It doesn't cost $8,000 to get accessibility.  Kenwood accessibility 
goes back to the 440, 940, 850 etc.  And Icom has somewhat accessible 
rigs going back at least to the 718.  The TS590, from all I have read 
is very accessible at a hell of a lot less than the new 990.  And if 
you don't have a voicing transceiver, you figure out workarounds.  I 
had a lot of fun with an old Icom 735 with no "accessibility" 
included.  I set memories to known frequencies in the various bands, 
figured out how many dial revolutions put me at the edge of the band 
and could interpelate reasonably closely where I was in a given 
band.  fPerfect; no, but I still had a lot of fun with that radio.
A big part of the ham philosophy is making do with what you have.
I wish I could read print, drive, fly an airplane and a whole lot of 
other things.  But I can't and life goes on.  And up until today it 
has all been pretty good, but not necessarily easily.  i've worked 
for nearly fifty years in several vocational areas.  So has my blind 
wife.  Nothing worth having comes at no cost, you just have to get 
out there and make it happen.  And, yes, you won't always be 
successful but you can't stop trying.
I'm off my soapbox.
Pat, K9JAUAt 12:25 PM 7/15/2013, you wrote:
>can someone please explain to me why it costs 8000 bucks to get =
>accessibility?!?!?! I was like  I will get this radio  now  I feel like =
>only rich people get accessibility. I do no thane tha kind of money and =
>I do not see how half of you  do being blind. I certainly do not have =
>anywa y to get tha kind of cash being screwed by social insecurity.. =
>Nobody is going to hire a blind guy in this economy and those jobs tha =
>were out there dried up years ago for us.  and the NFB has done nothing =
>to help the citation. in fact i think they made it worse. no company =
>will risk lawsuits by hiring a blind person when there are so many =
>sighted applicants. Even if I could get a job, transportation costs =
>alone would  eat up most of what I would make.
>On Jul 14, 2013, at 4:38 PM, "Alan R. Downing" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Hello Butch, as I mentioned to you on the land line, I have decided to =
>get a
> > 990, but I still want to wait a few more months before spending the 8 =
>grand.
> > I will also talk to Rob Sherwood and Ken Long, who are testing it in =
>the
> > lab, and writing a comprehensive review on it. Have you checked the TX =
>power
> > limit to see how close it holds to the desired power level?  The =
>ability to
> > set a hard limit on output power is especially useful for those who =
>run very
> > large amps, and don't want to exceed the 1500 watt legal limit..
> >=20
> > Best 73
> >=20
> >=20
> > Alan R. Downing
> > Phoenix, AZ
> >=20
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: For blind ham radio operators =
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > On Behalf Of Butch Bussen
> > Sent: Sunday, July 14, 2013 12:05 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: TS-990 Review
> >=20
> > Yep, a very good review.  I've had my 990 for a couple months and I=20
> > learned some tricks I had overlooked.
> > 73
> > Butch
> > WA0VJR
> > Node 3148
> > Wallace, ks.
> >=20
> >=20
> > On Sun, 14 Jul 2013, Curtis Delzer=20
> > wrote:
> >=20
> >> well you've certainly done it!
> >> terrific review and comprehensive as well.  were you able to install
> >> v1.03 of the firmware while you had the radio?
> >> that adds a couple things significant for enthusiastic and fantastic
> >> operating;  AGC improvement, and seamless full break in CW without
> >> the clicks and thumps of earlier firmware.
> >> again, thanks again!
> >>=20
> >> At 02:57 AM 07/14/13, you wrote:
> >>> Hi All,
> >>>=20
> >>> The accessibility review, and audio demos,  of the flagship Kenwood
> > TS-990
> >>> is at:
> >>>=20
> >>>=20
> > =
>http://active-elements.org/2013/07/14/kenwood-ts-990-accessibility-review-=
>3/
> >>>=20
> >>> Best wishes, Kelvin Marsh - M0AID
> >>>=20
> >>> Working to improve accessibility for radio amateurs with =
>disabilities
> >>>=20
> >>> www.active-elements.org
> >>>=20
> >>> For accessibility evaluations of amateur equipment and MP3 manuals
> >>=20
> >>=20