Absolutely correct, Ed. I have four TS590s stuck in my ears as I write this!
K9JAUAt 01:06 PM 1/10/2016, you wrote:
>It seems to me that anything they have for blind and folks with medical
>needs cost much more than it should and I think it is because they got us
>over a barrel and I do realize however the less of anything they make the
>cost is
>higher of course. One big racket is hearing aids. you can buy three or four
>Kenwood 590sg radios cheaper than a so called good pair of aids. 73
>
>
>ED K7UC
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Tom Behler
>Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2016 11:29 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: changed topic, braille displays:
>
>Tom:
>
>I currently am facing the same situation with a Juliet Pro-60 embosser I
>personally own.
>
>The embosser was purchased for approximately $4000 back in 2000 or so, and I
>have found that it must be sent in for cleaning and servicing every 3 or 4
>years. The last time it was serviced was in the Spring of 2012, and I just
>saw the bill the other day as I was looking through my records. It cost
>$800 for basic cleaning and servicing, with only something like $30 in
>parts--the rest was the service charge. And, this did not include the cost
>of shipping the embosser down to Enabling Technologies. It should be kept
>in mind that I probably emboss from 500 to 700 pages of Braille with this
>embosser each year for both personal and professional purposes.
>
>The embosser is acting up again now, and I have just been quoted a service
>charge anywhere from $800 - $1300, for probably the same
>cleaning/maintenance process, since the embosser is exhibiting the same
>problem that it always has.
>
>Sometimes, you really do get the feeling that these service fees are
>charged, just because they canbe be.
>
>In saying all of this, I do want to be fair. ... I realize that Braille
>embossers and displays are extremely complicated devices that not just
>anyone can service. I also have to believe that the cleaning and servicing
>process is very labor intensive. However, it does seem that the fees
>charged for both purchasing and servicing are exorbitant.
>
>My real fear is that if this kind of thing continues, Braille will continue
>to be used by fewer and fewer people, due not only to the costs of
>production, but also to the fact that many of us will not be able to afford
>the devices in the future that produce it.
>
>Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>On Behalf Of Tom Fowle
>Sent: Saturday, January 09, 2016 11:00 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: changed topic, braille displays:
>
>Prices for braille displays run about $50.00 a cell and up.
>
>I've seen some better deals, particularly through flying-blind.com on
>slightly older but usable displays some even with some warranty left. The
>risk there is that older displays may no longer be servicable, they don't
>keep parts around too long.
>
>The makers of the cells and their overpriced fancy boxes believe they are
>selling to government agencies not to blind folks, so they think money is
>endless.
>
>It's close enough to true in Europe and some states here that they don't
>have to care.
>
>Why do you think Freaky Science Fiction is owned by a private equity firm.
>
>Too bad somebody can't find a new display technology, the actual cells are
>identical in operation as the first one invented in about 1970 by
>Tratiokoff.
>
>At least there is NVDA and linux so we no longer are forced to pay a K for a
>screen reader.
>
>Sorry for the diatribe, they're all crooks!
>Tom Fowle WA6IVG
>
>On Sat, Jan 09, 2016 at 01:45:15PM -0500, Jose Tamayo wrote:
> > A braille display, while ideal and very important, is beyond the reach
> > of many folks who need it / want it. I think the last time I checked,
> > a Braille display was priced at around $200 per refreshable cell. I
> > may be off since I recently heard a friend of mine purchased a Braille
> > NSpeak for around $2000.
> >
> >
> > MY BrailleNote was a Humanware BrailleNote MPower BT 32 and it was
> > spectacular but the price tag was very high. Not affordable for all
> > in Ham radio.
> >
> >
> > So, indeed the braille display would be helpful but it would also
> > depend on the software accessibility. For example, if the Screen
> > reader can't read the software interface, then a braille display would
> > be useless, or perhaps we were discussing another topic and I am
>completely off.
> > Smiles
> > Jose Tamayo
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: For blind ham radio operators
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > On Behalf Of Tom Behler
> > Sent: Friday, January 8, 2016 2:37 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Accessibility of Ten Tec radios
> >
> > Jim:
> >
> > I hear you. ... Braille access to ham rigs is great, and I truly
> > applaud you for all your efforts with the J J software, which is on my
> > list of things to try just as soon as possible.
> >
> > But what about those who don't have access to, or cannot afford a
> > Braille display?
> >
> > Perhaps I'm missing your point, so please feel free to correct any
> > errors in my thinking here.
> >
> > Just trying to have an open discussion.
> >
> > Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: For blind ham radio operators
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > On Behalf Of Jim Shaffer
> > Sent: Friday, January 08, 2016 1:55 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Accessibility of Ten Tec radios
> >
> > Ron, good point.
> >
> > However, I consider audio access to a radio as minimal accessibility.
> > Imagine a car where, in order to drive it, you had to take your eyes
> > off the road. I've become convinced that braille provides the only
> > true access to ham rigs.
> > --
> > Jim, KE5AL
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Dr. Ronald E. Milliman
> > Sent: Friday, January 08, 2016 11:21 AM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Accessibility of Ten Tec radios
> >
> > Jim and others here on the list, please accept my comments in the
> > positive manner in which they are intended. First, I certainly applaud
> > the actions Mike and Jim have taken. Too many times we only complain
> > but do little to solve our own problems.
> >
> > However, we need to communicate to Mike Dishop and John, the Ten Tec
> > developer, that Jim's software approach is only one solution and in
> > the longer run, we need a solution built into the Ten Tec line of
> > transceivers that is completely independent of Jim's software. We need
> > to be able to purchase Ten Tec rigs that are accessible right out of
> > the box just like they are for sighted hams, much like the Kenwood line of
>transceivers.
> >
> > Ron, K8HSY
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: For blind ham radio operators
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > On Behalf Of Jim Shaffer
> > Sent: Friday, January 08, 2016 10:08 AM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Accessibility of Ten Tec radios
> >
> > Here's a note I sent to the Ten Tec developer in response to his query...
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jim Shaffer
> > Sent: Friday, January 08, 2016 10:03 AM
> > Subject: Re: Accessibility of Ten Tec radios
> >
> > John, in addition to VFO, Frequency and mode, blind hams need readings
> > such as s-meter, SWR, AGC on/off and level, noise blanker on/off and
> > level, noise reduction on/off and level, VOX/breakin settings, mic and
> > speech processor settings, ALC, and anything that might effect
> > operations. For example, the
> > TS-590 has a feature to drive an amp with minimal power from the
> > radio. If accidentally set, the rig basically doesn't transmit. It
> > is nice to know the receive filter settings, but these are generally
> > set by ear anyway. I would say that the ability to control the AF and
> > RF gain is of minimal importance, at least where accessibility is
>concerned.
> >
> > Also, for many radios, access to the memories and menus is often
> > difficult, if possible at all. My software reports and sets memory
> > values as well as providing text for the menu settings.
> >
> > Also, I need to be able to provide support for reasonably priced rigs.
> > Unfortunately, many blind folks are on limited budgets.
> >
> > hth, and thanks again.
> > --
> > Jim Shaffer, KE5AL
> >
> >
> > ---
> > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> > http://www.avast.com
> >
> >
> > ---
> > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> > http://www.avast.com
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