Hi Eric!

Bet you've only got 32 cells. Hi hi.

At least that's all the company will sell at the moment.


73,
Dave
A-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Eric Oyen
Sent: Sunday, 10 January 2016 1:50 p.m.
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Accessibility of Ten Tec radios

hmmm. mine must be a top of the line model. It's a Braille Sense U2 40 =
cell model. retails for $5,995. I am still paying on a 72 month contract =
to own it. I am about halfway through it, so I have a while to go. =
Honestly, I don't see how these things should cost this much. Seriously, =
the cost per cell to actually manufacture a cell is $0.15 (I know, I =
checked and it took a lot of digging to find that). Mostly, a lions =
share of the cost is probably the per unit license for windows CE. =
still, with an alternative CPU and some other goodies (as well as an =
open source OS), the unit could be made for far cheaper and be more =
powerful and a better quality.

ANyway, this is a bit off the ham radio thing.

DE n7zzt Eric

On Jan 9, 2016, at 11:45 AM, 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.
>=20
>=20
> 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.
>=20
>=20
> 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=20
> Jose Tamayo=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
> -----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
>=20
> Jim:
>=20
> 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.
>=20
> But what about those who don't have access to, or cannot afford a =
Braille
> display?
>=20
> Perhaps I'm missing your point, so please feel free to correct any =
errors in
> my thinking here.
>=20
> Just trying to have an open discussion.
>=20
> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>=20
>=20
> -----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
>=20
> Ron, good point.
>=20
> However, I consider audio access to a radio as minimal accessibility.=20=

> 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
>=20
> 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.
>=20
> 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.
>=20
> Ron, K8HSY
>=20
>=20
> -----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
>=20
> 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
>=20
> 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.
>=20
> 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.
>=20
> Also, I need to be able to provide support for reasonably priced rigs.
> Unfortunately, many blind folks are on limited budgets.
>=20
> hth, and thanks again.
> --
> Jim Shaffer, KE5AL
>=20
>=20
> ---
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
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>=20
>=20
> ---
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