Topband: VK3ZL SK

[Jon Zaimes AA1K]

My favorite memory of Bob -- among many -- is a mobile one too.

It was about 9 years ago on a Friday and I had just installed a new 
screwdriver on my VW Jetta that covered 160-6 meters. Didn't have time 
to try it that night, but my son Adam N3TTT and I were up early 
Saturday, heading for the Timonium hamfest in Maryland. About an hour 
before sunrise, Adam was driving across the Eastern Shore and I was in 
the passenger seat, tuning Topband when I came across W8JI chatting with 
Bob on CW. When they signed off, I called Bob and was totally amazed 
when he came right back. We had a solid contact -- my first mobile 
Topband DX and still the longest. Just to prove it wasn't a fluke, when 
we crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge just before sunrise, I worked Bob 
again and he gave me an even better report.

He had those great ears, and a nice quiet rural location, that could 
pull out the weak ones. Best I can tell from skimming my old paper logs, 
our first QSO was early in 1990, and our last this past October. In 
between there were hundreds of others -- he was such a beacon by which 
we could gauge the band. I heard him give many USA their first VK.

We often corresponded via email,  about DX activity and his amps, and he 
in recent years was quite active on the ON4KST lowband chat. In the "off 
season" this summer, I haven't been too active on the chat but 
fortunately on June 20 I took the time to log in about 08z as I was 
getting ready for work. To my surprise, VK3ZL had logged in too -- first 
time in months -- as Jeannie had gotten him a tablet to use in his 
hospital room so he could stay in touch. We conversed a few minutes 
before I had to leave, and I feel fortunate we had the chance one last 
time. When I checked back for this conversation after his death was 
reported, I found he had encountered a few others that day on the chat. 
I'm including Bob's comments below; he only made a few short comments on 
two subsequent days on the chat.

73/Jon AA1K

FROM THE ON4KST LOWBAND CHAT:

UTC 	CALL/NAME 	MESSAGE
2014-06-20 10:03:39Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	read down the chat.info on my 
doings there.i am using a small Samsung tablet.
2014-06-20 10:01:23Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	Hi John.Great to see you
2014-06-20 09:47:20Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	every day
2014-06-20 09:47:02Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	she has been by my side all the 2ay 
3very da
2014-06-20 09:38:38Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	I will have email in this tablet in 
next few days.
2014-06-20 09:37:44Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	here to stay Dan.
2014-06-20 09:37:09Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	Jeannie has passed all your 
messages on to me,, nearly 6 monthsvin and out of hospital.
2014-06-20 09:36:05Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	Read down the messages Dan so that 
I don, t have to repeat stuff..Jeannie g
2014-06-20 09:34:30Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	Dan..Wonderful to see you..Jeannie 
got me a Samsung T blet so that I can catch up with you all here..It is 
light as laptop was too heavy for me to handle.
2014-06-20 09:30:07Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	hi robert..brand new nursing 
home..my own private room with all mod cons..just like being 
home..nurses and staff wonderful.l am under high level care and 
everything is done for me.
2014-06-20 09:27:02Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	I still have some new 31 and the 
35b tubes as well as many gi7b and 6 b..these will sell well in vk.
2014-06-20 09:24:32Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	I will have to get all my amplifier 
pictures from my home computer..most of them have never been put on the 
internet.
2014-06-20 09:20:32Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	all my aamps are still working 
fine..aOnly ever had to repair two over the years.
2014-06-20 09:19:18Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	I mostly built 6 and 2 meter amps 
for eme work.
2014-06-20 09:17:36Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	I had no idea it was cancer until 
last November..I just felt unwell and tired for 4 years or so..Typical 
man never went aand asked doc what was wrong..by last Nov it suddenly erupt
2014-06-20 09:14:51Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	I uusejd a water cooled 35b for 
about 4 years..power unlimited.
2014-06-20 09:12:38Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	vk ssb power limit only 400 
watts...cw 120 watts but I broke all 4he rules
2014-06-20 09:09:27Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	weighs 75 pounds..heavy for a 
desktop..it was my own personal amplifier.
2014-06-20 09:08:18Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	160 only
2014-06-20 09:07:45Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	I am very ill dado.
2014-06-20 09:04:46Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	maybe in the next life eh?
2014-06-20 09:01:56Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	it was a real wrench to me when I 
found out it was all over as I loved using my hands building amplifiers 
and other ham gear..I have thousands of dollars in parts tools and general
2014-06-20 08:58:01Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	TKhanks Dado..Most other gear will 
be sold locally.
2014-06-20 08:54:30Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	1.5 kw amp is 2.5k 
dollars..shipping overseas would be about 500 dollars a bit pricy.
2014-06-20 08:51:28Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	amplifier Inbuitblazt year..Over 
the past 5 years I have hand made more than 3o amplofiers mainly for 6 
and 2 mete4s.
2014-06-20 08:49:30Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	I have a ham friend takin care f 
the disposal of my radio and workshop gear.One brand new GS 35B 11..5kwnamp
2014-06-20 08:41:08Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	I will be around most days now Dado 
when I feel up to it.
2014-06-20 08:28:06Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	ah well dado..l guesswe had fun for 
many years.
2014-06-20 08:25:26Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	I guess everyone is just waklng up
2014-06-20 08:23:34Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	hi kevin..summer there.
2014-06-20 08:22:53Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	hi dado.long time my friend
2014-06-20 08:21:17Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	gn jon
2014-06-20 08:20:54Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	1Jon, it really breaks my heart 
that I am unable to op3rate..I miss younall terribly.
2014-06-20 08:19:44Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	jeannie got me a tablet so that I 
can keep in touch.
2014-06-20 08:18:18Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	hi jon..lovely to se3 you..I am 
inma nursing home permanently..no more toband.
2014-06-20 08:14:29Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	watching MASH on TV àt 
present..hoplng that someone turns up here soon.
2014-06-20 08:12:41Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	ge all..back again.j6st rinished my 
dinner.610pm
2014-06-20 05:20:56Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	hi all.. back again with a new 
tablet..just learning how to use it.
2014-06-20 01:57:52Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	Thank-you..gb for now..
2014-06-20 01:57:23Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	I will close for now and will be on 
tonight
2014-06-20 01:56:25Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	Spread fromsource" bladder, to my 
lungs and now looks as though it is in the colon.
2014-06-20 01:55:17Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	No Charlie..I am too ill to spend 
any time on radio and things...My health is unfortunately completely 
shot.Lost 16kg now and only weigh about 60kg.Aggressive cancer.
2014-06-20 01:53:28Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	I probbly only have a few months 
left...At present I am comfortable, and Iwill be ooked after properly. 
little pain
2014-06-20 01:52:10Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	I am here permanantly in a brand 
new nursing facility..My own private room and everything I need.
2014-06-20 01:51:06Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	Nurse wanted 15 minutes of my time 
Charlie..
2014-06-20 01:35:55Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	hi charlie..I won't ever get bzck 
on air but I will try and stay on the chat most days.
2014-06-20 01:30:31Z 	*VK3ZL* Bobby 	gm all.temporary login from nursing 
home on jeannies laptop.i ill try and sort out a more permaneny 
connection soon.

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Photo of Bob and one of his amps: http://w4zt.com/vk3zl/gs31/index.html

==========================================

On 7/9/2014 12:53 PM, W9UCW--- via Topband wrote:
> March morning in 2004 he answered my CQ on  1824.5 from my mobile in the
> driveway.
> _________________
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>