This is what i found on sentry.. idk how old this is, or when the change was, im looking that up now
Stationary Nature: Sentry drones deploy and shoot from a single location, requiring manual recall and making them vulnerable if they can’t hit fast targets.
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Range vs. Tracking: They excel at long ranges (Wardens have huge range), but have poor tracking; range scripts and tracking computers are crucial for effectiveness, especially against close targets.
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Drone Control Range: A persistent point of confusion is the “drone control range,” which limits commands; players often feel it should relate to ship-to-drone distance, not ship-to-target, for sentries.
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Faction Differences: Different sentry drones (Wardens, Curators, Bouncers, Guards) offer varied optimal ranges, tracking, and damage types, providing strategic choices.
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Recent Changes: CCP has adjusted drone mechanics to reduce damage loss from orbit velocity and improve target acquisition, differentiating faction drones further.
maybe the drone control range is your confusion?
edit: this post was similar to yours