Hi there Scottg and Fred B, Interesting you mention KCBC, Ruud from the Netherlands also visited the station

Yes, the VaLcom antenna was a disaster, someone claimed it would handle far more power that it could...
Helical antennas generate Huge volts at the top end, In my other job in radio comms, I remember adjusting
a VHF version on a 5 watt 170 mhz handset, and the rubber duck helical tip was getting warm and starting
to melt the plastic cap....

The Valcom had a sort of wire ring thing, at the top to try to reduce corona, but was too small
but, although the Valcom was meant for ships, to try it without guy ropes, was asking for trouble

Years ago, I met Chicago again at an Amateur radio car boot sale... I said to him "Why don't you write a book" ?
he said, Other people have already done that,....Pity, as he has a unique story to tell
but as some have said, he knows too much about what went on, but he could avoid some of that side
I said to him, I would buy your book, but he showed little interest in writing one... pity

Rod Watts