WICHITA FALLS MAN
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A Hobby Radio and Wichita Falls Mashup
COMING: Cowtown Hamfest Jan. 17-18, 2025. Fri 3PM-7PM and Sat 7AM-3PM. 6901 Wichita Street, Forest Hill, Texas 76140. Talk In 146.940 Tone 110.9.
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12-22-2024 - The Wichita Amateur Radio Society holds a weekly informal net on Sundays at 8:00 PM on the club's 147.140 MHz repeater. As far as I know, all licensed Amateur (ham) Radio operators are invited to check in. Of course, scanner radio enthusiasts can also tune in.
12-22-2024 - I spun the dial on the CB Radio this afternoon and was not surprised to find it busy from one end of the band to the other. We're at the peak of the current solar cycle, so let's enjoy it. That peak works for the Ham Radio people, too! But, you knew that.
12-22-2024 - I made contact with KD3D at PA 218 State Game Land (US-8915) in Pennsylvania on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
12-22-2024 - The year was 1972. I was in a Cessna 150, lifting off the runway at the Killeen Municipal Airport (now Skylark Field Airport). I had some solo hours to log before my private pilot flight test. An Army UH-1 "Huey" helicopter that cranked up (unknown to me) was near a hangar at the far end of the runway. As I flew by the helicopter, its rotary wing was generating serious lift. The Cessna made an abrupt left bank of about 45 degrees. It caught me off-guard. I recovered. As low and slow as I was, did I narrowly avoid becoming another stall-spin news item? Maybe.
12-22-2024 - FEMA Daily Operations Briefing for December 22, 2024
National Current Ops / Monitoring – December 21-22, 2024
New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops:
• No significant incidents/operations
Hazard Monitoring:
• Heavy Snow – Northern Intermountain
• Freezing Rain – Northern Plains to Upper Mississippi Valley
Disaster Declaration Activity:
• No new declaration activity
Event Monitoring:
• No significant events
12-22-2024 - From my Allred Unit consultant - The scene was the James V. Allfred Unit prison. It was a holiday, and a religious group was distributing greeting cards related to the event. At one cell, a card slipped under the door by a volunteer came flying back out with a speed and sound reminiscent of the examiner's clipboard in the movie License to Drive.
12-22-2024 - 5:45 AM - NWS Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 65. South wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
12-22-2024 - 5:45 AM - NOAA SPACE WEATHER - Last 24 Hrs: Radio Blackouts (R1 - Minor) Solar Radiation Storms (S - None) Geomagnetic Storms (G - None) Current: Radio Blackouts (R - None) Solar Radiation Storms (S - None) Geomagnetic Storms (G - None). Solar Wind Speed: 532 km/sec Solar Wind Magnetic Fields: Bt 6 nT, Bz 3 nT Noon 10.7cm Radio Flux: 195 sfu.
12-22-2024 - 5:45 AM - According to Water Data for Texas, Wichita Falls reservoirs are: Arrowhead: 69.2% Kemp: 100.0% Kickapoo: 68.8%. Monitored Water Supply Reservoirs are 82.6% full. The City of Wichita Falls uses combined levels of Arrowhead and Kickapoo (69.0%) to determine drought stage.
12-22-2024 - 5:45 AM - ERCOT (Texas) snapshot of grid conditions - ERCOT reports that conditions are normal and there is enough power for current demand with an operating reserve of 11,407 Megawatts.
12-22-2024 - 5:45 AM - Good Morning! It's Simplex Sunday, a day to give those Amateur Radio repeaters a break if possible and flex those simplex muscles. It's like giving your generator a regular run. Use the more inclusive two-meter FM simplex. Analog, please! GMRS users, you can play, too!My Folgers Black Silk coffee is ready.
12-21-2024 - Almost 40 years ago, I was talking to two local "hams" on one of the VHF frequencies. Those two kept "doubling" with each other. When the dust settled, one told the other, "You need to get a full-duplex radio so that when you hear me talking, you can shut up!"
12-21-2024 - The local VHF-UHF Amateur (ham) Radio frequencies were more "chatty" today than yesterday. Being a Saturday makes a difference. I even managed one contact on 146.520 FM simplex.
12-21-2024 - I made contact with KD2E at Brendan T. Byrne State Forest (US-4994) in New Jersey on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
12-21-2024 - I made contact with VE7VAK/W7 at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (US-0911) in Arizona on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
12-21-2024 - I stopped by the 8th & Austin location of the Wichita Falls Farmers Market, but the vendor I was looking for was not there. At the 8th and Ohio location, I bought some Banana Nut Bread, Pumpkin Nut Bread, and Salsa from Margetta's Munchie Magic.
