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
>
>
> ---
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