well, I can honestly say that a lot of radio equipment manufacturers need to design in accessibility from minute one. THis is why I have stuck with Kenwood all these years. The problem I see with them is this: you mention accessibility and their responses are "niche market" or "orphan equipment". At that point, trying to reason with them is impossible. However, the one thing I know is this: Money doesn't talk, it screams at the top of its lungs. If the manufacturers want our business (which averages out to some 18 billion annually among the blind, their friends and families), they will have to accede to our demand. If they don't want us, then we need not spend money there.

BTW, I am the owner of a TS-480 here and I like the radio a lot. I can do a surprising number of things with it. THere are some quirks and system omissions that drive me a little batty. One is that I can't get the unit to read me the SWR. THe other is that I can't seem to find a way to set the ALC. I also ran on borrowed equipment for a long time. WHen I went to return it, I was told to pass it on to another ham in need (which I did). I also got some donated equipment from Another ham (Jim WIlson  N7JW). He is willing to help out blind hams as much as possible.

DE n7zzt Eric

On Aug 28, 2015, at 1:03 PM, Michael Ryan wrote:

> I agree with you Colin although this is probably gonna draw a line in the sand. LOL 
> All my station I had to get through my own dollars and once I could do that, any borrowed equipment had to be returned. I also don't like having things shoved down my throat with regards to this hobby. 
> There are allot out there think that I should take an ax to my vintage gear and have nothing but a Kenwood TS-590, along with the suggestion that a wire antenna and 100W is good enough for you while they are running KWs of power. LOL Now that's not to say I didn't have any problems with my equipment along the way and I would have been better served by a new solid state rig with full accessibility but I chose the vintage Yaesu root and love my station which seems to be behaving now that I'm having my XYL look over my shoulder to check things now and then and keeping my max tune up power to 150W CW. 
> I think some of this hand holding while ya leak needs to go away. LOL 
> 
> 73: 
> Mike DE VO1AX