2Dig Plain comparisons of crane signalling and jobsite communication tools

Coordinate cargo movements with phone signals

How port terminal workers can prepare, coordinate cargo movements, compare tools and check common mistakes before choosing a method.

By 2Dig ยท

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

OperatorLink shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser. [1] The crew joins a jobsite session from a link or QR code shared by the person who starts it. [1]

OptionWhat it doesFeeCard fee
OperatorLinkShows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the crew and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a browser. [1]Currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1]not published
Phone video call appnot publishednot publishednot published
Two-way radionot publishednot publishednot published

What you need before you start

To coordinate cargo movements, have a clear way for workers to share movement instructions, stop work and confirm actions before starting a task. Choose the phones, communication method and work area rules before the movement begins. If using OperatorLink, the crew needs phones with a working browser and data signal because button presses, chat and voice pass between phones in a browser. [1] The person who starts a jobsite shares a link or QR code, and the crew joins from it. [1] A jobsite link stops working 12 hours after the first person joins it. [1] A jobsite with nobody in it is wiped after 3 idle hours. [1]

Step by step

  1. Confirm the movement plan, the people involved and the communication method before cargo starts moving.
  1. Check each phone has a working browser and data signal if the crew is using OperatorLink, because signals pass between phones in a browser. [1]
  1. Have the person starting the OperatorLink jobsite open it from a phone browser, with no app install needed. [1]
  1. Share the OperatorLink link or QR code with the crew so each person can join the jobsite. [1]
  1. Confirm that everyone who needs the signals is in the session before cargo movement begins. OperatorLink shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser. [1]
  1. Agree on how HOLD and SLOW will be used. These signals stay on for everyone in the jobsite and are cleared when the last person leaves. [1]
  1. Keep move buttons held while the movement command is needed. Holding a move button keeps sending that move to the other phones, and if it stops arriving for 2 seconds, they drop it. [1]
  1. Use STOP when movement needs to stop. STOP releases every held direction on every phone and shows a full-screen alert to everyone else. [1]
  1. End the session when work is complete and remember that an empty OperatorLink jobsite is wiped after 3 idle hours. [1]

Tools that can do it

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] [1] Nobody needs to install an app because the page runs in a browser. [1] The person who starts a jobsite shares a link or QR code, and the crew joins from it. [1]

A phone video call app is another option. No facts here describe one, so check whether the crew can keep the call open during the movement and whether the needed workers can see or hear the information they need.

A two-way radio is another option. No facts here describe one, so check that the crew agrees on how messages are shared and how workers confirm instructions.

Choose a method based on the movement plan, the work area and what the crew needs to communicate.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not start cargo movement before workers know which communication method they are using and how instructions will be confirmed. When using OperatorLink, remember that the phones need a working data signal because the signals pass between phones in a browser. [1] Do not assume every phone alerts the same way: on Android browsers, signals such as STOP make the phone buzz, while iPhone Safari ignores the buzz. [1] Do not leave an empty OperatorLink session expecting it to remain available later because a jobsite with nobody in it is wiped after 3 idle hours. [1] Do not forget that HOLD and SLOW stay on until the last person leaves the jobsite. [1]

Frequently asked questions

Is OperatorLink free to use?

OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1] The tool runs in a phone browser, so phones need a working data signal for button presses, chat and voice to pass between phones. [1] Check the phone connection before using it for a cargo movement task.

How does OperatorLink show movement signals?

OperatorLink 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]

How does a crew join an OperatorLink jobsite?

The person who starts a jobsite shares a link or QR code, and the crew joins from it. [1] The page runs in a phone browser and does not need an app install. [1] A jobsite link stops working 12 hours after the first person joins it. [1]

Do OperatorLink signals alert every phone the same way?

On Android browsers, signals such as STOP make the phone buzz. [1] iPhone Safari ignores the buzz. [1] The crew should check the screen and sound settings on each phone before using the signal method for cargo movement.

Can workers talk through OperatorLink during a movement?

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] The crew should check that the phone connection is available before relying on browser communication.

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

Try OperatorLink

Sources

  1. OperatorLink's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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