The AM Forum

I just received a call from Frank's wife Carol.  She told me that Frank's body is in the process of shutting down and she thinks he is now in a coma, although that has not been confirmed.  The turning point was the other day when they were sitting out on the porch and Frank was enjoying having the warm sun on his face.  While out on the porch, he started having severe pains in his feet followed by the blue color starting up the legs.  Hospice told Carol that his body was shutting down.  She promised to keep me updated. 

Carol asked me to do this posting.   She is overwhelmed with all the support and help and in particular mentioned all the fantastic work Johnny-W3JN did with finding new homes for Frank's belongings.  Ken-W2DTC sent her all the photo's from the Post Timonium Bashes that Frank and Carol hosted for many years.  She really enjoyed getting all the pictures from those wonderful times.   
 
Frank currently is in no pain and as I get further updates I certainly will pass them along.

Joe - W3GMS   

A finer man we will not meet.
Thank you Joe for Frank's news.

I'm kind of locked up here trying to express
The very best To them both.

 I have been following the ordeal of Frank and his health issues since the first post. I don't know him personally but I'm sure I have heard him over the air for many years.
 I sit hear with a large lump in my throat and a wet eye. God bless him and his family.

RSWL....................

I never talked to Frank on the air or at a 'fester, but reading his posts tells me he took this ordeal with incredible strength,resiliency, and a sense of humor. May god give peace to him and his family, and may he set up a station in heaven with clear frequencies, no zoning restrictions and bombastic audio!

Joe,

Thanks for the update.

News I was hoping I would never hear.

Fred

I never worked Frank, but had the pleasure of meeting him and Carrol about 10 years ago when I bought some equipment from him. They were fine hosts and I enjoyed talking with them both and getting the full tour of his station and QTH.
We also would exchange PMs about various subjects on the BB.
I wish him a comfortable and enjoyable future and expect to see a full station to emulate when I arrive someday.
Carl
/KPD

Joe,
      Many thanks for the update. I guess we got our signals switched as I posted something similar to what you did on the QSO section per request of Carol this morning. It's news I really feel bad about since Frank seemed to be doing so well up to a few days ago.

Let's all keep him in our prayers.

Thanks Joe!

I just chatted with him on Monday. He was in a great mood telling me about the R390A I got from him. We set up a "sked" for this weekend coming not knowing, of course, what the daily futures would bring.

All my prayers for my dear friend!

Thanks for the up-date Joe. I am sorry you are the bearer fo such bad tidings.
God be with Carol during this time.

Hello All,
           This message comes with heartfelt sorrow. I just spoke to Carol, the XYL of Frank Esposito KB3AHE and she informed me that he quietly passed away this afternoon.  Please pray for both Frank and Carol.

Thank you.

Wow, that was fast.  From what Carol was saying this morning I figured it would be a least a couple of days.  Well he is in peace now and Frank lived one heck of an interesting life.  Plus, he would do anything to help any of his friends.  Now we continue with all those great memories to cherish. 
Carol especially is going to have it tough though.  She and Frank were very close like Dave-ZRF and Pam.  I will be checking in with her after things settled down a bit.

Joe, GMS

Frank and Carol are the Godparents for my daughter
  It is a sad day indeed having read he went SK earlier today.  He was quite possibly one of the finest men I have ever known.




73
Kb3nqd

R.I.P. my friend. God be with you, Carol.

I am deeply saddened by the news, even though I knew it was coming, one can never prepare for such things.
God be with Carol. She is in my prayers.

 R.I.P Frank  god speed
 :'( :'( :'(

God bless you Frank and Carol.  

We will certainly miss Frank on the What's For Dinner net.

I'll remember always his great posts, knowledge and love of the hobby, answering questions nicely for new people, and good sense of humor here. God bless and keep the good soul of Frank. Holy Spirit, comfort Carol and family in this trial. Amen.

I do not know if I ever worked Frank on the air, I looked through my log a bit and did not find his call.
I went back and read the entire thread about his getting sick, he sure handled it well.

He brought us all together.
Every Spring.

