still very warm when we get them to out dd's bottom; and she doesn't freak out when we are out and they aren't warmed, but seems to appreciate it when they are..
health kit: brush, comb, thermometer (not an ear one, not as accurate), nail clippers, etc.
baby meds, generic is just as good and a lot cheaper...desitin(or plain zinc oxide if you can find it)..not creamy, has less zinc ox in it....infant mylicon and tylenol
lots of diapers , make sure wherever you buy them will let you exchange them for a diff size if you need to even after the return period...brus let me do that, and buy a small pack of a couple brands to see which you prefer before you open the big boxes...wipes, lots of them, without alcohol or fragrance! we use swaddlers diapers and pampers sensitive wipes; no rashes, no reactions to their ingredients, diapers hold a lot when they have too and the netting tends to keep the wet off her bottom...
lots of baby washclothes, you may have to use them on baby's bum if it is really sensitive and gets a rash....and baby towels, but you could use your reg towels if money is an issue

swing, pref swings two ways and plugs in instead of batteries
bouncy seat
infant travel system! easy, easy, easy--we got the graco tour deluxe; it is great, folds with one hand, several seating positions, lays flat for sleep; has a big basket underneath and cup holders for mom and dad, one for baby , place for snacks for baby, and a 'pocket' up top for keys, cell phone, whatever you wanna put there...
play yard, get one with bassinet feature if you want to, easier to keep baby in your room for a while before putting them in crib in their room=we have chicco discovery and it is awesome, has more padding than most, easy to wash..machine wash, most are wipe down...very sturdy, has nightlight, vibration, etc and a flip up change table, has wooden slats that slide in under mattress for support...not that much more exp than the others and much better in my opinion
passys--she loves soothies and that is all she will take..
baby wash, again frag free, dye free
frag free , dye free laundry detergent
clothes hamper or basket
lingerie bag for socks, mittens, anything little so they don't get lost in the wash...
something to put baby toys in
extra toy links
lullaby cd and small cd player; my dd has come to love white noise, she naps with a fan and a womb bear; sleeps at night with a fan....
oh, mosquito cover for your infant carrier..it's where you can see in , baby can see out, but strangers cant just walk up and touch your baby, and they will!!!!!
all i can come up with now...LOL
diaper bags; big one for everything you may need, leave in car unless you will be somewhere a long time, and a small one to stick what you will need for a short run in so you don't have to haul the bigger one

if ffing:
avent formula dispenser; has better review than the ones made by sassy, and convert to a snack cup later...i loved it so much i bought a second one!
bottles--really liked playtex ventaire advanced when she was young, more pieces but it's easy to get them clean when the top and bottom comes off...and they vent through the bottom instead of the nip so no bubbles or foam going back up into baby's milk; they will leak if you don't put them together correctly, but we have had no probs with them and have never had to replace any parts on them..if u decide on them and have leaks, email me and i will explain how to keep them from leaking...:O)
bottle and nip brushes--i really like the ones by munchking that don't have a sponge on the end of the brush, they come in diff colors mixed with white and have a great nip brush in the handles....
drying racks--again, i really like munchkins...
formula mixer: i like dr brown's formula pitcher bc you don't shake it it is only abo





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What is the best video/audio monitor to buy?

Q. I am looking to buy a video baby monitor through walmart. I am looking at the Graco iMonitor Baby Video Monitor, the Summer Infant 900 MHz 2.5" Color Handheld Video Monitor, and the MobiCam Ultra Wireless Color Video Monitor System. I have read reviews on all of them and have compared all of the features but still do not know which one would be best. Can anyone give me any input please? Thanks!!!!!!

A. Hi! Well since no one else answered your question I just thought to give some input from my experience. Perhaps you haven't yet had your baby? I was the very same way. I went out and planned every last product to put into my nursery: $200 bassinette, expensive travel system, breast pump set, sounds n lights baby monitor (fisher-price) etc. He won't sleep in the bassinette, the travel system is nice but the stroller that went with it is so big and bulky and so inconvenient and heavy to unload that I never us it. I used the breast pump only a few times because my milk didn't come in properly. The monitor is rarely used because I carry the baby with me everywhere in the house (in his carrier) but sometimes when I have the right batteries for it, I use it when I am outside visiting neighbors. I guess my point in saying all of this is that I think you should wait until the baby comes and you know for sure what will work for you and also you won't waste a lot of time and money on stuff that you regret and never use.


