2Dig Plain comparisons of crane signalling and jobsite communication tools

David Clark Company alternatives in 2026

Compare David Clark Company alternatives for crane communication, including headset systems, push-to-talk tools, and OperatorLink.

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

Compare David Clark Company alternatives for crane crews, from headset systems to phone-based communication tools. OperatorLink, Zello, GroupTalk, Peak PTT, and Eartec.

OptionOwn feeCard payment
ZelloZello Work $8.00 per user per month, or $6.80 with annual subscription [1]Not published
GroupTalkFree 14-day trial [2]Not published
OperatorLinkCurrently free, no paid plan built yet [3]Not published
Peak PTT$229 hardware, $19.95 activation fee, $24.95 per month unlimited PTT [4]Not published
EartecPrice not publishedNot published

Why crane crews look past David Clark Company

David Clark Company describes its products as elite mission-critical communications systems. [5] Its product categories span aviation, military and defense, intercom systems, ground support, wireless, and two-way radio. [5] The markets it lists are aviation, military and defense, airline and airport, fire rescue, marine, and two-way radio. [5] The company is located in Worcester, Massachusetts. [5] Its wireless systems are described on its page as providing total freedom, mobility and enhanced safety. [5] None of those categories names crane lifts specifically, so a crew should look at what each option below covers and how each one is priced before matching a tool to its own site and phones.

Zello: phone and computer push-to-talk

Zello works on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. [6] Zello Work is priced at $8.00 per user per month, or $6.80 with an annual subscription. [1] A crew that does not carry phones or computers running those systems should check the other options below before comparing them to Zello.

GroupTalk: push-to-talk communication for teams

GroupTalk states that group voice channels allow simultaneous communication across multiple teams. [7] Separate push-to-talk groups can be created for different roles, functions, areas, or tasks. [7] A crew should check how those groups fit its own site layout and crew roles before relying on them.

OperatorLink: phone browser signals of STOP, HOLD and SLOW

OperatorLink is made by the team that publishes this site. It displays STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew, and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser. [3] STOP releases every move being held on every phone and shows a full-screen alert to everyone else. [3] HOLD and SLOW stay on for everyone in the jobsite and are cleared when the last person leaves. [3] Holding a move button keeps sending that move to the other phones; if it stops arriving for 2 seconds, they drop it. [3] One-tap radio-style calls such as Go Ahead, Copy That and All Clear are sent as chat messages. [3] Anyone who joins can take part in a voice call run from the phone browser. [3] The person who starts a jobsite shares a link or QR code, and the crew joins from it. [3] A jobsite link stops working 12 hours after the first person joins it. [3] A jobsite with nobody in it is wiped after 3 idle hours. [3] On Android browsers signals such as STOP make the phone buzz; iPhone Safari ignores the buzz. [3] The app can be added to a phone's home screen as a standalone app. [3] OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [3] It runs in a phone browser with no app install. [3] Button presses, chat and voice pass between phones in a browser. [3]

Peak PTT: a dedicated push-to-talk radio on the cellular network

The PTT-84G radio is priced at $229, with a $19.95 activation fee and $24.95 per month for unlimited push-to-talk, with no contracts. [4] Core radio service costs $24.95 per month per radio, on Tier-1 U.S. carrier native SIMs. [8] An optional dispatch seat, which is a computer used to run dispatch from any PC instead of a base station, costs $12 per month per seat. [8] A crew should check on its own which carrier network covers its site, since the page does not name one for it.

Eartec: hands-free headsets for the lift

Eartec offers two headset systems: EPak with Lazer-Pro, and PRO16 with Monarch. [9] Both the EPak and PRO16 systems let several crew members connect and communicate at the same time on one setup. [9] Orders ship within 1-3 business days. [9] The company says it has provided customer support for over 60 years. [9] A crew that wants this kind of headset gear should check the features of each named system on Eartec's own page.

How to pick the right David Clark Company alternative

A crew starts with the phones and gear already on site. If the crew wants push-to-talk on phones and computers, Zello works on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac and states a per-user monthly price. [6] [1] If signals like STOP, HOLD and SLOW matter most and a browser app is acceptable, OperatorLink displays STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew, and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser. [3] It is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [3] If the priority is groups across teams, GroupTalk states that group voice channels allow simultaneous communication across multiple teams, and it offers a free 14-day trial. [7] [2] If the crew wants a dedicated radio instead of a phone app, Peak PTT states its hardware and monthly prices and its per-radio flat monthly rate. [4] [8] If hands-free headsets are the goal, Eartec states that it offers two headset systems, and that orders ship within 1-3 business days. [9] [9] For any option, the crew should check what its own phones and network support before choosing.

Things to check before you choose

Match the option to the phones and coverage on site. A browser-based tool depends on the phone browser and the signal each person carries, so a crew should check that before a shift. Confirm the price each option states covers the whole crew, and for any option that lists a trial, check what happens when it ends. If the crew needs a signal that must always be visible, ask how that tool keeps it on the phone. If the crew works in areas with weak coverage, ask how the tool behaves there. For headset gear, check whether the system supports the number of people on the crew and whether the headsets fit the helmets and hearing protection already in use. These checks belong to the crew, because the facts on this page do not cover them.

Frequently asked questions

What does Zello Work cost?

Zello Work is priced at $8.00 per user per month, or $6.80 with an annual subscription. [1] Zello works on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. [6] A crew should check how many people need it and which devices they carry before choosing a plan of its own.

How does GroupTalk handle teams?

GroupTalk states that group voice channels allow simultaneous communication across multiple teams. [7] GroupTalk offers a free 14-day trial. [2] A crew should check how those channels fit its own site and roles before relying on them.

What does OperatorLink cost?

OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [3] It runs in a phone browser with no app install. [3] A crew should check on its own what the browser and each person's phone support before a shift, since the free status does not cover signal strength or device limits.

Do the radio options need contracts?

Peak PTT states its PTT-84G service at $24.95 per month for unlimited push-to-talk, with no contracts. [4] A crew should confirm on its own whether its site's coverage matches the network the radio uses before buying.

How quickly do Eartec headset orders ship?

Eartec states that orders ship within 1-3 business days. [9] The company offers two headset systems: EPak with Lazer-Pro, and PRO16 with Monarch. [9] A crew should check the features of each named system on Eartec's own page before buying.

OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [3]

Try OperatorLink

Sources

  1. Zello, zello.com/pricing, read 2026-10-08
  2. GroupTalk, grouptalk.com, read 2026-10-08
  3. OperatorLink's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  4. Peak PTT, peakptt.com/pages/construction-companies, read 2026-10-08
  5. David Clark Company, davidclark.com, read 2026-10-09
  6. Zello, zello.com, read 2026-10-08
  7. GroupTalk, grouptalk.com/why-grouptalk/we-across-industries/construction, read 2026-10-08
  8. Peak PTT, peakptt.com/pages/peak-push-to-talk-pricing-matrix, read 2026-10-08
  9. Eartec, eartecindustrial.com/crane-lift, read 2026-10-08

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