Simply the Real Timonium.

The Slab Bacon's radio waves will continue to trek the universe forever.

Rest in peace, Frank.

T

My condolences to Frank's wife, family & friends.  

Although I did not have the privilege of meeting Frank, through reading his amfone posts the past several years I have learned from the knowledge he shared here.

We've lost a good one. I cannot express how I will miss him. RIP Frank. God bless Carol.

I miss Frank on many levels. We shared  common bonds in radio, machine work, motorcycles, old iron..... the list goes on...but most of all we shared a faith that all of the interests and skills we are blessed wth are just the warm up act for the eternal plans of the Almighty. Frank chose to use his gifts to bless many, many, other people, both friends and family. I always wanted Frank and Carol to visit us in Minnesota, but he graciously let me know that they were taking care of his mom and would be staying close to home...never even a hint that he considered this a burden.
During our last landline QSO I was truly touched by his courage and composure when I knew he was suffering mightily.
and one more thing..anyone who can make a Viking Invader play was pretty special!!
We miss you Frank

Rest In Peace, Frank!
My condolences to Carol.

/Morgan, SM6OID

Damn! I kind of figured that was going to be the case when I checked in here. My God be with Carol and her family as she struggles through this time of sorrow.

The news I had been dreading.  My sincerest condolences to his family and all his many friends.  Frank was truly a real gem of a human being.  The AM community will never again be the same.

.-. . ... - / .. -. / .--. . .- -.-. . / ..-. .-. .- -. -.- .-.-.- / .... . .- .-. - ..-. . .-.. - / -.-. --- -. -.. --- .-.. . -. -.-. . ... / - --- / -.-. .- .-. --- .-.. / .- -. -.. / .... .. ... / ..-. .- -- .. .-.. -.-- .-.-.-

RSWL.................

To an on-air pal and a truly interesting person..

-Respect the man-

R.I.P.

Jeff W2NBC

Talking with him on Monday proved to me he was at peace with this. It really spoke of his deep faith for without it such peace isn't possible.
He will be missed but in my heart always.

Till we meet....old friend!

All my prayers for you Carol.

Very sad news indeed...

Frank and Carol were very welcoming to myself and Kim when we moved from NY to MD 7 years ago. His post Timonium party's are the stuff of legend, and the Friday night break in sessions of years past are some of the most memorable nights I have of Amateur Radio in my lifetime. He was always giving of advice and just real down to earth.

He will be missed and always remembered.

Mike W2ZE

RIP Frank. You were a man who added a lot to the hobby.
Carl
/KPD

Frank and I only met once.

We had "known" each other only through AMFONE posts and occasional PM's and e-mails. His friendly personality emanated from his messages and when I needed a favor from someone in Baltimore I felt comfortable asking Frank. He, of course, was happy to help me out.

I had purchased a radio from a fellow in Baltimore. The seller wouldn't ship & I couldn't get to Baltimore for several months. Frank agreed to pick it up & hold it until I could get there.

When I finally got to Baltimore we met at his job. He brought out the radio and then we stood in the parking lot talking radios and cars for several hours like we were long lost buddies.
  
When it was finally time to leave I drove away feeling that I'd just found a friend.

I'm glad I asked him for that favor.

RIP Frank

I thought I would share from Facebook:

 It is with the heaviest of hearts that I announce the passing of one of the most influential men in my life, Frank Esposito. He passed away at home today surrounded by friends. I miss him already and think that heaven is gaining one heck of a mechanical, electrical and automotive engineer. -- Rick, N3HIYay (A for the noobs :))

 Total loss for words I came back from the plant today to find a good friend of mine had lost his battle with cancer Frank Esposito was a good friend for 20 plus years and there wasn't much he couldn't do auto mechanics , electronics , cooking are just a few of his crafts he was a friend a husband to Carol a Ham Radio operator among other things he was one of the best people I've ever known Rip -- Dave, N3MIR

 I'm glad several have confirmed that Frank was at peace with God. That makes me feel a whole lot better knowing I will see him again sometime. I don't understand why God does these things to people that don't deserve it,  but I'll accept His will, and His judgment over mine.

