Colin,  I have used the DStar dongle in the past, and you are right, the old
software is no longer available and it wouldn't work if you could find it. 

I have been in touch with Robin Cutshaw, the developer of the DStar software
and made him aware that the new software is useless to us.  The problem is
all the unlabeled graphics.  The screenreader doesn't know what to do with
them.  I tried to see if I could memorize the order in which the various
graphics appear on the screen, but that wasn't very successful.  

Robin intends to work on the software, and I gave him contact information
for both Freedom Scientific and G. W. Micro, so if he had any questions
about hpow to make it completely accessible for us he can contact them. 

I had an e-mail from Robin last week and he assured me that he hasn't
forgotten about us and does intend to correct the problem.  He is simply
incredibly busy and has not had the time to do it.  As soon as I have any
additional information from Robin, I will let you and the list know about
it.  I enjoyed DStar.  It was simply another fun way of communicating and I
look forward to getting the dongle out again.  

73 
Kris

-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of colin McDonald
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 9:07 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: DStar dongle software

I think I asked this a while ago on list, but didn't hear a response, so
perhaps I'll ask again.
Someone on list, I can't remember who, had mentioned that they were
successfully using the DV tool, or DStar dongle software in one of it's
first releases with JAWS or Win eyes.  Then, the software was updated to a
new release and became utterly unusable with JAWS/win eyes.
My question is two part:
firstly, what version of the software was accessible with a screen reader
and can that software still be used with the dv dongle if one can locate
that version?  and, has any headway been made with the newer releases of the
DV tool software for accessibility with a screen reader?
I ask because one of our local DStar enthusiasts wants to give me a DV
dongle, but I haven't yet accepted because I was pretty sure that the
current version of the DV tool software isn't at all accessible.
The DStar radios also don't make any allowance for a speech synth
whatsoever....which is a bit disappointing.

any help is appreciated.

73
Colin, V A6BKX