Diamond Ronin Sentinel User manual

Ronin Sentinel
User Manual
Version : 1.10 Release #0023
Released : 07/23/2023

Ronin Sentinel User Manual V1.10 Release #0023
07/26/2023 Copyright ©, 2023, Diamond Edge Technology LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Page 2of 65
Table of Contents
I. Introduction & Setup.......................................................................................................... 5
I.a. Sentinel Power............................................................................................................................................... 5
I.b. Antenna Installation...................................................................................................................................... 6
I.b.1. Daisy Chaining Cameras.........................................................................................................................................7
I.b.2. Antenna Summary .................................................................................................................................................7
I.c. Sentinel Network Connection........................................................................................................................ 8
II.c.1. Ethernet.................................................................................................................................................................8
II.c.2. Wireless.................................................................................................................................................................9
I.d. Email Alerts.................................................................................................................................................... 9
I.e. Text Alerts...................................................................................................................................................... 9
I.f. Add Cameras ................................................................................................................................................ 10
I.g. Waiting for Cameras to Link........................................................................................................................ 11
I.h. Ronin Camera Link App ............................................................................................................................... 12
I.h. Setup Finished!............................................................................................................................................ 12
II. Add New Camera............................................................................................................. 13
II.a. Add New Camera using WiFi ...................................................................................................................... 14
II.b. Add New Camera Step #2 - Location.......................................................................................................... 14
II.c. Add New Camera Step #3 –Live View........................................................................................................ 15
II.d. Add New Camera Step #4 –Record Images or Videos .............................................................................. 18
II.e. Add New Camera Step #5 –Power Mode.................................................................................................. 19
II.f. Add New Camera Step #6 –GPS ................................................................................................................. 21
II.g. Add New Camera Step #7 –Communication & Connection to Sentinel ................................................... 22
II.g.1. Radio Connection................................................................................................................................................23
II.g.2. WiFi Connection..................................................................................................................................................25
II.g.3. USB Only Connection ..........................................................................................................................................25
II.g.4. SD Card Only........................................................................................................................................................26
III. Main Sentinel Link Screen............................................................................................... 27
III.a. Camera Status and Alert Downloads......................................................................................................... 28
III.b. Screen Saver.............................................................................................................................................. 29
III.c. Toggle Camera View Mode........................................................................................................................ 29
III.d. Main Screen Settings Menu ...................................................................................................................... 30

Ronin Sentinel User Manual V1.10 Release #0023
07/26/2023 Copyright ©, 2023, Diamond Edge Technology LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Page 3of 65
III.d.1. About..................................................................................................................................................................30
III.d.2. Help ...................................................................................................................................................................30
III.e. Delete Cameras ......................................................................................................................................... 31
III.f. Manually Add Camera................................................................................................................................ 31
III.f.1. Manually Add Camera –WiFi..............................................................................................................................31
III.f.2. Manually Add Camera –Ronin Radio .................................................................................................................32
III.g. Import or Export Images & Videos............................................................................................................ 33
III.g.1. Importing Images & Videos................................................................................................................................33
III.g.2. Exporting Images & Videos ................................................................................................................................34
IV. Live Camera View........................................................................................................... 35
IV.a. Snap Camera Image .................................................................................................................................. 38
IV.b. FLIR View Mode ........................................................................................................................................ 38
V. Camera Configuration ..................................................................................................... 41
V.a. Camera Configuration –Status .................................................................................................................. 41
V.b. Camera Configuration –SD Card & Files.................................................................................................... 42
V.b.1. View , Select, & Download Files..........................................................................................................................43
V.c. Camera Configuration - COM and Alerts.................................................................................................... 44
V.d. Camera Configuration - WiFi...................................................................................................................... 44
V.e. Camera Configuration –Radio................................................................................................................... 45
V.f. Camera Configuration - System.................................................................................................................. 46
V.f.1. Firmware Update.................................................................................................................................................47
V.g. Camera Configuration –Detect.................................................................................................................. 48
V.h. Camera Configuration –Video................................................................................................................... 49
V.i. Camera Configuration –FLIR....................................................................................................................... 51
V.j. Camera Configuration –Batt ...................................................................................................................... 52
V.k. Camera Configuration –GPS...................................................................................................................... 53
VI. Images & Videos Viewer................................................................................................. 54
VI.a. Viewer –Change FLIR View Mode ............................................................................................................ 55
VI.b. Viewer –Change Color Tracker................................................................................................................. 55
VI.c. Viewer –Zoom........................................................................................................................................... 56
VI.d. Viewer –Email .......................................................................................................................................... 56
VI.e. Viewer –Text ............................................................................................................................................ 56

