campbell%hpdmd48@hplabs.HP.COM (Gary Campbell) (06/29/90)
Index Number: 9003 I am a blind ham radio operator,and am considering getting a 2-meter handheld radio. I am looking at QST ads, and am considering rigs such as the Kenwood HT26 and Yaesu FT411. These radios have a number of features (such as frequency entry, scanning, and channel memories among others). Many of these rigs can be operated without sight, but I understand that some rigs implement these features in such a way that they cannot be operated without being able to see the display; e.g. I have heard that some of them select the frequency by pressing a button and watching the display until the right frequency appears. I would appreciate any recommendations from blind hams about which models are useable and which to stay away from. With the trend toward mailorder and away from the local ham store, it's getting hard to try before you buy. Thank you. -- Gary Campbell