WICHITA FALLS MAN

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01-15-2024 - There are currently no scheduled school contacts for the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station or ARISS. There are usually several middle and high schools listed, waiting to make contact with the ISS. A few days ago I saw a report that the ARISS program was actively seeking schools to participate in the program. I would think Amateur (ham) Radio operators around the country would be excited by such an opportunity. I guess not.

01-15-2024 - The CB Radio band is slow to wake up at my location so, for now, I've switched to the Texas Traffic Net at 7285 kHz. I wonder if they'll have any traffic for Wichita Falls.

01-15-2024 - I've been working Amateur (ham) Radio "Parks on the Air®" all week on CW (Morse code for you non-hams), but today I think I'll sit on CB Radio Channel 38 (lower sideband) and see who's who and what's what. Haters gonna hate, but I'm used to it!

01-15-2024 - Good Morning!! It's 5:30 AM, 8 degrees outside, the coffee is ready, and the old guys are on 1947 kHz. As soon as it gets a little light outside, I'll dump a load of birdseed out for those little critters.

01-14-2024 - 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.

01-14-2024 - 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.

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01-14-2024 - At 6:00 AM, our local Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter is active on 159.900 MHz. Tune in at 159.900 MHz with your scanner radio.

01-14-2024 - NWS forecast - Today: Increasing clouds, with a high near 19. Wind chill values as low as -9. Northeast wind 9 to 13 mph. Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 9. Wind chill values as low as -3. Northeast wind 9 to 13 mph.

01-14-2024 - Good Morning! It's 5:30 AM and 7 degrees outside. The coffee is ready, and I'm listening to the 1947 kHz crew reporting various temperatures around the area. The highest I heard was 24 degrees. No one reported colder than 7 degrees. The Chiefs beat the Dolphins in the "freezer bowl", the Texans slaughtered the Browns, and the Packers-Cowboys rodeo is later today. After a cup or two of coffee, I'll dump a few pounds of birdseed on the patio for any nearby birds needing more calories to maintain body heat.

01-13-2024 - Texoma's Home Page (KFDX Channel 3) reports that Snoba, a new "asian dessert" restaurant, has opened in Parker Square. According to the report, Snoba is a portmanteau of Snow and Boba. This sounds interesting.

01-13-2024 - I'm listening to two hams chatting in CW (Morse code) on the 80-meter band as I put in some time in on the exercise bike. Later, I'll find some Parks on the Air® stations to contact.

01-13-2024 - NWS forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 42. West wind 8 to 13 mph becoming north northeast 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust to 28 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 10. Wind chill values as low as -4. North northeast wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph

01-13-2024 - Good Morning! Yesterday, I received my new Yaesu FT 2980 VHF (2 meter) Amateur (ham) Radio transceiver. I had one before but I gave it to a younger "new ham" brother. I've been using a Yaesu FTM 3100 but the cooling fan cycles on and off too much and sometimes runs continuously. This is a known "feature" of the 3100 and it's no problem in mobile settings, or if the radio is some distance from you in the shack, but mine was two feet from my head on the desk. Quite annoying. Instead of a cooling fan, the new 2980 has a monstrous heat sink! My coffee is ready and I'm tuned in to the 1947 kHz crew.

01-12-2024 - I gave the Briggs & Stratton Q6500 generator an exercise run this afternoon in case Ercot has any surprises during the upcoming Texas cold snap! I want to be able to keep the furnace going when it's 5 degrees outside.

01-12-2024 - From the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission - Daikin Comfort Technologies Manufacturing (formerly Goodman Manufacturing Company L.P.) Expands Recall of Evaporator Coil Drain Pans to Include Additional Units /// Alliance4Safety and 31 Furniture Companies Recall Millions of Plastic New Age Furniture Tip-over Restraint Kits Due to Tip-over and Entrapment Hazards to Children /// Retrospec Recalls Kid's Bike Helmets Due to Risk of Head Injury; Violation of the Federal Safety Regulation for Bicycle Helmets.

01-12-2024 - From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - In March 2023, 34.7 percent of U.S. private sector business establishments born in March 2013 were still in operation. In other words, one-third of businesses created in March of 2013 survived a decade.

01-12-2024 - I bought an extra-large bag of birdseed to feed the little critters on those 5- and 6-degree days coming up. I also keep some on hand for those few days in Wichita Falls when the ground is covered with snow.

01-12-2024 - According to news reports, Chef Demrick Davis is back with a new restaurant, Degree Celsius, located at 710 8th Street, the former location of the 8th Street Coffee House. I dined at Chef's former restaurant 2011 Bistro several times and I'll be dining at Degree Celsius! On a related note, I see that the Karat Bar & Bistro at 8th & Ohio will be closing. This is not good, but not surprising. I could be wrong, but I don't think Wichita Falls has a large enough population that likes to stray far from the old burgers and fries. Look around at who stays open and who closes. Pat's Drive-In, Ronnie's Burgers, and Willie's Place have been around for years and will probably be around for years to come. I think Chef Demrick has creatively figured out how to please the burger & fries crowd.