Ronin Sentinel User Manual V1.10 Release #0023
07/26/2023 Copyright ©, 2023, Diamond Edge Technology LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Page 4of 65
VII. Sentinel Settings............................................................................................................ 57
VII.a. Sentinel Program Settings........................................................................................................................ 57
VII.a.1. Settings - Reset to Factory ................................................................................................................................58
VII.a.2. Settings - Advanced Radio ................................................................................................................................59
VII.a.3. Settings –Advanced Program...........................................................................................................................60
VII.a.4. Settings –Server ...............................................................................................................................................61
VII.a.5. Settings –Setup Email.......................................................................................................................................61
VII.a.6. Settings –Setup Texting....................................................................................................................................62
VII.b. Sentinel Network Settings........................................................................................................................ 63
VII.b.1. Network –Connect to Wireless........................................................................................................................63
VII.b.2. Network –Search For Cameras ........................................................................................................................63
VIII. Advanced Topics........................................................................................................... 65
VIII.a. Radio Range Testing................................................................................................................................ 65

Ronin Sentinel User Manual V1.10 Release #0023
07/26/2023 Copyright ©, 2023, Diamond Edge Technology LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Page 5of 65
I. Introduction & Setup
The Ronin Sentinel is a radio base station for coordinating and communicating by radio, WiFi, and USB to connected
Ronin Cameras. It is intended to be used either as a permanent installation mounted to a wall or placed on a desktop,
or it can also operate as portable unit for those situations where you want to download captured Ronin Camera pictures
by bringing the Sentinel into range of the already placed Ronin Camera.
Users can use the Ronin Sentinel to setup new cameras, view a live image,
download saved images or videos, and control their Ronin Cameras using Radio,
WiFi, or a USB link. The Sentinel handles all incoming alert messages from the
cameras and forwards them out for free by email and text (*) to specified
phones or other devices (free texting requires you to use a cell
plan that allows for free texting).
The Sentinel also acts as a central server for the Ronin Camera
Link App. If you are on the same network as the Sentinel, this
free app allows your Android or iOS device, Windows PC, or
Mac to view connected cameras and communicate with them
through the Sentinel even when camera is linked by Radio and
many miles away.
The Ronin Camera Link app also manages the images and
videos stored on the Sentinel or directly downloaded to your
device from an SD card. Users can save images or videos in
various formats including the ability to create point-by-point temperature maps from FLIR images or videos.
Users typically install the Ronin Sentinel permanently to a wall or set it on a desk in a location with network access.
When the Sentinel is functioning as a mobile device it is brought within radio range to one or more cameras and 12V is
connected from a car or battery pack. The Sentinel wakes up and then immediately searches for available cameras.
When a camera is found, captured images or videos can be downloaded automatically or by a simple button push
eliminating the need to disturb the blind, stand, or other location after the initial camera placement.
I.a. Sentinel Power
The Sentinel is powered by connecting 12V to the plug on the side of the unit.
Under most situations this will be from the included wall adapter, however you
can also power it from a car adapter or an external 12V battery. Contact
Diamond Edge Technology for more information on power options.
Plugging the unit in will automatically boot up the built-in
software and show a screen like this when the Sentinel is ready
and first being setup (this may take 1-3 minutes). The front
panel is a touchscreen, so simply tap the Next button to walk
through the setup guide and start using the Ronin Sentinel!
Advanced users can tap Skip to immediately begin using the
Ronin Sentinel. Cameras can be added at any time.
Please read the Antenna information in the next section before
proceeding (if you have not already done so).
12V Power Input
Ethernet Input