Does anyone know of a baby monitor that has a transmitter with battery backup?
Q. The monitor we have has batteries in the recievers, but not in the transmitter, so if the power goes out, we won't know what is going on with the baby.

A. I use fisher price monitors they are not wxpensive and have both battery and electric in both transmitter and recievers.


What happens if I leave my AA batteries inside a baby monitor while plugged in an outlet?
Q. Will the batteries explode? Or just simply drain out the battery life? Should I take out the batteries?

Thank you

A. Well, i suggest u to read the owners manual first before asking. then, i will consider to check if the batteries are correctly put in. and no, the electrical current can not explode batteries, only a voltage higher than 220 (which is in Europe just incase u live in the US).
But if it does leak, it can harm ur baby. so make sure taht there is no possibility for it to leak. :D


Where can I find this type of battery?
Q. My baby monitor has a battery that looks like 4 AA batteries wrapped in plastic with a wire attached that plugs into the monitor. I don't see a number or name anywhere indicating the type of battery. Does anyone know where I could find a replacement? I tried looking online, but my efforts were futile ... Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you!

A. Radio shack or any store that sells electronics just take the dead one with you. So you can make sure you are getting the right one





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My baby savannah monitor is VERY aggressive, normal?

Q. My baby savannah monitor (7 inches) is VERY aggressive. Every time I approach him he whips and hisses and has now started biting. I have had him 2 weeks now and I am wondering is this normal for a baby sav? I hold him regularly but once he goes back in the tank he reverts back to being aggressive. Are baby savs normaly like this?

A. The Savannah monitor is known for being an aggressive lizard. They are not naturally tame and so significant time must be spent with them the first year to tame them. If not time is not spent with them regally to keep them tame. They can inflict painful bites. Their method of killing prey is to grab it, crush the skull, then shake it back and forth. Believe me not fun when it your hand or finger. Savannah's just take a lot of time and patience on your part. They are not naturally nice like a Bearded dragon, so they require a lot more work. If he just is too mean you can try using leather gloves to get him out of the cage and feeding him out of his cage that can help. Good luck.


What do you do when your kids push you to the snapping point?
Q. I have 2 kids, a 2.5 year old girl and a 7 week old boy. I have days (and i believe all parents have these days) where they drive me batty, especially my daughter.
When i get to the snapping point i put my daughter in her room with the gate in the door way, lay my son in his bassinet, take the baby monitor onto the porch with me and i calm down.

What do you do when you've had enough?

A. I put myself in timeout. Perhaps go for a walk, take a bath, read a book.

My children are older now (9 and 7, though we are expecting our third) but even when they are younger if I felt myself getting frustrated I would remove myself from it for a little while.

If they are safe and happy, it is good for mom to take a few moments to herself so that she can also be safe and happy.


How do I get my 7 month old to sleep in his crib?
Q. I'm a bit paranoid since our bedroom is not close to his and eventhough I have a baby monitor,I'm afraid to leave him alone.

A. If your bedroom isn't close to his, then move his crib into your room or into a hallway. It isn't safe to have him that far away. What would you do in case of a fire?!

Or make your life simpler, and just put him in bed with you.


How much does it cost the first year to raise a baby and other questions.?
Q. I am not pregnant. This is a protect for school.

What is the annual cost the first year to raise a baby?

Second question. Im going to give you a list of newborn items. Tell me which items are TRULY NECESSARY.

Crib
diaper changing table
rocking chair
baby monitor
baby bathtub
bottles
bottle brush
bottle drying rack
baby swing
pacifiers
infant bouncer
swaddling blanket
play mat
play pen
carseat

A. Crib
Carseat
Bottles
Swaddling blanket
Play mat (can be used on floor as changing mat too)
These are the basic basic needs for me. You can get by without the others but not these.

