Static sounds, repeating yourself, missed messages, adjusting volume, switching between a radio and a phone — or sometimes even juggling two radios for different channels. That is the experience most people have.

For Earlink founder Stan, this frustration became impossible to ignore while freeriding. Clear communication is not optional in the snowy mountains — it’s a matter of safety. If you’ve ever tried to switch between your headphones and a radio with gloves on while standing on a board or skis in deep snow, you know exactly why Stan was motivated to bring radio communication into the 21st century.

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Of course, radio devices are not used only in the mountains. Tens of millions of professionals worldwide rely on radio communication as a core part of their daily work. So when Agnes heard about the idea and was asked to join the team, she jumped right on board.

Having worked on video productions in the UK, she was already well aware of the issues radios can cause. City environments require constant volume adjustments and navigating your phone at the same time as the radio — or even two radios — just to stay in touch with different departments. Not to mention that the headsets used are often designed for an “average” person. Being able to use your own favourite Bluetooth headphones would make those 12-hour days a lot more enjoyable.

After Stan realised he wasn’t alone with this problem, it became clear that radio communication needed to evolve to match modern audio technology and workflows.

Rescue workers, event teams, construction crews, field researchers — this could be a game changer for people across many different fields.

So it all started with one question:

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That question marked the beginning of Earlink. We’re building a device that makes radio communication easier for the people using it every day — and practical for the businesses that depend on it.

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