Help for Challenged Hams Introduction to resources for

Help for Challenged Hams Introduction to resources for challenged Hams By Eric Bechtel, AE 7 UF

One in Five Americans (56. 7 million)* Disability: A physical or mental condition that limits a person’s movements, senses, or activities. *2010 United States Census

• 8. 1 million had difficulty seeing • 2 million blind or unable to see

Accessible Equipment Manuals From DX Zone: • Adobe PDF Accessibility for the Blind • MFJ Product Manuals • ICan. Work. This. Thing. com http: //www. dxzone. com/cgi-bin/dir/jump 2. cgi? ID=28192 • Remotehams User’s Manual for Blind Hams http: //www. dxzone. com/cgi-bin/dir/jump 2. cgi? ID=28196

Equipment ARRL articles about equipment to help the visually impaired. • Device providing audible SWR indication • Light detector with varying pitch according to light • Talking Wattmeter • Audible Frequency Readout • Audible Current Meter • Morse Readout for Your Digital Dial http: //www. arrl. org/access-to-amateur-radio-for-the-disabled

Equipment Continued • Relative-Indication Audible Meter Reader • Oscilloscope for the Blind that uses rise and fall of pitch to indicate various wave shapes. https: //www. seeingwithsound. com/voiscope. htm

Articles Four articles about amateur radio and blindness each month in QST from October 1987 through January 1988. • October 1987 (Difficulties a blind ham faces, advantages/opportunities from ham radio) http: //www. arrl. org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/8710027. pdf • November 1987 (Computers, speech synthesizers, software, modems. Getting them to work together) http: //www. arrl. org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/8711028. pdf • December 1987 (Readying the computer to communicate with modem) http: //www. arrl. org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/8712028. pdf • January 1988 (More about modems and operating procedures) http: //www. arrl. org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/8801038. pdf

Articles Continued Ham Radio and Vision: For Blind and Vision-Impaired Hams by Peter De. Neef, AE 7 PD http: //www. dxzone. com/cgi-bin/dir/jump 2. cgi? ID=28194

• 7. 6 million with difficulty hearing (1. 1 million severe) • 5. 6 million use hearing aids

Protocols • Continuous Wave (CW)/Morse Code • Digital Modes • Slow Scan TV • International Phonetics • P. . A. . T. . I. . E. . N. . C. . E • Avoid parroting, enunciate

Equipment • • • Hearing aids (T-coil inductive coupling, Bluetooth®, and other technologies) Speakers (noise cancelling) and headphones/headset Graphic equalizer Filters Decoder programs Digital signal processing Anything to reduce noise/increase audio volume and clarity Visual aids (light instead of sound indicators) Packet—Deaf SEL ham used 12 V powered RS-232 terminal (Plannar ELT 320) and packet radio to communicate over 2 meter. Incorrect RS-232 signal format, so had to use 80 lb battery that lasted only a couple of hours.

Techniques • “Hunt and Pounce” • Band spectrum display and scanning for activity • RIT–move pitch up or down • RF adjustment • Feeling the code—fingers on a speaker cone

Articles • Some exciting developments in hearing aid technology reported in IEEE Spectrum in December of 2016 http: //spectrum. ieee. org/consumer-electronics/audiovideo/deeplearning-reinvents-the-hearing-aid

Motor Impairment Roughly 30. 6 million Americans • Have trouble walking/climbing stairs • Use wheelchair, cane, crutches, or walker About 19. 9 million had trouble lifting and grasping

Protocols and Technology • Stroke patient with very limited movement sends Morse code messages to his wife. • Sip and Puff Technology and Other Controllers http: //www. infogrip. com/sip-puff-switch. html http: //www. broadenedhorizons. com • PS/2 Keyer (emulates PS/2 keyboard and mouse; March 2010 QST) Coupled with puff and sip key (March 2004 QST) allows hands-free computer operation http: //www. arrl. org/files/file/QEX_Next_Issue/May-Jun_2010/Bern. pdf

Courage Handi. Ham Program • Service of Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, part of Allina Health • International, educational, non-profit organization designed to bring excitement of Amateur Radio to persons with physical disabilities, vision loss, and reading disabilities. • Distance education program with online audio licensing lectures based on ARRL License Manuals. • Tools, technology, education to help challenged hams become effective operators

Handiham Services for Members • License and equipment manuals, other ham radio books & periodicals on computer files at website and on NLS digital cartridge • Members Only section of Handiham website, https: //handiham. org , including Courage Handiham University with online audio licensing lectures, QST & CQ digests and more. Online audio lectures available 24/7 and part of membership fee. Lectures have all info to pass each level of licensing. • Handiham e-mail newsletter with updates on ham radio happenings • Access to Handiham remote base stations WØZSW and WØEQO • Assistance from Handiham staff with ham radio studies, locating VE sessions and ham clubs, other ham-related questions • Handiham Radio Club sponsors daily on-air net

Application and Membership Costs • Physical disability, vision loss, or reading disability? Join as member receiving services. Non-disabled Amateurs welcome as Volunteer or Associate. Organizations welcome. Program depends on entire Ham community. • Complete membership form and pay $12 annual fee for services. Form at https: //handiham. org, under "Membership".

Application & Membership Costs (Continued) • Blind-Friendly Printable Text Application: Fill out in Notepad, print, sign and mail to Handiham headquarters. Only must type answer after each question, one per line: https: //handiham. org/downloads/Application 16. txt • Printable PDF Membership Application: Print, fill out, sign and mail to Handiham headquarters: https: //handiham. org/downloads/Application 16. pdf • Can pay Handiham dues on line. Follow link to secure payment site, then enter information and submit payment. https: //pay. usbank. com/Form/Payments/New? id=COURAGE_KENNY _HANDIHAMS

Contact • Courage Kenny Handiham Program https: //handiham. org • Toll-Free telephone: 1 -866 -HANDIHAM (1 -866 -426 -3442) • Handiham Echo. Link conference: 494492. Via i. Phone, Android phone, PC, or on connected simplex node or repeater system in your area. • Daily Echolink net: 11: 00 hours CST (Noon Eastern, 09: 00 Pacific), as well as Wednesday evenings at 19: 00 hours CST (7 PM). No Thursday.

Disability Action Center (DAC) • Offers equipment (including loaner equipment). • Offers services to challenged individuals in the local area. 505 North Main Street in Moscow 208 -883 -0523 330 5 th Street in Lewiston 1 -888 -746 -9033