[TrunkCom] Too Early to Compare?

[Steve Matzura]

Hi there, Jeff:

On Mon, 5 Nov 2007 19:45:17 -0500 (EST), you wrote:

>I don't know what your visual situation is but have you had a
>chance to work with any trunking  software or the newer scanners like the
>396 or 996 and what has your impression been as far as accessibility goes?

You and I have talked on this topic before, and it was definitely
before the 996 and associated radios came out.

As far as vision is concerned, I don't have any--none at all. I'm both
a JAWS and Window-Eyes screenreader user, with a marked preference for
JAWS.

As far as programming and using the 996 and older 250 are concerned,
unless you're a memory maniac and can remember all the key functions
and secondary functions and all of that, stick with the software,
particular the Butel ARC series, which is very nice and accessible.  I
enjoy the heck out of my 996 when the ARC996 software is controlling
it.  So, too, did I enjoy the 250 with its accompanying ARC software.
I recently sold the 250 to help finance the purchase of the new GRE
radio, for which there will be an ARC release later this year.  I'm
hoping Gommert does something about some of his floating windows,
which make automatic speaking of active talkgroups a little
problematic for JAWS, but as I learn more about JAWS scripting and
window management, that's seeming to be less and less of an obstacle.

If there's anything specific you'd like to know about the ARC series,
let me know.  As I said, I've worked a lot with the 250 and 996, and a
friend of mine on the west coast has done the same with the 396
version.