VTech Digital Audio Monitor DM221-2 Introduction

The VTech Digital Audio Monitor DM221-2 is a reliable and user-friendly baby monitoring system featuring DECT 6.0 technology for clear audio transmission. It includes two parent units, allowing caregivers to stay connected from different locations. With a range of up to 1,000 feet outdoors and 160 feet indoors, it provides sound and vibration alerts, two-way talk, a nightlight on the baby unit, and a visual sound indicator. The rechargeable batteries and easy setup make it a convenient choice for ensuring your baby's safety and comfort.

What’s in the box

Specifications

• Frequency control
  • Crystal-controlled PLL synthesizer
• Transmit frequency
  • Baby unit: 1921.536-1928.448 MHz
  • Parent unit: 1921.536-1928.448 MHz
• Channels
  • 5
• LCD
  • 35 (x) x 21.2 (y) mm B&W LCD
• Nominal effective range
  • Maximum power allowed by FCC and IC. Actual operating range may vary according to environmental conditions at the time of use.
• Power requirement
  • Parent unit: 2.4 V Ni-MH battery
  • Baby unit power adapter:
    • Output: 6V DC 400mA
  • Parent unit power adapter:
    • Output: 6V DC 400mA

Baby unit overview

1. Night light
   • On when night light is turned on manually.
   • Off when night light is turned off manually.
2. POWER light
   • On when the baby unit is turned on.
3. 

   • Press to turn the night light on or off. 

4. VOLUME
   • Press to adjust the speaker volume.
5. (On/off)
   • Press to power on, and the power light turns on.
   • Press and hold to power off, and the power light turns off.
6. PAGE 
   • Press to start or stop paging parent unit.
7. Microphone 
8. Speaker 
9. Power jack

Parent unit overview

1. Visual sound indicator  
   The visual sound indicator has two functions. One is to show the sound level detected by the baby unit. The other one is to show the volume level during speaker volume setting.
   • Sound level detected by the baby unit
     • One to three green lights indicate a moderate sound level detected by the baby unit.
     • Additional red lights indicate a higher sound level detected by the baby unit (e.g. baby crying loudly).
   • Speaker volume level
     • One to three green lights indicate Level 1 to Level 3 of the speaker volume setting.
     • Additional red lights indicate Level 4 to Level 5 of the speaker volume setting.
2. LCD
3. Microphone
4. On/off
   • Press and hold to power on, the screen turns on.
   • Press and hold again to power off, the screen turns off.
   • While in a menu, press to return to idle screen.
5. VOLUME
   • Press to adjust the speaker volume.
   • While in a menu, press to scroll up or down.
6. SELECT
   • While in a menu, press to choose an item, or save a setting.
7. Battery LED
   • Light on when the battery is being charged.
   • Light flashes when the battery is low and needs charging.
   • Light off when the parent unit is running on AC power without battery installed, or the parent unit is running on battery only.
8. MENU/BACK
   • Press to enter the menu.
   • While in a menu, press to return to the previous menu.
9. Speaker 
10. TALK
    • Press and hold to talk to the baby. 
11. Power jack 
12. Belt clip 
13. Battery compartment cover

Parent unit icons

Status icons

• Connection status
  • displays when strong signal strength is detected between the baby unit and the parent unit.
  • displays when moderate signal strength is detected between the baby unit and the parent unit.
  • displays when the weak signal strength is detected between the baby unit and the parent unit.
  • flashes when the link between the baby unit and the parent unit is lost.
• Night light
  • On when the night light is turned on.
• Sound alert
  • Displays when the sound alert of the parent unit is turned on.
  • Flashes when there are loud sounds detected from the baby unit.
• Vibration alert
  • Displays when the vibration alert of the parent unit is turned on.
  • Flashes when there are loud sounds detected from the baby unit.
• Volume off
  • Displays when the patient unit speaker volume is turned off.
• Battery status
  • animates when the battery is charging.
  • displays solid when the battery is fully charged.
  • flashes when the battery is in low level and needs charging.
  • No battery icon displays when there is no battery installed.

