Customer Reviews

Defender SENTINEL3 Web-Ready 16-Channel DVR Security System Digital Video Recorder with Hi-Res Night Vision Surveillance Cameras and 8.5-Inch LCD

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sentinel 3 system works very well. Purchased in February 2009 after a December 2008 burglary at my house. Hooked all eight cameras up and tested views/angles first, before finalizing camera/DVR locations. Found out that you don't want the camera behind glass or facing each other in order to prevent nighttime "bounces" or hot spots.) I have an L-shaped rancher with lots of windows and 3 exterior doors, plus garage door and am trying to cover all the doors and most of the windows. Was fairly easy to install, except worst part was crawling around in my attic pulling wires. A couple of the camera "ball" mounts had to be tightened with pliers. DVR cooling fan runs continuously and makes noise. Recommend getting a UPS and plug strip to power all the cameras and monitor. The 8.5 inch monitor is small when viewing all cameras on split screen. I have added a video splitter so that I can view the display on a regular size screen in another room. Would be nice to have a DVR remote so that you can change viewing/settings from another room. I can view it remotely on my home network, but need to change router settings so that I can view from my office at work all the time. Might add a few more cameras since DVR will handle eight more. Also installed a GE Simon XT in addition to the cameras.

This is a great DIY system and well packaged for a system to monitor movement and allow surveillance for a remote location through the DNS server feature. The I/B was a little hard to follow but after I had the cameras installed and on-line, things just fell into place. Some things are harder to describe, yet are simple tasks.

I had one problem with the mounting thumb screws. They are cast alum and the threads are stamped. I had to use a 10/32 tap to chase the threads in the mounting brackets and purchase steel thumbscrews from Home depot to complete the mounting. I also ordered the extension cables and had a problem with one of the connectors. The metal ferrule on the camera connector came loose inside of the power cable and the extension cable would not fit. I contacted customer service and they were able to indentify the problem and correct it. It was a tight fit and I was able to just remove it and re-fit back to the female connector. Customer Service is also sending my some new mounting thumbscrews.

The Spartan 1 cameras are 420 TV lines of resolution and have 12 LEDs. They work really well at night up to 15 feet. The definition is on the low end. I have ordered a higher resolution camera for one location that requires more resolution.

The DVR is set up for 16 channels and comes with 8 Spartan 1 cameras. The system can be expanded however; the DVR will not control a variable focus camera without a separate power supply. The DNS set-up to view the DVR on line is well explained and easy to set up. I am very pleased with the Defender and it was priced very competitive when pricing individual components.

I bought this system to replace a newly purchased Swann 4-camera system. The Swann system was just a pain in the neck from the get-go. They're harder to install, could never get the internet viewing capability up and running and their tech support is in Australia. I waited on hold for an hour and 15 minutes (not an exaggeration) the first time and more than 40 minutes the 2nd. I finally gave up and just lived with it (for awhile.) Then one of the cameras failed within 3 months of buying it and I was just done.

I researched again and found the Defender Sentinel3. I am SO GLAD I found it! It was EASY to set up, the internet viewing thing was a little challenging again and I needed help, so I called tech support and GUESS WHAT?!? They're in the U.S. and I got to talk to a real person within about 15 minutes and they actually fixed the problem for me over the phone (and they were nice about it!) It's easy to log into once it's set up and it's just cool!

The Sentinel cameras are clearer than the Swann cameras were, too and they're smaller and black, instead of Swann silver.

The one thing I didn't care for was the size of the monitor. It's ridiculously small!!! You can still see one camera at a time easily on it, but multiple camera viewing isn't it's forte.

We purchased 2 of these systems for 2 separate locations. First we installed one with all eight cameras. When it worked fine we purchased the second system to use 6 cameras with the system. We even purchased a voice camera to add to the system in place of one of the original eight cameras. Both systems worked good.

We had an issue with viewing it via the internet, but a phone call to support and we were back in business. Support calls you back in about a half a day so if your in a hurry, this might not serve your needs. But they were very good and professional when they called back.

We decided we wanted to add a few more cameras to our system that had 8 cameras - this brought the system to a huge deterioration in quality. We contacted Defender via their tech support chat. I explained what happened to the quality and the fact that the images were now jerky - everyone now looks like a robot.

It was explained that there are only 120 frames per second for the entire system. Even if you only add one more camera, the frames split per halves of the camera system - i.e. the first 8 and then the second 8 even if there is only 1 camera on the second 8. Wow - what a disappointment the system became - just by adding a camera to the the "expandable" system.

I asked Defender why they didn't let consumers know about the drop in frames per second when they advertise their system as expandable, and the response was - we don't advertise what the system can't do - my reply to them was, consumers don't want to know what it can't do - we want to know what we are getting. If I knew that if I expanded the system I would lose quality I might have chosen a larger Defender or other brand system so I could get what I paid for.

Again, at 8 cameras - it is a great system - beware of expanding.

Does exactly what it says it does.

The heap o' stuff that comes out of the box can be a little scary, but after fifteen minutes or so you start to figure out whats what.

The cameras and DVR appear to be very well made. The cameras feel solid in the hand.

The cables may not be very weather resistant and the camera mounting hardware is a little cheap.

Running cable is the tough part, everything else is quite easy.

Video quality is good. You are not going to watch your favorite blue-ray disc on this system, but you can very clearly make out faces and details.

Motion activation works great during daylight hours. It only takes two minutes to review the daylight video since it only records when motion is detected. It also allows you set the senstivity to motion and where in the camera frame to allow or disable motion detection. Say there is a busy street in the camera view and you don't want the camera activating for every passing car, you can disable motion detection in that area, but keep it the areas you want.

Motion detection during the night is a little touchy. Pollen and dust moving in the wind are lit up by the IR lights at night and trip the motion detection. Reviewing the night vidio requires more time and more attention since the motion detectors are always picking up the movement of the dust and pollen, even at minimum sensitivity. I estimate over 90% of the recorded video is at night because of false movement.

I've not hooked it up to the internet yet, so I can't say anything about that just yet.

Overall I'm happy I spent the money on this system. Eight cameras plus expansion for an additional eight is a great feeling. You need not worry if you are going to need to leave any area uncovered, you can cover them all.