WICHITA FALLS MAN
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In Wichita Falls, this scanner radio, and an outside antenna, are all you need to monitor most local two-way radio communications.
COMING October 11, 2024 - International Space Station School Contact with Greenville Jr HS, Greenville, IL, direct via AD9OV (Don Petit KD5MDT) Fri 2024-10-11 14:30:05 UTC 33 deg. Listen for the ISS side of the contact on your scanner radio at 145.800 MHz.
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10-10-2024 - At 4:50 PM, I hear a scratchy voice on 437.800 MHz, the downlink frequency for the Amateur (ham) Radio repeater aboard the International Space Station. I'm listening on a Bearcat scanner with a discone antenna in the attic. I was probably on the edge of the radio footprint for just a few seconds. Maybe next time! I remember hearing Owen Garriot, W5LFL, the first "Ham in Space", on a scanner with just the set-mounted telescoping antenna. That was in 1983.
10-10-2024 - At least one news report says North Texas might see the "Northern Lights" tonight due to the ongoing geomagnetic storm. That would be nice. I haven't seen the aurora from Wichita Falls since 1989.
10-10-2024 - I made contact with N7BBQ at Big Creek State Park (US-2281) in IOWA 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
10-10-2024 - FEMA National Current Ops / Monitoring – October 9-10, 2024
New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops
Hurricane Milton (CAT-1) – Florida
Helene – Southeast and Mid-Atlantic
Geomagnetic Storm G4
Hazard Monitoring
Rain/Thunderstorms – Florida
Tropical Activity:
Atlantic:
• Hurricane Milton (CAT-1)
• Hurricane Leslie (CAT-1)
• Disturbance 1: Low (20%)
Event Monitoring
No new significant events
Disaster Declaration Activity
Request: Major Disaster Declaration – Idaho
3 Amendments issued
10-10-2024 - 7:35 AM - According to Water Data for Texas, Wichita Falls reservoirs are: Arrowhead: 64.7 Kemp: 98.0% Kickapoo 67.5%. Monitored Water Supply Reservoirs are 79.7% full.
10-10-2024 - 7:35 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 9,971 Megawatts.
10-10-2024 - 7:35 AM - Good Morning!
10-09-2024 - There has been a lot of online chatter about obtaining Amateur (ham) Radio gear and the required license, following Hurricane Helene. A search for "Wichita Falls Area Hams (Amateur Radio Operators)" will lead you to a Facebook page for a local Ham Radio group.
10-09-2024 - From the U.S. Federal Trade Commission - "Marriott settled charges related to a data breach that exposed the information of millions of guests. The company will take steps to better protect customers’ personal information. And it will give customers more control over their information." If you're interested in this topic, just Google it.
10-09-2024 - I made contact with AC3WM at Hillman State Park (US-11697) in Pennsylvania 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
10-09-2024 - FEMA National Current Ops / Monitoring – October 8-9, 2024
New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops
Hurricane Milton (CAT-5) – Florida
Helene – Southeast and Mid-Atlantic
Hazard Monitoring
Severe Weather/Excessive Rainfall/Flash Flooding – Florida
Tropical Activity:
Atlantic:
• Hurricane Milton (CAT-5)
• Hurricane Leslie (CAT-1)
• Disturbance 1: Medium (40%)
• Disturbance 2: Low (10%)
o Eastern Pacific:
• Disturbance 1: Low (20%)
Event Monitoring
No new significant events
Disaster Declaration Activity
Approval: Emergency Declaration – Seminole Tribe of Florida
Amendment No. 2 to FEMA-4831-DR-VA
10-09-2024 - NWS Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 94. South wind 7 to 10 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South southeast wind around 10 mph.
10-09-2024 - 6:17 AM - According to Water Data for Texas, Wichita Falls reservoirs are: Arrowhead: 64.8 Kemp: 98.1% Kickapoo 67.7%. Monitored Water Supply Reservoirs are 79.9% full.10-09-2024 - 6:17 AM - NOAA SPACE WEATHER - Last 24 Hrs: Radio Blackouts (R3 - Strong) Solar Radiation Storms (S3 - Strong) Geomagnetic Storms (G1 - Minor) Current: Radio Blackouts (R - None) Solar Radiation Storms (S2 - Moderate) Geomagnetic Storms (G - None) Solar Wind Speed: 455 km/sec Solar Wind Magnetic Fields: Bt 5 nT, Bz -5 nT Noon 10.7cm Radio Flux: 225 sfu.
10-09-2024 - 6:17 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 10,325 Megawatts.
10-08-2024 - I made contact with W9UUM at Coon Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (US-11958) in Wisconsin 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
10-08-2024 - FEMA National Current Ops / Monitoring – October 7-8, 2024
New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops:
• Hurricane Milton (CAT-4) – Florida
• Helene – Southeast and Mid-Atlantic
Hazard Monitoring:
• Excessive Rainfall / Flash Flooding – Florida
• Tropical Activity:
Atlantic:
• Hurricane Milton (CAT-4)
• Hurricane Leslie (CAT-1)
• Disturbance 1: Low (20%)
• Disturbance 2: Low (20%)
Eastern Pacific:
• Disturbance 1: High (70%)
Disaster Declaration Activity:
• Approval: Emergency Declaration – FL
• Request: Major Disaster Declaration – Crow Tribe of Montana
• Request: Emergency Declaration – Seminole Tribe of Seminole
• 4 Amendments Issued
Event Monitoring:
• No significant events
10-08-2024 - NWS Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the morning. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 6 to 8 mph.