The annual costs for a baby each year is different for every person. Some woman breast feed which is cheaper than formula. Others use cloth diapers which are cheaper than disposable etc.
I bought a pack of 15 reusable pea pod diapers for $70. These can be used from newborn right up to 3 years, so I only bought 1 pack of disposable diapers during the first year, to see what was better. Diapers are about $10 (new Zealand dollars) a pack. Babies go through about 5-10 nappies each day in the first few weeks, and then about 3-5 a day from around 4 months to a year. So do the math and it'll give you an approximate answer (get the price of diapers from your local supermarket).
If breast fed, it cost nothing. I breast fed, but I also bought a breast pump and baby bottles for $150 in case baby needed to be left with another person etc. if formula feeding, do some research online on the average formula used a month, and then times that by 12 (12 months in a year) get a price from your local supermarket.
Clothes- this depends on where you buy from etc, but I spent about $800 on all clothes up to 12 months. (including shoes, socks, togs, pyjamas etc)
I spent about $20 or so on baby shampoo, soap and powder every 6 or so weeks, so that's about $180 a year.
I bought baby towels and facecloths before my baby was born and they lasted right up until she was four. I spent $30 on 5 towels and a couple packs of facecloths.
Bibs- got given some at baby shower, but bought a few packs for $20 around about, these lasted the whole time needed.
Bassinet/Moses basket - needed for first 8 weeks, cost me $80
Crib- needed up until about 2- cost me $250
Stroller- needed up until about 3- cost me $150
Car seat- Bought a seat that was used from birth til 4 years. Cost $150
Blankets, sheets, duvets for crib- got given some at baby shower but probably costs about $100 for a couple pairs of sheets, blankets etc
Swaddling blankets- needed for first few weeks (I used them but not necessary) depending on brand etc but I got a few muslin wraps for $30.
Baby bath- optional, but I used one. $30
Medication such as baby Tylenol, gripe water, teething gel, teething powder etc about $50 all up the first year (depends)
Baby food- baby cereals, rusks, custards and other tinned foods probably about $90 a month (depends how much food baby eats. This price is based on my baby who at 7 months ate 2 tins a day, at $1.50 each) I also bought veggies and meat, and puréed these myself for baby. (this price will depend, as some babies don't start real food until a year old) my girl at 10-12 months was eating the same foods as I was.
Some people will put their children into childcare, this is another cost.
Where I live, medical attention for under 5's is free, but many people will have to pay for this as well.
Hope I haven't forgotten anything :)
Hope I helped!





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Friday, December 28, 2012

Is it possible to watch baby monitor from your computer?

Q. From a standard baby monitor system (summer infant), not a webcam... Is there a way to pick up the frequency?

A. I don't see why not but the problem is that you cannot exactly 'tune things' in this way. The issue is not signal itself but FCC standards. They tell the companies to put certain devices on certain frequencies for operation. That being said it prevents overlap. However that doesn't prevent too much. Using some Linux software you may be able to hack your wireless router into transmitting that signal to your computer if you have one, theoretically. It is also plausible that the company that made the device may have thought about this already and could have a software program available for use.

All I'm saying is it could be done but whether or not this screws up the router later or not if done by a hack is something you will have to decide on dealing with.

My advice: Get a web cam that can link up via ethernet and yes they make such a beast as a security camera. These have similar sensitive microphones like what you would find in baby monitors. Most though start off around $79.99.


What do people mean when they say facebook messags cant be removed?
Q. I've heard people say when you post something it can never be deleted. So what happens when people remove messages?

I mean it can't be seen once its removed, so are what people referring to is the fact Facebook keeps it logged in some hidden file or something to be pulled out when they need it?

A. Yes, Anonymous hacking group informed the public of this and even some have threatened to shut facebook down - though it never got the go ahead.

Facebook was nicknamed "Project Dataminer" - with the purpose of gathering peoples personal details and information. This details can then be sold on and used by the government, etc. People post all sorts of information on there and no one reads the small print on the signup page, it's a quite smart way to get information.