12-21-2024 - Some local weekend radio scanning targets: Walmart (154.570 MHz), Allred Unit (153.815 MHz), Wichita County Jail (155.520 MHz), State Hospital (154.800 MHz) city transit buses (453.5375 MHz), Wichita Valley Airport (122.800 MHz), Kickapoo Airport (122.700 MHz), Wichita Falls Regional Airports / SAFB (119.750 & 122.950 MHz), and the BNSF Railroad (160.920 MHz).
12-21-2024 - Do you remember O'Phelan's in the French Village Shopping Center? I was a semi-frequent visitor in the early 1980s. It was Monday (?) nights when they had a 3 for 1 Happy Hour. You were lucky if you lived in those nearby apartments. Others might have needed designated drivers. Google O'Phelan's Restaurant alumni, and you'll find an interesting Facebook page.
12-21-2024 - FEMA Daily Operations Briefing for December 21, 2024
National Current Ops / Monitoring – December 20-21, 2024
New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops:
• No significant incidents/operations
Hazard Monitoring:
• Freezing Rain – Northern Intermountain to Northern Plains
• Heavy Snow – Great Lakes, Central Appalachians, and Northeast
Disaster Declaration Activity:
• Four Amendments issued
Event Monitoring:
• No significant events
12-21-2024 - Featured business: Picker's Universe at 1000 Indiana. It's loaded with interesting second-hand goodies. Also, there's a restaurant upstairs. Stop by or give them a call at 940-228-5176. This is an unsolicited post.
12-21-2024 - 6:13 AM - NWS Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 57. South wind 6 to 10 mph. Tonight: Clear, with a low around 38. Southeast wind around 8 mph.
12-21-2024 - 6:13 AM - NOAA SPACE WEATHER - Last 24 Hrs: Radio Blackouts (R1 - Minor) Solar Radiation Storms (S - None) Geomagnetic Storms (G - None) Current: Radio Blackouts (R - None) Solar Radiation Storms (S - None) Geomagnetic Storms (G - None). Solar Wind Speed: 516 km/sec Solar Wind Magnetic Fields: Bt 8 nT, Bz 0 nT Noon 10.7cm Radio Flux: 184 sfu.
12-21-2024 - 6:13 AM - According to Water Data for Texas, Wichita Falls reservoirs are: Arrowhead: 69.3% Kemp: 100.0% Kickapoo: 68.8%. Monitored Water Supply Reservoirs are 82.6% full. The City of Wichita Falls uses combined levels of Arrowhead and Kickapoo (69.05%) to determine drought stage.
12-21-2024 - 6:13 AM - ERCOT (Texas) snapshot of grid conditions - ERCOT reports that conditions are normal and there is enough power for current demand with an operating reserve of 9,678 Megawatts.
12-21-2024 - 6:13 AM - Good Morning! It's Saturday and the Winter Solstice! It's my favorite day of the year because it's the shortest! The Montague County Simplex Net happens Saturdays at 9 AM on 147.500 MHz. Also, local "hams" meet informally at 8 AM at the Pioneer #3 Restaurant at Old Iowa Park Road and Sheppard Access Road. You might think about going to the Farmers Market because, before long, it'll be too darn cold to do so! My Folgers Black Silk coffee is ready to go along with monitoring aviation radio traffic on my scanner radio.
12-20-2024 - 5:50 PM - Local Amateur (ham) Radio VHF-UHF traffic has been almost non-existent today. Things may pick up this evening. I could jump-start something by picking up the microphone. I'll give it some thought. Other local radio users, businesses, and organizations were busy as usual.
12-20-2024 - According to a story at the Times Record News, the Big Lots furniture store on Kell Blvd East will close. In fact, all remaining Big Lots stores are set to close. No date was given for any of the locations.
12-20-2024 - FEMA Daily Operations Briefing for December 20, 2024
National Current Ops / Monitoring – December 19-20, 2024
New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops:
• No significant incidents/operations
Hazard Monitoring:
• Freezing Rain – Northern Montana
• Heavy Snow – Great Lakes
Disaster Declaration Activity:
• Request: Major Disaster Declaration - AK
Event Monitoring:
• No significant events
12-20-2024 - At the Iron Horse Pub tonight - Ronnie and the Redwoods with special guest Zack Crow! Door: 8:30PM, Start 9:30PM - 615 8th Street in downtown Wichita Falls.
