Hi Eric!

True deaf hams are are. I've only known of 3 encountered either on air or in
literature during over 35 years. KN1K was an incredible EAN NCS that was
always a pleasure to work with. Ran a tight net and definitely managed the
hook better than many. Never mind whatever conditions got thrown at him. He
never left you wondering what came next. I'd often just listen to him anmd
think I want to be just like that, but was never in his league for
efficiency nor skill. Bob is completely deaf by all accounts. Haven't worked
him for several years, but you never forget a mentor like that. He was what
the rest of us tried to be, hi hi.

73,
Dave    

-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Eric Oyen
Sent: Friday, 17 July 2015 3:47 p.m.
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Digital Modes

unfortunately, until software devs start to realize that we are more =
than just a niche population, that day maybe a long time coming.

THere is an article about the spending power of disabled people and =
their friends and families. the link is here: =
http://businessdisabilityforum.org.uk/about-us/news/walkaway-pound-report-=
2015/

its an interesting read and we should point it toward every developer we =
can find. Here is what is really interesting. THere aren't that many =
deaf hams (and yet the medium these days is very visual oriented). They =
would be perfect in most digital modes.

-eric (n7zzt)

On Jul 16, 2015, at 6:55 PM, Steve Forst wrote:

> Jim,
>=20
> I hope Matt has a lot of success.      Everyone has a different setup,=20=

> different expectations, and  different degrees of  tolerance for=20
> aggravation.
>=20
> Maybe someday there will be a one size fits all, plug and play kind of=20=

