Fred:

That's exactly why I'm hanging onto the 746, despite its accessibility 
problems.

I have things set up so that I can use the majority of the functions, so I 
can do most things independently.  I don't quite know what I'll do, though, 
if some of the settings are ever lost.

Fortunately, I have a sighted XYL who is also a ham.

73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred Olver" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2008 6:49 PM
Subject: Re: 746PRO


> Tom,
>
> If you decide to get rid of your 746 in favor of the receiver on the 
> TS2,000
> you will be disappointed in it's receiver.
>
> Fred
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "T Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2008 2:17 PM
> Subject: Re: 746PRO
>
>
>>    Keith:
>>
>> I have the plain IC746, but will throw my two cents in here if you'd 
>> like.
>>
>> The rig is somewhat accessible for a blind user, but the key word is
>> "somewhat".  Fortunately, I have a sighted XYL who is also a ham, so she
>> usually can get me out of trouble if I get myself into a predicament of
>> one
>> kind or another.  The rig will read frequency and s-meter readings.  It
>> also
>> will tell you the contents of a particular memory, and whether the memory
>> itself is clear, but you have to push the frequency read-out button to 
>> get
>> that info.  The voice chip also will give you basic mode information, so
>> at
>> least you know what mode you're in.
>>
>> When it comes to getting the rig initially set up via the initial set
>> menu,
>> you are likely to need sighted assistance.  Also, I have never been able
>> to
>> independently program PL tones into repeater frequency pairs, simply
>> because
>> that is done with the tuning knob, and you have no clue as to where you
>> are
>> in the tone selections.
>>
>> You may ask, then, why I'm keeping the IC746. ... And, my answer is that
>> it
>> has a tremendous receiver. ...  In fact, I'd say it has the best receiver
>> of
>> any HF rig I have ever used, although the receiver on my new TS480 comes
>> close. ...  I actually have thought seriously at times about selling my
>> IC746, and going for something like the TS2000, or maybe even another
>> TS480,
>> but I have not gotten serious enough yet to want to take the leap.
>>
>> I hope this helps at least a little.
>>
>> 73 from Tom Behler:  Kb8TYJ
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Keith Bucher" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2008 4:10 AM
>> Subject: 746PRO
>>
>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>>    I'd like to hear from anyone who has a 746PRO.  How do you like it,
>>> and how accessible are the various functions?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>