[chirp_users] hello from a new list member
hello there.
I am Eric and I am a blind ham. I ran across the software while trying to reprogram my PX-777. I found 2 issues with the program: 1. its only partially accessible under voiceover (Mac OS X) 2. it doesn't seem to work with my PX-777.
the first one is solvable by adding some accessibility features (python has some and apple published the API for voiceover). I am not a coder, so I can't tell how difficult this will be.
The second issue (which is actually the more important of the 2) is getting it to work with my Puxing px-777. So far as I know, that radio is not yet supported. Also, since I am on a limited income, sending my radio out just for Development work is more costly than I can afford. If the radio gets bricked, I am out the cost of the radio (and shipping). If it gets lost, same thing plus time arguing with the delivery agent.
Still, I would like this radio to be supported in such a way as to make it easy for me to program.
any ideas?
-eric n7zzt
1. Chirp developers have never bricked a radio.
2. PX-777 is supported already.
Tom KD7LXL On Jul 3, 2013 12:00 AM, "eric oyen" eric.oyen@gmail.com wrote:
hello there.
I am Eric and I am a blind ham. I ran across the software while trying to reprogram my PX-777. I found 2 issues with the program:
- its only partially accessible under voiceover (Mac OS X)
- it doesn't seem to work with my PX-777.
the first one is solvable by adding some accessibility features (python has some and apple published the API for voiceover). I am not a coder, so I can't tell how difficult this will be.
The second issue (which is actually the more important of the 2) is getting it to work with my Puxing px-777. So far as I know, that radio is not yet supported. Also, since I am on a limited income, sending my radio out just for Development work is more costly than I can afford. If the radio gets bricked, I am out the cost of the radio (and shipping). If it gets lost, same thing plus time arguing with the delivery agent.
Still, I would like this radio to be supported in such a way as to make it easy for me to program.
any ideas?
-eric n7zzt _______________________________________________ chirp_users mailing list chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com http://intrepid.danplanet.com/mailman/listinfo/chirp_users
the first one is solvable by adding some accessibility features (python has some and apple published the API for voiceover). I am not a coder, so I can't tell how difficult this will be.
The detail you're probably not aware of is that CHIRP uses a cross-platform UI toolkit called GTK. This makes it invisible to screen readers on both Windows and MacOS, which only support reading for their native widgets. It works just fine on Linux, of course, but that doesn't help you.
Unfortunately, there is not much we can do for you here. It's not feasible to have a volunteer-run application project that supports all three platforms' UI toolkits natively, and especially one that moves at the speed that CHIRP does.
Eric Where do you live? I suspect that there is a friendly ham very close to you who will assist you in programming your radio. Fred VA6FRM Barrhead Alberta Canada
On Wed, Jul 3, 2013 at 9:41 AM, Dan Smith dsmith@danplanet.com wrote:
the first one is solvable by adding some accessibility features (python has some and apple published the API for voiceover). I am not a coder, so I can't tell how difficult this will be.
The detail you're probably not aware of is that CHIRP uses a cross-platform UI toolkit called GTK. This makes it invisible to screen readers on both Windows and MacOS, which only support reading for their native widgets. It works just fine on Linux, of course, but that doesn't help you.
Unfortunately, there is not much we can do for you here. It's not feasible to have a volunteer-run application project that supports all three platforms' UI toolkits natively, and especially one that moves at the speed that CHIRP does.
-- Dan Smith www.danplanet.com KK7DS
chirp_users mailing list chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com http://intrepid.danplanet.com/mailman/listinfo/chirp_users
Eric,
Download Vinux which is Linux for the Visually impaired from www.vinuxproject.org
It will boot from DVD or installed on USB stick or installed alongside windows on hard drive.
I use it all the time, or about 90% of the time, Windows about 10%.
Linux does everything and much easier than Windows.
73
David N1EA On Jul 3, 2013 11:41 AM, "Dan Smith" dsmith@danplanet.com wrote:
the first one is solvable by adding some accessibility features (python has some and apple published the API for voiceover). I am not a coder, so I can't tell how difficult this will be.
The detail you're probably not aware of is that CHIRP uses a cross-platform UI toolkit called GTK. This makes it invisible to screen readers on both Windows and MacOS, which only support reading for their native widgets. It works just fine on Linux, of course, but that doesn't help you.
Unfortunately, there is not much we can do for you here. It's not feasible to have a volunteer-run application project that supports all three platforms' UI toolkits natively, and especially one that moves at the speed that CHIRP does.
-- Dan Smith www.danplanet.com KK7DS
chirp_users mailing list chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com http://intrepid.danplanet.com/mailman/listinfo/chirp_users
That still doesn't help with the overall problem (or perhaps it might). The issue I have right now is that I would like to use chirp and can't. Its not the fault of either NVDA (screen reader for windows) or Voiceover (OS X screen reader). It appears to be a problem with the selected interface. I just tried chirp for win32 and all I got was a blank dialog and no access to any drop down menus (especially those that should work with the alt key in windows). OS X was a little better as I was able to at least access the main menus but couldn't select anything in the program itself.
