Instead of a dedicated baby monitor, I am trying a home security camera. I need wireless and night vision. I don’t want it reaching out to the internet for video feeds or video archiving. Panning and tilting and zooming are not required but useful. A tablet application is not required but useful.

As I was researching, I found a suitable product on sale at Home Depot. It seems to fit my needs. It is a Foscam FI9821PB Wireless 720p IP Surveillance Camera. ~65. It could have been 5 less if I knew there was a coupon code. Damn it.

Update: I have the camera. It took a lot longer due to UPS screwing up. I configured it. The firmware took about 40 minutes to update. But I have it working with the tablet as a viewer. And I expect that viewing will not be an issue. Night vision tested well. Latency was low. I’m impressed. Would be more so if I didn’t forget the $5 coupon. I am worried about where to mount it, though. Need to work that out and power to it in the nursery.

Update 2: I installed the camera. It is connected by WiFi to the LAN with no external connectivity to the Internet. The firmware update took a LONG time and I was worried it wasn’t going. I didn’t mess with it and kill it, though. It is working well though. The video looks good and the night vision works well. It works well from a web browser and Android application. I’m very happy with this thing.

Update 3 2015.7.30: I am thinking about a wide angle lens mod to get a better view into the crib. This should use a M12x0.5mm thread on the camera lens. It should be a screw in replacement. The current lens is a 2.8mm f/2.4. 70 degree AOV. Sensor size is 1/4″.

Update 2016.04.23: I wound up with a 2016 Santa Fe AWD SE with Premium package. I am happy with the price. I am happy with the vehicle. Doesn’t drive badly at all. Has nearly all the features I want (save driver seat position memory and fancy headlights). I almost had to get a 2017 as they came in freaking February and it wasn’t even a mid-cycle refresh year. A few months from now there will be an updated CX-9 that would otherwise be the perfect car (I assume) but I can’t wait and it will be a lot more money.

I’ve managed to be in a position to accelerate my life from bachelorhood to double parenthood in the space of a few months. With two kids and a wife adverse to driving 2 vehicles, I am suddenly in the market for a crossover utility vehicle with a 3rd row as the wife is allergic to minivans. Like with the last car I bought, I don’t think I will get nearly everything I want. I only hope it turns out that I am as happy with this CUV as I am with my econobox.

2016 Honda Pilot EX-L

MSRP $39,335 – ~41,000 purchased
Expected 5 year depreciation 2015 = $20,795
18/26/21
194.5 x 78.6

+Leather
+Heated Seats
+One touch second row
+Roof rails (as options)
+Remote starter (as option)
+Seats fold flatter
+Power lift gate
+Fog lights
+Room
+Seating
+Rear seat sunshades
-Radio has no buttons
-Safety Features
-Price

2015 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS Premium Package

MSRP $36,600
Expected 5 year depreciation 2015 = $20,835
18/24/20
193.1 x 74.2

+Value
+Leather
+Rear window shades
+Heated seats
+Roof rails
+Power liftgate
+Fog lights
+Remote starter (option)
+Electronic safety features
+Warranty
-light steering wheel
-light steering effort
-Medium space behind 3rd row
-Middle row doesn’t fold flat
-Middle row difficult to work

2015 Mazda5 Grand Touring

MSRP $25,990
21/28
180.5 x 68.9

+Price
-Size
-Too low
-Terrible 3rd row
-No room behind 3rd row

2015 Toyota Highlander XLE

MSRP $39,680
Expected 5 year depreciation 2015 = $19,056
18/24
191.1 x 75.8

+Lower depreciation
+Leather
+Power liftgate
+Navi
+Power outlet
+2nd row sunshade
-It is a Toyota
-Safety features not present

Not considered for price: Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango. Not considered for wife’s dislike of Nissan: Rogue and Pathfinder. Age of platform and small size: Mazda CX-9. 3rd row as an afterthought: Kia Sorento.

These baby seat systems that lock into a bunch of other things like strollers and travel systems seem pretty involved. There are lots of versions and revisions within a single system and the systems themselves are not cross compatible. Infant car seats are really what I am talking about.

I looked at the store and found that I really like the Graco Click Connect system. Compared to every other system, the locking mechanism is the clearest and most obvious. It is just under the release lever. It is very obvious and direct. A lot of the other systems have the attachment mechanism on the bottom side where you can’t see anything.

I wound up with a Chicco Keyfit 30 infant baby seat. By many measures, it is a better seat. I was reading reviews from a website I found very entertaining and this one is pricier, fancier and better than any Graco. Graco is apparently an economy brand. While I appreciated the review, especially the writing and how system orientated it was, it didn’t ever mention the locking mechanism. Buy maybe that is because it doesn’t really matter.

The site was http://www.lucieslist.com/. I found it VERY helpful for not just the seat but for the whole process of having a baby. It was very comprehensive and the writing is fantastic.

Update 2016.04.23: It turns out after using 2 systems for a while that I totally had my concerns wrong.

1. The system rarely is used. I mean I only use the car seat and seat base. And once every two months I put the car seat into a light stroller frame. I think we used the big stroller frame once. My concerns about how well the seat latches to random things was misguided.
2. Weight matters. I like how light and better built the Chicco is.
3. The sunshade matters. The Graco sunshade is kinda loose and feels crappy but it provides MUCH better coverage. The Chicco is sewn in and feels quality but doesn’t cover the baby’s head enough.
4. Size matters. The Graco is big and heavy. But with the amazing BundleMe, it is the only one that I expect our chubby baby to fit reasonably. The BundleMe is so important that I cannot imagine how painful taking the baby around would be without it. So the car seat needs to fit baby and BundleMe.

Which would I buy with the experience I have? I think the Graco. I think the Graco even if the price was the same. And I would continue to lust after the build quality of the Chicco while struggling with the weight. But the Graco.