Exceptional build quality and user interface software professional yet easy to use...
I could not find any suppliers in the UK despite many hours searching online. The monitor was well packed and arrived in just under a week. My package was not inspected by customs, however, based on the price I paid the VAT would only amount to £7 and at well under £40 this is a unbelievable bargain.
Out of the box this is fully functional. The updated cuff's have a full length tube which you slide over the gray plastic adaptor / fitting supplied. This plugs into the side of the monitor and is ready to use.
This is an impressive monitor. There are better and more informative pages to be found online, better in fact than the one provided by the manufacturer as sadly they don't show you all the impressive screen shots and graphs that this device is capable of displaying. The colour display instantly inspires confidence that this is going to prove to be an impressive piece of kit. The required information is displayed clearly on the front screen and the menu and system setting screens are easily accessed and navigated without any real need for the comprehensive English manual included, although I always recommend that customers read the documentation enclosed with any new device. It is important to understand safe use of this monitor from a medical approach and some useful comments are included to ensure you get the best and most consistent results possible.
The monitor uses four "AA" cells and I would think that a set of Duracell's will last for a considerable time even with frequent daily use. The clock, date and time are easily adjusted via the menu and time and date page setting page. Setting the date and time allows the monitor to store up to 100 BP and heart rate readings against the date and time they were recorded, hence the need to set a date and time. Set the date first, the format is typically MM/DD/YYYY. This means you can set the time accurately by entering a time ahead of actual time and then simply press "Enter" when the entered minutes and seconds are reached.
The first screen shows the cuff size selected, in my case I went into System and changed to cuff size "Small" for my tiny neonatal cuff. It's important to select the correct size for the cuff your using or an error will be displayed or any result could be wrong. You can also set Systolic and Diastolic alarms if required. Once a reading has been taken it is automatically stored in the memory, up to 100 readings are recorded before overwriting the earlier entries will begin. The toggle button on the right of the monitor allow you to move up and down through the history of recorded readings.
This monitor is extremely quiet in operation and this is extremely important so as not to cause your pet to become anxious or nervous. Compared to my "human" monitor the 08A-VET seems to spend longer taking the readings, however, the only noticeable sound made is a soft click as the device makes test, judging by the time taken and the reading displayed this monitor is taking multiple tests over a few minutes and giving the most reliable reading. The process is vastly more reassuring than other "human" monitors I have used and I get the impression this is an extremely trustworthy device for a fraction of the cost you might expect to pay from a veterinary medical soppier in the UK (if they will even sell a one off non-trade, which is unlikely).
Some sellers include a CD containing PC software, this was not included by this seller but it's available for free download via the internet, allowing you to connect the monitor to your PC or laptop using a standard lead (not supplied) the version I found was "CONTEC08_V3.3_Setup" but I have not yet tested the software and it is not really part of this review as I did not purchase this intending to use on my PC, however, it is interesting and perhaps worth considering if you like gadgets!
Verified purchase: YesCondition: New