A method for monitoring at least one ambient condition at a remote site, the method executed at least in part by a computer, configures at least one sensing device at the remote site according to one or more setup instructions transmitted wirelessly from a host processor at a first site, wherein the configuration associates the at least one sensing device with a personal communications device wherein the at least one sensing device is energizable to wirelessly transmit, to the personal communications device, a sensor signal that is indicative of the at least one ambient condition according to the setup instructions. In response to the transmitted sensor signal, information about the at least one ambient condition displays on the personal communications device that is associated with the at least one sensing device.