Steve, you are 100% correct in your comments. In contrast, my LDG
AT1000PROII tuner was totally accessible right out of the box. I didn't have
to set up anything or have any sighted assistance to get it to work.
However, as much as I like the LDG tuner that I use with my station I have
at the lake, when I get my TS-590S back from Kenwood's service center, and
get my station here at my new house set up, and if I discover I need an
external tuner, I will probably go with the MFJ 998, like what you and Tom
are using. I like the idea of having the direct interface between the 590
and the tuner, which is not currently available with the LDG tuners. In my
communications with LDG, they indicated they have no intentions of providing
any interface between their tuners and the Kenwood rigs. I am only reading
between the lines, but I get the impression it has something to do with the
relationship between the two firms, but I could be totally wrong.

Ron, K8HSY
  


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Steve Forst
Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2015 9:56 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: accessible tuners - was -Re: Amplifier package for sale

Ron,

Took the liberty of tweaking the subject line.

I agree that everybody has their own definition of just what is "blind 
friendly".   I know that you use the LDG tuner with your Kenwood 590 
with great success.

If I remember right, you have a pf key set for the TX tune function that
allows the  radio to drop in power and put out a cw carrier for tuning 
the external tuner.   The other option is to  add a resistor to the 
radio's molex tuner jack to disable the internal tuner, letting you  hit the
radio's tune button to put out the low power carrier.

So it would seem that the LDG is quite usable, even  though it doesn't
"interface" with the Kenwood.

I do have  an MFJ 998 that does require some initial setup.  With it's wrap
around menus, it is  easier to do this with sighted help, but generally once
set up,  you don't have to mess with it.

I do like the  interface ability between the radio and tuner of the MFJ, and
the  amp keying bypass is nice, especially with solid state amps.

73, Steve KW3A


On 8/5/2015 10:40 AM, Dr. Ronald E. Milliman wrote:
> Regarding the LDG tuners...
>
> While I am not a fan of LDG's owner/manager, I own one of their 
> tuners, the LDG AT1000PROII automatic antenna tuner, and as far as I 
> am concerned, it is very accessible and useable by a blind ham. I am 
> extremely satisfied with my tuner, and I am totally blind. I know 
> others here on our Blind Hams' email list that have similar tuners and 
> I think they would agree with me that they are quite accessible. It 
> requires using your ears and knowing what the various sounds mean 
> because they do not, literally, talk, but many of us are used to having to
learn what to listen for when operating our rigs.
>
> I am not intentionally criticizing anyone here. I'm just pointing out 
> that we might have different definitions of accessible, and what might 
> be fully accessible to one of us or some of us, might not be 
> accessible to someone else.
>
> Ron, K8HSY
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators 
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Jim Gammon
> Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2015 11:40 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Amplifier package for sale
>
>      I just bought a used ALS600 amp and an LDG600 Pro tuner which I 
> returned because it was not blind friendly.  I am interested in how 
> the MFJ tuner is accessible and how much they are.  I am assuming you 
> do not want to break up the package and sell the tuner separately 
> which is understandable, am just looking for information on the tuner.  
> 73, Jim Gammon -----Original
> Message-----
> From: Neil k8it
> Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2015 9:15 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Amplifier package for sale
>
> I have for sale an Ameritron ALS-1300 solid state amp, MFJ-998 legal 
> limit autotuner and all the cables and interface box needed. this is 
> definitely an accessible package.
> for details email me
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> Thanks
> 73 Neil Sablatzky  K8IT
> Allstar Node 41838 KITLINK
> Allstar Node 42087 KITLINK HUB
> IRLP Node exp0068
> Echolink K8IT-L
> WIRES-X K8IT 11479 Room 21479
>
>
>