Ronin Sentinel User Manual V1.10 Release #0023
07/26/2023 Copyright ©, 2023, Diamond Edge Technology LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Page 6of 65
I.b. Antenna Installation
The antenna used with the Sentinel is critical for reliable communication to radio connected cameras. Before
proceeding with setup, it is a good idea to first install and configure the antenna you are going to use with the Sentinel.
The biggest factors affecting the quality of radio communications with Ronin Cameras is the speed of communication,
the antenna size and placement, and the terrain. Having direct line of sight between two antennas is the ideal situation,
but this is rarely achievable in real life. Going through buildings and trees will reduce range, and a mountain or hill can
completely block the radio signal.
Good antenna type selection and antenna placement can help compensate for terrain and distance issues. The standard
antenna that comes with the Ronin is a 5dBi 915Mhz antenna that looks like this:
This can be screwed into the SMA connector at the top
of the Sentinel for immediate use with Ronin Cameras.
However, this small standard antenna is usually not
adequate for ranges greater than about ¼ to 1 mile
(depending on terrain and other conditions).
If it is necessary to use a different antenna for your location, the key parameters are the antenna frequency and the
"dBi" value. Always use an antenna that is specifically designed for the 900 to 915Mhz range. The larger the "dBi" value
the greater the amplification of the signal. However, higher dBi values are more expensive, bigger, and can require
more complicated mounting. In addition, not all antennas are suitable for this product so care must be taken in
selection.
An "omni-directional" antenna like the image below is one that can transmit and receive from any direction and works
extremely well with the Sentinel base station, especially when mounted high up on a roof or tree. Mounting an
antenna like this to your roof and connecting it to the Sentinel with a low-loss antenna cable is an excellent option for
improving the range and quality of your radio communication:
The most powerful antennas are usually those that are labeled as "Yagi" antennas. A Yagi antenna has a specific
direction and it works best when you point it towards the Sentinel or the cameras. However, this is only a good choice
for the Sentinel if all the cameras are in roughly the same direction. A Yagi antenna like the one below is usually a better
choice for the Ronin Camera since it only must point at the Sentinel to be effective:

Ronin Sentinel User Manual V1.10 Release #0023
07/26/2023 Copyright ©, 2023, Diamond Edge Technology LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Page 7of 65
I.b.1. Daisy Chaining Cameras
At extreme long ranges the Ronin Camera and Ronin Sentinel can daisy chain together to extend the range even
further. As long as the closest camera can reach the Sentinel base station, and the other cameras can reach each other,
then the range can be extended further than 9 miles. However, daisy chaining does slow the system down since each
transmission must be repeated along the chain.
I.b.2. Antenna Summary
For distances less than 1/4 mile or 1500 feet, the system usually works very easily right out of the box. Even from inside
a building or house you can typically reach the cameras with the highest speed possible and never give it another
thought.
For distances greater than 1/4 mile, or when terrain is an issue, additional effort may be required. Placing an omni-
directional antenna on the roof for the Sentinel base station is a great first step and, if necessary, slowing down the
speed to Medium or Low speed will greatly extend the range (see section II.g.1. Radio Connection for speed
information). This is all that is necessary for most customers.
For very challenging configurations with long distances and difficult terrains, customers can add higher dBi antennas to
both the cameras and the Sentinel. An omni-directional antenna on the roof for the Sentinel is a good choice along with
Yagi antennas for each camera mounted as high as possible and pointed towards the Sentinel base station. Height of
the antennas is an extremely most important factor in improving range. If this is still not enough, turning on daisy
chaining between the cameras can exponentially increase the maximum distance to as much as 50 miles!
.

