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Subject:
From:
Colin McDonald <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
For blind ham radio operators <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:11:19 -0700
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (200 lines)
that 1802 sounds like a cool little radio...a bunch of guys around here use
them in the mobile and they seem to work excellent...I especially like the
adjustable mike gain feature.
73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Schulte" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 5:26 PM
Subject: Re: ReModern Radios and Accessibility


> I agree with you Colin, I had a yaesu ft2800m, and just recently gave a
> 1802m to a blind ham in Il.  He has the manual in pdf format, and since I
> had used the radio before, I was more then willing to help him with things
> that he wasn't familiar with.
>
> I also really don't see what's wrong with using a radio attached to a
> computer, I mean let's think about this, if you're in your shack, more
then
> likely, you're going to have a computer there anyway, so why not use what
> you can with what you have.
>
> Now I have been one of those that has shouted quite loudly about Icom not
> having the accessibility that they should, and I still maintain that
> something better can be done by a majority of radio manufacturers, but
what
> I have done is downloaded the manual on a radio if it's available before
> purchasing it, and if I read it and see that it can be worked out, then I
> usually don't have a problem buying it.  How many people here have hts and
> use them quite a bit?  Now out of that number, how many have "accessible"
> hts?  Other then the puxing, there's nothing with a voice chip in it in an
> ht, but we all use them.  So, let's really consider how we say things
> sometimes before we make blanket statements.
> Chris, w8cjs
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Colin McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 5:32 PM
> Subject: Re: ReModern Radios and Accessibility
>
>
> > well, I thought the ft101E was one of the most accessible radios, with
the
> > acception that you had no voice readout of frequency and S meter, but a
> > good
> > ear will tell you what an approximate signal is, and if you use the
method
> > of listening for the sqwak every 100KC, you could easily tune and get an
> > approximate idea of where you were on any given band.
> > Most of the older rigs were like that, many of them Yaesu's.
> > Most of the modern Yaesu's can be used by a blind person just fine....so
> > saying none of them are at all accessible is not correct.
> > I have an FT2800M downstairs that I use on a daily basis and it works
and
> > functions just perfectly.  I have the manual in PDF format and when i
want
> > to make a menu change i simply look in the manual, count clicks and
button
> > presses, and away I go.
> > If i get stuck, a simple partial reset to get menus back to default
starts
> > me out fresh again.
> > It has direct frequency entry on the mike and one touch hot keys for any
> > number of functions.
> > Now tell me that most of yaesu's radios don't have all of these features
> > and
> > more.
> > You guys wouldn't know because you hear yaesu and automatically discard
> > anything about them instead of trying some and finding out that they can
> > actually be made to work.  Are they accessible as they could be, of
course
> > not, but most things in this sighted world aren't as accessible as we
> > would
> > like or as they could be, and we get over it and find ways of getting
> > around
> > them.
> > Sell phones only recently began to have the capability of screen
readers,
> > yet it certainly didn't stop blind folks from having and using sell
phones
> > as best they could....but as soon as something accessible comes out, all
> > of
> > a sudden any phone that can't support a screen reader becomes
unaccessible
> > and unusable by blind people...similar situation with amateur radios I
> > think.
> > should we purposely use less accessible radios? naturally not. we go for
> > the
> > most accessible as we should. but saying that perfectly accessible,
though
> > not as accessible as other radios, are unaccessible is bordering on
> > ignorance and a lack of desire to enhance ones world by finding ways
> > around
> > lesser accessibility.
> >
> > 73
> > Colin, V A6BKX
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Anthony Vece" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 12:02 PM
> > Subject: Re: ReModern Radios and Accessibility
> >
> >
> >> Hi Eric;
> >>
> >> I wouldn't even consider Yaesu.
> >>
> >> There radios are not accessible and they have no intentions of making
> >> them
> >> accessible.
> >>
> >> 73 De Anthony W2AJV
> >> [log in to unmask]
> >> ECHOLINK NODE NUMBER: 74389
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message ----- 
> >> From: "Eric Clegg" <[log in to unmask]>
> >> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >> Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 1:37 PM
> >> Subject: ReModern Radios and Accessibility
> >>
> >>
> >> > Hello listers,
> >> > It seems that the more modern the rigs get the less accessible they
> >> > get.
> >> >
> >> > For instance the little Yaesu ft817nd has to be accessorized with one
> >> > of
> >> > two
> >> > keypads to make it workable. You still would have to get many of the
> > fine
> >> > options from w4rt to turn it into a real radio such as the two board
> >> > filters, a better battery pack and a host of other accessories.
> >> >
> >> > Also if you use the keypad fromJohn Hansen or Radio Mate from BHI of
> >> > England
> >> > you can't use the accessory jack on the back.
> >> >
> >> > I understand that the box for the k2 that reads out in CW is pretty
> >> > complete
> >> > in the information it has to give.
> >> >
> >> > With respect to the Elecraft k3 now is the time to urge the
> >> > manufacturer
> >> > to
> >> > make it accessible while it is the development stages. Not when
they've
> >> > shipped a thousand of them.
> >> >
> >> > Their comments about a small market is just junk.
> >> >
> >> > As a blind person I'd be willing to pay at least $300 additional if
the
> >> > rig
> >> > could be made completely accessible.
> >> >
> >> > If I were to get a rig right now I'd probably get a Kenwood TS480SAT
> > which
> >> > is quite accessible out of the box.
> >> >
> >> > Or a Ten-Tec Argonaut V which I would propose to control with a
> >> > computer
> >> > program such as the n4PY program.
> >> >
> >> > For my needs right now I only require 20 watts or so and easily turn
> > down
> >> > the power on a Kenwood.
> >> >
> >> > Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone.
> >> >
> >> > Best 73's,
> >> >
> >> > Eric
> >> > KU3I
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> -- 
> >> No virus found in this incoming message.
> >> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> >> Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.4/1145 - Release Date:
> > 11/22/2007 11:49 AM
> >>
> >>
> >
>
>
>
> -- 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.4/1145 - Release Date:
11/22/2007 11:49 AM
>
>

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