--- {"title": "Clear-Com vs Eartec in 2026: Crane Crew Tools Compared", "description": "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.", "url": "https://2dig.com/clearcom-vs-eartec/", "date": "2026-10-11"} --- 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. 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] - [Visit OperatorLink](/go/start) ## Sources [^1]: OperatorLink's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/start) [^2]: Clear-Com, clearcom.com, read 2026-10-09 (https://www.clearcom.com) [^3]: Eartec, eartecindustrial.com/crane-lift, read 2026-10-08 (https://eartecindustrial.com/crane-lift/) [^4]: Clear-Com, clearcom.com/products/wireless, read 2026-10-09 (https://www.clearcom.com/products/wireless/)