You see it was considered unmoral for america to microchip babies and track/monitor them throughout their lifes - wasn't allowed. Facebook timeline is the next best thing to do this for them. Everything you post, like, etc, is recorded. If you delete something, it just hides it from you, but is still there years later. Pictures you upload and tagged are monitored and they use Photo DNA to scan them. Photo DNA can work out faces, etc, and match them with others to a mass database, then age them, etc. It doesn't matter if you have modified the image, resized or cropped it, or even changed the colours, etc.

They can use all this details for hopefully "good", such as they use it on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and to disrupt the proliferation of online child exploitation. The CIA owns part of facebook and has full access to it. They also do some of their recruitment, tracking and finding missing people, children, finding terrorists and criminals, etc. Suicude/Murder/Confession notes left on facebook are also considered strongely and sometimes helped. It's even been used to stop mass gate crasher plans. Employer can use it to check out the real personality of people before they employ them, etc.

It is also highly unmoral, privacy options are but a joke, but hey that's paranoid America for ya! You signed up to it willing and signed your life to them. Maybe next time be careful what you post or at least read the binding terms on the signup saying 'I Agree'. :)


Can someone please answer some questions i have on conflict or blood diamonds?
Q. i am doing a talk on blood diamonds and i would appreciate any help on them

1) when did De Beers stop buying conflict diamonds?

2) how has countries like Britain, germany or japan tried to stop conflict diamonds

3) any examples of slave camps mining diamonds being set free

4) and any views you have on conflcit diamonds.

A. What is a conflict diamond?
Conflict diamonds are diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council.

How can a conflict diamond be distinguished from a legitimate diamond?

A well-structured 'Certificate of Origin' regime can be an effective way of ensuring that only legitimate diamonds -- that is, those from government-controlled areas -- reach market. Additional controls by Member States and the diamond industry are needed to ensure that such a regime is effective. These measures might include the standardization of the certificate among diamond exporting countries, transparency, auditing and monitoring of the regime and new legislation against those who fail to comply.

Who needs to take action?
Governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, diamond traders, financial institutions, arms manufacturers, social and educational institutions and other civil society players need to combine their efforts, demand the strict enforcement of sanctions and encourage real peace. The horrific atrocities in Sierra Leone and the long suffering of the people of Angola have heightened the international community's awareness of the need to cut off sources of funding for the rebels in order to promote lasting peace in those countries; such an opportunity cannot be wasted.

Published on Monday, June 12, 2000 in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune
'Conflict Diamonds':
Americans Can Stop The Damage They Do
Editorial

This is a story about diamonds -- "conflict diamonds." These stones come from war-ravaged Angola, Sierra Leone and Congo. Far from being anyone's best friend, they have proven a powerful enemy of the innocent thousands killed, wounded and maimed in those wars.
Why is this of concern to Americans? Because Americans buy 65 percent of all retail diamonds. Because if Americans begin to insist on proof that those diamonds are not washed with African blood, they can become a powerful force for bringing peace to these horribly brutalized peoples.

Rep. Tony Hall, D-Ohio, has introduced legislation that would require certificates on all diamonds, detailing their place of origin. The United Nations and the British government are pushing for tighter controls as well. Opinions differ on whether Hall's approach is practical, but his legislation sends a strong message to the diamond industry: Find ways to clean up your trade or we will.

"Diamonds are forever," says diamond cartel DeBeers. But human lives and human limbs aren't. Consider Maria, an 8-month-old baby girl in Sierra Leone. In an act of unfathomable cruelty, her arm was hacked off by the "rebel" terrorists of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). The RUF mob has sought to impose its will on Sierra Leone by chopping off thousands of civilian hands, feet and ears. Thousands more people have simply been slaughtered and left to rot in village streets. Men, women, children, civilian, soldier; it makes no difference to the RUF.

What's the diamond connection? The RUF has kept itself well supplied with arms, vehicles, food and other supplies by mining and smuggling hundreds of millions of dollars worth of illicit diamonds into a world market that is determined to see no evil.

