Using TrueTTY
With A Screen Reader
This supplement to the article Digital Mode Text-to-Speech gives an example of a QSO in which a screen reader speaks the decoded text from TrueTTY.
Three TrueTTY shortcuts are used:
CTRL-N moves the received message to a NotePad window.
ALT-D clears the TrueTTY Received Text Box.
F12 clears the Transmitted Text Box.
Two screen reader commands in this example are for JAWS:
1. Call CQ using a TrueTTY macro. Shortcut: F1.
2. Listen to radio audio for response. Wait for transmission to end.
3. Copy message to NotePad. Shortcut: CTRL-N.
4. Route JAWS cursor to PC cursor. INSERT NUMPAD-MINUS.
5. Read message. INSERT NUMPAD-DOWN.
6. Close NotePad without saving. Shortcuts: ALT-F4. Then N.
7. Clear TrueTTY Received Text Box. Shortcut: ALT-D.
8. Clear Transmitted Text Box. Shortcut: F12.
9. Type a reply.
Selecting "word wrap" in the Notepad Format Menu keeps all the text in an area the word processor can access. This format persists when the computer is restarted.
Automating Keystrokes
You may also want to use short Windows macro scripts to automate the process. The main advantage is that you can start listening to a message before all of it has been received. A separate article explains how this works and lists the macro scripts.
Summary
Blind and vision-impaired hams can use TrueTTY with a screen reader to hear spoken digital mode text.
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to Brian, W1BLS, for his blog about digital modes for blind operators. Thanks also to Kathy, KB1OLH, for adding useful comments to his blog. Sergei, UA9OSV, the author of TrueTTY, gave prompt, helpful answers to my questions.
Author Information
Peter DeNeef, AE7PD, is an Extra Class amateur radio operator in the U.S. This web site has no ads or conflicts of interest.
Email: HamRadioAndVision "at" gmail "dot" com
rev. 1/20/2012
Related Articles: Configuring TrueTTY
Automating TrueTTY Keystrokes
High Visibility Digital Mode Text