This makes chirp a not very useful tool for me (or the thousands of other blind hams in the US).
what I would like to do is be able to program any supported radio without visual assistance from anyone else. Since I cannot currently do that, it makes me a bit less useful as a HAM on public service events. This also means that I am forced to wait until I can find a volunteer to help me with some tasks involving my radios. This I don't like at all.
anyway, enough of my rant. I do issue this challenge however. I challenge the Author to improve his product. make it accessible for the blind (that is easy to do from a certain point of view). It might be a lot harder for windows than for OS X.
I will give Vinux a try (again). ever since their primary developer left, it hasn't quite been the same (and some things got a bit more broken).
-eric n7zzt
On Jul 3, 2013, at 8:52 PM, D.J.J. Ring, Jr. wrote:
Eric,
Download Vinux which is Linux for the Visually impaired from www.vinuxproject.org
It will boot from DVD or installed on USB stick or installed alongside windows on hard drive.
I use it all the time, or about 90% of the time, Windows about 10%.
Linux does everything and much easier than Windows.
73
David N1EA
On Jul 3, 2013 11:41 AM, "Dan Smith" dsmith@danplanet.com wrote:
the first one is solvable by adding some accessibility features (python has some and apple published the API for voiceover). I am not a coder, so I can't tell how difficult this will be.
The detail you're probably not aware of is that CHIRP uses a cross-platform UI toolkit called GTK. This makes it invisible to screen readers on both Windows and MacOS, which only support reading for their native widgets. It works just fine on Linux, of course, but that doesn't help you.
Unfortunately, there is not much we can do for you here. It's not feasible to have a volunteer-run application project that supports all three platforms' UI toolkits natively, and especially one that moves at the speed that CHIRP does.
-- Dan Smith www.danplanet.com KK7DS
chirp_users mailing list chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com http://intrepid.danplanet.com/mailman/listinfo/chirp_users
chirp_users mailing list chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com http://intrepid.danplanet.com/mailman/listinfo/chirp_users
By using Vinux, CHIRP is accessible using ORCA screen reader. ORCA has the gtk accessibility module installed in Vinux.
CHIRP is not accessible in Windows or Mac, but it is accessible in Linux if the gtk api is installed as it is in Vinux.
There are a few bugs with Vinux 4.0 when run from CD, but these do not affect usb or hard drive install.
Tony Sales likes Vinux 4.0.
73
David N1EA On Jul 4, 2013 12:12 AM, "eric oyen" eric.oyen@gmail.com wrote:
That still doesn't help with the overall problem (or perhaps it might). The issue I have right now is that I would like to use chirp and can't. Its not the fault of either NVDA (screen reader for windows) or Voiceover (OS X screen reader). It appears to be a problem with the selected interface. I just tried chirp for win32 and all I got was a blank dialog and no access to any drop down menus (especially those that should work with the alt key in windows). OS X was a little better as I was able to at least access the main menus but couldn't select anything in the program itself.
This makes chirp a not very useful tool for me (or the thousands of other blind hams in the US).
what I would like to do is be able to program any supported radio without visual assistance from anyone else. Since I cannot currently do that, it makes me a bit less useful as a HAM on public service events. This also means that I am forced to wait until I can find a volunteer to help me with some tasks involving my radios. This I don't like at all.
anyway, enough of my rant. I do issue this challenge however. I challenge the Author to improve his product. make it accessible for the blind (that is easy to do from a certain point of view). It might be a lot harder for windows than for OS X.
I will give Vinux a try (again). ever since their primary developer left, it hasn't quite been the same (and some things got a bit more broken).
-eric n7zzt
On Jul 3, 2013, at 8:52 PM, D.J.J. Ring, Jr. wrote:
Eric,
Download Vinux which is Linux for the Visually impaired from www.vinuxproject.org
It will boot from DVD or installed on USB stick or installed alongside windows on hard drive.
I use it all the time, or about 90% of the time, Windows about 10%.
Linux does everything and much easier than Windows.
73
David N1EA On Jul 3, 2013 11:41 AM, "Dan Smith" dsmith@danplanet.com wrote:
the first one is solvable by adding some accessibility features (python has some and apple published the API for voiceover). I am not a coder, so I can't tell how difficult this will be.
The detail you're probably not aware of is that CHIRP uses a cross-platform UI toolkit called GTK. This makes it invisible to screen readers on both Windows and MacOS, which only support reading for their native widgets. It works just fine on Linux, of course, but that doesn't help you.
Unfortunately, there is not much we can do for you here. It's not feasible to have a volunteer-run application project that supports all three platforms' UI toolkits natively, and especially one that moves at the speed that CHIRP does.
-- Dan Smith www.danplanet.com KK7DS
chirp_users mailing list chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com http://intrepid.danplanet.com/mailman/listinfo/chirp_users
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participants (5)
-
D.J.J. Ring, Jr. -
Dan Smith -
eric oyen -
Frederick R. McDougall -
Tom Hayward