Parent unit display screen messages

• LINKED
  • The link between the parent unit and the baby unit is established.
• LOW BATTERY
  • The parent unit uses only the rechargeable battery pack and it needs to be recharged.
• NOT LINKED
  • The link between the parent unit and the baby unit is lost continuously for over 10 seconds.
• PAGING
  • Both idle parent units are being paged by the baby unit.
• SAVED
  • Your selection has been saved.
• SEARCHING
  • The parent unit is out of range of the baby unit, or the baby unit is out of power.
• TALK
  • You are using the parent unit to talk to your baby.
• TALKBACK
  • Someone is using the other parent unit to talk to the baby, and the voice is also broadcasting to your parent unit. No sound will transmit from the baby unit to any parent unit during broadcasting.
  • For DM221-2 only

Connect and charge the battery

Install the parent unit battery 

The parent unit runs on rechargeable battery or AC power. To continuously monitor your baby, make sure you use both battery and AC power at the same time. With the battery alone, the parent unit can cordlessly run for a short time only. 

NOTES

• Use only the battery supplied with this product.

• If the parent unit will not be used for a long time, disconnect and remove the battery to prevent possible leakage.

  

Replace the battery 

To replace the battery, unplug the battery connector from the socket, and then pull the battery out of the battery compartment. Follow the steps above to install the battery.

Connect the baby monitor

NOTES

• Use only the power adapters supplied with this product.
• Make sure the baby monitor is not connected to an electric outlet that is controlled by a switch.
• The power adapters’ prongs are not designed to hold the weight of your baby monitor. Make sure you connect the adapters to wall outlets that are in vertical or floor mount position. Do not connect them to undermount and ceiling outlets. Otherwise, your baby monitor would fall out of the outlets.
• Make sure the parent unit, the baby unit and the power adapter cords are out of reach of children.

• With audio reminder feature preset to ON, the parent unit plays an audio reminder when it is connected to a baby unit.

  

Charge the parent unit battery 

When you have connected the parent unit and installed its battery for the first time or after power outage, the parent unit powers on automatically. The battery icon indicates the battery status (see the following table).

Notes

• The parent unit battery is fully charged after 11 hours of continuous charging.
• It takes longer to charge the battery when the parent unit is turned on. To shorten the charging time, turn the parent unit off while charging.

• The standby time varies depending on the sensitivity level you set, your actual use and the age of the battery.

  Battery indicators	Battery status	Action
  The battery icon is off.	No battery isinstalled but operates using AC power.	Install the parent unit battery. Charge without interruption (at least 30 minutes).
  The screen displays LOW BATTERY and . The  light flashes.	The battery has very little charge and maybe used for only a short time.	Charge without interruption (about 30 minutes).
  The battery icon becomes solid  .	Thebattery is fullycharged.	To keep the battery charged, connect it to AC power when not in use.

Before use

Note This baby monitor is intended as an aid. It is not a substitute for proper adult supervision, and should not be used as such.

Test your baby monitor 

You may test the baby monitor before initial use, and at regular times thereafter.

Caution 

• For hearing protection, make sure the parent unit is more than 3 feet (1 meter) away from the baby unit. If you hear any high-pitched noise, move the parent unit further until the noise stops. 
• You can also press VOLUME on the parent unit to lower or mute the noise.

• Make sure your baby unit and parent unit are on. Speak towards the microphone of the baby unit. You will hear the sound at the parent unit, and see the visual sound indicators light up.

  

Note 
When the parent unit displays NOT LINKED and flashes, move the parent unit closer to the baby unit (observe the minimum distance of 3 feet/ 1 meter). You can also check if the baby monitor is connected to a live power socket and switched on.

Tip
Increase the speaker volume of the parent unit if you cannot hear the sounds transmitted from the baby unit.

Positioning the baby monitor

Caution Keep the baby units out of the reach of your baby. Never place or mount the baby units inside the baby’s crib or playpen.

1. Place the baby units more than 3 feet (1 meter) away from your baby.

2. Place the parent unit more than 3 feet (1 meter) away from the baby unit to avoid screeching noise.

   

CAUTION

The default volume of your parent unit is level 3. If you experience high-pitched screeching noise from your baby monitor while positioning:

• Make sure your baby unit and parent unit are more than 3 feet (1 meter) apart, OR
• Turn down the volume of your parent unit.

