Carl, welcome to the list!  I wish you well in your procurement of the
General class license, and in your exploration and enjoyment of
amateur radio.
In terms of a blind or sighted user friendly, easily deployed  and
successfully operated antenna for HF, the MP1 from Superantenna, is a
choice I've found _Very much to my liking!

It's not as efficient as an outdoor dipole, beam, vertical, or
longwire, but it, if used patiently, will generally get you contacts;
With all other variables,/rig, proper tuning, atmospheric conditions,
operator expectations, etc, properly adjusted:
The suggestions offered earlier in terms of rig, are sound ones as well!
I really like the Kenwood TS-440-sat, but the Kenwood VS1 is somewhat
scarce, although the Piex corporation in NH,/(spelling may be phonetic
rather than correct,) sells an after market equivalent.  The 440
series is getting a little old, but if you can find a good one,
they're wonderful radios, several of which I've owned and used!

In terms of more recent and affordable radios, I'd have to agree that
the Icom IC-718, which I've owned and successfully operated, is my
favorite!
Many of them have the ut-106 DSP/digital signal processer, built in,
and, of course, being sight challenged you'd definitely need the
ut-102 voice chip, which sells for somewhere between fifty and seventy
dollars./the DSP is a nice touch, but not nearly so necessary, as is
the ut102.
The radios pretty much sell for between four and six hundred dollars
used, depending on condition and accessories.  The 718 has a direct
frequency keypad built into the its' front, the radios' speaker is
also on the front, rather than on the top.
The controls are pretty intuitive, and although you can successfully
interface it with a computer, it will also do pretty well without one.
***Two Notes.  The TS440SAT from Kenwood _Includes a tuner, but The
718 _doesn't include an antenna tuner, and this can present a problem.
 Some kind of tuning device is advantageous for HF operation.  If you
use, practice with, and are patient with the MP1, I, and many other
folks, some of them blind hams, have found that that particular
antenna can be matched/tuned about as effectively ___without an
external tuner,/by using the variances in the signal to noise ratio,
audible as the antenna is tuned,  as with one./of course your
mileage-experience may vary.
 The basic MP1, is designed for 40-10meter operation, and will not____
successfully tune on sixty or eighty meters without use of sixty and
or eighty meter coils.  (Basic antenna with basic mount sells for
around $120, and sixty and or eighty meter coils are around $25Each
additional.  ***The tuner in the TS440sat will not tune that rig on
160 meters, and the MP1, even with extra coils will not work on 160
meters either.)
There are other somewhat similar antennas, but in my experience, as
well as that of other blind hams I know, the mp1 is the best of its'
type.
If you have a good dependable stable 20 to 30 amp power supply, you
should be good to go for HF operation.
If you'd like, send me a note off list and I'll send you my review of
the mp1 which I believe is still posted on icanworkthisthing.com
********Folks on these blind ham lists are _Very Helpful, and
experienced much more than I, in much of the HF landscape, but if I
can be of further assistance, please feel free to get in touch with
me.
Sincerely, Danny Dyer, Wb4idu, Toccoa, GA, USA.


On 3/7/13, John Miller <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> There is a company out there that makes the VS-1 and VS-2 voice modules
> still.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bob Ray" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2013 6:36 PM
> Subject: Re: HF operation on the cheap
>
>
>> Karl,  As Butch indicated the IC718 would be a reasonable choice.  The
>> only
>> problem with getting one of the older kenwood radios like the TS440, 450
>> etc
>> is that they need to VS1 speech module which may be hard to find.  Also
>> if
>> they need repair, some of the parts are hard to find.  I haven't done any
>> pricing recently so I couldn't even guess what anything may be worth on
>> the
>> used market.
>>
>> Bob KD0BR
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: For blind ham radio operators
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> On Behalf Of Karl Belannger
>> Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2013 2:57 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: HF operation on the cheap
>>
>> I live in a house where I can do prety much whatever I want, but could
>> end
>> u= p moving soon depending on what happens with jobs so I want to be
>> flexible w= here antennas  are concerned. As to what I can afford, I can
>> potentially sav= e up for whatever, but would really like to know what
>> the
>> cheapest options a= re. Anything that gets me on more bands than my
>> 2m/440
>> HT is an improvement a= t this point.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Mar 7, 2013, at 14:00, "Howard, W A 9 Y B W" <[log in to unmask]>
>> wro=
>> te:
>>
>>> Hi Karl,
>>>=20
>>> Welcome to the list.
>>>=20
>>> First, what is your housing arrangement?  Do you live in an apartment,
>>>con=
>> do=20
>>> or do you live in a house either rental or your own?
>>>=20
>>> The answer to this question will determine your antenna possibilities.
>>>=20
>>> Also, in order for us to give you any recommendations as to an HF
>>>radio, w=
>> e=20
>>> will need to know how much money you have to spend for radio and
>>> antenna=20=
>>
>>> combined.
>>>=20
>>> Answer these and we will go from there.
>>>=20
>>> Howard Thomas, W A 9 Y B W, Springfield, Illinois
>>>=20
>>> ----- Original Message -----=20
>>> From: "Karl Belannger" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2013 12:00 PM
>>> Subject: HF operation on the cheap
>>>=20
>>>=20
>>>> Hi,
>>>> Before I get into what i'm looking for, I r1lize I may be vague on a
>>>> few=20=
>>
>>>> thi=3D
>>>> ngs, but that's only because I either don't know what options I have
>>>> or=20=
>>
>>>> don'=3D
>>>> t care about that particular point. I'm planning on getting my
>>>> general=20=
>>
>>>> licen=3D
>>>> se rather soon, so I'm looking for some hf rig recommendations.
>>>> I'm=20 looking f=3D or a rig that przvides at least basic
>>>> accessibility, an antenna(s) that=20=
>>
>>>> don'=3D
>>>> t require permanent installation, and to do it as cheaply as
>>>> possible. I=20=
>>
>>>> rea=3D
>>>> lize that I'm not going to get a ton of power out of what I'm looking
>>>> for=
>> ,=20
>>>> a=3D
>>>> nd I'll probably need to make some decisions requiring bands. As for
>>>> mode=
>> ,=20
>>>> I=3D
>>>> 'm looking for the various voice modes.
>>>> On the antenna side, the one that looks most like what I want is the
>>>> MP1=20=
>>
>>>> ant=3D
>>>> enna. Does anyone have experience with this antenna? Are there any
>>>> other=20=
>>
>>>> goo=3D
>>>> d ones that are similarly portable/relocatable?=3D20  Any help and
>>>>suggestions are greatly appreciated.
>>>> Karl
>>>>=20
>>>> Sent from my iPhone=3D=20
>