Hardwire Communications

As the leading manufacturer in underwater communications for over 30 years, OTS manufacturers world renowned high quality underwater communications in both wireless and hardwired underwater communications. Serving the needs of customers such as Militaries, Film & Television, Aquariums, to Public Safety Teams around the globe, has led us to become the premier and trusted choice of dive professionals for their underwater communication needs. Learning which type of underwater communications option best suits your needs is the first step in determining what system to choose.

What types of Underwater Communications are there?

To start, there are two choices of underwater communications: hardwired– uses a cable to transfer the communications, and wireless– uses the water to transfer the communications. While many divers prefer the idea of freely diving where they please with the ability to communicate wirelessly, this is not always the practical option for professional divers due to environment, circumstance, and function needed for the task at hand. Eliminating outside factors to affect communications, hardwired communications, much like a landline telephone, offers the highest quality and most reliable form of underwater communications. For this reason, hardwired communications work best in environments which have external factors non conducive for wirelessly transmitting. Furthermore, many professional divers in the Public Safety or Commercial Dive markets require tethering to a cable for safety applications which makes choosing hardwired communications a natural progression.

How do Hardwire Underwater Communications Work?

So how does it work? The diver’s earphones are connected to the ComRope which has the communication wires in its core and the ComRope ties in directly to a surface station of your choice. This provides clear and steady communications like a landline telephone. Because the communications are directly fed through ComRopes to the diver, you will not experience intermittent or lost communications.  Furthermore, with options like the ability to add multiple divers to a systems as well as choices such as round robin communication, we’ve worked hard to ensure you will have the flexibility to build the system that fits your needs!

For more information on building a system that is right for you visit our online store here!

Who Uses Hardwire Communications?

  • Public Safety Dive Teams
  • Commercial Divers
  • Military
  • Interactive Dive Programs (i.e. Aquariums)
  • Live Broadcasts (TV)
  • Tethered Divers
Public safety unit using OTS full facemask

Are Hardwire Communications Right For Me?

Understanding your environment, purpose, and task at hand well help you to decide if Hardwire Communications are the right choice for you. Here are a list of considerations to identify.

  • Is your dive environment a confined man made structure such as a tank or aquarium?
    • If yes, feedback while using wireless communications within this environment would negatively effect your underwater communications. Hardwire communications is the best option for you.
  • Are you on a dive team who currently uses a tethered system or is looking to move toward a tethered system?
    • If yes, the tying in of a ComRope with a Hardwired system will be second nature and a good option to you.
  • Do you need to have mobile freedom that would lead beyond the length of a cable?
    • If yes, then being confined to a ComRope with a Hardwired System would not be a good option fo you and our Wireless Communications would be a better option for you.
  • Does your diving environment present possible entanglement risks by introducing a ComRope?
    • If yes, then our Wireless Communications are a better option for you.
  • Does the environment in which you are diving present mechanical noise such as a motor or other loud man-made noise?
    • If yes, this could pose potential interference with Wireless Communications and Hardwired Communications are right for you.
  • Does the environment in which you are diving have an aerated filter system which cannot be turned off?
    • If yes, the air produced in the water by the aerated system can cause for compromised Wireless Communications and a Hardwired System would be better for you.

Not sure if Hardwire Communication are the right choice for your needs?

Learn about Wireless Underwater Communications

Shop Hardwire Products