Raspberry Pi dashcam projects
Looking for a TeslaUSB alternative?
Sentry USB turns a Raspberry Pi into a Tesla dashcam drive with automatic footage archiving, drive analytics, charging history, and a browser dashboard. If you found marcone’s TeslaUSB first, here is how Sentry USB fits into the same space.
Sentry USB has roots in TeslaUSB by marcone and contributors. The current Sentry USB Rusty project includes a Rust backend while retaining some MIT-licensed scripts derived from TeslaUSB. Credit for that foundation belongs to the upstream project.
What the projects have in common
Both projects let compatible hardware act as the car’s USB drive, archive footage to storage you configure, and provide a web viewer. TeslaUSB also documents extended RecentClips retention and support for storing music.
| Area | Sentry USB Rusty | marcone’s TeslaUSB |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Raspberry Pi OS installer and a guided web setup wizard | README recommends a prebuilt image and one-step setup instructions |
| License | PolyForm Noncommercial for original code; inherited components retain their licenses | MIT |
| Archiving and viewing | Automatic archiving and a local browser viewer | Automatic archiving and a browser viewer |
Sources: TeslaUSB README, Sentry USB README, and Sentry USB license. Maintained by Sentry Six. Documentation reviewed September 12, 2026; consult the projects for later changes.
Why consider Sentry USB?
Explore Sentry USB if you want drive routes, FSD usage, battery changes, charging history and costs alongside your recordings. It also provides BLE telemetry and keep-awake options, notification integrations, and a guided setup interface.
The wider Sentry Six toolkit includes Sentry Studio for desktop dashcam viewing, Sentry Drive for desktop analytics, and Sentry Connect for iPhone. These companion products are separate from installing the Pi software.
Choose based on the features, hardware, setup workflow, and license that suit you. Sentry USB is free for noncommercial use; that license is different from TeslaUSB’s MIT license.
Before you set up
Is Sentry USB the same project as TeslaUSB?
Sentry USB has roots in TeslaUSB. The current Sentry USB Rusty project has its own Rust backend and product features; some inherited scripts remain MIT-licensed. Use each project’s own documentation and release instructions.
Do I need a Tesla API subscription?
Sentry USB can decode drive data from Tesla dashcam recordings and supports Bluetooth Low Energy telemetry without a Tesla API subscription. Optional services such as Tessie or TeslaFi have their own requirements.
Does Sentry USB upload my dashcam video to Sentry Cloud?
No. The optional Sentry Cloud service syncs encrypted drive and charging history, not dashcam video. Video archiving uses a NAS or another storage destination you configure.
Can I use my existing Raspberry Pi?
Check the exact model. Sentry USB lists Pi 4B and Pi 5 as recommended, and Pi Zero 2 W and Pi 3A+ as tested. Pi 3B and Pi 3B+ cannot provide the required USB gadget connection. Check the setup guide for cables and storage.
Can I switch without losing recordings?
Back up recordings and configuration before changing software, then follow the current Sentry USB setup guide. Migration steps depend on your existing installation.