In disclosed embodiments, a relatively small passive monitor tool provides one or more alerts to a user of a mobile station, to readily notify the user, even if the station is carried in a pocket or purse. In one example, the tool listens for a message on a paging channel of the wireless network, indicating an incoming call or the like intended for the mobile station. Upon detecting the incoming paging signal, the tool provides its own perceptible alert to the user. In another example, the tool listens to the access channel for periodic keep-alive signals from the mobile station. When the monitor tool fails to detect such signals from the station, for example, for some interval, the tool provides another perceptible alert to the user. This second alert may indicate low-battery, an out-of-range mobile station, or that the mobile station signals are blocked by some obstacle.