2Dig Plain comparisons of crane signalling and jobsite communication tools

Crane communication headsets compared

Compare Eartec, Setcom and CrewPlex radio headset systems with OperatorLink, a tool you open on a phone that displays STOP, HOLD and SLOW signals to the crew.

By 2Dig ยท

2Dig is published by the makers of OperatorLink, which is compared here alongside other tools.

Eartec, Setcom and CrewPlex sell radio headset systems, and OperatorLink runs on a phone browser and shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW signals to a crew. [1] Each maker states its own team size and setup facts.

OptionOwn feeCard fee
Eartecnot publishednot published
Setcomnot publishednot published
Crewplexnot publishednot published
OperatorLinkcurrently free to use, no paid plan built yet [2]not published

How to read this list

The radio headset systems from Eartec, Setcom and CrewPlex and the phone-based OperatorLink all serve the same job: keeping a crane crew in two-way contact. Eartec's two systems let up to 16 people talk at once on the same setup. [3] Setcom pairs its headsets by setting them to the same channel. [4] CrewPlex provides hands-free communication that can link to mobile two-way radios. [5] OperatorLink is a tool you open on a phone: it displays STOP, HOLD and SLOW signal labels to the jobsite crew and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones. [1] In these labels, STOP means stop all movement, HOLD means keep the load in place, and SLOW means move at reduced speed. The main difference is between radio headsets a crew wears and a tool that works on phones.

Eartec: two radio headset systems

Eartec sells two crane headset systems, the EPak with Lazer-Pro and the PRO16 with Monarch. [6] Crew members can be added to a system at any time. [7] The Lazer-Pro headsets are dustproof and waterproof. [8] The EPak beltpack weighs 2.5 ounces and clips to clothing or sits in a pocket. [9] The Lazer-Pro headset links to the radio by Bluetooth, with no wires. [10] All Eartec headsets filter out background machinery noise with their microphones. [11]

Setcom: LiberatorMAX and the fixed base radio system

Setcom's LiberatorMAX system is up and running about 30 seconds after the box is opened, with talk where both sides can speak at once and no button to press. [12] It goes in without mounting gear, without running cables between parts, and without soldering or crimping. [13] Headsets pair simply by being set to the same channel. [4] The fixed base radio system uses one base station to connect up to seven wireless headsets. [14] The company calls LiberatorMAX its least costly wireless solution for teams of two or more people. [15] The System 977 with the LiberatorMAX headset supports hands-free talk where both sides can speak at once and links into mobile radios. [16]

CrewPlex: hands-free crew radio systems

CrewPlex provides hands-free communication, where everyone can speak at once, and links to mobile two-way radios. [5] The company says it has provided crew communication solutions for more than 30 years. [17] CrewPlex products are backed by a two-year warranty. [18] The small system is described as dependable and affordable hands-free communication for small crews. [19] A larger system serves six to ten users. [20] CrewPlex can be scaled to fit a job of any size and offers optional linking to two-way radios for multi-site work. [21]

OperatorLink: STOP, HOLD and SLOW signals on phones

OperatorLink is made by the team that publishes this site. [1] It is a mobile web app you open on a phone: it displays STOP, HOLD and SLOW signal labels to the jobsite crew and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones. [1] No app install is needed. [22] Pressing STOP releases every held direction on every phone and alerts everyone else. [23] HOLD and SLOW stay on for everyone until the last person leaves. [24] Holding a move button keeps sending that move to the other phones. [25] Short taps such as Go Ahead, Copy That and All Clear appear as text the crew reads on screen. [26] Anyone who joins can take part in a voice call from the phone. [27] The person who starts a jobsite shares a link or QR code and the crew joins from it. [28] A jobsite link stops working 12 hours after the first person joins. [29] It can be added to a phone's home screen as a standalone app. [30] Button presses, chat and voice pass between phones in a browser. [31]

How to choose

Match the option to how many people need to talk and how they want to work. Setcom's fixed base radio system connects up to seven wireless headsets from one base station. [14] CrewPlex offers a small system and a larger one for six to ten users, and can be linked to two-way radios. [19][20][21] Eartec's two systems let up to 16 people talk at once on the same setup. [3] For a crew that wants talk on phones, OperatorLink is a tool opened on a phone that displays STOP, HOLD and SLOW signals to the crew. [22][1] For a team that wants headsets on dusty or wet sites, the Eartec Lazer-Pro headsets are dustproof and waterproof. [8] For a team that wants to talk within half a minute of opening a box, Setcom's LiberatorMAX is up and running about 30 seconds after the box is opened. [12] For gear backed by a two-year warranty, CrewPlex products carry one. [18] Before choosing, check the radio range a system covers and how many headsets come in a set, since no maker states those figures. For OperatorLink, check that the crew's phones have a reliable network or Wi-Fi signal on site, since the tool works on phones. [31][28]

Frequently asked questions

Can crane communication work on phones instead of headsets?

