Wichita Falls Pundit
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BetterSafeRadio is a good source for handheld radios (and accessories) for the following services: Amateur (ham) Radio, Family Radio Service (FRS), General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), and the Multi-Use Radio Service.
For traditional scanner radios, CB radios, and mobile and base station radios in the other services, instructional publications, etc., use the Amazon link.
In Wichita Falls, population about 102,000, there are plenty of monitoring choices for scanner radio enthusiasts, from businesses, the County Jail, the James V. Allred Unit prison, schools, school buses, City transit buses, Skywarn® weather spotters, Citizens Band (CB Radio), Amateur (ham) Radio, Family Radio Service, Multi-Use Radio Service, General Mobile Radio Service communications, and more! Your city might have more scanner targets than you thought existed. Use your scanner radio's search feature and be surprised!
Not in Wichita Falls? Most people aren't, so no problem. There are likely numerous things to monitor in your area on a scanner radio. Aviation frequencies are one of my go-to frequencies when I'm driving across the state. There are over 20,000 Amateur Radio repeaters scattered throughout the USA, and chances are you are within range of one or more at home or when traveling. When I check into a hotel, I put my scanner on "search" to find the hotel housekeeping frequency and other area targets.
Get a two-way radio, or a pair of them, because you never know when your usual communications channels will be cut off. Stay in contact with friends, family, neighbors, and others across town to stay informed. Amateur (ham) Radio and GMRS radios require a license. The others do not. Choose the system or systems that fit your needs.
One radio service that is expanding in use is the Multi-Use Radio Service. MURS is low-power, license-free, and, as some call it, the best-kept secret in personal communications. But, it won't be a secret for long as more and more people are discovering the utility of MURS. Put an external antenna 15 to 20 feet in the air, and you can talk from one side of Wichita Falls to the other. Don't worry; a VHF-UHF antenna doesn't have to be expensive, and a chain link fence "top rail" section can serve as an inexpensive mast.
The Citizens Band Radio Service
The General Mobile Radio Service