Keep rigging crews connected with phones
Ways for rigging supervisors to keep crew members connected in high-noise environments, with steps, tool choices and checks.
2Dig is published by the makers of OperatorLink, which is compared here alongside other tools.
Keeping a rigging crew connected starts with choosing a communication method, checking each phone or device, and agreeing on how signals and messages will be handled. OperatorLink shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser. [1]
| Option | What it does | Fee | Card fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| OperatorLink | Shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser. [1] | Currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1] | not published |
| Phone video call app | not published | not published | not published |
| Two-way radio | not published | not published | not published |
What you need before you start
A rigging supervisor needs a clear communication plan before the lift begins. Decide how crew members will send movement signals, warnings and updates when noise makes normal conversation harder.
Check that the chosen tools are ready for the work area, that crew members know who sends each signal, and that everyone understands what each message means. If phones are part of the plan, check that they have a working data signal. OperatorLink runs in a phone browser, with no app install needed. [1]
For OperatorLink, 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
- Choose the communication method before the lift starts and make sure every crew member knows the signals or messages being used.
- Check the equipment, phones or radios that will be used during the work. Confirm that each person can receive the information needed for the task.
- If using OperatorLink, have the person starting the jobsite open it from a phone browser. No app install is needed. [1]
- Share the OperatorLink link or QR code with the crew so members can join the jobsite. [1]
- Confirm that every crew member is connected before beginning the lift. OperatorLink shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser. [1]
- Agree on how each signal will be handled. In OperatorLink, 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]
- During movement, keep checking that messages and signals are reaching the crew. Holding a move button keeps sending that move to the other phones, and if it stops arriving for 2 seconds, they drop it. [1]
- At the end of the work, close out the communication session and prepare a fresh one if the previous session has expired or been wiped.
Tools that can do it
OperatorLink is made by the team that publishes this site. 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 page runs in a 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]
A phone video call app is another option. Check whether the crew can keep the call open, whether everyone can see or hear needed information, and whether the phone setup works for the job area.
A two-way radio is another option. Check that the crew understands the radio process, that messages are clear, and that the equipment matches the work environment.
OperatorLink also includes voice and chat features through the phone browser. 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]
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not start a lift before the crew agrees on how signals and messages will be handled. A communication method only helps when everyone knows how to use it.
Do not assume every phone behaves 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 jobsite open and expect it to remain available later. 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] Check that the crew knows when to clear these signals before continuing work.
Frequently asked questions
Is OperatorLink free to use?
OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1] OperatorLink runs in a phone browser, so the phone needs a working data signal for the communication method to work. [1] Check the phone setup before relying on it during a lift.
How does OperatorLink connect rigging crew members?
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 person who starts a jobsite shares a link or QR code, and the crew joins from it. [1]
Can OperatorLink send voice calls between crew phones?
Anyone who joins can take part in a voice call run from the phone browser. [1] OperatorLink also sends one-tap radio-style calls such as Go Ahead, Copy That and All Clear as chat messages. [1] Check that the phone browser and data signal are ready before the lift.
What happens when STOP is pressed in OperatorLink?
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]
Do OperatorLink alerts work the same on every phone?
On Android browsers, signals such as STOP make the phone buzz. iPhone Safari ignores the buzz. [1] Check each phone before the lift so the crew understands how alerts appear on the devices being used.
OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1]
Try OperatorLinkSources
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