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The CB Radio adventure at the Wichita Falls YMCA

Back in the day, you could rent a room at the Downtown YMCA, and in 1970, a CB Radio operator did just that. While contemplating his operating options, if any, he noticed a coaxial cable running past his window up to the roof. A little investigation determined that this was the cable to the TV in the "social room" on the first floor. On the roof was a typical TV Yagi antenna.

In a desperate attempt to cure his CB Radio withdrawal pains, he cut the coax cover near his window and wrapped the center conductor of his CB coax around the newly exposed braid. Now he could listen to his CB Radio. But the itch to transmit got to him, and he keyed up and made a few calls. It is unknown if the maintenance man saw the coax cable evidence or if someone complained about strange voices coming from the TV. Either way, CB Radio man was busted and given a severe warning.

The maintenance man, unaware of the pain that CB Radio withdrawal can induce, thought the problem was solved and went about his usual business. This was a mistake! The CB Radio man erected a full-size ground plane antenna on the roof of the building and brought the coax cable into his window, located somewhere in the red ellipse shown in the photo. It was less than a week before he, and the antenna, were gone! By the way, he bought the antenna at Wholesale Electronics, 1508 11th Street. I knew the guy! Sort of.