Crane communication headsets for signal persons and riggers
Compare Eartec, Setcom, Crewplex and OperatorLink headset options for crane signal persons and riggers, and how to match each to the job.
2Dig is published by the makers of OperatorLink, which is compared here alongside other tools.
Crane signal persons and riggers need hands-free, clear headsets that stand up to a noisy jobsite. Compare Eartec, Setcom and Crewplex headset systems with OperatorLink, which shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW and passes voice and chat in a phone browser. [1] Match the option to crew size, the need for hands-free full-duplex talk, and how fast your crew has to be set up.
| Option | Crew size | Setup | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eartec | Both the EPak and PRO16 systems let several users connect and communicate at the same time on one setup [2] | not published | not published |
| Setcom | Up to seven wireless headsets per base station [3] | The Setcom LiberatorMAX system is up and running 30 seconds after the box is opened. [3] | not published |
| Crewplex | Scales from small to large crews [4] | not published | not published |
| OperatorLink | Crew joins by link or QR code, runs in a phone browser [1] | No app install, runs in a phone browser [1] | Free to use, no paid plan yet [1] |
What signal persons and riggers need from crane communication headsets
A signal person on a crane crew stands where the operator cannot see the load, and turns hand signals and spoken directions into a safe move. A rigger works at the hook, attaching and releasing loads and checking that nothing shifts. Both work in moving air, engine noise and weather, and both need to hear and speak clearly while their hands are busy. A headset that runs hands-free lets a crew member keep both hands free for a sling or a tagline. A noise-canceling microphone helps the operator hear spoken direction over machinery. Crew members wear hard hats and often gloves, and a headset that clips to clothing or a hard hat stays out of the way of the job. The working area can be large, so the crew needs to stay in contact across the reach of the load. The crew needs to reach one another right away, with no waiting. These pages compare headset options a signal person or rigger can look at, and how to match one to the crew and the lift.
Options for signal persons and riggers
Eartec. Eartec's Crane and Lift headset systems are the EPak with Lazer-Pro and PRO16 with Monarch. [2] More crew members can be added to a system at any time. [2] The Lazer-Pro headsets carry an IP65 certification for dust and water resistance and link to the radio by Bluetooth without wires. [2] [2] The EPak beltpack weighs 2.5 oz. [2] Every Eartec headset has a noise-canceling microphone that filters background machinery noise. [2] Buyers can return a set for a full refund within 30 days of receipt if it is undamaged. [2] [2]
Setcom. The Setcom LiberatorMAX system gives full-duplex talk without a push-to-talk button. It needs no console mounting, no intercom cable runs, and no soldering or cable crimping. [3] Headsets pair by being set to the same channel. [3] Setcom describes LiberatorMAX as its least costly wireless solution for work teams of two or more people. [3] The System 977 with the LiberatorMAX Wireless Headset supports hands-free, full duplex, and integration into mobile radios for communication among more than two workers. [3]
Crewplex. CrewPlex provides full-duplex, hands-free communication that can be integrated with mobile two-way communication. [4] The company says it has provided communication solutions for more than 30 years. [4] Its products are backed by a two-year warranty. [4] The small system is described as dependable and affordable hands-free communication for small crews. [4] CrewPlex can scale from small to large crews and offers optional integration with two-way radios for multi-site work. [4] CrewPlex says it delivers high-quality audio and excellent range without breaking the budget. [4] It offers a full range of headset options. [4]
OperatorLink. OperatorLink is made by the team that publishes this site. It shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew, and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser. [1] STOP releases every held direction on every phone and shows a full-screen alert to everyone else. [1] HOLD and SLOW stay on for everyone in the jobsite and are cleared when the last person leaves. [1] Holding a move button keeps sending that move to the other phones, and if a move stops arriving for 2 seconds the phones drop it. [1] One-tap radio-style calls such as Go Ahead, Copy That and All Clear are sent as chat messages. [1] Anyone who joins can take part in a voice call run from the phone browser. [1] The person who starts a jobsite shares a link or QR code, and the crew joins from it. [1]
Matching the tool to the job
A rigger working at the hook is often close to other crew at the load, while a signal person directs the operator from where the view is blocked. CrewPlex states that its products provide full-duplex, hands-free communication that can be integrated with mobile two-way communications. [4] STOP releases every held direction on every phone and shows a full-screen alert to everyone else. [1] Holding a move button keeps sending that move to the other phones; if it stops arriving for 2 seconds, they drop it. [1] A crew that grows between jobs can add members later on Eartec. [2] For a shift in a noisy yard, a noise-canceling microphone matters, and Eartec builds that into every headset. [2] It runs in a phone browser with no app install. [1] Before deciding, match the option to the crew size, the need for full-duplex talk, and how the crew will be set up each day. For a phone-based option, check what happens to a signal if the phone browser loses its connection.
Questions to ask before you choose
How many crew members need to talk at the same time, and will more be added during the job? Match the count to the crew that must talk in a shift. Does the crew need full-duplex talk, where everyone speaks at once without a button, or is push-to-talk enough? How quickly must the system be running on arrival, and will a crew member set it up without help? What happens on a phone-based option if the browser loses its connection, and is that acceptable for the move being made? Does a headset fit under or on a hard hat, and can it be worn for a full shift in weather? Finally, check the return rule and warranty. Eartec says items must be returned undamaged within 30 calendar days of receipt, no exceptions. [2] CrewPlex says its products are backed by a two-year warranty. [4]
Frequently asked questions
How many crew members can use these crane headsets at the same time?
The person who starts a jobsite shares a link or QR code, and the crew joins from it. [1] Match the count to the number of people who must talk in a shift, and to whether more members will join during the job.
Are these crane communication systems hands-free?
Setcom says the System 977 with the LiberatorMAX Wireless Headset supports hands-free, full duplex communication. [3] CrewPlex states that its products provide full-duplex, hands-free communication. [4] Eartec says all its headsets have noise-canceling microphone technology. [2] Eartec says the Lazer-Pro headset links to the radio by Bluetooth without wires. [2] Anyone who joins can take part in a voice call run from the phone browser. [1] One-tap radio-style calls such as Go Ahead, Copy That and All Clear are sent as chat messages. [1] Check how each headset fits under or on a hard hat for a full shift.
What should a signal person check before choosing a headset?
Confirm how many crew need to talk at once, and whether the count can grow during the job. Note whether the option gives hands-free full-duplex talk or needs a button. Ask how fast the system is ready on arrival and who sets it up. For a phone-based option, ask what happens to a signal if the browser loses its connection. Check the warranty and the return rule. Eartec says items must be returned undamaged within 30 calendar days of receipt. [2] CrewPlex says its products are backed by a two-year warranty. [4]
Do these headsets work with a hard hat?
Several options address hard hats. CrewPlex says it offers a full range of headset options. [4] Eartec says the Lazer-Pro headset links to the radio by Bluetooth without wires. [2] Setcom says headsets pair by turning them to the same channel. [3] Check how each headset attaches to or fits under a hard hat, and whether it stays secure through a full shift and in weather.
How much do crane communication headsets cost?
Prices are not published for Eartec, Setcom or CrewPlex in the facts these pages use, so a buyer should ask each company directly. OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1] The table above lists each option's fee as far as its source states one, with any fee a source does not give written as not published. Ask about the return rule and any shipping fees.
OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1]
Try OperatorLinkSources
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