12-20-2024 - A sewing needle (or blowgun dart tip, depending on mood) made by an inmate at the James V. Allred Unit.
12-20-2024 - The Multi-Use Radio Service - MURS frequency of 151.820 MHz is busy this morning. Tune in with your scanner radio. An outside antenna would be very helpful in this case (simplex - no repeater in use).
12-20-2024 - 5:55 AM - NWS Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 53. North northeast wind 6 to 9 mph. Tonight: Clear, with a low around 30. Light and variable wind becoming southeast around 6 mph after midnight.
12-20-2024 - 5:55 AM - NOAA SPACE WEATHER - Last 24 Hrs: Radio Blackouts (R1 - Minor) Solar Radiation Storms (S - None) Geomagnetic Storms (G - None) Current: Radio Blackouts (R - None) Solar Radiation Storms (S - None) Geomagnetic Storms (G - None). Solar Wind Speed: 476 km/sec Solar Wind Magnetic Fields: Bt 8 nT, Bz 1 nT Noon 10.7cm Radio Flux: 175 sfu.
12-20-2024 - 5:55 AM - According to Water Data for Texas, Wichita Falls reservoirs are: Arrowhead: 69.4% Kemp: 100.0% Kickapoo: 69.1%. Monitored Water Supply Reservoirs are 82.7% full. The City of Wichita Falls uses combined levels of Arrowhead and Kickapoo (69.25%) to determine drought stage.
12-20-2024 - 5:55 AM - ERCOT (Texas) snapshot of grid conditions - ERCOT reports that conditions are normal and there is enough power for current demand with an operating reserve of 9,941 Megawatts.
12-20-2024 - 5:55 AM - Good Morning! It's Friday! Every day I would wonder why U-ncle S-am A-in't R-eleased M-e Y-et, and on this day in 1977, he did! My Folgers Black Silk coffee is ready!
12-19-2024 - As I write this, I have made 448 unique contacts in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program. I'll see if I can get that over 450 tomorrow. Or, maybe I'll find something else to do. Stay tuned!
12-19-2024 - FEMA Daily Operations Briefing for December 19, 2024
National Current Ops / Monitoring – December 18-19, 2024
New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops:
• No significant incidents / operations
Hazard Monitoring:
• Heavy Snow – Northern Plains to Great Lakes
• Dense Fog – Florida
Disaster Declaration Activity:
• 1 Amendment Issued
Event Monitoring:
• No significant events
An Idea To Boost Hamfest Frequency, Attendance, & Offerings
12-19-2024 - 6:50 AM - NWS Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 62. Light south wind becoming south southwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Tonight: Clear, with a low around 34. Light and variable wind becoming north northwest around 6 mph after midnight.
12-19-2024 - 6:50 AM - NOAA SPACE WEATHER - Last 24 Hrs: Radio Blackouts (R1 - Minor) Solar Radiation Storms (S - None) Geomagnetic Storms (G - None) Current: Radio Blackouts (R - None) Solar Radiation Storms (S - None) Geomagnetic Storms (G - None). Solar Wind Speed: 430 km/sec Solar Wind Magnetic Fields: Bt 4 nT, Bz -2 nT Noon 10.7cm Radio Flux: 174 sfu.
12-19-2024 - 6:50 AM - According to Water Data for Texas, Wichita Falls reservoirs are: Arrowhead: 69.3% Kemp: 100.0% Kickapoo: 69.1%. Monitored Water Supply Reservoirs are 82.7% full. The City of Wichita Falls uses combined levels of Arrowhead and Kickapoo (69.2%) to determine drought stage.
12-19-2024 - 6:50 AM - ERCOT (Texas) snapshot of grid conditions - ERCOT reports that conditions are normal and there is enough power for current demand with an operating reserve of 9,958 Megawatts.
12-19-2024 - 6:50 AM - Good Morning! It's Thursday. Don't forget the Citizens Band Radio Service - CBRS. It can provide effective long-distance communications when conditions are favorable, especially with a good quality antenna. And don't forget that a local group meets on CB Radio Channel 23 each evening at 5:30. My Folgers Black Silk coffee is ready!
12-18-2024 - Today, I received the book "Helicopter Training at Fort Wolters - Mineral Wells and the Vietnam War." It's 127 pages of photos and information on that topic. I remember riding (dad driving) to Wichita Falls (Sheppard AFB) from San Antonio (Lackland AFB). That trip on U.S. 281 took us through Mineral Wells. I remember seeing multiple helicopters flittering above the Wolters area. I was 14 at the time. As for the book, I shall enjoy!