Monitor equipment operations with phone signals
Learn what equipment supervisors need ready, steps to follow, tool choices, and common mistakes when monitoring operations.
2Dig is published by the makers of OperatorLink, which is compared here alongside other tools.
Equipment supervisors can monitor operations by setting clear signals, checking communication tools, and confirming the crew can see and hear instructions. 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 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
Before monitoring equipment operations, have the communication method ready, confirm who is sending signals, and make sure each person knows how signals will be handled. 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] Add the page to the phone's home screen if a standalone app view is useful for the shift. [1] Decide how the crew will handle STOP, HOLD and SLOW before work begins. OperatorLink shows STOP, HOLD and SLOW to the jobsite crew. [1]
Step by step
- Identify the equipment activity being monitored and decide which people need to share updates during the work.
- Choose a communication option that the crew can use during the shift and check that each person knows the signals or messages to watch for.
- If using OperatorLink, have the person starting the jobsite share a link or QR code so the crew can join from their phones. [1]
- Confirm each crew member is in the same jobsite session before work starts. OperatorLink passes button presses, chat and voice between phones in a browser. [1]
- Review how each signal behaves. 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]
- Keep move buttons held when sending a move through OperatorLink. Holding a move button keeps sending that move to the other phones, and if it stops arriving for 2 seconds, they drop it. [1]
- During the shift, use the agreed communication method and watch for changes that require the crew to stop, hold, or continue.
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] Nobody needs to install an app; 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 work and whether the needed views and communication are available.
A two-way radio is another option. No facts here describe one, so check whether the crew can use the agreed voice process and whether the radio setup matches the work area.
Other communication tools may also be used for monitoring equipment operations. Check what each option shows, how the crew joins, and how signals are passed before choosing a method.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not start work before confirming who sends signals and who receives them. Do not assume every phone handles alerts the same way. On Android browsers, signals such as STOP make the phone buzz. [1] iPhone Safari ignores the buzz. [1] Do not leave an empty session expecting it to remain available indefinitely because a jobsite with nobody in it is wiped after 3 idle hours. [1] Do not forget that HOLD and SLOW stay on for everyone until the last person leaves the jobsite. [1] Do not ignore move button behavior because if a move stops arriving for 2 seconds, the other phones drop it. [1]
Frequently asked questions
Is OperatorLink free to use for equipment supervisors?
OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1] Button presses, chat and voice pass between phones in a browser. [1] Check the browser communication before relying on it during the shift.
How does OperatorLink show equipment operation 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]
How do crews join an OperatorLink jobsite session?
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 with no app install needed. [1] A jobsite link stops working 12 hours after the first person joins it. [1]
Do OperatorLink STOP alerts buzz on every phone?
On Android browsers, signals such as STOP make the phone buzz. [1] iPhone Safari ignores the buzz. [1] Check each phone's alert behavior before work begins so the crew knows what to expect from the devices being used.
Can OperatorLink carry voice communication during equipment operations?
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] Voice and chat pass between phones in a browser. [1]
OperatorLink is currently free to use, and no paid plan is built yet. [1]
Try OperatorLinkSources
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