WICHITA FALLS MAN
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12-21-2023 - According to a recent news item, two correctional officers reported to be part of a group accused of introducing drugs into Texas prisons - were arrested in town. A few years ago, I was told that Allred Unit employees were no longer subject to pat-down searches and electronic security measures. I'll have to quiz our corrections consultant about that. Of course, all suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Tune in to the Allred Unit at 153.815 MHz with your scanner.
12-21-2023 - Good Morning! Not only is it coffee time, it's the first day of winter and the shortest (sunlight) day of the year in the USA. This makes it my favorite day. I was tuned in to the local guys on 1947 kHz earlier, and then switched over to 40 meters for a little Morse code with my Folgers Black Silk coffee.
12-20-2023 - From the U.S. Federal Communications Commission - The FCC Enforcement Bureau issued a Notice of Illegal Pirate Radio Broadcasting (NIPRB) per its authority from the PIRATE Act to Wesley and Sandra Staley, landowners in Sweet Home, OR, for allowing illegal broadcasting from their property.. Action by: Regional Director, Field Division, Enforcement Bureau. Adopted: 2023-12-20.
12-20-2023 - Forecast - Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 64. South wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
12-20-2023 - Good Morning! It's coffee time again. I'm kind of old so you'll excuse me if I listen to some other older guys on 1947 kHz (160 meters) as I sip my Folgers Black Silk. About 30 minutes of 1947 kHz was enough for me and now I'm listening to Morse code on the 40-meter band. Gotta keep my (low) speed up!
12-19-2023 - The Clay County Amateur Radio Club conducts a weekly Skywarn practice net on Tuesdays at 8:00 PM on the club's 146.680 MHz repeater. All licensed Amateur Radio Operators are invited to check in. Scanner listeners are also encouraged to tune in.
12-19-2023 - I got a good report on the audio of my cheap speaker-mic combo for the Icom IC-V80 handheld radio. I made a few contacts on 146.520 MHz while out "mobile" using a mag-mount 1/4 wave antenna. I probably won't use the handheld in the car regularly, instead, I'll use it mostly while pedestrian portable.
12-19-2023 - From the U.S. Federal Trade Commission - (Quote) At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a federal court has temporarily halted the operation of a sprawling business opportunity scheme that has taken in millions of dollars from consumers with bogus promises of huge returns. The scheme has operated since at least 2018 under a number of names. Blueprint to Wealth targets consumers looking to build their own businesses with a program that offers essentially no value, other than commissions that come from encouraging others to join the scheme, according to the complaint.
12-19-2023 - Good Morning! It's 6:00 AM, and the 1947 kHz guys (Amateur Radio) are live. There's no telling when they got started. I'm guessing 5:30 AM. You don't have to have Ham Radio gear to listen to these, and other Ham Radio Operators. on the "HF" bands, all you need is a shortwave radio. My coffee is ready, so I'll get started on that.
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12-19-2023 - I popped awake at 2:00 AM! Tuning the 80-meter Amateur (ham) Radio band, I found an interesting conversation about regulations concerning long-haul truck driving in the 1970s and 1980s compared to current regulations. One guy talked about how, in the early days, he carried three sets of logbooks. He said today's drivers can't "get away" with anything due to "electronic logging." I'll listen to a little Morse code on the 40-meter band, then hit the sack again.
12-18-2023 - From the U.S. Federal Communications Commission - FCC ENFORCEMENT BUREAU ISSUES NOTICE OF ILLEGAL PIRATE RADIO BROADCASTING (NIPRB) TO LYDIA TORRES MOJICA. The FCC Enforcement Bureau issued a Notice of Illegal Pirate Radio Broadcasting (NIPRB) per its authority from the PIRATE Act to Lydia Torres Mojica, landowner in Guaynabo, PR, for allowing illegal broadcasting from their property.. Action by: Regional Director, Field Division, Enforcement Bureau. Adopted: 2023-12-15 by Notice.
12-18-2023 - From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 199,000 in November 2023. November's employment growth was below the average monthly gain of 240,000 over the prior 12 months but in line with job growth in recent months. In November, job gains occurred in health care and government. Employment also increased in manufacturing, reflecting the return of workers from a strike. Employment in retail trade declined.
12-18-2023 - I stopped at the huge Crepe Myrtle sculpture in Bellevue Park in downtown Wichita Falls to make a few VHF radio contacts. My mag mount antenna refused to stick to the massive structure. I'll bring a J-Pole antenna and C-clamp next time.
12-18-2023 - The "usual suspects" are up and running this morning - Walmart (154.570 MHz), the Allred Unit (153.815 MHz), the County Jail (155.520 MHz), the State Hospital (154.800 MHz) and the city transit buses (453.5375 MHz). The school handheld radios (151.940 MHz) and the school buses (152.360 MHz) are silent due to the Christmas break that begins today. Those school bus drivers need all the breaks they can get! Also, there's plenty of Morse code on the 40-meter Amateur (ham) Radio band to keep me entertained this morning.
12-18-2023 - Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 58. North northeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming southeast after midnight.
12-18-2023 - Good Morning! It's coffee time again and time to remind you that all you need is a simple scanner radio like the Uniden Bearcat BC365CRS to tune in to most all of the available hobby radio action in Wichita Falls.
12-17-2023 - It's 8:00 PM and the Wichita Amateur Radio Society weekly informal net is on the air on the 147.140 MHz repeater. The Net Control Station is taking check-ins. Tune in with your scanner or check in if you're a ham.
12-17-2023 - From my corrections consultant - A Food Service Manager rolled up to the Highway Gate at the Allred Unit and asked the officer working there which "card" was on duty. The officer replied "1-Card". The Food Service Manager said "Thank God! Hallelujah! It is unknown what difficulties he was having with 2-Card. This is probably meaningless to you if you've never worked at the Allred Unit.