Ronin Sentinel User Manual V1.10 Release #0023
07/26/2023 Copyright ©, 2023, Diamond Edge Technology LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Page 8of 65
I.c. Sentinel Network Connection
Now that the antenna is setup, the next step is to
configure the network connection for the Ronin
Sentinel:
A network connection with access to the internet is necessary if you want the Sentinel to be able to send you free email
and/or text alerts when motion is detected from the cameras. In addition, if you want to be able to use the Ronin
Camera Link app with the Sentinel to communicate to your cameras from your phone or other device, then a local
wireless network connection to both the Sentinel and your phone or other device is required. This is completely
optional - you do not have to allow the Sentinel internet or local network access and it will still download images and
videos from Radio connected cameras. However, it is necessary to have internet access to receive email/text alerts, and
local network access for the Ronin Camera Link app to function with the Sentinel.
Option
Description
Ethernet
Select this if you have or want to plug an Ethernet cable into the Ethernet
port on the side of the Sentinel.
Wireless
Select this if you want to connect the Sentinel to an existing wireless network
(with or without internet access).
No Network
Select this if you do not want to allow the Sentinel network access. In this
case, you can only see camera activity, Live View cameras, and change
camera configuration directly from the Ronin Sentinel touchscreen.
II.c.1. Ethernet
Selecting Ethernet will display a network status screen. Plug in your ethernet cable and make sure it says “All Good”
before proceeding:

Ronin Sentinel User Manual V1.10 Release #0023
07/26/2023 Copyright ©, 2023, Diamond Edge Technology LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Page 9of 65
II.c.2. Wireless
Selecting Wireless will display a list of available wireless networks to the Ronin Sentinel like this:
Select the network you want to use and enter the
network password. When ready, tap Link to connect
the Sentinel to this network.
If the connection succeeds the Sentinel will inform you
and allow you to move to the next step.
I.d. Email Alerts
If a network connection has been selected (either Wireless or Ethernet), the next step is to enter in the email addresses
you want to receive email alerts on. This is optional, and you can leave it blank to skip sending email alerts.
Enter in one or more email addresses separated by a
comma. If you want to customize how emails are sent
from the Sentinel you can tap Setup Email button (see
section VII.a.5. for more information).
All Sentinels are pre-programmed with a free email
account that is used by default for sending emails and
text message alerts. You can customize this, or simply
use the pre-setup account.
I.e. Text Alerts
If a network connection has been selected (either Wireless or Ethernet), the next step is to enter in the phone numbers
of the devices you want to receive text alerts. This is a very useful feature because the free text messages will be sent
no matter where you are in the world (as long as your phone carrier supports this) and they include an attached image
or video of the alert. You will also receive alerts in the case of a low battery or if the Ronin Camera stops responding.
Enter the phone number you want to send and select
the carrier this phone uses (Verizon, AT&T, etc).
The default setup is to use the free texting service that
comes as part of the Sentinel package. This uses a
specific email address for each carrier to send text
messages to phone numbers.
You can also setup your own email server for texting
using the “Setup Texting” button now or later in
advanced settings.

Ronin Sentinel User Manual V1.10 Release #0023
07/26/2023 Copyright ©, 2023, Diamond Edge Technology LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Page 10 of 65
To add additional numbers to send text messages to, tap the + button to get an additional line:
You can add multiple numbers by repeatedly tapping
the + button. Delete any individual entry by tapping
the –button.
When finished, tap Next to move on.
I.f. Add Cameras
Choose the number of cameras you want to setup to use with your Sentinel. You can always add or remove cameras
later, but this initial setup helps guide you through setting up cameras to use with the Sentinel:
Tap Skip if you want to add cameras later.
Once you choose the number of cameras, a different screen appears to walk you through setting up each camera:
In this example just one camera was selected
to add. Tap Camera #1 to set it up to use
with the Sentinel.
After you tap the camera button the Add
New Camera screens will appear. See the
section II. Add Camera for a complete
description of this process.