Defender is a Canadian security camera company that offers a variety of solutions for home and business onsite monitoring. I was recently sent their newest wired system: the Sentinel 4K PoE (I’ll explain what this is below) 4 camera system. It’s similar in some ways to other Defender systems I have reviewed in the past. I’ll show you what comes with the system, discuss how we installed it, and what the pros and cons are of this system.

I installed this system at a local business on Mayne Island in the Pacific gulf islands off the coast of Vancouver: the Blue Vista Resort. It’s a family-run motel style resort with nine self-contained individual cabins, from one bedroom to two bedrooms, located near the beach. The owners said they had often considered getting a security camera system but weren’t sure what kind would be best for their needs. They accepted my offer to install this system then leave it for them to report back to me from time to time on how it’s working out.

What comes in the Defender Sentinel box

Defender systems come with all of the components you need to set it up quickly. I’ve received systems from other manufacturers that had me running to the hardware store for brackets or electrical boxes. Not with Defender systems. Their single camera products, like the 2k camera I reviewed earlier this year, include ample power cable, an SD card, mounting screws … basically all you need to set it up in minutes. This new four camera system has similar components to the four camera system I reviewed three years ago.

In the box you get:

  • 4 x 4k Ultra HD digital cameras with colour night vision
  • 4 channel POE NVR (power over ethernet Network video recorder) with 1 TB HDD
  • 4 x 60ft ethernet cable
  • USB Mouse
  • NVR Power Supply
  • Quick start Guide
  • Mounting hardware and drilling template

The 1TB NVR is surprisingly small: about the size of hardcover novel. It will take up very little space once setup. The cable length (60 feet long Cat5E ethernet) is ample for many people’s needs.

What does not come in the box that you’ll need for set up

Two things that everyone needs to set up this system is a computer monitor (or small TV with HDMI input) and a Phillips screwdriver (possibly a drill). The system does not come with a monitor, and you won’t actually need one to use the system after it is set up. However, during the installation, you need a monitor so you can access the menus to configure the settings to suit your needs, set up recording schedules and motion detection settings, and to configure the app on your phone. After you have it all set up, you will do most of the viewing and adjusting of settings using the mobile app.

How easy is it to install a wired system like the Defender Sentinel

There are basically four steps to installing a wired camera system. First you set up the NVR and monitor with the mouse. This is simple enough: connect the power cable, connect the included HDMI cable to the monitor and to the NVR, connect the mouse cable to one of the USB ports on the NVR, connect the included short ethernet cable to your router; this allows your NVR to send its signal over the internet to your mobile device. Lastly, click the power button on the back.

The next step, the one that takes the most time, is deciding where to place the cameras and installing the ethernet cable that runs from the NVR to each camera. The Blue Vista Resort is U-shaped with two entrances on either side of a family play area, with the cabins on the outside. So obviously, the owners want to have a camera monitor each entrance from the road. Additionally, there is an office for checking-in, where we set up the first camera, and also a shop area where another camera could be placed.

The office was the obvious choice for positioning the base unit (the NVR). Homeowners might choose to put it next to their home router. However, you will need to plan how the cables will run from the NVR to the cameras outside, and that may require drilling a hole big enough to fit the ethernet connectors through. The last time I installed a Defender wired system, I placed it high up in a huge garage quite a distance from the house and from the network router. I used a D-Link Powerline to complete the ethernet connection placing one box next to the router in the house  and the other box next to the DVR in the garage (hundreds of feet away). It worked perfectly and still does a few years later. The owners of that farm each view the camera signal wherever they are on their iPads.

At the Blue Vista, there was already an access hole from the office to the outside for assorted. The four ethernet wires for the cameras fit easily through that hole so we did not need to drill another one to get the ethernet cables from the NVR to the cameras.

About PoE solutions

The cables used for the Defender Sentinel system are 60 ft Cat5E ethernet cables. Unlike in many systems that have separate wires for power and video, PoE solutions use just the single cable that carries both the power (hence the name Power over Ethernet or PoE) and the video data. The 4K cameras capture the image and audio, and send that back over the same cable that brought it electricity. It has the advantage of a simpler installation. However, it also has a limitation of only working over a limited distance. Most sites report 100 metres as the limit. You can get additional Cat5E cables and join them using a coupler (these are inexpensive at Best Buy).

Mounting the cameras and setting up the Defender Empower mobile app

Once you have cables run and secured in place (or you can secure them, or hide them afterwards too) you will mount the cameras and connect the NVR to your mobile device via the app. The camera comes with a convenient template: stick the template to the surface where you want to mount the camera and pre-drill your holes. Position the camera and screw it in. Connect the ethernet cable and the signal will immediately appear on the monitor. This step is very straightforward: use a screwdriver or a drill if you prefer. With the cameras connected, take some time to reposition the for the best angle and view. With a Phillips screwdriver you can adjust the position screws at the base of each camera to adjust it up and down and side to side. Once they are positioned how you want them, you’re ready to connect the NVR to an app on your phone or tablet.