 My only regret is that I didn't call him in his last days. I've been meaning to call for 2 weeks and just haven't gotten home early enough to give him a ring.

The dreaded news we've been expecting. Frank's trial is over and he is home. May God bless Carol and family until you're all together again.

Mike

RIP Frank. Thank You for inviting me to your home, taking the time to get to know me and me you. I am very proud to call you my friend. The "What's for Dinner net" will never be the same.
Al
W3GD

Really bummed about losing a fine fellow ham, a great friend, and an all around outstanding man.  Miss ya, bud....

Horrible, horrible news. I rarely spoke to Frank on the air...most of my AM activity was on 160 while he used other bands. But I well remember those great gatherings we would have on the Saturday of the Timonium Hamfest.

My condolences to Carol.

R.I.P., Frank
Phil K2PG

I had the good fortune to talk with Frank many times with his screen modulated 4-1000 rig which was build very well. I regret that I never made it to any of his party's but seeing the video from 2008, it seems that everyone was having a great time and Frank & his wife were loving it...

RIP Frank.....

I am very sorry to hear of Frank's passing.  I didn't know him very well, but I talked with him a few times over the years on AM, of course.  Frank always sounded like he was having a great time and enjoying life!  A great measure of a man is how he is remembered, appreciated and praised by his friends after he has left this earth.  Frank certainly had many friends and touched many lives in a very positive and lasting way.  He will certainly be missed.

Rest in Peace "Slab Bacon"

73,  Jack, W9GT

I just got off the phone with Franks wife Carol.  She mentioned that there will be two services.  One will be at their church in Baltimore and a second celebration party will be held not at their QTH but a banquet hall of sort.  At this point she is just sorting things out in her head and does not have a date for either event yet, but it looks like it will be out at least a couple of weeks from now. 

I will keep everyone posted as soon as the dates are set. 

73,
Joe - W3GMS   

Those "celebration" type events for the recently departed are becoming more popular...and I think it is wonderful.

We had one this summer for a great aunt who died at 96... she had died in the late winter and specifically wanted no formal services and preferred this type of event.

The event was well attended, picnic style and very nice.. Enough time passed  so that there were more smiles and laughs than tears.
And that's exactly the way my great aunt, and I would guess most, would want it.

Sad news, very sad. Frank was always helpful and willing to assist others whenever there was a need. I'll miss hearing his voice and his sense of humor on the WFD net down on 3.730 in the evenings. Rest in peace Frank and my condolences to Carol.

A brief video with strong signals on 3.730 from Frank - KB3AHE, Derb - N3DRB, and Rick - W3RSW on a cold evening in November of 2009. As I recall, Frank had just finished up repairs to Derb's Gonset linear that Derb was using on its maiden run with an FT-101 running AM linear. Frank and Rick were asking Derb about some of the loading parameters he was using and of course this entailed such technical terms as "monkey swing" by Derb.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2iJAEWyDQQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2iJAEWyDQQ)

Rob W1AEX

I didn't know Frank was well as some here did, having first met him at Gaithersburg about a decade ago. But I still have a great sense of loss at his passing. Skip touched on it when he spoke of Frank's other interests. Frank was a wealth of knowledge. And he had the hands-on experience to back it up. He was always ready to help others. Of all the discussions and email exchanges we had, few were about radio. Most were about old engines, generators, machine shop work and so on. He got me back on the straight and narrow several times when dealing with my old John Deere and a 1943 Onan genset.

As Steve said, words cannot begin to explain the loss. He'll be in good company with Derb, Dave, Bill, Kim, and others.

Thanks to you, Johnny, for helping out Carol and Frank in their time of need. Not an easy task in the best of times, and you pulled it off in one of the most difficult.

Peace be with you, Frank. And God be with you Carol through this time and beyond.

Warm Memories.   --Others from you all?
Frank and Carol in left rear.
This was at Steve's QTH before he moved to Va.

