Monitoring station

[Bandersnatch]

It seems that at every colony there is an option to build a monitoring station. But nowhere in the instructions can I find out what a monitoring station does, except maybe monitor. What is it monitoring? Should every colony have one of these? Does it have tactical significance? Does it monitor what I am doing, or what somebody else is doing? Does it give me information I can interact with? Should I save my money or credits, and buy something else instead. It’s mentioned in Galactopedia several times, but does not say what it monitors. Many thanks.

[currierm]

Monitor stations will include a long range scanner- if you've researched the right tech. You can see enemy ships within the range of the scanner- basically it provides a light blue circle in which you can see enemy ships moving about. Very handy. The range gets better as you improve the tech.

I usually put long range scanners on my starbases and don't build very many monitor stations.

[Setekh]

I use monitoring stations purely as long range surveillance posts to spy on the more important rival or enemy systems and them build them just outside their system.

For coverage of my home system I just put LR scanners on my large spaceport design

[Krob]

I used to put them on all of my civilian ships too, but since the expansion, that makes the galaxy map unusable.


K

[elanaahova]

I agree with all the above about using Long range scanners. LRS are essential if you get into a big war. And the map will give you a big red arrow, pointing into your system (with the LRS) if an enemy fleet is vectoring into your system. LRSs update in place when you research the next level, (greater range). I've never tried building on on a base just outside a 'system' of interest.' I like the idea.