HeroComm is a free and open library of all knowledge that can be gathered on The Original Series Star Trek classic communicator prop.  By pursuing truth and accuracy, we endeavor here to sort fact from fiction, history from hearsay, and originals from fakes.  We wish to peel back the veil of mystery and misinformation that has shrouded this topic for decades – and to be a force only for good.  Our primary end goal is two-fold:  to honor its creator Wah Ming Chang by assisting hobbyists in building faithfully accurate replica props (recognizing that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery), and to aid in locating, authenticating, and preserving those actual communicators he built.

We are advocates of the creation, whether home-grown or licensed mass produced, of ever-more accurate replicas - hopefully advancing the day when anyone can easily build or buy copies that wouldn't look out of place on Wah's workbench.  However, because forgeries (the dark side of that aspiration) have been a serious impediment to the simple enjoyment of TOS comms, a great deal of caution has seemingly been exercised by past researchers in how much information they make public.  This has only in turn allowed the forgers and their agents to continue their work unimpeded, since collectors and hobbyists had no resources to help them to confidently accept or reject a seller's claim.  Illicit behavior of any nature always operates best in an environment of ignorance and darkness.  HeroComm has a different approach:  to turn on the lights by fully educating everyone up to the same high level.  This may not clean up the past damage done by forgers, but moving forward it hopefully will make your life easier and theirs a heck of a lot harder.

Still, in recognition of the still-messy reality, some details of those comm props still unaccounted-for will be withheld to provide us with a superior footing on which to offer an opinion of any contender's validity.  We will energetically work towards a day when all ten are considered found (or at least accounted for), and yet proceed with all due respect and discretion in appreciation of the unique needs that comes with ownership of such a rare, valuable, and iconic artifact of our modern culture.

The associates and collaborators at not-for-profit HeroComm have gathered as a non-competitive partnership of Star Trek prop enthusiasts in open sharing of our abilities and knowledge to advance these common goals for the benefit of everyone.  We hope to mesh serious scholarship with a lighthearted sense of adolescent fun, since after all, our focus is just a small plastic box from an old TV show we watched as kids.  A final point; the creation of this website is more than merely building a database; it is in equal measure about building mutually beneficial and enjoyable friendships.  If you agree with our mission and our means, and have something to contribute, we would heartily welcome your assistance.

Signed,  The Chang Gang