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
>>
>>
>
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