WichitaFallsMan.com

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"They don't think it be like it is, but it do!" Oscar Gamble

Uniden Bearcat Scanner

In Wichita Falls, this scanner radio, and an outside antenna, are all you need to monitor most local two-way radio communications.

10-03-2024 - I've got Thursday Night Football tuned in and, before the game even started, I found myself wishing for an automatic Kevin Hart TV commercial mute circuit. No such luck, I guess.

10-03-2024 - I made contact with WB0TUA at Castlewood State Park (US-1751) in Missouri on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.

10-03-2024 - At 11:20 AM, the 20-meter band is quite dead here in Wichita Falls, Texas. Of course, my ground plane antenna doesn't hear everything.

10-03-2024 - If you're not a Harry Potter fan, and I am not, you might not know that the 2018 US Quidditch Southwest Regional Championship was held in Wichita Falls. I'm still not sure what to think about the sight of people running around a playing field with a stick between their legs. But, if they're happy, I'm happy. I'm sure they would laugh at me for using Morse code in 2024.

10-03-2024 - As I sip my coffee, I remember my early days on Amateur (ham) radio and my experience on the 10-meter band. It seemed like everyone I contacted on that band wanted to know if I had a 10-10 number. Not being a member of Ten-Ten International, my answer was always "no." Before long, I felt like a second-class 10-meter citizen, but I saw no need to join every group just because it existed. The simpler cure? Move to 20 meters and hope there is no Twenty-Twenty International!

10-03-2024 - FEMA National Current Ops / Monitoring for October 2 – 3, 2024

New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops
Helene – Southeast and Mid-Atlantic

Hazard Monitoring

Excessive Heat – Southern California and Southwest
Tropical Activity:
Atlantic:
• Hurricane Kirk (CAT-3)
• Tropical Storm Leslie
• Disturbance 1: Low (30%)
Eastern Pacific:
• Tropical Depression Eleven-E
• Disturbance 1: Low (10%)
• Disturbance 2: Low (20%)

Disaster Declaration Activity
Approval: Major Disaster Declaration – TN
Two amendments issued
Event Monitoring
No new significant events

10-03-2024 - NWS Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 96. South wind 6 to 10 mph. Tonight: Clear, with a low around 66. South southeast wind 6 to 8 mph.

10-03-2024 - 5:38 AM - According to Water Data for Texas, Wichita Falls reservoirs are: Arrowhead: 65.4 Kemp: 98.6% Kickapoo 68.2%. Monitored Water Supply Reservoirs are 80.3% full.

10-03-2024 - 5:38 AM - NOAA SPACE WEATHER - Last 24 Hrs: Radio Blackouts (R1 - Minor) Solar Radiation Storms (S - None) Geomagnetic Storms (G - None) Current: Radio Blackouts (R - None) Solar Radiation Storms (S - None) Geomagnetic Storms (G - None) Solar Wind Speed: 331 km/sec Solar Wind Magnetic Fields: Bt 6 nT, Bz 2 nT Noon 10.7cm Radio Flux: 275 sfu.

10-03-2024 - 5:38 AM - ERCOT (Texas) snapshot of grid conditions - ERCOT reports that conditions are normal and there is enough power for current demand with an operating reserve of 12,407 Megawatts.

10-03-2024 - 5:38 AM - Good Morning! My wife obtained her Amateur (ham) Radio Technician Class license in 2007. A few months later, she passed the General Class license exam. When she finished the exam, the examiner placed the grading template over her answer sheet and got a mildly puzzled look. He handed the answer sheet and template to the examiner next to him and asked him to verify that he had the correct template. The second examiner smiled and confirmed that it was the proper template. They won't tell you your score, but I knew then that she had scored 100%. She went on to pass the five-word-per-minute Morse code exam, knowing that the FCC would drop the code requirement in two weeks. My Folgers Black Silk coffee is 100% ready.

10-02-2024 - I made contact with W9VI at Theresa Marsh State Wildlife Area (US-4332) in Wisconsin on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.

10-02-2024 - Our local Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter just flew over my house. Someone needs help. Listen in at 159.900 MHz on your scanner radio.

10-02-2024 - The Wichita Falls ISD school bus dispatch (152.360 MHz) microphone needs a little lubricant on its moving parts.

10-02-2024 - FEMA National Current Ops / Monitoring for October 1 – 2, 2024

New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops:
• Helene – Southeast and Mid-Atlantic

Hazard Monitoring:
• Critical Fire Weather – Wyoming
• Tropical Activity:
Atlantic:
• Hurricane Kirk (CAT 1)
• Disturbance 1: Medium (40%)
• Disturbance 2: High (90%)
Eastern Pacific:
• Tropical Depression Eleven-E
• Disturbance 1: Medium (50%)

Disaster Declaration Activity:
• Approval: Major Disaster Declaration – VA
• 3 Amendment Issued

Event Monitoring:
• No new event monitoring

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