A recent report in Cranes Today talked about the market for radio remote controls for cranes. He stated that the market is very competitive and “driven by innovation”. These innovations include improved controls, less radio interference, and increased security.

Here is a rundown of some of the improvements you can look for in a radio remote control system for your tow truck.

proportional controls

True proportional control gives you the fine touch you need for safer, more efficient load handling. To understand the value of proportional controls, compare them to standard on/off controls:

In an on/off system, it’s all or nothing. You can move the load or not. There is no real way to slow down the crane. To make partial turns, you need to make several movements, often sharp. With a proportional system, the crane reacts in direct proportion to the movement of the transmitter switch, giving operators greater control and greater precision of movement.

Less interference with radio controls

Radio remote controls consist of a portable transmitter, carried by the crane operator, and a receiver installed on the crane. The systems use radio frequencies to allow communication between the transmitter and the receiver.

One of the main concerns with radio controls is interference. If the signals are interrupted, the crane cannot work. Most remote manufacturers take advantage of systems that minimize interference. One of these systems is spread spectrum technology.

Spread spectrum was developed by the US military to prevent radio signals from being monitored or interfered with. There are two types of spread spectrum technology: frequency hopping (FHSS) and direct sequence (DSSS).

With FHSS, the signal jumps between frequencies faster than an interfering signal can reach it. With DHSS, the data signal is combined with a chip code that splits the data according to a dispersion ratio. According to Webopedia, “chip code” is a redundant bit pattern for each bit that is transmitted, which increases the signal’s resistance to interference. If one or more bits of the pattern are damaged during transmission, the original data can be recovered due to the redundancy of the transmission.”

Both of these spread spectrum technologies offer improved truck handling by virtually eliminating the possibility of radio interference.

Enhanced Security

With proportional controls and more reliable radio operation, crane safety has greatly improved. The best remote controls have long ranges, even up to 400 feet, allowing the operator to stay away from the load while maintaining precise control over it. Operators have a greater range of motion, allowing them to position themselves in the ideal position to observe and control the load they are moving.

These innovations not only result in increased safety, but also increased efficiency. Because the operator can move freely and safely, only one person is needed to operate the crane. And with more control, that operator can load and unload faster.

If you’re looking for a truck mounted crane, be sure to carefully evaluate the remote control package to ensure you get the best performance possible.