Recall of 'Bluebell' baby monitors sold in Ireland

Antenna

https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/0627/1391480-bluebell-baby-monitors-recalled/

Is the real reason for this recall some significant Radio Frequency Interference problem caused by these units?

Users are told to stop using these units IMMEDIATELY (as opposed to perhaps 'as soon as possible') - It isn't stated that there is any fire or electrical safety risk from using them which would otherwise warrant calls to immediately stop using them.

affected models being:

"Bluebell Baby Monitor 9-in-1, Bluebell 8-in-1 HD Baby Camera Monitor, Bluebell Smart Baby Monitor, Bluebell Baby Monitor 7-in-1, Bluebell Baby Monitor and the Bluebell Baby Cam."

and

"no longer safe to use as there is an issue with the data transfer between the monitor and the app that supports the monitor system"

this is vague and in what way is it now 'no longer safe' is not clear to people?

purplefields

Maybe because of the nature of the product - a baby monitor.

If there is a problem with the baby, people may be relying on the monitor to alert them.

The Continental Op

Could also be easily hackable by someone outside the house?

28064212

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058302800/recall-of-bluebell-baby-monitors-sold-in-ireland

Is the real reason for this recall some significant Radio Frequency Interference problem caused by these units?

No, that's conspiracy theory thinking. If there was an issue with the frequency, ComReg would have stated that

The published reason: https://www.comreg.ie/product-safety-information-notice-on-bluebell-baby-monitor-sold-in-boots-mccabes-pharmacy-and-currys/

The product is no longer safe to use as there is an issue with the data transfer between the monitor and the app that supports the monitor system. There is a potential risk of the child not being monitored correctly. The product does not meet the requirements of the Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU.

Antenna

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120778810#Comment_120778810

though this notice says to stop using IMMEDIATELY even though someone may not be able to get to a retailer to get a replacement device for a couple of days (especially if living in the countryside a long distance out)

https://currysprod.a.bigcontent.io/v1/static/bluebell-baby-monitors-safety-notice-june-2023-ireland

Curry's notice says these monitors do not meet electrical safety regulations, even though it is not being stated as being either a fire or shock hazard?

martinedwards

not connecting to the app.... so you aren't hearing what you should be.

back in the olden days (our youngest is 20) we had regular radio monitors.

When the receiver (parent) unit was on, and the transmitter (baby) unit was off, we could often hear someone elses baby.

To be fair, it's a radio, so no surprise, but in todays woke world, folk would go just a little bit ballistic over someone else being able to listen in!

Tax The Farmers

Some 1980's era baby monitors used to transmit around 225 KHz right in the middle of the long wave broadcast band sometimes folk would leave them plugged in 24/7 with hilarious results.

Some cordless phones of similar vintage used frequencies at the edge of the medium wave band and could be heard over quite a distance If one had a radio which tuned high enough.

Later models used frequencies around 49MHz which were marginally more secure provided they had sufficient harmonic filtering which was not always the case