Ok, I've gone thru a few monitors here, we're on our third, all different brands, none that I've really liked. However, I'd like to recoment that you check out the monitors at Radio Shack, (if you have one, are they all over?). I bought one there this summer so when the girls are playing on the deck I can hear them when I go in the house, as there is no window there. I really like it. It has two 'monitors', ie they are the same unit and both can transmit and recieve. You can set one to transmit only and the other can listen, or swich it around and listen the other way. Or leave the transmit option off and use it like a two way radio, by pushing the 'talk' button and the other will 'hear' you and when you are done talking and let go of the button, the other unit can press talk and you will hear them. It is really versatible and useful. Both units can be either pluged in or run on batteries even rechargable ones that it will recharge when plugged in. (dont have the recharge on for reg batteries tho, they could blow up) It costs about $70 or so and they had a three unit option too. Very cool and useful after the kids are bigger!!