utility of Sentinel? (alternative?)

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   Anyone find actual value in the Sentinel application which remotely monitors systems (bilge, power, etc.) on you mobile device?

Turns out, it is only available for 24months after leaving the Hanse factory. They have also been confused about the "first-owner" clock starting. Since we just bought our new 458, which was originally built in Oct 2024, they want us to pop for the subscription already.
Curious to know if it is actually worth it and/or alternatives to open source? Mostly interested in knowing if the bilge is running while away.

Thank you in advance!
Brent

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MyBMW Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Commander Joined: 14 June 2025 Status: Offline Points: 68	Post Options Post Reply Quote MyBMW Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: utility of Sentinel? (alternative?) Posted: 12 September 2025 at 00:43
	Anyone find actual value in the Sentinel application which remotely monitors systems (bilge, power, etc.) on you mobile device? Turns out, it is only available for 24months after leaving the Hanse factory. They have also been confused about the "first-owner" clock starting. Since we just bought our new 458, which was originally built in Oct 2024, they want us to pop for the subscription already. Curious to know if it is actually worth it and/or alternatives to open source? Mostly interested in knowing if the bilge is running while away. Thank you in advance! Brent
	Jumeirah San Francisco (458 #253)

marsella Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 21 June 2022 Location: Antigua Jolly H Status: Offline Points: 592	Post Options Post Reply Quote marsella Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 12 September 2025 at 01:06
	You can find a lot of discussion about Sentinel on this forum. I think most folk switches to other monitoring solutions and abandons Sentinel. You can put a sim card based modem router, get local WiFi and make your own monitoring system with CCTVs, battery voltmeters, motion alarms, bilge alarms so on.

32mike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commadore Joined: 26 March 2020 Location: FLorida, US Status: Offline Points: 453	Post Options Post Reply Quote 32mike Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 12 September 2025 at 01:51
	What Marsella said. However, you have to buy all that stuff and install it, which could be a fun project if you’re really into that sort of stuff. I went the easy route and just kept Sentinel.
	Mike S/V Dulces Sueños 458 #087 Tampa, FL

S&J Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 30 August 2014 Location: Perth WA / Med Status: Offline Points: 1371	Post Options Post Reply Quote S&J Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 13 September 2025 at 11:50
	I wasn't impressed with Sentinel and also lost 6 months of the supposed 2 year subscription due to timing of boat build. I now use a Gl iNet 12V router to provide boat WiFi/internet and a Raspberry Pi running Open Plotter with some custom Grafana displays which give me remote access to almost anything. I played around with the two N2K backbones and put the low power devices (depth, wind, GPS) on one permanently powered, with the Triton, Zeus and autopilot on the other. The new hardware I installed was much less than the cost of a year's Sentinel subscription. Edited by S&J - 13 September 2025 at 13:25
	H458 #159 Primal Mediterranean cruising

MyBMW Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Commander Joined: 14 June 2025 Status: Offline Points: 68	Post Options Post Reply Quote MyBMW Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 September 2025 at 14:35
	S&J Sounds like the same situation. Would very much like to learn more about this solution! Thank you and will message directly. Brent
	Jumeirah San Francisco (458 #253)

Lyn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 04 February 2022 Location: Hampton, VA Status: Offline Points: 190	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lyn Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 19 September 2025 at 15:50
	I'm the third owner, so I can't claim credit, but I have Siren Marine. Annual subscription expense is ~US$225, which I think is modest in the realm of boat expenses. The initial hardware purchase is either $300 or $800 for the base station, depending on what you chose. This will communicate status to an app on your phone. It has its own cellular communication capability . When I got it, the previous owner just had it connected to the NMEA backbone. If you have CZONE, then you might want to spring for the $800 version (Siren 3 Pro), because it will interface with that and allow digital switching. You can turn circuits or modes on/off remotely via your phone. When would you want that? ... At dinner ashore and forgot to turn on the anchor light and a cockpit light? Think you might have left the freshwater pump on when you left the boat for the month? In either model, you get remote reporting. Though there was some basic sensors when I got it, I added a LOT of other sensors -- all connected via Bluetooth. One or two, they're not very expensive, but if it does add up if you go crazy like I did. That said, if I had them at the time and been alerted I could have avoided a $1600 battery replacement! I had an unmonitored battery bank drain because the charger failed and there was a small load on the battery for the winter months. I now know: house bank, engine start bat, generator start bat, bow thruster bank, stern thruster bank, high water alarm in bilge, alert if the bilge runs, entry alert (companionway), and engine bay temp. The only one I have occasional issue with is the bow thruster bank because the Bluetooth connection drops (and then reconnects automatically). All sensors (e.g., battery) also report the temperature. That's kind of nice to monitor during winter for the cabin heater or engine room heater or during the summer to know how hot it is in there.
	Jon S/V Lyn 2017 Hanse 588 \| Hull 19 \| Deep draft \| 150hp \| 220v & 110v systems \| Lithium House Bank

MyBMW Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Commander Joined: 14 June 2025 Status: Offline Points: 68	Post Options Post Reply Quote MyBMW Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 September 2025 at 20:22
	WoW sounds like you figured it out Going to do a little more research on the options here and might be back for advice This is much more than I expected and I applaud your system, stand-out! Thank you Brent
	Jumeirah San Francisco (458 #253)

Wild Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Vice Admiral Joined: 18 March 2010 Location: Turkey-Greece Status: Offline Points: 937	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wild Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 20 September 2025 at 18:58
	Maybe I am old fashion but the must important thing on a sailboat is the windindicator who show you Windspeed and direction, SOG and SOW ,all the other data is just 💩
	Wild and Wet Belgium 545e#268

MyBMW Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Commander Joined: 14 June 2025 Status: Offline Points: 68	Post Options Post Reply Quote MyBMW Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 September 2025 at 21:33
	curious to know what exactly you mean by SOW and how do you feel about depth?
	Jumeirah San Francisco (458 #253)

Wild Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Vice Admiral Joined: 18 March 2010 Location: Turkey-Greece Status: Offline Points: 937	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wild Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 21 September 2025 at 07:57
	I am sorry,I had forgotten depth. SOW=STW = speed tru water. But I see you got the message.😄
	Wild and Wet Belgium 545e#268



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