> thing that  all blind hams  can use with no fuss.  Maybe Matt will be=20=

> the one to figure it out.
>=20
> 73, Steve KW3A
>=20
> On 7/16/2015 9:44 PM, Jim Stanga wrote:
>> Hi Steve,
>>=20
>> I for one am enjoying this thread.
>> I have never used the digital modes.
>> Not sure if I ever will but you and Matt certainly make it sound
>> interesting!
>>=20
>> 73,--
>> Jim
>> WA5VYL
>>=20
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Steve Forst
>> Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2015 6:16 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Digital Modes
>>=20
>> Matt,
>>=20
>> Playing the wav files has nothing to do with your interface or radio.
>>   you just play them from within the MMTTY program.    It's just RTTY
>> audio that the MMTTY software will decode and  display  on the =
screen.
>>    Then you can try all the various things to get your screen reader =
to
>> read it.    This is totally independent of your radio or interface.   =
 I
>> had suggested trying this before spending money on the Signal Link, =
but
>> as they say "Boat has sailed".
>>=20
>>   Most modern rigs, including the 480 hav  an RTTY mode, along with =
CW,
>> LSB, USB, Am, and FM.   You will hear the "R" as a mode selection as =
you
>> toggle through the various modes.    If set in this mode, you  would
>> send RTTY by  FSK (frequency shift keying).    This hard keys the =
radio
>> and doesn't use the sound card for TX.   This is the way I do RTTY =
with
>> an old Rascal interface.
>>=20
>> Most hams are totally sound card for both RX and TX.  This is what =
you
>> will be doing with your SL interface.   You will be sending all your
>> digital stuff (including RTTY) by AFSK (audio frequency shift =
keying).
>>    Instead of the radio being hard keyed as in FSK, the  sound card
>> generates the tones and the radio is in LSB mode.
>>=20
>> Confusing huh?   I'm sure others on the list are giving  there delete
>> key fingers a real workout  on this thread.
>>=20
>> 73, Steve KW3A
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20
>>   7/16/2015 5:55 PM, Matthew Chao wrote:
>>> Hi, Steve.  Got the mtty sound files.  Won't be able to do anything
>>> until my new toy comes in.
>>>=20
>>> Also, heard mention of an RTTY button on the TS480, but unsure of
>>> what that does, if it's there.  Ideas?  Thanks.--Matt, N1IBB.
>>>=20
>>> At 04:45 PM 7/16/2015 -0400, you wrote:
>>>> Matt,
>>>>=20
>>>> It's been a long time since I've used the Signal Link, since the =
590 has
>>>> it's own sound card.    I did mention in a recent post  how to get =
into
>>>> the unit to install the header.
>>>>=20
>>>> It will come with a CD that has some digital software on it.    =
Maybe
>>>> something that interests you.    The CD will also have docs  and =
install
>>>> info.
>>>>=20
>>>> I got mine back in 2007, but I remember  it is an easy install.   =
It
>>>> will grab needed drivers from Windows.  Once installed, you will go =
into
>>>> windows audio devices and set some things following the =
instructions for
>>>> the unit.  Some things are set to 100 percent, so you have full =
control
>>>> with the front panel knobs.
>>>>=20
>>>> 73, Steve KW3A
>>>>=20
>>>> On 7/16/2015 4:14 PM, Matthew Chao wrote:
>>>>> Hi, Steve.  Isolating the radio from the PC's sound card works for
>>>>> me.  Any special instructions for installing the interface?  Is =
there
>>>>> a special CD for doing this?--Matt, N1IBB.
>>>>>=20
>>>>> At 08:28 AM 7/15/2015 -0400, you wrote:
>>>>>> Matt,
>>>>>>=20
>>>>>> If you have removed the little plastic cover  from over the =
jacks, the
>>>>>> one on the left is a 1/8  jack for external speaker, the one in =
the
>>>>>> middle is a mini din for data (this is where the interface =
connects),
>>>>>> and the one on the right is a mini din for connecting an amp.
>>>>>>=20
>>>>>> Without looking it up, I think the data  jack is a 8 pin mini and =
the
>>>>>> amp jack is a 6 pin mini.  The amp jack also has the pin for FSK =
rtty,
>>>>>> but  that's not an issue if you are using the sound card to =
generate
>>>>>> AFSK RTTY.
>>>>>>=20
>>>>>> If you go the Signal Link route, be sure to request the  cable =
for the
>>>>>> 480.    It will have a square RJ type plug at one end for the =
Signal
>>>>>> Link, and a small round mini din to plug into the radio.
>>>>>>=20
>>>>>> If you just want to test with an audio connection, you can use =
either
>>>>>> the headphone jack or the external speaker jack  to feed audio to =
the
>>>>>> sound card in the pc.    To keep from over driving the sound card =
you
>>>>>> would set the  radio volume way down and tweak with the pc's =
mixer
>>>>>> controls.  If you get the interface, the audio is  routed via the =
usb
>>>>>> cable to the interface and  through the din connection to the =
radio.
>>>>>> No need for an extra audio  connection in this case.     Once =
you've
>>>>>> followed the installation procedure for the interface on the pc, =
all
>>>>>> your audio in and out levels are controled via the front panel =
knobs on
>>>>>> the interface.
>>>>>>=20
>>>>>> BTW, there are other interfaces oute there with a built in sound =
card,
>>>>>> but the SL USB is  well reviewed, reasonably inexpensive, and =
used by a