Operating range 

The operating range of the baby monitor is up to 1,000 feet (300 meters) outdoors or 160 feet (50 meters) indoors. The actual operating range may vary depending on the environmental conditions, and other interferences such as walls, doors, and other obstructions.

Description

With the help of the dependable and safe VTech Digital Audio Monitor DM221-2, parents may listen in on their child while they sleep. You won't have to worry about anyone overhearing your talks thanks to the monitor's DECT 6.0 digital technology, which offers a private and secure connection. With a maximum range of 1,000 feet, the monitor allows you to roam around your house without being concerned about losing connection. You can always tell when to recharge the parent unit because it has a rechargeable battery with low battery alert. The 5-level sound meter lets you know how noisy your baby's nursery is, and the 2-way talk-back intercom lets you comfort them from another room. In addition to adjustable brightness and volume, the parent unit features a belt clip for ease of use. In order to save battery life, the monitor also features an out-of-range alarm and sound activation mode.

Using the baby monitor

Power on or off the baby unit

• Press to power on the baby unit. The power light turns on.
• Press and hold to power off the baby unit. The power light turns off.

Power on or off the parent unit

• Press and hold  to power on the parent unit. The screen turns on.

• Press and hold again to power off the parent unit. The screen turns off.

  

Note

• The parent unit powers on automatically once it is connected to power socket or battery installed. The baby unit also powers on automatically once connected to power socket.

Adjust the speaker volume for baby unit

• Press VOLUME on the baby unit at any time.

Note

• The speaker of baby unit cannot be muted.

Adjust the speaker volume for parent unit 
You can adjust the speaker volume from VOLUME 1 to VOLUME 5, or turn it off. The speaker volume is preset to VOLUME 3.

• Press VOLUME when the parent unit is not in use. When the speaker volume is set to VOLUME OFF, the screen displays .

Adjust the sound sensitivity of the baby unit 
You can choose to hear sounds from the baby unit all the time, or to hear sounds that exceed a certain level. You can use the parent unit to adjust the microphone sensitivity of your baby unit. The higher the sensitivity level, the more sensitive the baby unit is in detecting sounds for transmitting to the parent unit. The VOX sensitivity level is preset to HIGHEST.

1. Press MENU when the parent unit is not in use.
2. Press SELECT to select VOX LEVEL.
3. Press  or to choose the desired sensitivity level.
4. Press SELECT to confirm your selection. The screen displays SAVED and you hear a confirmation tone.

Note To enter the VOX LEVEL menu of the parent unit, the baby unit must be turned on.

Sound alert 
If you want the parent unit alerts you with sound, especially when the baby unit detects loud sounds, you can turn on the sound alert feature. This feature is preset to OFF.

Once this feature is on, is shown on LCD display. When the visual sound indicator hits the red light range, i.e. the baby unit detects loud sounds, your parent unit beeps and flashes.

1. Press MENU when the parent unit is not in use.
2. Press or to choose SOUND ALERT, then press SELECT.
3. Press or to choose ON or OFF.
4. Press SELECT to confirm your selection. The screen displays SAVED and you hear a confirmation tone.

Note The sound alert setting on each parent unit is independent.

Vibration alert 
You can set your parent unit to vibrate and alert you, whenever the baby unit detects loud sounds. This feature is preset to OFF.

Once this feature is on , is shown on LCD. When the visual sound indicator hits the red light range, i.e. the baby unit detects loud sounds, your parent unit vibrates and flashes.

1. Press MENU when the parent unit is not in use.
2. Press or to choose VIBE ALERT, then press SELECT.
3. Press or to choose ON or OFF.
4. Press SELECT to confirm your selection. The screen displays SAVED and you hear a confirmation tone.

Notes

• Each time you set the vibration alert to ON, the parent unit vibrates briefly after you press SELECT.
• The vibration alert setting on each parent unit is independent.

Nightlight 
Both your parent unit(s) and baby unit allow you to turn on or off the nightlight on the baby unit. 

