WICHITA FALLS MAN

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12-24-2023 - It's Sunday, 8:00 PM, and the Wichita Amateur Radio Society weekly informal net is on the air on the club's 147.140 MHz repeater. All licensed Amateur (ham) Radio operators are invited to check in. Scanner listeners are also welcome.

12-24-2023 - It's 6:45 PM. The Cowboys lost, so I turned the CB Radio to Channel 23 to catch the Local Group. I've had the CB on and off all day since the band conditions were good. I had no interest in making any contacts. I'm more of a listener these days. You probably already knew that.

12-24-2023 - I'm watching the Lions and Vikings on TV and I've got the CB Radio on, tuning the madness across the band. Conditions are great this afternoon and the skip-shooters are out in force. I know some of you might not realize that the 155-mile limit on CB Radio contacts was removed by the FCC several years ago. Some of you might not know such a limit ever existed.

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12-24-2023 - There has been a lot of chatter on 147.420 MHz FM simplex lately. I only hear one side of the conversation and no call signs. The side I do hear is weak. For you non-hams, simplex means direct, radio-to-radio communications as opposed to using a repeater. The local Amateur (ham) Radio VHF frequencies, simplex and repeater, have been quiet so far.

12-24-2023 - National Weather Service forecast - Today: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7am. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 67. South wind 10 to 13 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Northwest wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

12-24-2023 - Good Morning! I got up late this morning - about 6:45 AM - just in time to catch the tail end of the 1947 kHz morning session. Oh, well, sleep is important for old people. I'll just enjoy my Folgers Black Silk coffee as I plan the day ahead. That didn't take long. I don't plan on doing anything!

12-23-2023 - According to a report at the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) website, there apparently has been an issue with the timely delivery of the printed version of CQ Magazine. The ARRL, by the way, is not the publisher of CQ Magazine. The publisher, according to the report, acknowledged the problem and is working to correct it.

12-23-2023 - National Weather Service forecast - Today: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Widespread dense fog, mainly before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. South southeast wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 56. South southeast wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

12-23-2023 - Good Morning! It's Saturday and I'm pretty sure I don't have anything of importance planned. I'm listening to the group on 1947 kHz (Amateur (ham) Radio 160 meters) along with my coffee. Yesterday I happened to drive by Wichita Restaurant Supply at 12th & Scott and I realized that this business has been in operation for well over 50 years. Other long-time businesses include the Bluebonnet Grocery and the Missile Club, both on the north side of town.

12-22-2023 - From the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission - Important Product Safety Recall Information - TJX Recalls Foldable Wood and Rope Bistro Set Chairs Due to Fall Hazard, Klein Tools Recalls Blackfire and Klein Tools Power Stations Due to Fire and Burn Hazards, FeraDyne Outdoors Recalls Rhino Tree Stands Due to Fall Hazard, DGL Group Recalls Hover-1 Helix Hoverboards Due to Fire Hazard, Brandline Recalls HEAO High Chairs Due to Risk of Suffocation, Entrapment and Laceration Hazards.

12-22-2023 - National Weather Service forecast - Today: Areas of fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 65. South wind around 7 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Tonight: Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 50. South wind around 6 mph.

12-22-2023 - Good Morning! It's coffee time again as I ponder my "things to do" list for today. So far, going to the Pecan Shed on Midwestern Parkway is the most demanding task. I think I can handle getting a pound of regular pecans plus a bag of dark chocolate-covered pecans. We have everything we need for the small Christmas feast we have planned. I listened in on the Amateur (ham) Radio 1947 kHz crew again this morning before making the usual switch to 40-meter CW (Morse code) for a listen-only experience. I see no reason to make a contact at this time since listening to Morse, drinking my coffee, and watching a fireplace video on the big TV is so relaxing. Yes, I have a real fireplace. No, I'm not leaving my "radio shack" to go to the other end of the house to fire it up.

12-21-2023 - For Christmas, I want a circuit in my TV that automatically activates the mute function for the duration of Kevin Hart's voice in a commercial.

12-21-2023 - The Wichita Amateur Radio Society meets every third Thursday at 6:30 PM in the Professor Jackson Building behind the American Red Cross at 1809 5th Street in Wichita Falls. I can't speak for the club, but I'm guessing they would be happy to see you if you're interested in Amateur (ham) Radio.

12-21-2023 - I'm tuned in to the DX'ers (skip shooters) on CB Radio Channel 38 (lower sideband) this evening. As you might already know, CB Radio is a different animal. Either you like it or you don't. Either choice is the right choice - for you. At 5:30 PM I'll listen for the Local Group on Channel 23.

12-21-2023 - From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Real average hourly earnings increased 0.8 percent from November 2022 to November 2023. Real earnings are earnings that have been adjusted for changes in consumer prices. The change in real average hourly earnings combined with a decrease of 0.3 percent in the average workweek resulted in a 0.5-percent increase in real average weekly earnings.

12-21-2023 - Forecast - Today: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 3pm. Patchy fog between 11am and noon. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 64. South wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3am, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. South wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.