10-08-2024 - 8:20 AM - According to Water Data for Texas, Wichita Falls reservoirs are: Arrowhead: 64.9 Kemp: 98.2% Kickapoo 67.7%. Monitored Water Supply Reservoirs are 79.9% full.
10-08-2024 - 8:20 AM - NOAA SPACE WEATHER - Last 24 Hrs: Radio Blackouts (R3 - Strong) Solar Radiation Storms (S - None) Geomagnetic Storms (G3 - Strong) Current: Radio Blackouts (R - None) Solar Radiation Storms (S - None) Geomagnetic Storms (G - None) Solar Wind Speed: 385 km/sec Solar Wind Magnetic Fields: Bt 10 nT, Bz -9 nT Noon 10.7cm Radio Flux: 277 sfu.
10-08-2024 - 8:20 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 11,401 Megawatts.
10-08-2024 - 6:00 AM - Good Morning! The Chiefs beat the Saints last night. That makes them 5-0. If the Saints had won, that would have been OK, too. I couldn't watch the game, so I didn't have to see "You Know Who" a dozen times. Our temperatures are supposed to peak in the mid-90s this week. I'm ready for a little Winter weather. My coffee is ready!
10-07-2024 - Some local scanning targets: Walmart (154.570 MHz), Allred Unit (153.815 MHz), Wichita County Jail (155.520 MHz), State Hospital (154.800 MHz) city transit buses (453.5375 MHz), WFISD school buses (152.360 MHz), school handheld radios (151.940 MHz), Wichita Valley Airport (122.800 MHz), Kickapoo Airport (122.700 MHz), Wichita Falls Regional Airports / SAFB (119.750 & 122.950 MHz), and the BNSF Railroad (160.920 MHz) are active!
10-07-2024 - FEMA National Current Ops / Monitoring – October 6-7, 2024
New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops:
• Hurricane Milton (CAT-3) – Florida
• Helene – Southeast and Mid-Atlantic
Hazard Monitoring:
• Excessive Rainfall/Flash Flooding – Southeast
• Tropical Activity:
Atlantic:
• Hurricane Kirk (CAT-1)
• Hurricane Leslie (CAT-1)
• Hurricane Milton (CAT-3)
• Disturbance 1: Low (30%)
Eastern Pacific:
• Disturbance 1: High (70%)
Western Pacific:
• Tropical Storm Twenty-One
Disaster Declaration Activity:
• Request: Emergency Declaration – FL
• Two amendments issued
Event Monitoring:
• No significant events
10-07-2024 - I made contact with WC1N at West Meadows Wildlife Management Area (US-11697) in Massachusetts 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
10-07-2024 - NWS Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 90. Northeast wind around 6 mph. Tonight: Clear, with a low around 61. ESE wind 3 to 5 mph.
10-07-2024 - 5:08 AM - According to Water Data for Texas, Wichita Falls reservoirs are: Arrowhead: 64.9 Kemp: 98.3% Kickapoo 67.8%. Monitored Water Supply Reservoirs are 79.9% full.
10-07-2024 - 5:08 AM - NOAA SPACE WEATHER - Last 24 Hrs: Radio Blackouts (R1 - Minor) Solar Radiation Storms (S - None) Geomagnetic Storms (G1 - Minor) Current: Radio Blackouts (R - None) Solar Radiation Storms (S - None) Geomagnetic Storms (G - None) Solar Wind Speed: 434 km/sec Solar Wind Magnetic Fields: Bt 11 nT, Bz -9 nT Noon 10.7cm Radio Flux: 265 sfu.
10-07-2024 - 5:08 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 10,295 Megawatts.
10-07-2024 - 5:08 AM - Good Morning! It's Monday, and I have a late-morning dentist appointment. I can't wait! The Cowboys squeaked by the Steelers last night. I turned the TV off at halftime and went to bed. I'm a fan, just not a rabid fan. I hear a station in the USA "1" call area calling CQ DX. Will any DX station answer? I say the "1" call area because he/she has a "1" in their call sign. With "vanity" call signs available, you can never be sure where a station is located. In other news, there was a 23-car pileup at Talledega yesterday. Is that a record-breaker? My coffee is ready!
10-06-2024 - I'm watching the Washington - Cleveland game with my scanner radio going in the background. Walmart on 154.570 MHz and the Allred Unit on 153.815 MHz are keeping me entertained.
10-06-2024 - I made contact with AI5P at Harpeth River State Park (US-2949) in Tennesee 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
10-06-2024 - FEMA National Current Ops / Monitoring – October 5-6, 2024
New Significant Incidents / Ongoing Ops:
• Helene – Southeast and Mid-Atlantic
Hazard Monitoring:
• Severe Thunderstorms – Great Lakes
• Heavy Rain/Flash Flooding – Florida
• Tropical Activity:
Atlantic:
• Hurricane Kirk (CAT-2)
• Hurricane Leslie (CAT-1)
• Tropical Storm Milton
• Disturbance 1: Low (30%)
Eastern Pacific:
• Disturbance 1: Med (60%)
Disaster Declaration Activity:
• Two amendments issued
Event Monitoring:
• No significant events