Sentry mode discussion split from Taycan/Model 3 thread

[hydro 481]

Moderator note: this thread was started from multiple posts about OTA updates and Sentry Mode made in this thread Taycan Takedown

You mean all those complex over-the-air FSD features that don't work particularly well (or not at all)? LOL.

Right. Sentry mode hasn't caught or prevented any crimes at all. LOL

 

[tvad]

Right. Sentry mode hasn't caught or prevented any crimes at all. LOL

I doubt Sentry has prevented many crimes, but Sentry cameras have caught people committing crimes, so I will give you that one.

Summon - Primarily party entertainment. We have used it exactly one time in three months.
Auto Lane Change - I have yet to experience why this is valuable versus changing lanes oneself.
Navigate on Autopilot - It simply doesn't work well for us in S. California...misses lane changes and off ramps...we basically never use it.
Autopark - Perpendicular Autopark is so slow that every time we have tried it someone else has zipped into the space.

The potential to upgrade the Tesla via over-the-air software updates is a plus. Now, let's get some software that works effectively and doesn't seem to be constant beta versions.

 

[hydro 481]

I doubt Sentry has prevented many crimes, but Sentry cameras have caught people committing crimes, so I will give you that one.

Summon - Primarily party entertainment. We have used it exactly one time in three months.
Auto Lane Change - I have yet to experience why this is valuable versus changing lanes oneself.
Navigate on Autopilot - It simply doesn't work well for us in S. California...misses lane changes and off ramps...we basically never use it.
Autopark - Perpendicular Autopark is so slow that every time we have tried it someone else has zipped into the space.

The potential to upgrade the Tesla via over-the-air software updates is a plus. Now, let's get some software that works effectively and doesn't seem to be constant beta versions.

Sentry mode is like any security system and acts as a deterrent. So how is that not preventing crime? The more criminals are aware of it, the more potential crimes it will prevent. A few months ago a suspicious looking person walked up to my car in the parking structure of my apartment complex and looked inside the windows. He left quickly after seeing the sentry mode screen popped up. It's not uncommon for cars in my complex to be broken into or have stuff stolen from them. So did sentry mode prevent a possible crime? I'd say so.

Just because you find certain features not useful or perhaps they don't work well for you, doesn't mean others can't benefit or enjoy them. It's kinda like having a fingerprint scanner or face unlock on smartphones. They don't work perfectly all the time and some people hate them but still many find them useful. Personally I love autopilot but I know people who think it's useless since they drive in LA traffic. You said summon is a party trick, and yea for some it might be. But I've seen people who have a tight garage space say they use it daily and it's a godsend.

When you say the potential to update software is a plus, that's exactly what I mean. Tesla is currently the only manufacturer I know of that's capable of adding these type of upgrades over the air. Of course like any other software, be it car or computer, there's always going to be bugs and issues. But the great thing is they can fix or improve upon them in the next iteration. It's essentially a computer on wheels.

Version 10 of the software updates will add things like Netflix, Youtube, Careoke, which honestly I don't care for much since I will rarely use them. But I'm sure plenty of other people, like those who often use Superchargers will appreciate them.

 

[tvad]

Sentry mode is like any security system and acts as a deterrent. So how is that not preventing crime?

I disagree. Sentry mode has no visible indicator that an alarm or security system is enabled...unlike every other car we have owned in the past 20 years with an alarm/security system that had a flashing red light (often on the rear view mirror) when the system was armed.

If you assume most vandals somehow know that the Tesla Sentry system is "armed" and they are being recorded, then I think you are giving the morons more credit than they are due.

Anyway, this discussion of Sentry is a sidebar discussion.

I do agree the Tesla software updates, when they are valuable because they work, are a feature that differentiates the Tesla from the Porsche.

 

[hydro 481]

I disagree. Sentry mode has no visible indicator that an alarm or security system is enabled...unlike every other car we have owned in the past 20 years with an alarm/security system that had a flashing red light (often on the rear view mirror) when the system was armed.

If you assume most vandals somehow know that the Tesla Sentry system is "armed" and they are being recorded, then I think you are giving the morons more credit than they are due.

 

[Scott7]

Sentry mode has no visible indicator that an alarm or security system is enabled...unlike every other car we have owned in the past 20 years with an alarm/security system that had a flashing red light (often on the rear view mirror) when the system was armed.

This is not true? Sentry is actually rather obnoxious with how often it will turn on the headlights if it even thinks someone is walking towards it. It is 1000x times more obvious than the little red light attached my BMW's rearview mirror.

Tbh I'd like the option to make it less obvious if anything! I'd prefer the car not attract any attention unless someone is physically touching it.

 

[tvad]

I haven't seen that screen on our Model 3. I will check next time we're out.

 

[tvad]

This is not true? Sentry is actually rather obnoxious with how often it will turn on the headlights if it even thinks someone is walking towards it. It is 1000x times more obvious than the little red light attached my BMWs rearview mirror!

OK. I will check that out. It could be a user setting issue. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[hydro 481]

I haven't seen that screen on our Model 3. I will check next time we're out.

I assume you just got your car? It honestly doesn't take much for that screen to pop up. Sometimes people walking by in the parking lot will trigger it.

 

[tvad]

I assume you just got your car? It honestly doesn't take much for that screen to pop up. Sometimes people walking by in the parking lot will trigger it.

Three months.

We have always had Sentry enabled. Home excluded.

We have never seen the "Sentry Activated" screen, but as I mentioned, we will look for it going forward.

 

[hydro 481]

It should also be conceded that no other automaker requires as many bug-fix-updates, as Tesla does, either.

Well to be fair, if the software is more complex then it's more susceptible to bugs and issues.

Three months.

We have always had Sentry enabled. Home excluded.

We have never seen the "Sentry Activated" screen, but as I mentioned, we will look for it going forward.

Are you using your phone as a key? The activation screen won't turn on if it detects the owner (phone) nearby.

 

[tvad]

LOL...so, I went into the Model 3's "Security" menu to see if there was a Sentry option that had not been initiated because we would never see "Sentry Activated" on the Model 3's screen when the car was locked. While I was fiddling around, I turned off Sentry and turned it back on. I selected "Exclude Home". Now, with the car parked in our garage and locked, the Sentry flashes the headlights and the "Sentry Activated" shows temporarily on the screen.

What up?

 

[Dan203]

LOL...so, I went into the Model 3's "Security" menu to see if there was a Sentry option that had not been initiated because we would never see "Sentry Activated" on the Model 3's screen when the car was locked. While I was fiddling around, I turned off Sentry and turned it back on. I selected "Exclude Home". Now, with the car parked in our garage and locked, the Sentry flashes the headlights and the "Sentry Activated" shows temporarily on the screen.

What up?

Maybe it doesn't know where "home" is?

 

[tvad]

Maybe it doesn't know where "home" is?

It does. The mirrors fold when we approach.

 

[Dan203]

It does. The mirrors fold when we approach.

Weird. Perhaps a reboot is in order.

 

[tvad]

My wife had Sentry turned on in her iPhone app. When she turned it off in the app, the Model 3 no longer triggered while in the garage.

That's seems to have solved the problem.

 

[Magnets!]

LOL...so, I went into the Model 3's "Security" menu to see if there was a Sentry option that had not been initiated because we would never see "Sentry Activated" on the Model 3's screen when the car was locked. While I was fiddling around, I turned off Sentry and turned it back on. I selected "Exclude Home". Now, with the car parked in our garage and locked, the Sentry flashes the headlights and the "Sentry Activated" shows temporarily on the screen.

What up?

hmm, not sure. 'Exclude Home' seems to work perfectly for me.