Turn on/off the nightlight using the baby unit:

1. Press to turn on the nightlight.
2. Press again to turn off the nightlight.

Turn on/off the nightlight using the parent unit:

1. Press MENU when the parent unit is not in use.
2. Press or to choose NIGHTLIGHT, then press SELECT.
3. Press or to choose ON or OFF.
4. Press SELECT to confirm your selection. The screen displays SAVED and you hear a confirmation tone.

Notes

• When the nightlight is turned on, the parent unit displays
• The nightlight on baby unit operates even when the parent unit battery is out of charge or has been turned off.
• If the parent unit lost link, the nightlight icon on its LCD display will disappear, regardless of the nightlight status.

Language 
You can select a language (English, Spanish or French) to be used in all screen displays. The language is preset to English.

1. Press MENU when the parent unit is not in use.
2. Press or to choose LANGUAGE, then press SELECT.
3. Press or to choose ENGLISH, ESPANOL, or FRANCAIS.
4. Press SELECT to confirm your selection. The screen displays SAVED and you hear a confirmation tone.

Note The language setting on each parent unit is independent.

Turn on or off the audio reminder 
With audio reminder feature preset to ON, the parent unit plays an audio reminder when it is connected to a baby unit. It reminds you to place the baby unit at least 3 feet (1 meter) away from your baby, and keep the cords out of the reach of children.

1. Press MENU when the parent unit is not in use.
2. Press or to choose REMINDER, then press SELECT.
3. Press or to choose ON or OFF.
4. Press SELECT to confirm your selection, and you hear a confirmation tone.

Notes

• You can press or to adjust the volume when the parent unit is playing the reminder.
• If the speaker volume of the parent unit is turned off, it will change to the default volume level when the parent unit plays the reminder.

Set default 
Use this feature to restore to the default settings. Restoring the default settings on one parent unit will also reset the shared settings for VOX sensitivity level of the other parent unit.

1. Press MENU when the parent unit is not in use.
2. Press or to choose SET DEFAULT, then press SELECT.
3. Press or to choose YES or NO.
4. When you choose YES, press SELECT to confirm your selection. The screen displays SAVED and you hear a confirmation tone.
   OR- 
   When you choose NO, press SELECT to confirm your selection. The screen displays the previous menu.

Talk to the baby unit 
You can broadcast messages from a parent unit to the baby unit and the other parent unit. If you have two parent units, you can use both of them at the same time to talk to the baby unit.

1. Press and hold TALK on the side of the parent unit. The screen displays TALK when the voice connection to the baby unit is made.
2. Speak towards the MIC on the parent unit. Your voice is broadcast to the baby unit and the other parent unit.

Notes

• If you have two parent units, and you use one of them to talk to you baby, your voice will broadcast to both the baby unit and the other parent unit. The other parent unit displays TALKBACK. However, no sound will transmit from the baby unit to any parent unit during broadcasting.
• If speaker volume of the parent unit has been turned off before the talk, it will change to default volume level after the talk finished.

Find/page the parent unit 
Use this feature to locate misplaced parent units.

1. Press PAGE on the baby unit. All idle parent units ring and display PAGING.
2. To end paging, press any key on the parent unit, or press PAGE on the baby unit.

Notes

• Paging rings all parent units even if the speaker volume of parent unit is set to VOLUME OFF.
• The baby unit cannot page any parent unit that is turned off, out of range, or talking to the baby unit.

Setup Guide

The VTech Digital Audio Monitor DM221-2 is simple to set up and operate. This is how to begin:

• Take out the batteries from the monitor and place them in the parent and baby units (the parent unit needs three AAA batteries, and the baby unit needs two).
• In your child's room, place the baby unit three feet away from your child.
• Press the power button on each device to turn on the parent and baby units.
• Await the parent unit's connection and search for the baby unit.
• On the parent unit, adjust the brightness and volume to your preferred levels.
• For convenience, you can carry the parent unit in your pocket or fasten it to your belt.
• Press and hold the talk button on the parent unit and speak into it to utilize the two-way talk-back intercom. When you have finished speaking, release the button.
• Press the sound activation button on the parent unit to switch to the sound activation mode. To save battery life, the monitor will only turn on when it hears sounds in your baby's room.