When Frank was having some health issues and felt he could not hold his usually food fest event after the Timonium Fester, we all got together at a local restaurant to treat Derb, N3DRB since he himself was having some major health issues. 

Frank was in great spirits as usual and someone snapped a picture of him and I at the event.  It will be a picture I will always cherish.   

It took me a very long time to find this picture, but I was determined to find it!   

Joe-W3GMS 

Here is a great shot of Vortex Joe-N3IBX with his good friend Frank.  That is Franks wife Carol in the photo as well. 

Joe, GMS

A picture set would not be complete without one of Derb-N3DRB (SK) and Frank-KB3AHE (SK). 

These guys were the absolute best of friends.   

Joe - GMS

..and more Joe, that I took from Fallfest 03

The W3F shack showing Frank and Carol again , his 4x1 screen modulated rig, and a gorgeous SX-88. Check out the Vortex shirt.

Almost Rock Midnight.  -Speaks volumes about the happy, tired
 ops waiting for The Magic Hour.

Here is a picture of what was Frank's Station.  He had a nice layout of gear.  Most of the times I worked him he was using his HB 4-1000 screen modulated rig which is shown below. 

Joe, GMS     

More of Frank's 4-1000 rig.

(http://www.amwindow.org/pix/jpg/kb3ahe/exciterfront.jpg)
The front of the RF Exciter/Audio Deck

(http://www.amwindow.org/pix/jpg/kb3ahe/exciterrear.jpg)
The rear of the RF Exciter/Audio Deck

(http://www.amwindow.org/pix/jpg/kb3ahe/finalfront.jpg)
The rear of the RF Amplifier Deck sports a viewing window and a 4-1000

(http://www.amwindow.org/pix/jpg/kb3ahe/finalrearglow.jpg)
The rear of the RF Deck and the glowing 4 by 1 ready for action!

(http://www.amwindow.org/pix/jpg/kb3ahe/kb3ahe.jpg)
The man himself at the controls of the station

Fantastic pictures of Frank's rig Steve.  I never saw the innards before and its great craftsmanship for sure! 

Joe, GMS

Yes, nice, very nice work.  I never saw it inside either.  That RF/ audio deck looks commercial, it's so good.

Do you remember his funny stories on the air about getting the Johnson Invader working and modified for AM? He worked for hours and hours on it with crap out after crap out.  In the end it worked FB, but he certainly had a low opinion of Johnson's engineering practices....  ;D

T

I remember those stories about Frank and his Johnson Invader II as well Tom.  It won no marks in his book for a well engineered transmitter.  Your right, in the end it sounded pretty darn good though but I never heard him on it much.  He said it was not worth all the work.   

Joe, GMS

A few more of Frank in his glory! 

Joe, GMS

Invader mods documented at the link.

http://www.amwindow.org/tech/htm/invader2000.htm

A quote from the article:

The Invader 2000 (especially the earlier ones) are some of the most hateful pieces of S@#% that E.F. Johnson had ever produced. They have many problems that are the nature of the design of the transmitter. Also the underside of the chassis is 10 pounds of S#$% stuffed in a 5 pound bag.

One last picture from the GMS archives.  A great picture of Frank and Carol.

Joe, GMS  

heheheh....  That's quite a message.

I just read his modification log.  Unfrickin-believable!   That was one big nightmare job.

Can you imagine the poor newbie bastard in 1960-63 who saved up his hard-earned money ($1500+ ?) to buy an Invader 2000?   Surprise, surprise, surprise!

That modification write-up has given me a new appreciation for Frank's electronic and troubleshooting abilities.  He really knew his schtuff.

T

Really nice work on that homebrew.
Was that the screen modulated setup?

Yes. IIRC, he used two 2E26s for modulators.

Looking at the RF/audio deck yesterday, I was guessing those were 2E26's behind the unusual audio transformer - the shiny can with the feed-thru's coming out the top.

I think that the mod tranny is out of some military rig. Frank used it at the suggestion of Norm, N3RZU.

