OTTO Engineering - Communications

Home
United States
Carpentersville, IL
OTTO Engineering - Communications

Call Directions Website

OTTO Communications Designs and Manufactures Communications Accessories for Demanding Applications.

OTTO Engineering designs and manufactures innovative two-way radio accessories developed for high-precision applications. OTTO specializes in tactical communication headsets, push-to-talk (PTT) systems and multi-port hubs, speaker microphones, cable assemblies for interfacing accessories to radios, tactical surveillance kits, and wireless intercoms for virtually all radio platforms. For 60 years, OTTO’s products have been recognized for excellence by military, law enforcement agencies, public safety agencies and retail and commercial customers worldwide. OTTO is a vertically integrated manufacturer with in-house injection molding, stamping, CNC machining, cable assembly and cable overmolding capabilities. Our strong mechanical, electrical and RF Design Engineering capability, world-class test lab and computer controlled production line testing is unmatched in the industry. OTTO markets its products through three divisions, OTTO Controls, OTTO Communications, and Dies Plus. Located in Carpentersville, IL, U.S.A., OTTO’s products are proudly made in America.

10/08/2026

This year, AUSA brings the defense community together under the theme “America’s Army: The Foundation of the Joint Force.”

As the Army prepares for an increasingly complex battlefield, communications remain fundamental to how Soldiers coordinate, share information and operate across the joint force.

At OTTO, our focus is on the individual Soldier and the communications equipment they depend on. From tactical headsets and innovative push-to-talk interfaces to power and data management, we're developing solutions designed to simplify the Soldier's interaction with increasingly sophisticated communications technology.

Join us at AUSA 2026 to see how OTTO is approaching tactical communications at the point where the network matters most, the individual Soldier.

October 12–14 | Washington, D.C.
Visit OTTO at Booth 8321

10/02/2026

The Army's tactical network is becoming increasingly sophisticated. New radios, data systems and network architectures are expanding how information moves across the battlefield and how Soldiers communicate across formations.

But as Maj. Gen. Rick Appelhans and Maj. Gen. Ryan Janovic emphasized in a U.S. Army article last year, “Your ability to shoot, move, communicate, and then move again … is paramount to our success on the modern battlefield.”

That observation seems obvious, but it gets to something we think is important as the Army and industry come together at AUSA 2026: no matter how advanced the network becomes, eventually it has to reach the Soldier.

At the individual Soldier level, a vast communications architecture becomes something much more tangible:

A radio.
A headset.
A PTT.
Power.
Cables.
And the Soldier who must make it all work.

For the Soldier, communications aren't an abstract network capability. They're the means to talk with the team, receive direction, coordinate movement, call for support and communicate critical information.

Improving tactical communications can't be measured only by range or bandwidth. It must also be measured by how effectively the Soldier can communicate through it.

At AUSA 2026, we'll be looking closely at that last meter of the tactical network—the point where communications technology meets the individual Soldier.

Stop by Booth #8321 to see how OTTO is addressing the communications needs of the dismounted warfighter.

08/28/2026

It’s no longer enough to ask: “How much does this equipment weigh?”

We also need to ask: “How much attention does this equipment require?”

Decades have been spent reducing the physical load on the warfighter. Lighter armor. Lighter batteries. Lighter weapons. Lighter communications equipment.

But there’s another kind of weight that doesn’t show up on a scale: Cognitive load.

Today’s warfighter can be asked to interpret multiple sensor feeds, maintain situational awareness, communicate across networks, distinguish threats, and make high consequence decisions, sometimes within seconds.

Every alert that needs interpreting. Every screen needs checking. Every system that demands attention instead of supporting it. Each consumes a small amount of cognitive capacity. Under fatigue, stress and time pressure, those costs compound.

As technology delivers more capability to the tactical edge, its success may depend on requiring less attention from the operator—not more.

Because in combat, reducing decision fatigue may ultimately prove just as important as reducing physical weight.

As more technology reaches the warfighter, is enough attention being given to the cognitive burden it creates?

07/04/2026

"The principles which went into the Declaration of Independence are the principles which have sustained this nation and have given it greatness." Calvin Coolidge

On this 4th of July, America celebrates 250 years of independence, OTTO honors the generations of servicemen and women, first responders, and public safety professionals who continue to defend those ideals.

For more than 65 years, we've been proud to equip those who protect freedom with solutions built for the moments that matter most.

06/16/2026

How much of a warfighter's attention is spent managing equipment instead of the mission?

The challenge isn't simply staying connected. It's managing power, maintaining situational awareness, and keeping teams coordinated, without adding weight, complexity, or cognitive burden.
As military leaders and industry partners gather in Paris, one theme continues to shape modernization efforts: delivering greater capability to the dismounted warfighter while reducing the burden they carry.