Yes. OperatorLink is a tool you open on a phone: it displays STOP, HOLD and SLOW signal labels to the jobsite crew and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones. [1] No app install is needed. [22] Eartec's two systems let up to 16 people talk at once on the same setup. [3] Setcom's fixed base radio system connects up to seven wireless headsets from one base station. [14] CrewPlex provides hands-free communication that can link to mobile two-way radios. [5]

How many people can talk on each crane headset system?

Setcom's fixed base radio system connects up to seven wireless headsets from one base station. [14] CrewPlex offers a small system and a larger one for six to ten users. [19][20][21] Eartec's two systems let up to 16 people talk at once on the same setup. [3] For an OperatorLink jobsite, the number a crew can join is not published; any crew member joins from the link or QR code the jobsite starter shares. [28]

What if a crane headset is exposed to dust or water?

Eartec's Lazer-Pro headsets are dustproof and waterproof. [8] For Setcom and CrewPlex, no dust or water rating is stated in the makers' facts. Check the maker's spec sheet before putting the gear on a wet or dusty site.

Is there a warranty on these crew communication systems?

CrewPlex products are backed by a two-year warranty. [18] For Eartec and Setcom, warranty terms are not stated in the makers' facts, so ask the maker what is covered and for how long.

Can a crane headset be tried before paying?

Eartec lets a customer buy a set, try it, and return it for a full refund if items come back undamaged within 30 days of receipt. [32][33] If a customer chose Expedited shipping and returns the set, the shipping fee is deducted from the refund. [34] For Setcom and CrewPlex, check their return and warranty terms, since they are not stated in the makers' facts.

OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [2]

Try OperatorLink

Sources

  1. OperatorLink's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  2. OperatorLink's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  3. Eartec, eartecindustrial.com/crane-lift, read 2026-10-08
  4. Setcom, setcomcorp.com/industry/crane, read 2026-10-08
  5. Crewplex, crewplex.com/applications/cranes, read 2026-10-08
  6. Eartec, eartecindustrial.com/crane-lift, read 2026-10-08
  7. Eartec, eartecindustrial.com/crane-lift, read 2026-10-08
  8. Eartec, eartecindustrial.com/crane-lift, read 2026-10-08
  9. Eartec, eartecindustrial.com/crane-lift, read 2026-10-08
  10. Eartec, eartecindustrial.com/crane-lift, read 2026-10-08
  11. Eartec, eartecindustrial.com/crane-lift, read 2026-10-08
  12. Setcom, setcomcorp.com/industry/crane, read 2026-10-08
  13. Setcom, setcomcorp.com/industry/crane, read 2026-10-08
  14. Setcom, setcomcorp.com/industry/crane, read 2026-10-08
  15. Setcom, setcomcorp.com/industry/crane, read 2026-10-08
  16. Setcom, setcomcorp.com/industry/crane, read 2026-10-08
  17. Crewplex, crewplex.com/applications/cranes, read 2026-10-08
  18. Crewplex, crewplex.com/applications/cranes, read 2026-10-08
  19. Crewplex, crewplex.com/applications/cranes, read 2026-10-08
  20. Crewplex, crewplex.com/applications/cranes, read 2026-10-08
  21. Crewplex, crewplex.com/applications/cranes, read 2026-10-08
  22. OperatorLink's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  23. OperatorLink's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  24. OperatorLink's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  25. OperatorLink's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  26. OperatorLink's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  27. OperatorLink's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  28. OperatorLink's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  29. OperatorLink's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  30. OperatorLink's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  31. OperatorLink's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  32. Eartec, eartecindustrial.com/crane-lift, read 2026-10-08
  33. Eartec, eartecindustrial.com/crane-lift, read 2026-10-08
  34. Eartec, eartecindustrial.com/crane-lift, read 2026-10-08

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