Mobile connection using the Defender Empower app

You’ll also want to complete the installation by connecting the camera system to the Defender app so you can see video from your system no matter where you are in the world. Defender makes this easy too. Download the app to your phone or tablet: it’s available for iOS and Android and I’ve installed various Defender apps on both types of systems without any issues. The app will require you to register, then you can use it to scan the QR code that displays on the menu showing on the monitor (as shown above). That QR code will enable the app to locate your NVR.

Instantly you’ll see all four cameras in the app and be able to select one camera to zoom in. You’ll be able to download video, adjust settings, and more. Since the NVR has 1 TB of storage space, you can go back in time to see last night, or likely a week ago or longer (depending on motion detection and recording settings). You’ll also be able to share the access: so both you and your spouse have access to the footage on your mobile devices.

For the owners of the Blue Vista Resort, this feature will save them a lot of time. Their home is not on the premises: as such they had to drive to the resort periodically to ensure everything was fine. If they were busy at home, they would have to wait until they had time to do a check-in. From now on, they will be able to “visit” the resort at any time, instantly, using the app. That’s a potential game changer for a business owner!

Pros and cons of the Sentinel 4K PoE security camera

Of course, the ability to view camera footage over the internet is not new. Most wired and wireless systems these days have that functionality and convenience. That it works so well is a mark in favour for Defender in general. I have tested many different camera systems from a huge variety of manufacturers. Some do as well as Defender, many do not.

PROS:

Simple installation: This system was quite easy to set up. Connect the cables and it works. The menus are there for advanced functionality and you may want to adjust some of the settings, but most people will not need to fiddle much. Also, the app is very simple to use. Be cautious to download the correct Defender app: there are several and this camera uses the Empower version. Defender Sentinel systems can really be set it and forget technology. No batteries to charge or change when the batteries stop holding a charge. And in my experience, they don’t require any maintenance, despite being outdoors in the elements.

Image quality: The cameras offer 4K resolution: you won’t see a 4K image on your monitor (unless you use a 4K monitor). However, that higher resolution allows you to zoom in quite aways while maintaining a clear image. In my experience, wired solutions tend to have more consistent image quality that wireless solutions. For all the types of camera system I’ve used, Defender image quality is right up there with the best.

Value: Defender systems are lower in cost than many others on the market. The system I tested works out to about $150 per camera, and just over $100 per camera if you get the 8-camera version. Additionally, Defender systems regularly go on-sale at Best Buy, for added value. And all of the Defender systems that I have tested are still working perfectly fine, some of them years after the initial installation. And over all that time, I have not spend a penny on cloud storage fees: something I can’t say for almost all of the other systems I have tested.

Onsite secure storage: This is one of my favourite aspects of the Defender multi-camera systems. The NVR box can be kept in your home, or in your business, and only you have access to the footage. It is not stored by someone else, as with cloud solutions. And it’s not stored on the camera, as with some other wired solutions. Especially for businesses, this might be one of the most compelling reasons to get a system like this.

Cons:

Versatility: This applies to wired systems in general. They are not as versatile as wireless solutions. I have wireless cameras placed almost 500 feet from the nearest power outlet on my property. They work great there and I would not run wires that far. I also move those cameras frequently, attaching them to trees when I think a particular spot on the property is vulnerable. A wired solution is more cumbersome to move so I wouldn’t move them frequently. Also you might have to drill a hole into a wall of your home to get the wires out to the cameras: that alone might be too big a challenge for you to opt for this type of system.

Expandability: If you get the four camera system, like the Defender Sentinel discussed in this review, then you will not be able to add more cameras to this system later on. The NVR only has four inputs, for four cameras. Other camera systems allow you to add components, one after another, without limit … all on the same app. In some cases, the cloud fees do not change too when adding cameras. So that is one thing to consider when installing a camera system. Personally, I don’t have a problem with multiple systems on my property. Different systems have different capabilities. So if I’m adding another camera, it may be a wired camera, it may be a wireless camera. It may build on a system I already have, if I don’t have to pay additional cloud fees.