>>>>>> few on this list.   Of course with a radio like the 590, with =
it's
>>>>>> built
>>>>>> in sound card,  an interface isn't needed, so mine is currently  =
not in
>>>>>> use.
>>>>>>=20
>>>>>> 73, Steve KW3A
>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>=20
>>>>>> On 7/15/2015 5:58 AM, Matthew Chao wrote:
>>>>>>> Hi, Steve.  Thanks for the info.  How do I figure out which DIN =
port
>>>>>>> to use on the 480?  And would running a patch cord from the =
headphone
>>>>>>> jack into the PC's input work?  Thanks in advance.--Matt, n1ibb.
>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>> At 10:04 PM 7/14/2015 -0400, you wrote:
>>>>>>>> Matt,
>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>> The Signal link USB is nice.  I have one and others on the list =
do as
>>>>>>>> well.  cheapham.com has it for $89 plus shipping.     This =
price
>>>>>>>> includes 1  radio specific cable to go from the unit to the =
radio.
>>>>>>>> In
>>>>>>>> your case, it will plug into one of the mini din jacks on the =
front
>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>> your 480.    These are behind a little plastic cover that needs =
to be
>>>>>>>> removed  just to the left of the  serial  db 9  connector.
>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>>      If you go the SL USB route (no matter where you get it) =
you
>>>>>>>> should
>>>>>>>> spend the extra $5 bucks or so and get the plugin  module for =
the
>>>>>>>> 480.
>>>>>>>> The SL USB can be configured for a lot of radios,  and comes =
with a
>>>>>>>> bunch of little wire jumpers that need to    be plugged into a =
header
>>>>>>>> inside the unit.     The optional, radio specific modules  plug =
into
>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> header as a single piece, instead of 8  little jumpers.     =
When I
>>>>>>>> got
>>>>>>>> mine years ago, the modules weren't around, and I had to do the
>>>>>>>> jumper
>>>>>>>> thing.  Not the end of the world, but  spend the extra money =
and get
>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> plug and play thing.
>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>> The unit does have knobs on the front for  audio in and out =
levels,
>>>>>>>> as
>>>>>>>> well as  vox delay.
>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>> Sorry you couldn't make any sense out  of the articles on
>>>>>>>> hamradioandvision.com    I thought that  seeing what other =
people are
>>>>>>>> doing might give you  pointers.
>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>> Before spending money on an interface, maybe just try some rx =
and see
>>>>>>>> how it works.  To receive, all you need is a audio cable =
between
>>>>>>>> audio
>>>>>>>> out of the radio, and line in on the pc's sound card.   I know =
you
>>>>>>>> want
>>>>>>>> to work all modes, but maybe just pick one for starters.  =
Download
>>>>>>>> software for it and see if you can get the rx side to work.     =
The
>>>>>>>> biggest problems for digital operation by the blind  are =
getting the
>>>>>>>> signal tuned in, and getting your screen reader to  speak out
>>>>>>>> something
>>>>>>>>      that makes sense.    If you can't make the rx work to your
>>>>>>>> satisfaction you might be wasting your money on an interface.
>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>> I think the MixW software John uses isn't free, but has a free =
trial
>>>>>>>> period.  It never worked for me.  MMTTY for RTTY and Digipan =
for psk
>>>>>>>> are
>>>>>>>> both free.    In digipan, set the menu option  to "use arrows =
for
>>>>>>>> seek"
>>>>>>>> and the arrow keys on the keyboard will jump between signals
>>>> on the band.
>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>> 73, good luck, Steve KW3A
>>>>>>>> On 7/14/2015 7:15 PM, Matthew Chao wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Hi, Folks.  Now that I've gotten my question answered =
regarding
>>>>>>>>> splitting the sound card duties (Window-Eyes on one card, and
>>>>>>>>> digital
>>>>>>>>> mode on a USB card) I have a few questions.
>>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>>> 1.  Someone recommended a Tigertronics USB system to me to =
interface
>>>>>>>>> with the radio.  Does anyone know anything about this system?
>>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>>> 2.  What software is likely to work best with Window-Eyes?  =
I'm
>>>>>>>>> interested in doing PSK31, RTTY, and JT65.
>>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>>> 3.  I was up on the Web site recommended to me by one of you =
folks,
>>>>>>>>> and only got totally confused on how to get digital modes =
going.  I
>>>>>>>>> think the site was hamandvision.com.
>>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>>> 4.  Of all the digital modes, which one is the least difficult =
to
>>>>>>>>> start with and grow?
>>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>>> Sorry for all the questions, but this mode sounds interesting, =
and a
>>>>>>>>> new challenge.  Thanks in advance for your help.--Matt, N1IBB.
>>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>>>=20
>>>>>=20
>>>>>=20
>>>>>=20
>>>=20
>>>=20
>>>=20
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20