General product care 

To keep this product working well and looking good, follow these guidelines:

• Avoid putting it near heating appliances and devices that generate electrical noise (for example, motors or fluorescent lamps).
• DO NOT expose it to direct sunlight or moisture.
• Avoid dropping the product or treating it roughly.
• Clean with a soft cloth.
• DO NOT immerse the parent unit and the baby unit in water and do not clean them under the tap.
• DO NOT use cleaning spray or liquid cleaners.
• Make sure the baby unit and parent unit are dry before you connect them to the mains again.

Storage 

When you are not going to use the baby monitor for some time, remove the rechargeable battery from the parent unit. Store the parent unit, the baby unit and the adapters in a cool and dry place.

Important safety instructions 

The applied identification plate is located in the battery compartment of the baby and parent units. When using your equipment, basic safety precautions should always be followed to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock and injury, including the following:

1. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the product.

2. Adult setup required.

3. WARNING: Do not install the baby unit at a height higher than 2 meters.

4. This product is not a substitute for adult supervision of the baby. Supervising the baby is the responsibility of the parent or caregiver. This product may stop working and therefore you should not assume that it will continue to function properly for any period of time. In addition, this is not a medical device and should not be used as such. This product is designed to help you supervise your baby.

5. Do not use this product near water. For example, do not use it near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, or swimming pool, or in a wet basement or shower.

   • WARNING: Use only the batteries provided. There may be a risk of explosion if an incorrect type of battery is used for the parent unit. Batteries cannot be subjected to extreme high or low temperatures or low air pressure at high altitudes during use, storage or transportation. Disposal of batteries in fire or a hot oven, or mechanical crushing or cutting of batteries may result in an explosion. Leaving batteries in an extremely high temperature surrounding environment may result in an explosion or leakage of flammable liquid or gas. Batteries subjected to extremely low air pressure may result in an explosion or leakage of flammable liquid or gas. Dispose of used battery according to the information on the RBRC seal.

6. Use only the adapters included with this product. Incorrect adapter polarity or voltage can seriously damage the product.

7. Use only the adapters and batteries listed below.

   • Power Adapter Information:

   • Output: 6V DC 400mA
     VTECH TELECOMMUNICATIONS LTD.
     Model: VT05UUS06040 Rechargeable battery information: 2.4V 750mAh Ni-MH battery YIYANG CORUN BATTERY CO LTD.

   • Model: NiMH AAA750*2

8. Power adapters are designed to be properly oriented in a vertical or floor mounting position. The prongs are not designed to hold the plug in place if it is plugged into a ceiling, under-table, or cabinet outlet.

9. For plug-in equipment, the socket-outlet must be installed near the equipment and must be easily accessible.

10. Unplug this product from the power outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.

11. Unplug the power cords before replacing batteries.

12. Do not cut power adapters to replace them with other plugs, as this causes a dangerous situation.

13. Do not allow anything to rest on the power cords. Do not install this product where the cords may be walked on or pinched.

14. This product should be operated only from the type of power source indicated on the marking label. If you are not sure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your dealer or local power company.

15. Do not overload wall outlets or use an extension cord.

16. Do not place this product on a table, shelf, stand or other unstable surface.

17. This product should not be placed in any area where adequate ventilation is not provided. Slots and openings in the back or bottom of this product are provided for ventilation. To protect them from overheating, these openings should not be blocked by placing the product on a soft surface such as a bed, sofa or rug. This product should never be placed near or over a radiator or heat register.

18. Never push objects of any kind into this product through slots as they may touch voltage points or create a short circuit. Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.

19. To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not disassemble this product, take it to an authorized service center. Opening or removing parts of the product other than the specified access doors may expose you to voltages or other risks. Incorrect reassembly may result in electric shock when the product is used later.

20. You should test the sound reception every time you turn on the units or move one of the components.

21. Periodically examine all components for damage.

22. There is a very low risk of loss of privacy when using certain electronic devices such as baby monitors, cordless phones, etc. To protect your privacy, please ensure that the product has never been used before purchase, reset the baby monitor periodically by turning off and then on the units, and turn off the baby monitor if you are not going to use it for some time.