Is the Defender Sentinel system right for your home or business

After doing this installation and testing out this camera system I have no reservations about recommending the Defender Sentinel 4k PoE cameras. This system was easy to install and works exactly as promised. It also connected to the mobile app effortlessly for convenient viewing of the property with a clear high resolution image from anywhere in the world. So if you have a home with multiple entrances, perhaps multiple driveways, and have been thinking about getting a multiple camera system, this is a great option. Take into consideration where you would put the NVR base, how you would run the wires to the cameras and what you want to have captured. If that makes sense for your home or business, and you want control of the footage recorded by the cameras, and don’t want to pay monthly fees to access cloud storage, then this could be exactly what you are looking for.

Find the Defender Sentinel 4 camera system and Defender Sentinel 8 camera system at Best Buy. 

Martin Renaud
Martin Renaud
Editor in Chief
Martin loves working with the talented editors and writers on the Best Buy Blog as Editor-in-Chief. During his spare time he is either working on his next novel, cooking up a masterpiece in the kitchen, or adding some smart tech to his new home on Mayne Island in British Columbia.
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284 COMMENTS

  2. In addition to my previous comment, I love that it has 4 cameras. We would be able to monitor the front door, the back lane of our garage, the side lane of our house which we would put two cameras on this side because it’s used by many as a thoroughfare and people have thrown stuff in our yard and I worry about my dogs.

  3. Would love this and need it and to sum it up in one word, Winnipeg! The crime rate is scary and terrible. We live on a corner lot and have a backlane beside our house and behind our garage. We had our garage broken into when we first moved in. Next door neighbours fence was set on fire. Almost had a home invasion but our dog scared him off. She has since passed away so I would love to keep an eye on my home and my little dog and new puppy and deter people from violating my property and for my families safety.

  4. This is a home product more than a B2B product IMO. In B2B, you want scalable components. If you can’t add cameras as necessary, that’s an issue. For the home, cameras are more of a deterrent than anything else.

  5. Would use it at home, for the peace of mind. Also keeping it mind the extensibility, in case more cameras are needed in the same setup.

  8. I’d definitely use this for my home. I recently had a vandalism when my car was parked outside the garage for 1 day so it would definitely provide peace of mind.

  9. I would use this for home use. House and a separate garage might be more than the challenge my hubby wants but it is his tools that would be protected with a high quality 4k video.

  10. I love how easy this is to set up – I would love to use it at home; we live downtown and just appreciate the extra peace of mind I’d get

  11. I would want this at our home – 4 cameras is overkill but two isn’t enough. I have seen many useless poor quality videos that the 4K seems the way to go.

  12. I could use this system at our house so that we can keep an eye on our house when travelling. Love the 4K video support and cloud storage!

  15. I would use this for my home – it would be valuable to me and my neighbourhood in case we ever needed to investigate any incident.

  16. I would like the Defender Sentinel system for my home because I don’t have a business. I would like to have the system because it would give me that extra sense of security, especially when no one is home. This system seems simple to install and maintainence free once it is set up.

  20. I would install this system because of the instant access capability it offers. Being in an urgent or emergency situation it is always nice to have on-demand access to footage.

  22. For a home with a larger property and outbuildings. I’m attracted to the image quality and simple installation

  23. I would like it for home, there has been an increase in property crime in my neighborhood so I would like to be able to capture that, and there has also been an increase in wildlife, so would love to capture that!

  24. I would love this camera system for my home. I prefer the Defender system because it is easy to install. Additionally, I love the 4K resolution image quality this camera offers.

  28. I would use the Defender Sentinel system for my home. We have nearly and acre of land out in the countryside and this security system would be great to keep it secure and safe. I also would love to see the wildlife that is around us at night! (Deer, owls, bears, raccoons and rabbits all hang around the property at night)

  33. This would be perfect for my home. Our neighborhood has had a big problem with thieves lately. The night vision & no cloud storage fees make The Defender Sentinel the perfect security system for my home.

  34. for this senior living alone on acreage, i would want it for peace of mind and safety, so i can check what is outside when i am inside my house.

  35. I’d use this for my home and detached workshop. The 4k resolution is great as well as the fact there arefour camera that would be able to cover my whole property and all entrances.

  40. I would love this for a home. The fact the App is reliable is huge! Also having good night vision is really important for aroundy home as I have a huge back yard that lacks lighting.

  41. I would use this at home, We live on a busy corner and could really use the added security and peace of mind.

  44. I am impressed that it is easy to install and also has colour night vision. I would use it at my home.

  45. I would use this at my home to keep my family safe. The night vision and easy installation are both advantageous.

  47. I would love the Defender Sentinel 4K Ultra HD Wired security camera for my home. I want the Defender Sentinel system because it connects directly to my phone, which means I can always keep an eye on my property!

  48. This would be great for my house. I currently have RING but am not happy with quality. Our town is growing and has a lot more crime especially break ins. My car was already damaged one evening but the image of the person who caused the damage was not clear enough to properly identify the person for police.

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