Thanks so much, Kelvin.

There may be some possibilities here, and I'll definitely check into them.

Tom Behler: KB8TYJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kelvin Marsh" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2013 3:11 PM
Subject: Re: alternative contest logging programs


> Hi Tom,
>
> Interesting ideas, and I've been there myself <smile>.  Firstly, I use
> N3FJP's A C Log myself for general logging.  I too use Kimberley's voice 
> for
> the Call field, but I turn off the other fields because I get audio from
> Kimberley and the screen reader at the same time.  A good example of this 
> is
> to tab into the RST Sent field.  Kimberley speaks the field name, and the
> screen reader says 599 all on top of each other.
>
> Window-Eyes gives you the ability to give a custom name to any field you 
> tab
> into, and I'm sure JAWS must do the same.  I've labelled all the fields in
> the log for the screen reader, with Kimberley's voice switched on, and 
> then
> I turn her off for good.  Now, all I hear is the screen reader reading 
> each
> field name followed by the contents, and of course you can assign the 
> sound
> card for the screen reader.  I have recorded a
> complete demo of how I use and setup A C Log, and the demo shows this 
> exact
> scenario at
>
> http://active-elements.org/2012/12/15/amateur-contact-log/
>
> Just go down to the Related Downloads heading, and what you need is in the
> '1 Setting up from a clean installation MP3' file.  You can just click on
> this and it will play, and the piece is about 5 minutes in.
>
> As to N1MM, As Lloyd says, it is free, and I use it for contesting.  Once
> initially setup for your rig and keyer, it is perfectly accessible.  I do
> all the initial setup myself independently, but you need to be an advanced
> screen reader user.  I've also created and setup all the voice files 
> needed
> for SSB contesting.  I even recorded individual numbers, and N1MM will
> concatenate them for serial numbers!  A bit stilted, but interesting.  At
> the time, I used a rig blaster to interface the PC to rig, and when the
> Function Key was pressed, the VOX in the Rig Blaster triggered the PTT.  I
> found the screen reader voice never got transmitted as it never clashed, 
> but
> you might have to consciously wait for the TX to end before reviewing the
> screen!
>
> Best wishes, Kelvin Marsh - M0AID
>
> Working to improve accessibility for radio amateurs with disabilities
>
> www.active-elements.org
>
> For accessibility evaluations of amateur equipment and MP3 manuals
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Tom Behler
> Sent: 02 February 2013 17:52
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: alternative contest logging programs
>
>    Hi, folks.
>
> As I think many of you know, I have gotten very much into contesting over
> the past few years, and have been using the N3FJP logging software package
> as my main means of logging contest contacts.
>
> The software actually is quite good in terms of interfacing with Jaws and
> windows, and the price of the entire software package certainly can't be
> beat.
>
> In recent weeks, however, I have begun to re-think the N3FJP contest 
> logging
>
> option at least a bit.  The reason is rather simple.
>
> As our friend, Steve, KW3A knows all to well, I have been trying to figure
> out a way to record contest voice exchanges, and transmit them with my 
> TS590
>
> via a connection between my laptop and the TS590.  My goal simply has been
> to create voice contest exchanges on the computer, and be able to access
> them as needed via one of the function keys on the computer keyboard.
>
> While this sounds like it would be pretty straight forward, it has not
> turned out to be this easy.
>
> It turns out that the N3FJP software uses the Windows default sound card 
> to
> play the wave files that tell you which fields you are in as you enter
> contest log data.  And, these wave files can only be played through the
> windows default sound card.  Apparently, this condition cannot be changed 
> in
>
> the N3FJP software, and this greatly limits what I can do in the way of
> interfacing the TS590 with my laptop, where the contest voice exchanges 
> are
> recorded.
>
> AS a result, I'm now beginning to wonder whether I might want to look at
> other contest logging software that might have more flexibility in 
> switching
>
> sound cards for various purposes.
>
> Some folks on this list have  mentioned using the N1MM software, and I 
> know
> some others  use Writelog, but I believe there are significant costs
> associated with each of these packages.   Plus, I believe  you also have 
> to
> buy separate software for each contest.
>
> For now, my short-term solution is to directly record at least a CQ 
> contest
> voice exchange directly on the TS590 using the VGS1 voice recorder, but 
> the
> risks there involve the possibility of making an error by hitting the 
> wrong
> voice memory key in the heat of a contest, if you have more than one
> exchange.
>
> If anyone has any thoughts on these alternative logging software programs,
> please send them my way.  Any cost info would be appreciated as well.
>
> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2013.0.2897 / Virus Database: 2639/6072 - Release Date: 01/31/13
>