INTRODUCTION

   Last week i was lucky enough to attend a party thrown by one of the world’s largest companies (unrelated with PC hardware) during which i was somewhat taken off guard when some people (including a couple of friends) walked up to me and asked my opinion on whether or not using IP cameras is the way to go if they wanted to safeguard their homes/properties. My reply to them was what I’ve been telling everyone for the past 5 years and that's that IP cameras can certainly add an extra layer of security and they can come in very handy (sometimes they can even act as a measure of prevention) but should never be used on their own. Anyways last time we checked the Airlive OD-2025HD 2MP Outdoor IP Camera but since FullHD (1080p) models do not come very cheap today we will be taking a look an HD (1.3MP/720p) Outdoor IP Camera, the RaidSonic ICY BOX IB-CAM2002.

   RaidSonic Technology GmbH was founded in Hamburg 1999. To realize our future visions and the rising requirements, RaidSonic moved to Ahrensburg (20 min. away from Hamburg) in May 2004.The capacity of our new warehouse, our permanent improving logistic and the expanded technical support lets us look into the future very optimistically. Our vision in a constantly growing IT market is to develop products, which will become your future dreams. Our extensive product portfolio, which we distribute Europe-wide, combines all internal and external solutions for the application of mass storage, for industrial and professional applications as well as for the private sphere, too. Through our all along increasing know-how, good results in research and development and our good cooperation with our long-time customers we could achieve a dynamic growth.

   The ICY BOX IB-CAM2002 by RaidSonic is a fixed position bullet (due to the design) Outdoor IP Camera with a maximum video resolution of 1280x1024 pixels (1.3Mp/720P) @ 30fps. Also much like with most mid/high-end outdoor IP Camera models the IB-CAM2002 features an IP66 weatherproof certified aluminum/metal housing and is compliant with the PoE (power over Ethernet) 802.3af standard allowing you to use it PoE injectors and switches. Other features include a 1/2.7" progressive CMOS sensor, 6mm length lens (50 degrees angle), ONVIF compatibility, two-way audio and a night vision mode effective up to 15m thanks to 24 IR LEDs. Specs-wise the ICY BOX IB-CAM2002 seems to do just fine but how did it do in our tests?