It's the same in Angola, where illicit diamonds have funded the 25-year-old war waged by Jonas Savimbi and his UNITA forces. By one estimate, UNITA earned $4 billion from its illegal sales of diamonds between 1992 and 1998. It used that money to undermine the Angola peace process and to purchase new arms.

The international diamond industry has taken several steps to stop the trade in illicit diamonds, but they are puny steps. Much more could be done, beginning with an acknowledgment of responsibility.

Take the DeBeers cartel. It mines 50 percent of the world's diamonds and purchases about 80 percent of those offered for sale on open markets. More than $4 billion in diamonds are stockpiled in DeBeers offices; it buys and sells in quantities designed to keep diamond prices at an artificially high rate. All told, it controls 85 percent of the world trade. (Where is trust buster Joel Klein when we need him?)

DeBeers insists it is impossible to tell where uncut diamonds originate (others disagree) but simultaneously insists it buys no conflict diamonds. How can those statements both be true? Well, DeBeers says, it has closed its offices in the controversial areas of Angola, Sierra Leone and Congo

Another trouble spot and diamond-rich area is the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Following the recent withdrawal of foreign troops, analysts fear a further fragmentation of the country, which is rich in diamonds and natural resources. The risk is that warlords will benefit from the rich interior and create fiefdoms controlled by


My 3 month old has the croup cough, had anyone experienced?
Q. this with a baby so small and what can I do to make him comfortable? He's really hoarse, I brought him to the doctor and the doctor said just to flush his nose with saline, but this doesn't make him feel any better.

A. Thought this was great advice, good luck!

"What is the treatment for croup?

Croup can be frightening for both children and parents. Therefore, comforting and reassuring the child is the first step. Breathing difficulties can develop and worsen rapidly. Close monitoring of the child is, therefore, important during the early phases of the illness.

To help the child breathe more comfortably, a cold or warm mist vaporizer or humidifier can be placed near the child. To avoid accidental burns, hot water vaporizers should be out of the reach of infants and toddlers. Also effective is having the child breathe in a bathroom steamed up with hot water from the tub or shower. When cough or stridor worsens at night, 10 or 15 minutes sitting or driving in the cool night air can also help the child breathe.

In infants and children, blockage in the nasal passages from mucus can further impair breathing. Careful instillation of saltwater nose drops (¼ teaspoon of table salt in one cup of water) into the nasal openings every few hours, followed by gentle suction using an ear bulb syringe, can be helpful in opening nasal passages.

Decongestants and cough suppressants can be helpful in relieving the congestion and hacking cough. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding most combination cough and cold medicines especially if they contain dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Several studies show that these medicines are ineffective in children. They can potentially cause side effects that could lead to more serious symptoms. Before giving any over-the-counter cold medicine to your child, it is best to consult your health-care professional. Acetaminophen (Liquiprin, Tylenol, Panadol) and ibuprofen (Liquid Motrin, Advil) are also helpful for pain relief and fever. Aspirin is avoided in the treatment of croup and other viral illnesses since aspirin is suspected as being related to the Reye's syndrome in children recovering from influenza virus infection. Reye's syndrome is a serious and mysterious illness, causing kidney, liver, and brain damage, which can lead to the rapid onset of coma. Occasionally, cortisone medications are prescribed for more severe cases of croup. Because croup is usually caused by a virus, antibiotics are reserved for those rare occasions when bacterial infections cause croup or become superimposed on the viral infection.

Even though plenty of fluids are encouraged to avoid dehydration, forcing fluids is generally unnecessary. Popsicles are a popular means of providing fluid. Activity should be restricted to quiet play during the first days of the illness.

Children with croup are most contagious during the first days of fever and illness. Infection spreads easily in a household. Other children in the family will often develop a sore throat or a cough, without necessarily developing the croupy cough and stridor seen in croup. Infants and children may return to school or day care when their temperature is normal and they feel better. A lingering cough can last another two weeks but should not be the reason to keep them at home. "





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