232 memory 236 a processor 238 and one or more lamps 140 such as one or more leds or other light sources the antenna 232 can comprise a one way or two way antenna in various embodiments the processor 232 may comprise a special or general purpose processor a printed circuit board or the like antenna 232 receives signals broadcast by one of the board 222 or the host instrument 223 and the processor 238 interprets these signals to determine for example how to drive lamp 140 in an embodiment these wireless signals may include encryption a patient monitor identifier or the like so that each of multiple patient monitors can communicate with one or more specific visual indicators 114 in an embodiment memory 236 may store one or more of an indication of which host instrument 39 s signals to accept unique indicator data or parameter selection information display data and or the like memory 236 may include an eprom an eeprom ram and or solid state memory combinations of the same or the like for example the processor 238 can then utilize information from memory 236 to help interpret the received signals such as by extracting information including a display color display pattern such as flashing alarm conditions patient location identifier doctor identifier paging information caregiver combinations of the same and or the like memory 236 is preferably programmable so that a caregiver can leave an indicator 114 in one place and associate different patient monitors 102 with it at various times in an embodiment the memory 236 programming can be accomplished through a u201c pairing u201d function that links one or more patient monitors 102 with one or more visual indicators 114.