TRX-1 programming software

[wb9rsq]

Before posting a few days ago I read through this entire thread from start to end. Not easy with all the signatures and extra junk on the pages that a screen reader and blind user can't just skim past. I understand that many people hate the software just as others just don't understand why anyone is unhappy. Without getting to technical the software breaks all the accessibility rules. What's more without the ability to import and export data it effectively locks me away from my radio. Two short examples but you have to stop being mouse driven. With only your keyboard try to use the scan list tab. There is a combo-box that lets you select the list. With your keyboard tab so you are in that box. Then hit a single down arrow to increase the number of the scan list. A normal combo-box will let you move up and down changing the numbers by single or larger amounts with the page up and page down. Not so with Whistler. Each time you hit a key to change the list value the focus is yanked away from the combo-box and returned to nowhere land. So if I want to change the list I have to tab twice to the box. Down arrow once then tab twice to get back and down once tab twice and and and and. Impossible to directly get to a list or easily select any list other than unassigned objects at the top or skyworn at the bottom. The contents of the list is displayed in a grid control that is non-standard and completely invisible to screen readers. So even if I have the list I want I can't tell what is in it. Whistler chose to create custom controls that essentially do what generic standard Windows controls can do. By doing that and failing completely to use UIA or MSAA events all activity in their controls is invisible to screen readers. Even the simple welcome text in the general tab can't be accessed since again they used a non-standard control where simple edit boxes or a multi-line edit would have accomplished the same function. The bottom line is that not only tab order is mixed up so is everything else. Try tabbing through the selections in the library tab. Most of the controls in that dialog are non-standard controls and don't read to me at all. Also there is no common pattern to where each press of the tab takes you on those screens. Why is it so hard for people to understand that RR and Whistler by jointly preventing third party programming are doing nothing for their image nor scanning public? In the Whistler user guide there is a copywrite notice for the library database. On that same page is a disclamer that user contributed data may not be correct. Nothing like copywriting something the community built and that through other methods can be downloaded, viewed, imported, exported and arranged in anyway the user sees fit. The limitation turns customers away, discriminates against blind users and in the end protects exactly nothing. With PSR-edit I can download the same data. I can move talk groups and build my scan lists. I can access all settings for my pro106 and pro197. It is not perfect but I can manage with out sighted help. With EZ Scan I can read only about 10 percent of the settings. I can't read the scan lists nor use the library import screens. I can't even import conventional frequencies and why would I want to anyway? If all I needed was conventional frequencies I'd stick with my existing radios. I can't program the new complex trunking systems without a computer. I can't program the radio directly. I need software that works with my screen reader and my radio. I expect when I buy a product that it will serve the purpose for which it was purchased. If that means software to make it accessible I can accept that. What offends me is a company with no understanding or concern for the customers that keep it in business. Even before I posted here it was clear there were and still are major problems in addition to accessibility. Nobody gets it completely right or perfect but single source software with limited resources for improvement will never address all of the concerns imagined or real. For those who are frustrated and dismissive of my posts and concerns that is of course your right. It might shock you to know that blind and low vision people hold jobs, have families, pay taxes, own homes and in fact live lives similar to yours. I own a home, have an MBA in business, work as an IT professional and have traveled to all 50 states and many other locations. While my wife drives the car I operate my mobile ham station and other electronics in our car. My ability to do so keeps her eyes on the road where they should be. My dollars when spent on equipment should buy me the exact same functionality as yours. When a company makes a choice to directly prevent my access whether by ignorence or delibrate choice I should be able to express my outrage and concern. You might not understand it but in my place would you give up and stay home and invisible? If you have elderly parents or family members who enjoy listening to scanners are you willing to support them by visiting and setting up their equipment? Whenever there is a change in frequencies or talk groups are you willing to dash over and update their scanners? Independence matters. If they could they'd keep theirs. I'm fighting to keep mine! So this is my final post. I don't need the flames, the insults or the shrug of indifference. I would appreciate any support you can give to get Whistler and RR to listen and make changes to open up TRX1/2 programming and access for all. You can contact me privately if you have ideas or contacts at Whistler you think could help.

 

[fxdscon]

Why is it so hard for people to understand that RR and Whistler by jointly preventing third party programming are doing nothing for their image nor scanning public?

It has been explained to you previously.. Radio Reference has absolutely nothing to do with Whistler's decision to prevent third party developers from creating software to interface with their scanners. As understandable as your frustration is... making false statements, false accusations, and incorrectly pointing fingers at RR for someone else's marketing decisions isn't going to help you or your situation at all.

This link will bring you to a previous post in this thread for reference:

http://forums.radioreference.com/wh...1-trx-1-programming-software.html#post2679925

Whistler Group would be the proper venue for your comments and suggestions:

https://whistlergroup.com/

Whistler phone contact for scanner support: 866.923.8719


.

 

[Swipesy]

If I recall this discussion going back to the early days of the Release of EZScan with the GRE PSR-800, the issue of limited functions of the software is not a GRE/Whistler issue but a RadioReference issue. The RR database is a business and the owner has a right to protect his investment by limiting how the data can be used. IN RR agreement with GRE and subsequently Whistler the software was/is limited to protect RR from the database being stolen by some other developer. It was also explained, for which I am not clear about, full access through the software would expose some proprietary information about the GRE/Whistler radios. This is my understanding.

As to WB9rsq, stop your whining. Your handicap does not privledge you to special rights that would unprotect the RR/GRE/Whistler business rights. Fxdscon said it right.

 

[TAbirdman]

Ok, I took a look at the PSREdit500 program vs. EZScan only using the arrows, tab, enter key, basically no mouse and both programs seem to be accessed without a mouse about the same. I could create new objects, name them, select the scan lists etc. I see where the tab order isn't ideal on EZscan , as it bounces around some but it goes to all the options. Maybe I'm missing something.

 

[mikewazowski]

Before posting a few days ago I read through this entire thread from start to end.

Once again, this has nothing to do with RadioReference. Software authors can download the database and if they have the necessary commands and database structure from Whistler, they can upload it.

If Whistler or Uniden restrict access to their proprietary database layout that they use for their scanners, that's up to them.

If you wish to take this up with Whistler, please do so. WhistlerWendy is their representative on the forums and I'm sure she'll be glad to answer your questions.

I'm not sure if I've addressed all your complaints but next time, please try and incorporate some paragraph structure and line breaks in your posts. Your writing style makes it impossible (for me at least) to read your post.

Thanks.