Clear-Com vs Eartec in 2026

Q: Does OperatorLink work in a phone browser?

OperatorLink runs in a phone browser with no app install . Button presses, chat and voice pass between phones in a browser . A crew can join a jobsite from a link or QR code shared by the person who starts it .

Review the differences between Clear-Com, Eartec and OperatorLink for a crane crew, including what each tool does, their fees, and how to set them up.

By 2Dig · 2026-10-11

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

A crane crew can use OperatorLink to show STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew and pass button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser ^[1]. Clear-Com's pages describe wired and wireless intercom systems for real-time professional communication ^[2]. Eartec's pages describe crane and lift headset systems that let users connect and communicate on the same setup ^[3] ^[3]. Which option fits depends on whether the crew needs the signals described for OperatorLink or the communication systems described by Clear-Com and Eartec.

Option	Own fee	Card fee
Clear-Com	not published	not published
Eartec	not published	not published
OperatorLink	Free to use; no paid plan is built yet ^[1]	not published

The short answer

A crane crew member needs a way to pass information while the crane moves. OperatorLink shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser ^[1]. Clear-Com offers wired and wireless intercom systems for real-time professional communication ^[2]. Eartec offers two Crane and Lift headset systems, EPak with Lazer-Pro and PRO16 with Monarch ^[3]. Both EPak and PRO16 allow multiple users to connect and communicate simultaneously on the same setup ^[3]. The sources cited here say OperatorLink meets needs for crane signals, button presses, chat and voice between phones ^[1]. The cited Eartec facts describe headset communication, and the cited Clear-Com facts describe intercom communication, so a crew should match those uses to its job needs ^[3] ^[2].

What Clear-Com, Eartec is built for

Clear-Com offers wired and wireless intercom systems for real-time professional communication ^[2]. Clear-Com's full product range includes compact partyline systems to large-scale networked platforms ^[2]. Clear-Com provides broadcast solutions globally since 1968 ^[2]. Clear-Com serves broadcast production, including theatre, performance art centers, cruise ships, festivals, ceremonies, corporate events, award shows and rentals ^[2]. Clear-Com also provides communication solutions for military, aerospace and government uses, including command and control, training and simulation, testing and evaluation, and net-centric communications ^[2]. Eartec's Crane and Lift systems include EPak with Lazer-Pro and PRO16 with Monarch ^[3]. Both Eartec systems allow multiple users to connect and communicate simultaneously on the same setup ^[3]. Users can add more crew members to an Eartec system at any time ^[3].

What OperatorLink is built for

OperatorLink is made by the team that publishes this site. For a crane crew member, OperatorLink shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew, and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser ^[1]. A 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 it stops arriving for 2 seconds, the other phones drop it ^[1]. One-tap messages 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].

Pricing and fees

Clear-Com's cited facts describe its products and markets, but do not publish a price in the facts used for this page. Eartec's cited facts describe returns, shipping and headset features, but do not publish a product price in the facts used for this page. Eartec items must be returned undamaged within 30 calendar days of receipt to qualify for a refund ^[3]. If a customer chooses Expedited shipping and returns the set, the shipping fee is deducted from the refund ^[3]. OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet ^[1].

Setting it up on a jobsite

Clear-Com's pages describe wired and wireless intercom systems for real-time professional communication ^[2]. Clear-Com's Arcadia Central Station is an IP intercom platform that integrates wireless and wired intercom user stations ^[4]. Clear-Com's DX Series Wireless is a two-way hands-free wireless system operating in the 2.4GHz band ^[4]. Eartec's Lazer-Pro headset links to the radio by Bluetooth without wires ^[3]. All Eartec headsets include noise-canceling microphone technology to filter out background machinery noise ^[3]. OperatorLink runs in a phone browser with no app install ^[1]. The person who starts a jobsite shares a link or QR code, and the crew joins from it ^[1]. Button presses, chat and voice pass between phones in a browser ^[1].

Things to check before you choose

Does the crew need wired or wireless intercom communication, headset communication, or crane signals? Clear-Com and Eartec describe their communication systems, while OperatorLink describes crane signals and phone browser communication ^[2] ^[3] ^[1]. How many people need to communicate at the same time? Eartec states that its EPak and PRO16 systems allow multiple users on the same setup ^[3]. Which phones will the crew use? On Android browsers, signals such as STOP make the phone buzz, but iPhone Safari ignores the buzz ^[1]. How will the crew check the chosen tool before a lift?

How to choose

If the crew needs STOP, HOLD and SLOW signals passed through phones in a browser, OperatorLink's sources describe those functions ^[1]. If the crew needs wired or wireless intercom systems for professional communication, Clear-Com's sources describe those systems ^[2]. If the crew needs a crane and lift headset system that lets multiple users connect on the same setup, Eartec's sources describe EPak and PRO16 for that use ^[3] ^[3]. If the crew needs a free tool with no paid plan built yet, OperatorLink's source describes that price status ^[1]. A crew should compare the communication method, setup process and published costs against the needs of the job.

Frequently asked questions

Is OperatorLink free to use?

OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet ^[1]. The sources cited on this page do not give a card fee. A crew should check current terms before choosing a tool for a shift.

Does Clear-Com make wireless communication systems?

Clear-Com offers wired and wireless intercom systems for real-time professional communication ^[2]. Its cited pages also describe wireless products and intercom platforms ^[4] ^[4]. The facts used here do not give pricing for those products.

How many users can connect to Eartec crane headset systems?

Both Eartec EPak and PRO16 systems allow multiple users to connect and communicate simultaneously on the same setup ^[3]. Users can add more crew members to a system at any time ^[3]. The cited facts do not give pricing for these systems.

Does OperatorLink work in a phone browser?

OperatorLink runs in a phone browser with no app install ^[1]. Button presses, chat and voice pass between phones in a browser ^[1]. A crew can join a jobsite from a link or QR code shared by the person who starts it ^[1].

What should a crane crew compare before choosing Clear-Com, Eartec or OperatorLink?

A crane crew should compare the type of communication needed, the setup method and the published costs. Clear-Com describes wired and wireless intercom systems ^[2]. Eartec describes crane and lift headset systems ^[3]. OperatorLink describes STOP, HOLD and SLOW signals with chat and voice between phones ^[1].

OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. ^[1]

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