INTRODUCTION

   Where i live we may not have the freedom to have guns at home or carry them around for personal protection but that doesn't mean there aren't many other ways for someone to increase the level of security both at home and at work. One of the easiest ways and also one we've focused on quite a bit over the years is the installation of an IP camera which people can use to live stream everything it sees either onto their computer or their mobile devices via both wired and wireless modes. However there are many aspects one needs to take into account before getting an IP camera aside connectivity such as enclosure quality/endurance, enclosure type (bullet or dome), usage (indoor or outdoor), recording resolution, lens angle, night vision range, microSD/SD card recording, available software features and last but not least warranty period. As part of our review schedule inside 2015 we received the LCAB03VLNOD 1080p 3MP Outdoor Night Vision Bullet Camera by Linksys and today several months later (sorry for that Linksys) we can finally post our review.

   The Linksys brand has pioneered wireless connectivity since its inception in 1988 with its leading innovation and engineering strategies, and best-in-class technology, design, and customer service. Linksys enables a connected lifestyle for people at home, at work and on the move, and with its award-winning products, simplifies home control, entertainment, security and Internet access through innovative features and a growing application and partner ecosystem. Linksys is part of Belkin International.

   Although Linksys markets the LCAB03VLNOD as a 1080p (1920x1080 @30fps), 3MP (megapixel) outdoor IP camera that's not really the case since inside its IP67 certified enclosure (it's both weatherproof and vandal proof) it features a 5MP CMOS sensor which can output a maximum resolution of 1536p (2048x1536 @18fps). The LCAB03VLNOD can also record in H.264/MJPEG/MPEG4 (on a drive and/or the built-in microSD card slot), features two-way audio (receive/transmit), fully supports ONVIF 1.0/2.0 standards, is PoE IEEE 802.3af (Power Over Ethernet) compatible and uses F1.4 vari-focal lens (variable focal length - 3.2x Optical Zoom) which feature a viewing horizontal angle of up to 70 degrees (51 degrees vertical) with a minimum illumination of 0.5 lux which drops to 0 once all of its 24 IR LEDs are turned on. Honestly just the specs sheet of the LCAB03VLNOD is enough to impress but since over the years we've learned the hard way that specifications are not always "on par" with the product let's continue with our in-depth review.