Richard,

I am sighted; my visual impairment is not severe, though it does affect my
opinion of the 857.  Still, in all cases, I'd say, don't sell the
706.  That is the one I work with.  The 857 sits in a bag to be used for
demos and for the next generation of effort. From my experience and from
what I read on this list, I put Yaesu low in the list of priorities as a
general rule. The manual (for sighted) is better for the Yaesu, but the
radio is easier to use -- at least for mild visual impairments -- in the
ICOM.  There are many people on this list who will be able to comment much
better than I can.

I have used most features of both, repeater, keyer, etc.  The 706 just
seems a better piece of equipment.  The Yaesu is slicker; the ICOM is more
substantial.

Hope you find more expert help than mine.

73
Don KD1XU

At 10:40 AM 5/8/2005 -0500, Richard Scott wrote:
>See how this reads.
>
>Hey Hams,
>
>    Is anyone using the Yaesu 857 D?  I am wondering what you think of it.  I
>have Ham friends locally who are selling their 706 Icum Marc 2 G's and going
>to the Yaesu 857 D because they think it is a better all round radio.  These
>are sighted Hams.  I would like to have a good all in one radio to run
>mobile with.  However, would like some input from Blind Hams, who may have
>some experience with the Yaesu 857 D.  I have been a ham since the middle
>70's and blind from the age of 12.
>
>Waiting for Info
>
>Richard
>K F 5 U B
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