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

  1. I would use it for my home for both the front and backyards. The simple installation is important to me; I just need a computer monitor and a Phillips screwdriver to install the camera and there are mounting templates included so it shouldn’t be hard to do.

  3. I would like the Defender Sentinel system for our home because we are new home owners so this would give us some extra security and more peace of mind – thanks for the generous contest & chance to win!!

  6. This would be for my home
    1) For the high resolution
    2) Easy installation
    For peace of mind for my family

  10. I’d definitely use this at my home. Reliability with its easy wired installation, a great deterrent and peace of mind security!

  11. I would use this for home and two of my favourite features are:
    1) colour night vision
    2) An easy to install wired system

  13. For my home because I want control of the footage recorded by the cameras, and don’t want to pay monthly fees to access cloud storage

  14. I would like this for my home. I want this Defender Sentinel System because it is easy to install and works as promised.

  15. I would choose it for my home as we have a large property and with the number of cameras the Defender sentinel would cover all the areas. It would be easy for me to install myself and I like the 4 K resolution I would have.

  16. I would love this security system for my home. Best reasons to choose this system: I don’t have to pay cloud storage fees, love the colour night vision and especially that this system is easy to install.

  17. I would use this for my home as the night vision function would save me money from my current security camera that needs me to have a separate light on all night for the camera to work.

  18. I would use this for my home. The ease of installation with POE is great. Also, the 4K camera resolution would provide a great picture

  19. I would use this system for my home security. There are so many great features to this camera system. I like that there is Instant access to live and recorded footage from anywhere. I like that it allows you to monitor your home while away. That would surely provide added piece of mind when traveling. The 4K resolution is also fantastic.

  20. I would like this for my home. The main reason being we’ve already had our lawn mower stolen from our shed not too long ago, so hopefully the cameras will help keep people away.

  21. The Defender system would be an awesome security system for my home away from home, I could keep an eye on things!

  23. I would use this for my home. Some pranks have been happening in the area, so would be nice to get things on camera. It would provide me with a feeling of security and comfort.

  24. I would like this for my home mainly because there is no ongoing subscription fees. I would also feel that my wife is safer when she is at home alone!

  28. I actually work from home, and now that my 3 kids are at school and my husband works out of the house having a security system would be a huge relief! Also the 4K night vision sounds perfect!

  30. i would use this for at my cabin. we are not there year round so this would be great for keeping an eye on the place while we are away. with the 4 cameras we would have the place covered. maybe even set one camera so it was focused on the lake to enjoy the beautiful sunrises that we miss while away….but mostly for security purposes!

  38. I would love this for my home security. Love the night vision as well. I think this would help keep me more aware and feel a little safer.

  39. I run my business out of my home so it would cover both home and business. There are lots of features I love about the system but the most interesting to me is the set it and save on cloud storage costs

  40. I want this system for my home! The 4k video and night vision would leave me feeling a lot safer. And having 4 cameras is great to really cover all the areas of our yard and driveway

  42. I want this for the home. It’s a Canadian system so as a Canadian home owner, I assume the designers will have similar perspectives.

  43. I would use it for my home. I like the simple set up and the number of cameras for the back and front yard. I also like the online storage. Although I do not have a business, I think this is also helpful for homes.

  44. I would like this for my home. I want the defender system because of the 4k resolution and the night vision capabilities.

  45. This is a Power over Ethernet system, so even though it is “wired” it is so easy to work with ethernet cable. So that is my first reason to but the system, the second is more practical. We have already had people break into our garage and stole power tools and camping supplies. So the need for a good system is my second reason. 4 cameras will more than cover all entrances.

  47. Four cameras in 4K. How perfect that’d be for my home – all-round coverage for the entire yard and driveway.

  49. I would want this for my rural home. I have been wanting one for some time and this one is affordable. 2K video, onboard storage, and strong strong motion detection make this a real deterrant and safety feature for my home.

  50. I would like this for my home for security. I like that it’s a Canadian security camera company and that you don’t need anything more than a monitor and Philips screwdriver to install. Thank you

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