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?
>
>
>
>
>