Hi Darin, I am not sure about the echo shack interface, but from what I
understand, it is mor useful for someone with limited vision and doesn't
sound like anything you really need, especially if you have any computer
experience!

Echo Link itself is quite screenreader friendly, especially if you put it
in explorer view.  On the main screen, you will find a line that says,
Index View, Explorer View.  If you are using JFW, you will need to route
Jaws to PC and find that line.  Put your cursur on the E of Explorer and
use the left click button.  If you use Window-Eyes, just move your mouse
cursur to the same place and left click on it.  Once you are in explorer
view, you can simply use your arrow keys to navigate as in windows
explorer.  The best place to start is by opening the locations tab, with
a right arrow and down arrowing to North America.  You can then use the
right arrow to open that, and arrow down to United States and right arrow
to open that.  You can then arrow down to the call sign area you want to
look at and press tab to get into the list view of all of the stations
connected in that area.  If you press enter on any call sign, you will
connect.  You then press the space bar by default to talk and press it
again to listen.  It is a good idea to change this to another key, such
as the left control and make it momentary, so as to keep from
accidentally transmitting without knowing it.  

Hope this makes sense, if you would like to give me a call, I can talk
you through some of the setup.  I use window-eyes, so I may not be able
to address certain Jaws issues, but I should be able to get you going
with some of the setup options that make it work better with a
screenreader.  My number is:

480-671-7912

As to your second question, you would have to have access to a HF remote,
such as the one that Handi-Hams has and you would need to be a general
class op to use it on 20 meters.  There is, a Handy-hams net every day on
echo link at 11:00 A M, that you can connect to via a couple of different
repeaters in the twin Cities area, the one that comes to mind is:

ka0pqw-r

HTH and 73:
John
John Jacques
Amateur Radio Station: KD8PC
"Where Cat Is,  Is Civilization!"