Do I need rewiring?+
For retrofit packages, no. Sentinel Starter, Essentials, and Ultimate are designed to work with your existing wiring. Some smart panels or whole-home features may require neutral-wire readiness, which we confirm during the assessment.
What is the difference between Retrofit and Smart-Ready Infrastructure?+
Retrofit (Starter, Essentials, Ultimate) adds smart devices to a home you already live in, with minimal disruption. Smart-Ready Infrastructure is designed into a new build, renovation, or pre-move-in home: PoE cabling, neutral wires, a central rack, local storage, and a power-backed network so smart living is cleaner and easier to upgrade later.
Can this work in a rental property?+
Yes. Sentinel retrofit packages are designed to fit behind existing switches and inside current wall sockets, with no structural changes. Most installs are fully reversible, so they work for renters, landlords, and family compounds.
What happens during a power outage?+
Physical switches keep working and local automations keep running. With a UPS-backed network, cameras, recorder, router, and core controls stay live for a few hours depending on the backup tier you choose.
What happens if internet goes down?+
Your hub processes locally, so physical switches, sensors, cameras, and local automations keep working. Only remote app access and voice control require internet.
Do cameras require cloud subscriptions?+
No. Sentinel cameras can record locally to a secure recorder or NAS. Cloud is optional, not required.
Can I store footage locally?+
Yes. Local video storage is a core part of Sentinel Ultimate and every Smart-Ready Infrastructure tier. Camera compatibility is confirmed during the assessment.
Can I upgrade from Starter to Essentials or Ultimate?+
Yes. Packages are designed as a ladder. Your existing devices stay in place and we add what is needed to reach the next tier.
Can Sentinel prepare a home before I move in?+
Yes. That is exactly what Smart-Ready Infrastructure is for. We design the rack, cabling, panel locations, and backup network during construction or renovation so your smart home is clean and reliable from day one.
Do smart panels require neutral wires?+
Most do. During the assessment we confirm whether your home has neutral wires at switch boxes, and Smart-Ready Infrastructure includes neutral-wire readiness so smart panels can be installed cleanly.
Can you support duplexes and multi-floor homes?+
Yes. Duplex Infrastructure and Duplex Plus are designed for multi-floor homes, with distributed Wi-Fi, structured cabling, and a central rack. Larger compounds and estates are covered by the Private Smart Estate tier.