Every new device can improve performance. But it can also add power demands, increase system complexity, and compete for the operator's attention.

That's where the OTTO ecosystem comes together.

✅ WedgeX™ streamlines power and data management, enabling greater run-time of mission critical equipment.

✅ NoizeBarrier® TAC delivers industry-leading hearing protection, crystal clear communications, and enhanced situational awareness.

✅ Enhanced Spatial Positioning push-to-Talk (ESP PTT) untangles overlapping audio streams, reduces cognitive load, enabling the operator to clearly hear individual audio sources and focus on the mission.

✅ Lynq PRO® provides secure total team awareness positioning and navigation when traditional networks aren't available.

Together, these solutions create an integrated communications ecosystem that helps warfighters stay connected, maintain situational awareness, and focus on the mission—not the equipment.

Visit the OTTO team at Eurosatory | Hall 5A | Stand D251 to learn how mission-ready technologies are helping support the next generation of dismounted operations.

06/04/2026

The NoizeBarrier Micro delivers advanced in-ear hearing protection and enhanced situational awareness in a compact, low-profile design built for training, the range, and demanding environments.

✔️ Automatically protects against blast and impulse noise
✔️ Preserves natural situational awareness
✔️ Amplifies low-level sounds up to 5x
✔️ Up to 16 hours of battery life

Lightweight, comfortable, and built to deliver.

05/20/2026

“Prioritize power to the most critical systems during limited supply.”
— Frank W. Bohn, U.S. Army DEVCOM C5ISR

That’s exactly the challenge facing today’s dismounted warfighter.
During SOF Week, the conversation is no longer just about adding capability — it’s about reducing complexity, extending run-time, and enabling faster adaptation in mission critical situations.

Today’s decentralized battlefield demands communications systems that can evolve in real time with mission requirements. Yet operators are still burdened by excess cables, adapters, hubs, and battery management challenges that increase both physical and cognitive load.

WedgeX

An innovative power and data management solution designed to give warfighters a tactical edge by:

✅ Lightening operator load
✅ Extending equipment runtime
✅ Simplifying reconfiguration between mission profiles
✅ Eliminating unnecessary hubs and interconnect cables
✅ Delivering dynamic power and data management in a single modular system

WedgeX continuously monitors power requirements and intelligently balances device loads, even scavenging power from lower-priority systems when needed, helping operators stay focused on the mission, not their equipment.

As USSOCOM and the broader SOF community continue prioritizing mobility, interoperability, and operational agility, solutions like WedgeX represent the next evolution in tactical communications innovation.

If you’re attending , let’s connect and discuss how OTTO Engineering is helping redefine the future of mission-adaptable communications.

Booth 2419

05/19/2026

During SOF Week 2026, OTTO Communications will be demoing DARKSTAR: An all-terrain mobile command platform built for the most demanding environments.

• STAY CONNECTED ANYWHERE
• OPERATE IN COMPLETE DARKNESS
• GO WHERE OTHERS CAN'T

Integrated into the Polaris XPEDITION ADV 5, DARKSTAR delivers advanced communications, thermal and EO/IR visual awareness, blackout IR driving capability, interoperable radio systems, deployable power, and resilient multi-layer connectivity including SATCOM, LTE/5G, LoRa, WiFi, and UHF/VHF.

Designed to bridge communication dead zones and extend operational reach, DARKSTAR gives operators the mobility, redundancy, and situational awareness needed when mission success depends on staying connected.

From remote wilderness operations to urban response environments, DARKSTAR was built to perform where others cannot.

📍 Visit OTTO Communications, booth 2419 at SOF Week in Tampa to see DARKSTAR in action.

05/14/2026

OTTO is heading to SOF Week 2026 in Tampa!

We’re proud to showcase mission-critical communications solutions designed for today’s operators. From new version of the NoizeBarrier TAC 2.0, DARKSTAR, our powerful Mobile Command System, and advanced push-to-talk systems to integrated comms technology built for the toughest environments.

As the global SOF community gathers in the home of USSOCOM, we look forward to connecting with defense leaders, partners, and innovators shaping the future of special operations.

Stop by Booth 2419 & connect with the OTTO team.

📍 Tampa Convention Center
📅 May 18–21, 2026

04/21/2026

FDIC International brings together the best in firefighting and emergency response for hands-on training, cutting-edge education, and the latest in technology.

Join us with Tomar Electronics as we unveil DARKSTAR, our powerful Mobile Command System integrated with the newest OTTO communications ecosystem.

Don’t miss it. Stop by Booth 5685 and experience it live.
April 23–25

STAY
CONNECTED
ANYWHERE

TOMAR Electronics Inc.

Address

Carpentersville, IL
60110

Telephone

+18474287171

Website

https://otto-comm.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when OTTO Engineering - Communications posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your business to be the top-listed contractor in Carpentersville?