23. Children should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with the product.

24. The product is not intended for use by persons (including children) with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and knowledge, unless they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use of the appliance by a person responsible for their safety.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Precautions to consider

1. Use and store the product at a temperature between 32oF and 104oF.

2. Do not expose the product to cold, heat or direct sunlight. Do not place the product near a heat source.

3. Batteries should not be exposed to excessive heat such as strong sunlight or fire.

4. Warning: Strangulation Hazard - Children have STRANGLED in cords. Keep this cord out of reach of children (more than 3m (0.9 ft) away). Do not remove this tag.

5. Never place the baby unit inside the baby's crib or playpen. Never cover the baby unit or parent unit with anything such as a towel or blanket.

6. Other electronic products may cause interference with the baby monitor. Try to install your baby monitor as far away from these electronic devices as possible: wireless routers, radios, cellular phones, intercoms, room monitors, televisions, personal computers, kitchen appliances, and cordless phones. Precautions for users of implanted cardiac pacemakers (applies to digital wireless devices only): Wireless Technology Research, LLC (WTR), an independent research entity, conducted a multidisciplinary evaluation of interference between portable wireless devices and implanted cardiac pacemakers. Supported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration , WTR recommends that physicians:

Patients with pacemakers

• They should keep wireless devices at least six inches away from the pacemaker.

• You should NOT place wireless devices directly on the pacemaker, such as in a breast pocket, when it is turned on. The WTR assessment did not identify any risk to bystanders with pacemakers from other people using wireless devices.

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)
This VTech product complies with all standards related to electromagnetic fields (EMF). When handled correctly and in accordance with the instructions in this user manual, the product is safe for use based on the scientific evidence currently available.

VTech Digital Audio Monitor DM221-2 Troubleshooting

These are a few typical issues and their fixes if you're experiencing issues with the VTech:

• There is a disconnect between the parent and baby units: Verify that both devices are in range and turned on. Try resetting both devices by taking out and reinstalling the batteries if the issue still exists.
• The audio is not very good: Ensure that you are operating the monitor in an area with the least amount of interference. Try relocating the baby unit closer to the parent unit if the issue continues.
• The parent unit's battery is depleting rapidly: Ensure that you're using high-quality batteries and that it isn't left on when not in use. To save battery life, you can also try turning on the sound activation mode.
• The scope is constrained: Ensure that you are operating the monitor in an area with the least amount of interference. If the issue continues, consider relocating the infant unit in closer proximity to the parent unit or minimizing the quantity of items that might be producing interference.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Digital technology DECT 6.0 offers safe connectivity and crisp audio.
• You can walk around your house with freedom because to a range of up to 1,000 feet.
• 2-way talk-back intercom allows you to comfort your baby from another room
• You can see the noise level in your baby's room with the 5-level sound indicator.
• The sound activation mode and out-of-range alert save battery life.
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• Absence of any video content
• Absence of a temperature sensor
• The parent unit does not have a vibration mode.

VTech Warranty

The limited warranty period for the Product extends for ONE (1) YEAR from the date of purchase. If VTech repairs or replaces a Materially Defective Product under the terms of this limited warranty, this limited warranty also applies to the repaired or replacement Product for a period of either (a) 90 days from the date the repaired or replacement Product is shipped to you or (b) the time remaining on the original one-year warranty; whichever is longer.

Customer Reviews

Consumer reviews of the VTech Digital Audio Monitor DM221-2 are largely favorable. They value the long-range, stable connection, and crisp sound quality. A lot of clients additionally like the 2-way talk-back intercom's convenience and reasonable cost. Notwithstanding, certain consumers have expressed dissatisfaction over the monitor's setup complexity and its short battery life. All things considered, the VTech Audio Monitor DM221-2 is a cost-effective, dependable, and secure audio monitor.

Most Common Complaints

The battery life and setup procedure of the VTech Digital Audio Monitor DM221-2 are the most often voiced concerns. A few users have reported that the battery runs out fast, particularly when they use the monitor a lot. Other users have mentioned that setting up the monitor might be challenging, particularly for those who are unfamiliar with audio monitors. Nonetheless, the majority of consumers are pleased with the functionality and cost of the VTech Audio Monitor DM221-2, and these concerns are quite uncommon.