Objective
To help customers configure Watchtower in Relay Dashboard.
Environment / Applies To
Relay Dashboard
Relay customers with Watchtower
Overview
Watchtower is a Relay feature designed to help teams monitor high-volume Relay communication from one centralized view. Before using Watchtower, make sure your Relay channels, users, and permissions are set up correctly in Relay Dashboard. Watchtower configuration may vary depending on your account setup and enabled features. Watchtower uses panels to help you build a custom monitoring view for your team. Each panel supports a different part of your communication, monitoring, or response workflow.
Confirm channel setup
- Review the channels your team uses for daily communication. Make sure the channels you want to monitor in Watchtower are active and include the correct Relay users or devices.
- Under Communication click Watchtower
- Start Fresh with a new watchtower template, or select “Use a Template. If you use a template, your panels will already be configured. If you start fresh, move to step 5.
- Click Create Panel on any of the open sections
- See below for how to configure each panel type.
Scanner Pannel
What it does
- The Scanner panel allows you to monitor multiple Relay channels from Watchtower. This helps dispatchers, security teams, and managers stay aware of activity across several channels without switching between them manually.
The Scanner panel can be used to:
- Monitor multiple Relay channels
- Hear live channel audio
- View live message transcriptions, when available
- Follow activity across priority channels
- Respond to monitored channels from Watchtower
- Add a new panel to your Watchtower layout.
- Select Scanner as the panel type.
- Choose the Relay channels you want to monitor.
- Arrange the Scanner panel in your layout.
- Adjust priority by moving higher priority channels to the top of the list.
- Save your Watchtower configuration.
Best practice
- Prioritize your channels in the frequency in which you communicate to them.
Simulcast Panel
What it does
- The Simulcast panel allows users to send one message to multiple Relay channels at the same time. This is useful when important information needs to reach several teams quickly.
The Simulcast panel can be used to:
- Send announcements across multiple channels
- Communicate with several departments at once
- Share urgent updates quickly
- Avoid repeating the same message in each channel
- Add a new panel to your Watchtower layout.
- Select Simulcast as the panel type.
- Choose the channels that should receive Simulcast messages.
- Create or select a Simulcast group, if available.
- Save your Watchtower configuration.
- Override is needed for simulcast. For information on enabling override, reference this article.
Best practice
- Use Simulcast for high-priority updates that need to reach multiple departments at once, such as security notices, operational alerts, or property-wide instructions.
Messages Panel
What it does
- The Messages panel displays Relay message history in Watchtower. This helps teams review recent communication and catch up on anything they may have missed.
The Messages panel can be used to:
- Review recent Relay channel activity
- View message history from selected channels
- See transcriptions, when available
- Play back or reference past messages, depending on account settings
- Support documentation and follow-up after an event or incident
- Add a new panel to your Watchtower layout.
- Select Messages as the panel type.
- Choose the channel or channels you want the panel to display.
- Place the Messages panel where it is easy to reference.
- Save your Watchtower configuration.
Best practice
- Use the Messages panel alongside Scanner so your team can monitor live audio while also reviewing missed or recent messages.
Calling Panel
What it does
- The Calling panel allows users to place one-to-one calls from Watchtower. This is helpful when a dispatcher, manager, or supervisor needs to speak directly with a specific team member instead of broadcasting over a shared channel.
- Add a new panel to your Watchtower layout.
- Select Calling as the panel type.
- Choose whether the panel should show all available users, specific users, or users filtered by team, depending on your available options.
- Save your Watchtower configuration.
Best practice
- Use the Calling panel for dispatchers, supervisors, or security leaders who need a fast way to contact individual users without interrupting broader channel communication.
Indoor or Outdoor Maps
What it does
- The Maps or Locations panel displays Relay user location information in Watchtower when location tracking is enabled. This helps teams understand where users or devices are located during daily operations or active events. For more information on indoor location, reference this article.
The Maps / Locations panel can be used to:
- View user or device locations
- Support situational awareness
- Locate users during an event or incident
- Monitor teams across large properties or work areas
- Add a new panel to your Watchtower layout.
- Select Indoor or Outdoor Map
- Choose the users, teams, or location view you want to display, depending on your available options.
- Adjust the map view as needed.
- Save your Watchtower configuration.
- Confirm location information appears for the appropriate users or devices.
Best practice
- Use the Maps / Locations panel for teams that operate across large spaces, such as hotels, casinos, campuses, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, or outdoor worksites.