WICHITA FALLS MAN

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09-17-2023 - It's coffee time, and I'm thinking of those poor souls in line at Starbucks and how they're missing out on a cup of Folgers Black Silk such as I'm enjoying now. Locally, the Allred Unit prison and the County Jail are the busiest entities on the scanner right now. The local CB and Ham Radio frequencies are quiet. DX conditions have yet to open on the CB Radio. I haven't cranked up the Yaesu 857D yet. I'll check that later.

09-16-2023 - A decade or more ago, there was a small eatery in Wichita Falls 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. We need more restaurant owners like that!

09-16-2023 - I haven't flown an airplane regularly in over 30 years but I listen to their chatter on my scanner radio daily. About 7 or 8 years ago, I rented a plane and instructor to see how good I was after a 24-year break. It was like I had flown the day before. My take-offs were non-eventful, and my landings were as smooth as ever. It is like riding a bike! The airspace designations and other things had changed, but an airplane is still an airplane. Besides, I let the instructor handle the radio and worry about other important things. I was once a part-time flight instructor, so I decided to let him earn his pay.

09-16-2023 - Two local truckers are trying to break through the skip on CB Radio Channel 19. Come on, skip shooters, give the truckers a break!

09-16-2023 - From my corrections consultant - It's Saturday, and that means it's "grill time" at the Allred Unit. Lucky offenders at several locations on the unit will be grilling various meats brought in by officers. Don't think these offenders won't be stuffing themselves as payment for their efforts. I asked one such offender if he skimmed off 10% of the goods. He replied, "At least!"

09-16-2023 - The State Line Radio Club Annual Picnic will have a Special Event Station on the air Saturday, 09-16-2023 - from 0100Z-0800Z. The callsign is N3SLC. Operating frequencies are 14.335, 7.265, and 28.385 MHz. QSL to Edward Reichenbach, 108 Park Circle, Elkton, MD 21921.

09-16-2023 - Good morning! It's Saturday, and the CB Radio band is dead at my location. I hear one station looking for a contact on Channel 6, but that's it. Today's list of things to do includes finding the frequency of the handheld radios used by the new hotel that opened here a few days ago.

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09-15-2023 - I gave the Briggs & Stratton Q6500 generator another exercise run this afternoon. I like to keep it limber and ready to go. A commercial power interruption is enough of a surprise, so I don't need another from the generator when it's needed.

09-15-2023 - It was code practice time not long ago. I was trying to decide if I like the straight key or the iambic key better. I got the old straight key out, plugged it into the Yaesu 857D, put it in the "code practice mode" (sidetone but not transmitting), and proceeded to hammer away. I practiced my call sign for a minute, then started sending random words I was reading online, or just making up. I just happened to glance at the radio and discovered that it was not in the code practice mode. I had been transmitting! I shut the radio down, closed the curtains, and hid under the bed. That's a lie, I can't fit under the bed!

09-15-2023 - Are you old enough to have owned a "transistor" radio with the Civil Defense markings (CD inside a triangle) at 640 kHz and 1240 kHz on the dial? I won't admit to having one!