I may take a look at the 450.  AS far as cw, not a problem for me as I 
never use the mode.  THe problem with all of these rigs is that it takes 
a while to become familiar enough with the controls to make a vallid 
judgement.
73
Butch Bussen
wa0vjr
open Node 3148
Las Vegas


On Sun, 7 Nov 2010, Lloyd Rasmussen wrote:

> The deal-breaker for me on the FT450 was that CW bandwidth could only be
> narrowed to 500 Hz, and for all modes there are just three bandwidth
> settings.  So even though the FT-950 didn't have any speech synthesizer
> option at all, it does have its built-in keypad, various tuning rates that
> can be set, reasonably differentiated controls (especially after you put
> dymo tape on a few of them) and a lot of features.  If I were buying a new
> rig right now, I would have to look at the TS-590, but my 950 is doing
> great.
>
> Lloyd Rasmussen, W3IUU, Kensington, Maryland
> Home:  http://lras.home.sprynet.com
> Work:  http://www.loc.gov/nls
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> On Behalf Of Michael Ryan
>> Sent: Sunday, November 07, 2010 12:09 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re_FT-897D
>>
>> I have the FT-450AT version and it blows my 570 away on the receive and =
>> audio reports.
>> Look at the filtering as well. I'm also willing to bet that it will run =
>> nicely against the TS-480 and similar priced Icomm's. As for =
>> accessibility, I think Icomm has some work to do with regards to =
>> configuration and so on but with the increased flexibility of screen =
>> readers, rig control software, all of Yaesu's HF rigs would give you =
>> what Icomm gives you.
>> This is probably why Yaesu doesn't focus on speech accessibility, Tentec =
>> also doesn't focus and most of they're rigs, if not all, can be accessed =
>> with software. I am puzzled though, If Yaesu can put speech in its 450, =
>> why not its top of the line rigs like Icomm has done and Kw but will the =
>> VGS-1 be an option for Kenwood's up and coming =
>> FTDX-5000/IC-7600/7700/7800/TT-565 Orion competitor, which is going to =
>> be released next year?
>> Also, maybe not enough of the blind ham community isn't pressuring Yaesu =
>> enough. After all all we have to do is just buy another brand and forget =
>> it. LOL
>>
>>
>> 73:
>>
>> Michael
>>
>
>