Speaking of PSK31, or any digital mode like that, is most o of the software
for that accessible?  Like will screenreaders be able to read what is on the
screen?   

-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Colin McDonald
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 19:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: New Frequencies

I guess that makes me a chicken bander.
I never new until now.
That attitude is what is making ham radio an antiquated, excentric
non-progressive hobby in many places.
Who wants to learn to communicate using a bunch of short and long beeps when
you can talk, or use digital modes using computers.
Learning CW has to be the most awcward thing imaginable at first.  Until you
become really good at it, its slow, tedious and takes much more time to
convey a thought then simply speaking it or sending it via pSK31 or other
digital modes.
And the idea that CW is the one and only method of communication that can
get through when nothing else can is also a very outdated theory.
Any digital mode will accomplish the same task, and offen with much lower
error rate then a typical CW operater who is attempting to pull a signal out
of the noise, or below the noise floor.
Using PSK31, you offten can't even hear the signal, but the computer can and
puts it out to the screen as text.
So the idea that not learning some antiquated form of communicated just for
the sake of doing so, and therefore getting a free ride because you didn't
have to learn it is a very narow minded and outdated point of view.

Now, all that said, i think CW is a very important aspect of amateur radio
below 30MHZ and that it certainly has its place and usage.  I don't begrudge
anyone their decision to use any mode of communication on any amateur
frequency.
However, i really don't believe anyone mode should be chosen over all the
rest as one that a person must have near to absolute  perficiency in in
order to communicate below 30MHZ.

Naturally, the arguement that CW transmitters and receivers are some of the
simplest and easy to setup and operate when compared to voice or digital
stations always comes up.  It comes up in the context of emergency measures
or emergency communications.
If that arguement is made, then the argument must also be made to include
vastly more emergency training aspects to the general class or extra class
licensing examinations.
If you are going to force someone to learn CW because there just might be a
once in a life time situation where they absolutely must use it, then it
should also be required for those same individuals to learn vast amounts of
procedural knoledge regarding emergency communications and procedures.

Its a great mode, but its not the most important anymore.

73
Colin, V A6BKX