WICHITA FALLS MAN

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04-06-2024 - Today, I installed the Yaesu FTM 3100R in the center console storage bin in my Chevy Equinox. It's hidden away except for the coax coming out at the top through a groove in the front. I haven't decided if I'll use an external speaker or have the audio come through the car speakers via the "AUX" setting. I rarely listen to anything on the car radio these days. I also stopped by my nearby Walmart for a tire rotation and wheel balancing.

04-06-2024 - It's the weekend and visitation time at the James V. Allred Unit. Tune in to the action with your scanner radio at 153.815 MHz

04-06-2024 - As I mentioned in an earlier post, there was a small eatery - Matlock's Grill - where the owner allowed a couple of local Amateur (ham) Radio Operators to install a small VHF-UHF antenna on the roof, with the coax cable terminating at their favorite table. Now we have hams assembling at Pioneer #3 on Saturdays. Maybe they can install an antenna on the old, towering, busted P3 sign next to the building and have it terminate at the official Ham Radio table.

04-06-2024 - FEMA National Current Ops / Monitoring – April 5–6, 2024

New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops:
• M4.8 Earthquake – New Jersey/New York

Hazard Monitoring:
• Severe Thunderstorms – Central Plains
• Heavy Snow – Northern High Plains and the Rockies
• Extremely Critical Fire Weather – Central/Southern Plains

Disaster Declaration Activity:
• No new declaration activity

Event Monitoring:
• No significant events

04-06-2024 - NWS Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 83. South southeast wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 19 to 24 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph. Tonight: Clear, with a low around 49. West southwest wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

04-06-2024 - Good Morning! It's Saturday, and a group of Amateur (ham) Radio operators will probably gather at Pioneer #3 for breakfast. I'll probably stop by the 8th & Austin location of the Wichita Falls Farmers Market for salsa from The Salsa Guy. Then, I might go to Natural Grocers for a few items. In other news, the Rangers spanked the Astros last night, 10 to 2. I don't know how you feel about that, but I'm OK with it. I have not seen a Ranger game at the new stadium, so I need to get that event in the logbook.

04-05-2024 - I made contact with W1OWA at Lower Morse Lake Wildlife Management Area (US-9323) in Iowa on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) as part of the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program

04-05-2024 - There's a lot of radio traffic on the BNSF Railroad (160.920 MHz) and the North Texas State Hospital (154.800 MHz) frequencies. Tired of the political talking heads on the broadcast band? Get a scanner radio and tune in to life in the real world, in real time.

04-05-2024 - FEMA National Current Ops / Monitoring for April 4-5, 2024

New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops:
• No significant incidents / ops

Hazard Monitoring:
• Heavy Snow - Oregon, Indiana, and Nevada
• Critical Fire Weather - Northern/Southern Plains to the Southwest

Disaster Declaration Activity:
• No new declaration activity

Event Monitoring:
• No significant events

04-05-2024 - There has been ongoing construction on Old Iowa Park Road from Loop 11 west. I don't know how far west. It looks like an upgrade to the drainage system on the north side of the road is underway. Unknown what improvements will follow. I didn't know until a few years ago that the State of Texas maintains Iowa Park Road.

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04-05-2024 - NWS Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 85. Light and variable wind becoming south 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. South southeast wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

04-05-2024 - Good Morning! I think I'll monitor CB Radio Channel 19 this morning before the band opens up and things get crazy. Someone asked for a "radio check" and I gave them one. I hear some local trucking traffic, and they don't have to fight the global skip-shooters to talk across town. That'll change in a few hours. I've heard enough skip-talking this year to last a lifetime, and I look forward to the bottom of the Solar Cycle when the band is quiet. I know, to skip shooters that's blasphemy! I've also got the local VHF-UHF frequencies going on the scanner radio. My Folgers Black Silk coffee is ready!

04-04-2024 - According to a news report, a Volcano Korean BBQ & Hot Pot restaurant might be coming to Wichita Falls. The report said the opening date - at 3110 Midwestern Parkway - has been postponed once. The restaurant will also offer sushi and Japanese Fusion. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

04-04-2024 - I made contact with K7FC at Cape Arago State Park (US-2817) in Oregon on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) as part of the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program

04-04-2024 - I have never been above the first floor of the Chase Bank building, or whatever they call it, on Kemp Blvd. I'm not comfortable being in places where I have no legitimate business. For those of you who have no such qualms, the upper floors of the Chase building can be a great place to soak in scanner radio activity from the surrounding area. It's also a great location to whip out your handheld Amateur (ham) Radio, CB radio, MURS radio, GMRS radio, or FRS radio and make a few local contacts.

04-04-2024 - FEMA National Current Ops / Monitoring for Apr 03 – 04, 2024

New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops:
• No significant incidents / operations

Hazard Monitoring:
• Winter storm – Northeast
• Flooding – coastal Northeast/Ohio Valley

Disaster Declaration Activity:
• One Amendment Issued

Event Monitoring:
• No new significant events

04-04-2024 - NWS Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming east southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Tonight: Clear, with a low around 48. East wind 8 to 10 mph.

04-04-2024 - Good Morning! I'm starting the morning with - you guessed it - Folgers Black Silk coffee, and the scanner - with headphones - listening to what I call "the usual suspects: Amateur (ham) Radio (146.520, 147.140, 146.940. and 146.800 MHz), Walmart (154.570 MHz), Allred Unit (153.815 MHz), the County Jail (155.520 MHz), State Hospital (154.800 MHz) city transit buses (453.5375 MHz), school buses (152.360 MHz), school handheld radios (151.940 MHz), Air Evac Lifeteam (159.900 MHz), and the BNSF Railroad (160.920 MHz). At 6:00 AM, it's a little early for the school bus and school handheld radios, but they'll kick in a little later. Plus, I have all the Family Radio Service (FRS) / General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) / Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS) frequencies in the scan rotation. Tune in with your scanner radio.

04-03-2024 - In an earlier post, I griped about not getting a CW (Morse code) endorsement on an auto-generated certificate for working 100 parks with the Parks on the Air® program because one of the stations I contacted logged two contacts as voice (SSB) contacts. After I worked two more parks on CW, the endorsement was added. It didn't occur to me at the time that a park is a park and a CW contact is a CW contact. So I contacted 100 parks using Morse code. And I recognize again that the certificate and $2.00 won't get me in the door at Starbucks. But I also recognize, once again, that I've never been to Starbucks and have no plans to change that. I'm a Folgers man.

04-03-2024 - From my law enforcement consultant - It was a bright and sunny afternoon when police received a call of two young boys at a house alongside the expressway using a large mirror to beam sunlight into the eyes of drivers passing by. The two, concentrating on their aim, did not see the officer approaching and were caught in the act. A discussion was held with the boys and their parents. Since no accidents occurred and no cars went up in flames from direct hits of the sunbeams, no further action was taken by police. Unknown what action was taken after the police departed.