I used to be an avid listener about 15 years ago or more and I've
started playing with it again. I currently have an old Radio shack
digital receiver, made in '89 or so. It works, but I'm tired of its
background noise and it is suffering from loose antenna connections
and other problems. I always wanted a real communications receiver,
and I may just up and buy one, when you're a kid money is always
tight.

I'm trying to choose among what is currently available, and I'm in a
special situation. I am blind and I want a receiver I can use fairly
well. I'm into computers so I am either going to buy one of the
computer-controlled units or something like the Icom R75 with the
speech synthesizer option. I was looking at the Ten Tec 320d on the
computer-controlled end for comparison.

Here's what I'd liketo know:
1. Does the Icom r75 or even the 8500 if anybody knows allow one to
add memories by entering a frequency and once on it, just putting a
memory number in?
2. Are the controls for functions specific knobs or do you have to go
through menus that won't speak in order to change things?
3. How does the r75 sound?


On the Ten Tech, I'd like to know if you can enter a frequency by
typing it in, and would the lack of a knotch filter (something I've
always thought would be nice) be a real big disadvantage?

I'm really tempted to go with the icom, then I wouldn't have to run a
computer to make it work. The Ten Tec is definitely cheaper, though,
and I have enough computing power around here to satisfy a small third
world country. My main interests are broadcast stations, and any
marine stuff I can find.

Thanks.