2Dig Plain comparisons of crane signalling and jobsite communication tools

How to keep teams connected in 2026

Ways general contractors can keep crews connected with phone tools, browser options, setup steps and things to check before choosing.

By 2Dig ยท

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

Keeping teams connected starts with choosing how crews will share updates during a job and checking that each phone has what it needs. OperatorLink shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew and passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a phone browser. [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

Start by deciding what information the crew needs to share during the job, such as movement signals, messages or voice. A phone browser option needs phones with working browsers and a data signal because button presses, chat and voice pass between phones in a browser. [1] If using OperatorLink, the person who starts a jobsite needs to share a link or QR code, and the crew joins from it. [1] The app can be added to a phone's home screen as a standalone app before the work starts. [1] Check which phones will be used and how the crew will handle alerts. On Android browsers, signals such as STOP make the phone buzz, while iPhone Safari ignores the buzz. [1]

Step by step

  1. Decide what type of connection the crew needs before choosing a tool. Check whether the work calls for signals, messages, voice or another way to share information.
  1. Prepare the phones that will be used and confirm they have a working browser and data signal if the chosen tool needs phone connections. OperatorLink runs in a phone browser with no app install. [1]
  1. Create the job connection before work starts. With OperatorLink, the person who starts a jobsite shares a link or QR code, and the crew joins from it. [1]
  1. Confirm that every crew member is connected before the job 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 each signal will be handled. HOLD and SLOW stay on for everyone in the jobsite and are cleared when the last person leaves. [1]
  1. Check the move controls before relying on them. 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. Close out old job connections when they are no longer needed. A jobsite link stops working 12 hours after the first person joins it, and a jobsite with nobody in it is wiped after 3 idle hours. [1] [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] 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. No facts here describe one, so check whether the crew can keep the call open for the whole shift, whether the needed people can see and hear the information they need, and whether the connection works for the job conditions.

A two-way radio is another option. No facts here describe one, so check that the crew agrees on how to use voice communication and that the channel works for the site.

Match the tool to the type of communication the crew needs and check what happens when phones, connections or job conditions change.

Common mistakes to avoid

Check how alerts appear on each phone before the job. On Android browsers, signals such as STOP make the phone buzz, while iPhone Safari ignores the buzz. [1] Do not forget that HOLD and SLOW stay on for everyone in the jobsite until the last person leaves. [1] Do not leave an empty OperatorLink session open and expect it to remain available later, because a jobsite with nobody in it is wiped after 3 idle hours. [1] Do not skip checking move controls, because a move stops being sent if it stops arriving for 2 seconds. [1]

Frequently asked questions

Is OperatorLink free to use?

OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1] It runs in a phone browser with no app install, so the crew joins through a browser connection instead of installing the app. [1] Check phone access before using it for a job.

How does OperatorLink connect a jobsite crew?

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

What happens when OperatorLink STOP is pressed?

STOP releases every held direction on every phone and shows a full-screen alert to everyone else. [1] HOLD and SLOW work differently because they stay on for everyone in the jobsite and are cleared when the last person leaves. [1]

How long does an OperatorLink jobsite link work?

An OperatorLink 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] Start a new connection when the old one is no longer available.

Can OperatorLink handle voice communication during a job?

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] Check the phone connection before relying on voice.

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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