In conversations with Frank he indicated that an ART-13 mod xmfr would work fine.  The main thing is the extra winding so you can modulate the control grid as well.  The ART-13 transformers are very robust for their size and would loaf along in that application.  The audio response in that service is pretty good as well.  In fact, before seeing the pictures of the inside of his rig, I thought he was indeed using the ART-13 xmfr just based on past conversations with him. 

I understand that Joe, IBX is the new owner and it will be good to hear it back on the air.

Joe, GMS
     

IIRC he used the mod iron from an ARC-5 modulator. I mentioned the ART-13 mod iron and he said it would work but woud be overkill.

That may be it Bill.  I am assuming the ARC 5 XMFR has the extra tertiary winding in addition to the normal secondary higher impedance winding that would go in series with the HV going to the final. 

Joe, GMS 

Was there a diagram, or did he build it in his head like I tend to do?
It really looks fantastic.

I know someone cleaned up the schematic of Frank's original screen modulator circuit, but here is his hand drawn schematic.  I did find several references that it is indeed an ARC 5 XMFR.

http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?topic=16319.0

Joe, GMS

That rig sure is impressive!
Any time I build something, it gets huge, that rig is very small and compact, yet well done.
I hope Joe puts it on the air.

The workmanship in Frank's rig is better than what I've seen in many commercial broadcast transmitters! Frank knew his stuff and he will be sorely missed.

Phil K2PG

Hello All,
           I have the following information for anyone who wants to attend the Memorial Service for Frank Esposito,KB3AHE.

Date: Saturday November 15

Time: 11:00AM

Place: The "Prince of Peace" Lutheran Church, Philadelphia Rd. Rosedale,Md. 21237

Please note that this will be a Memorial Service for Frank. Plans are currently being made for a possible celebration of his life and I will post that information, place,date,time, etc. when that information becomes available to me.

Thank you,
               Joe Cro N3IBX

Hello Joe,
            I'm very much looking forward to putting the famous "Four by One" rig that Frank built out of plans in his head on the air again. I have the same Behringer VX-2000 Ultra Voice Pro microphone EQ and Marshall condensor mic that Frank used with it and will always remain with it and used when I put it on the air. It was designed to do duty on 160/80/40 Meters.  Along with it came probably enough spare 4-1000A's to last me the rest of my days before I turn it over to the next worthy benefactor to keep it on the air for another lifetime. 

Folks:

I am sorry to read about the loss of Frank. I believed I worked him only once or twice. That being said, reading about him on AM-Fone shows that he gave  our group a good name. This is also where our hobby provides a family style of support.

I hope Carol fares well, and am glad she has a number of folks in the AM community to directly help her, and an extended family in all of us.

Dan

Joe, N3IBX, had been keeping me posted to Frank's status. I guess one could say it was a curse and blessing, depending on how one looked at it. I don't think I can give him anymore praise than what has been stated before me. I don't know about anyone else but all I can say that my fondest memory of him to this day will be during the post-Timonium get-togethers, the essence of garlic pervading from his humble abode there in a quiet Baltimore neighborhood. The fests and the airways, will no doubt seem more empty without his presence, but the memories will linger on.

Joe said,
I was happy I was part of that 'Pony Express' that brought them from Frank, GFZ in Enfield, CT to you Joe, and you were able to deliver them to Frank.

More AHE Photos

1. 4-1000 Rig RF Deck, Back

2. Backyard, Antennas

3. Post Timonium Party, 2002

Worked Frank back in '09.  Made me feel welcome to the AM community

Attached: the entry in my Excel logsheet

Al

I was looking for some other stuff on my computer tonight and found the final amp schematic for Frank's 4x1000 rig. I had forgotten that I had taken his hand drawn schematic and cleaned it up.

Frank on the What's For Dinner Net, 6 September 2008.

http://amwindow.org/misc/mp3/6sep08/group06sep082133z3733.mp3

Wow Steve, thanks for bringing back the memories! 

Joe, GMS

"KB3AHE, cause it's been a while."

6 years ago but I remember it like it was this past week, RIP old friend,
W3GooyLouie...

I look forward to hearing that rig 8) 8)