Access to Amateur Radio for the Blind
Introduction
Blind accessibility to ham radio is largely hit and miss--excellent products come and go. Even when good products are available, it may be necessary to modify existing equipment.
Additional information on this subject and related topics can be found in back issues of QST and the other ARRL publications.
The ARRL has an extensive catalog of books and materials related to Amateur Radio.
Articles
Note: Some of the following articles are in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files. To view and print these files, you'll need a copy of Adobe's Acrobat Reader program. (Version 3.0 or later required). More information here.
- Meet the Swailer! (587,831 bytes, PDF file)
QST January 1986, pp. 37-39
A simple device that enables sight impaired hams to "read" an SWR meter by adjusting the transmitter/antenna tuner controls while comparing the pitch of two consecutive audio tones until they are as close as possible.
- Amateur Radio and the Blind -- Part 1 (2,535,747 bytes, PDF file)
QST October 1987, pp. 27-31
Feedback -- QST January 1988, p. 49
What difficulties does a blind person encounter with Amateur Radio? What advantages and opportunities does Amateur radio offer the blind? In this series, we'll discuss subjects you may have thought of only occasionally, but you're certain to find interesting and informative.
- Amateur Radio and the Blind -- Part 2 (2,246,367 bytes, PDF file)
QST November 1987, pp. 29-32
Computers, speech synthesizers, software and modems -- what's involved in making them work together? Let's begin the learning process.
- Amateur Radio and the Blind -- Part 3 (2,100,621 bytes, PDF file)
QST December 1987, pp. 28-31
In this installment we'll ready the computer to talk to the modem. Then, we'll look at modems and some terminals software, too.
- Amateur Radio and the Blind -- Part 4 (963,118 bytes, PDF file)
QST January 1988, pp. 38-40
We'll wrap up this series with a few more comments about modems and general operating procedures. I've included a few operating tricks, too.
- The Squawker: A Light Detector (1,605,349 bytes, PDF file)
QST July 1987, pp. 35-37
Technical Correspondence, QST December 1987, p.44: Squawker Checks Coax
This simple device is an aid for a blind amateur. Sighted amateurs, however, are sure to find at least one of the applications mentioned here suited to their purpose.
- A Talking Wattmeter (1,473,903 bytes, PDF file)
QST July 1988, pp. 15-20
Listen! Your wattmeter's talking to you -- if you've got the Orator hooked up to it, that is!
- The "Beeper": An Audible Frequency Readout for the Blind Amateur (1,698,652 bytes, PDF file)
QST September 1983, pp. 19-24
Feedback, QST January 1984, p, 49
A BCD-output frequency counter, a decoder and an oscillator produce a tone to tell you when your transceiver is tuned to a predetermined frequency.
- The SHARC Audible Current Meter (1,494,004 bytes, PDF file)
QST April 1979, pp. 22-27
When Raymond Andrews, K0LZR, president of the Sand Hills ARC, suggested that club members design a special radio aid for blind amateurs, he got results.
- An Audio Tone-Shift Power/SWR Meter (658,608 bytes, PDF file)
QST September 1979, pp. 28-29
Adjusting a pi network or an antenna-matching system requires visually handicapped amateurs to have a "third hand." This modified SWR indicator is an answer to that need.
- A Morse Readout for Your Digital Dial (1,061,339 bytes, PDF file)
QST November 1979, pp. 33-37
Modern instrumentation has introduced new problems for the visually handicapped. What to do about dials, frequency counters or multimeters that have digital readouts? For sightless radio amateurs, W3ICB offers this practical solution.
- A Relative-Indication Audible Meter Reader (141,381 bytes, PDF file)
QST March 1997, pp. 36-39
This simple circuit allows blind - and sighted - hams to identify meter readings audibly.
- FREQ-Mite-A Programmable Morse Code Frequency Readout 130,931 bytes, PDF file
QST December 1998, pp. 34-36
This simple, one-evening project delivers a rig's frequency with dots and dashes
Note:
Contact information for suppliers mentioned in the above articles should first be confirmed using TIS Address Database Search.
Bibliography (Members Only)
ARRL Periodicals Index Search - This database contains the QST index from 1915 to the present and the QEX index from 1981 to the present. For QST issues from 1970 to the present, and some selected articles back to 1922 (when construction articles featuring tubes began in earnest), identifying keywords have been added to the technical articles. By entering keywords (ANTENNA) or combinations of keywords (CONSTRUCTION ANTENNA VERTICAL HF) into the Title words: field, you may create dynamic bibliographies.
Technical article KEYWORD list. Hints for more successful searching
Suggested keywords for more articles like the ones on this page are: BLIND
Web Links
- Courage Center's HANDI-HAM System
Technology for people with physical disabilities - Amateur Radio - Shortwave Listening - Computing - Ham Radio Education -- Camps
- Oscilloscope for the Blind
The vOICe Learning Edition can be used in combination with a regular oscilloscope, allowing blind users to hear any oscilloscope trace.
Article Reprints:
You can get a photocopy of any ARRL published article for $3 ($5 for nonmembers) for each article requested. Contact the ARRL Technical Department (reprints@arrl.org ), or 1-860-594-0390, Noon to 5PM, Tuesday through Friday, if you wish to get photocopies.
This information was prepared as a membership service by the American Radio Relay League, Inc., Technical Information Service, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 (860) 594-0214. Email: tis@arrl.org (Internet). ARRL HQ is glad to provide this information on the Web free of charge as a service to League members and affiliated clubs.
If you have any questions concerning the reproduction or distribution of this material, please contact:
TIS Coordinator
American Radio Relay League
225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111
Tel: 860-594-0214 Fax: 860-594-0259
(email: tis@arrl.org)
Page last modified: 11:51 AM, 26 Jan 2009 ET
Page author: tis@arrl.org
Copyright © 2009, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
