Hi Phil,
Well personally I think discussing my Adaptive equipment is valid because I figure that guys with the knowledge Hams have might have an answer. Besides, I have used a Perkins brailler, A Braille 'n Speak, yuk! Because I like to read my data, a Braille Lite, A Versabraille and a Braille Sense over the years.
I was lucky enough to have the Versabraille given to me and everything else I bought used except the Braille Sense. My point is that I have used these devices as a Net Control Station, traffic handler, and a Net Manager.
I also hope to use something with a PC for Braille Input to the PC so that I can see if I can operate FLDIGI.
Now am I off topic.
I think that it would be helpful to be able to use FLDIGI in Ares and Navy Mars.
I want to use a Braille Notetaker as a Terminal Screen Reader with a PC to read in Braille and to input in Braille.
If you don't like a topic your computer has a delete button.
I think having equipment we use when operating Amateur Radio should be an acceptable topic.
Colleen Roth, N8TNV;



----- Original Message -----
From: Phil Scovell <[log in to unmask]>
To:  [log in to unmask]
Date: Thursday, Sep 13, 2012 07:49:22 PM
Subject: Picky Picky

>
>
> So you call CQ, or just tune through the bands.  What are you looking =
> for, that is, with whom do you wish to speak.  I've seen contacts, and =
> heard many more, where the guy only wants to talk about his radio and =
> antennas.  Once he's exhausted what he wants to discuss, such as his ham =
> gear, he off and saying 73 so he can call CQ and find someone else whom =
> he can talk about his station all over again anew.  I never would have =
> gotten even my novice if I was limited to just ham radio topics.  I =
> realize blind hams is more like a net where we normally talk about just =
> ham radio topics but I've been on the internet for 18 years and been on =
> probably 50 mailing lists and the only ones that restrict the topic do =
> so out of volume.  I mean, if you have 2500 subscribers, you best keep =
> your hand on the break handle as the moderator or all hell will break =
> loose.  I don't think, although I haven't checked lately, that this =
> lisps does not even run 200 subscribers.  I could be wrong, like I said, =
> because I haven't checked of late.  Regardless, when I need kind of an =
> electronics device answer, or a computer answer, or a cell phone =
> question, or an internet question, the first thing I do is think about =
> posting on blind hams because I figure here, somebody will know the =
> answer.  I was thinking of selling something that was an electronic =
> device, not ham related, and I thought, Now that's something some hams =
> would like to have but I didn't post it for fear I'd be busted by those =
> on the list that think this list is only for ham radio topics.  Have you =
> checked with the list owner concerning his rules, or have you forgot the =
> list rules and guidelines?  Running people off the list isn't our job =
> because we don't own the list.  As a ham, I'd go crazy if I worked =
> somebody who only wished to talk ham radio yet it is my favorite hobby.  =
> I think traffic nets are weird the have a list of 100 people and the net =
> control calls each call sign, his name, and location, one by one and has =
> a short conversation with each one but you can't tell them they are =
> pushing your buttons by taking half the night reading down a list when =
> it could be concluded in 15 minutes and free up band space.  At the =
> school for the blind, we burned our 30 to 40 minutes of free time after =
> lunch sitting on the Nebraska and Iowa noon nets just for our calls to =
> be mentioned.  We normally couldn't stay for the complete role call, so =
> we often had to check in early, and run for our lockers when the bell =
> rang for classes to begin.  I was a net control on all types of CW nets =
> for many years and loved traffic handling.  I was also a standing net =
> control several times a week on the Nebraska sideband net and we just =
> called sections of the alphabet on the SSB net because we had two nets =
> back to back an hour apart, and the regional ten CW net and the Nebraska =
> CW net in-between the two nets.  In my old age, and after hundreds of =
> thousands of messages, maybe even a million, I have learn to track =
> topics only or even collecting, marking, all the unwanted topics and =
> deleting them at one push of the del key.  Maybe these new computers =
> don't have such features any more.  When the dead bands are open, tune =
> around and see just how many different things hams are talking about.  =
> Better yet, jump down to the CW bands and there find new life to the =
> hobby.  If you are new with the code, stay above 50 on each band and you =
> will always find QRS stations, that is, guys working slow code.  On 30 =
> meters, the only band restricted to just CW, too bad it is only 50 KHz =
> wide, hang out around 10.125 and you'll find lots of slow code guys just =
> itching to get an answer to the 5 or 4, or 3 Words Per Minute CQ.  Too =
> bad we have no real novice bands any more.  I used to run a novice CW =
> net on 80 and 15 meters when I was 14.  I've had 6 hour QSOes even as a =
> novice, telling jokes, talking politics, religion, and just about =
> everything else under the sun, and all on CW.  You want to be bored?  =
> Listen to the role call on a large traffic net some evening.  I've got a =
> friend who checks into probably 10 75 meter nets every night.  He has =
> done this for years.  It is part of the hobby for him so why should I =
> care.  I have 316 countries worked; this guy has his Worked All Y L, =
> young ladies, certificate for all 50 states with contacts just with =
> gals.  I could have a dozen certificates from the ARRL but I've never =
> applied for even one after I've been a ham 46 years so far, too.  So =
> this is just one hams viewpoint; for what that's worth on this ham radio =
> list.  The week this list was formed, I joined.  I think it started up =
> shortly after I started blind exchange, blind-x,  that Ann Parson's owns =
> now and that was nearly 18 years ago.  I like blind hams for many =
> different reasons and even with a few hundred off topic messages over =
> the years.  If you are crazy enough to read every freaking message on =
> any list, then pin a rose on your nose, and pat yourself on the back but =
> I'm just too freaking old to read everything any more.  Oh, yes, I =
> understand the blind bitching stuff but if you are going to hang out =
> with blind people on any list, you are going to hear that so get used to =
> it or submit your complaints directly to the list owner and do that off =
> list while you are at it so we don't have to listen to your own bitching =
> while everybody else is doing the same thing you are doing.  Lighten up, =
> too.  Some people are blind more than physically, if you get my drift.
> 
> Phil.
> K0NX