A monitoring system for a tensile support structure , comprising: a ground node and a voltage input node via which a voltage is supplied across the tensile support structure; and a resistance circuit connected to an effective resistance of the tensile support structure , the resistance circuit having a first set of resistors (40a-e) and a second set of resistors (42, 42a-j), the first set of resistors (40a-e) the second set of resistors (42, 42a-j) being coupled to the voltage input node and the ground node , wherein the second set of resistors (42, 42a-j) is configured to provide a reference voltage at a reference output node ; and an interface circuit directly coupled to the resistance circuit for monitoring the effective resistance of the tensile support structure , characterised in that the first set of resistors (40a-e) are connected in series with respect to one another but in parallel with respect to the effective resistance of the tensile support structure , wherein the first set of resistors (40a-e) comprises output nodes (44a-e) which provide output voltages which gradually increase or decrease as the support structure wears over time; and the interface circuit having two or more comparators , each comparator being configured to directly compare at least one respective voltage at the output nodes (44a-e) with the reference voltage and generate an output signal corresponding to the comparison. a ground node and a voltage input node via which a voltage is supplied across the tensile support structure; and a resistance circuit connected to an effective resistance of the tensile support structure , the resistance circuit having a first set of resistors (40a-e) and a second set of resistors (42, 42a-j), the first set of resistors (40a-e) the second set of resistors (42, 42a-j) being coupled to the voltage input node and the ground node , wherein the second set of resistors (42, 42a-j) is configured to provide a reference voltage at a reference output node ; and an interface circuit directly coupled to the resistance circuit for monitoring the effective resistance of the tensile support structure , characterised in that the first set of resistors (40a-e) are connected in series with respect to one another but in parallel with respect to the effective resistance of the tensile support structure , wherein the first set of resistors (40a-e) comprises output nodes (44a-e) which provide output voltages which gradually increase or decrease as the support structure wears over time; and the interface circuit having two or more comparators , each comparator being configured to directly compare at least one respective voltage at the output nodes (44a-e) with the reference voltage and generate an output signal corresponding to the comparison. an interface circuit directly coupled to the resistance circuit for monitoring the effective resistance of the tensile support structure , characterised in that the first set of resistors (40a-e) are connected in series with respect to one another but in parallel with respect to the effective resistance of the tensile support structure , wherein the first set of resistors (40a-e) comprises output nodes (44a-e) which provide output voltages which gradually increase or decrease as the support structure wears over time; and the interface circuit having two or more comparators , each comparator being configured to directly compare at least one respective voltage at the output nodes (44a-e) with the reference voltage and generate an output signal corresponding to the comparison. <EOS>