You can absolutely get the software without the radio.  It's open source and 
there's even a Windows executable install that can be loaded from the Flex 
Radio page.  I do have PowerSDR loaded here on my PC.  Unfortunately, I 
haven't been able to do much with it without a radio connected through the 
firewire port.  That's why I bought the $20 SoftRock40 SDR kit.  The 
SoftRock will provide something for the software to communicate with at an 
affordable cost for accessibility experimentation.

As soon as I get the kit built, I'll let you know how it goes.  Meanwhile, 
go ahead and get a copy of PowerSDR yourself and/or look at other SDR 
software and let us know what you find.  It's great to see others interested 
in accessible SDR software.  I had posted something here a few months back 
but got no replies expressing interest.

73,
Jim


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 1:37 PM
Subject: Re: Flex radios and accessibility


Maybe there's a way you can get the software and play with it first? a demo,
or open source, maybe someone will let you try a copy? I don't know if it
will work with out the radio, but that would be interesting to see.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jerry Neufeld" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 1:04 PM
Subject: Re: Flex radios and accessibility


> Jim, sounds interesting. I just spoke to one of the developers at =
> Flex-Radio and he said that, apart from the pan adapter and waterfall, =
> pretty much all buttons, controls and boxes should be reachable and =
> non-gui items. At any rate, I'd be interested in following this up, =
> either here or, probably better, on another list.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Jerry  VE3QSO
>
>
>  ----- Original Message -----=20
>  From: Jim Kutsch=20
>  To: [log in to unmask]
>  Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 11:51 AM
>  Subject: Re: Flex radios and accessibility
>
>
>  Jerry,
>  I, too, have been intrigued with SDR ever since attending lots of SDR=20
>  seminars at Dayton earlier this year.  The PowerSDR software from Flex =
> Radio=20
>  is indeed highly graphical.  However, it's modular and built on base=20
>  software to run the radio.  Further it's all open source.  So =
> theoretically=20
>  it's possible to replace the GUI front end with a text based, command =
> line=20
>  type interface.  Such an interface is essentially available for Linux =
> but=20
>  it's not specific to the Flex Radio.
>
>  Go search on the topic "softrock40" and you'll find lots of stuff =
> about a=20
>  SDR receiver which is available in kit form for between $20 and $70 =
> US.  I=20
>  ordered one and a friend is doing the kit building.  Once I have that, =
> I=20
>  plan to work on the accessible software interface issue.  If you or =
> anyone=20
>  else is interested in SDR accessibility for blind hams, let's pool our =
>
>  exploration.  I'd be happy to set up a group or at least a mailing =
> list.
>
>  73,
>  Jim
>  KY2D
>
>  ----- Original Message -----=20
>  From: "Jerry Neufeld" <[log in to unmask]>
>  To: <[log in to unmask]>
>  Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 1:05 AM
>  Subject: Flex radios and accessibility
>
>
>  Good morning folks,
>
>  Has anyone looked into the screenreader accessibility of the Flex =3D
>  software? Intrigued as I am by the concept of a software-defined =
> radio, =3D
>  potentially the ultimate in transceivers, I am a tad concerned about =
> the =3D
>  interface to users, highly graphical, I suspect. Any info on this will =
> =3D
>  be appreciated.
>
>  Regards to all,
>
>  Jerry  VE3QSO=20