During the spring 1978, three Andrew-Willingdon area residents joined the ranks of the Amateur Radio Fraternity - Emil Buyer VE6BJV (now VE6YN), Tom Evans VE6BEX and Jerry Kupina VE6BIK (now VE6CZ), through the very capable electronics instructions of Hugh Kroetsch VE6AN and the Morse Code instruction by Ethel Bechman VE6RP.

The conversations amongst Tom, Emil, Hugh and Jerry at the coffee breaks during the course, they decided that having a 2-meter repeater in this area would be a great thing to have. After the three of them received their Amateur Certificates of Proficiency in Radio, they further pursued the repeater idea, ending up of course for repeater advice from Norms Simons VE6HR. At this time we realized that the repeater idea took on a realistic approach. Norm asked them for an elevations map of the Andrew area so that he could better select a location for the repeater. From the elevations map and from Emil's suggestion, Norm and themselves selected a ridge of land known to the area residents as Eagle Trail Hill, six miles northeast of Willingdon. This hill, which has become known to us as Eagle Hill, is 350 feet higher than the surrounding area. Eagle Hill's elevation is 2375 feet. Upon presentation of this information to Norm, VE6HR, he was in favour of the location.

They further promoted the repeater idea by talking about is with various hams in the area. Through their conversations, they generated keen interest in this repeater project from Jim Sketchley, VE6APO and Russ White, VE6ANM, both also being newly licensed Amateur Radio Operators. From the time that they enrolled Jim and Russ into the setup of the repeater, they received a tremendous amount of technical advice from them as well as a great deal of volunteer time in researching, looking for, and altering surplus repeater equipment and antennas. It was natural then to inspect the site from the air, so Jim, VE6APO who holds his pilot's license, along with Norm, VE6HR flew over EAGLE HILL and the surrounding area to inspect the layout of the terrain. To finalize the site for the repeater, an "on ground" inspection was made. There they were, 350 feet higher than the surrounding area on top of Eagle Hill, looking at barren pasture land with a lot of rocks and boulders, but from the hill they could see for miles and miles, all the way to ST-Paul, Vegreville, Smoky Lake, Bruderhiem and the Elk Island Ridge, a natural barrier to the two meter signals to Edmonton. The next step was to operate a two meter rig from the site, so Emil and Jerry transmitted signals to Norm, who was located at his home in Edmonton, ready to receive and measure their signal strength. From the hill that July evening they worked the VE6SS, VE6HM, VE6PP and VE6MC repeaters as well as Jim in Namao, Norm in Edmonton and Joe, VE6BEY in St-Paul on the simplex frequency, 146.52Mhz. This, was the convincing test to place a repeater on Eagle Hill. Images of a tower and a repeater shack on top of Eagle Hill were becoming a reality for them.

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Their interest was to open up the northeastern part of the province - there seemed to be a radio coverage gap between Edmonton and Cold Lake. They talked to Joe, VE6BEY from St-Paul, Larry, VE6BGB from Elk Point and Bob, VE6AGT from Heinsburg and they became interested in the repeater project. Norm, VE6HR suggested and hopes that the repeater will serve an area from Edmonton to Camrose to Vegreville to Bonnyville to Lac La Biche to Athabasca to Westlock. This represented a circular area with a radius of approximately 60 miles from the repeater site. Upon completing their tests from the hill and realizing the area to be covered by the repeater, they went right to work. The lease for the site was obtained from the farmer by Tom, Emil and Jerry, the paperwork for tower height and repeater operation was done by Norm, the tower was obtained and Hugh was placed in charge of its erection from the technical data supplied, and Jim and Russ were placed in charge of obtaining and modifying the antenna system for the repeater. Tom,Emil,Fred Kupina (Jerry's dad) and Jerry surveyed the tower site on Saturday, September 9th. The final draft of the lease was delegated to Herb, VE6TM, the electrical work delegated to Lorne, VE6AWI, the civil engineering to Ralph, VE6BEB, the repeater control logic to Wayne, VE6IF, the building materials to Joe, VE6AMP and technical support to Chuck, VE6NX. They realized what remained to be done yet. Remaining to be completed on the repeater project is the digging of the holes for the dead men and the tower base, the concrete work at the site, erection of the 170' tower complete with three sets of five guy wires each to the equalizer plates, running a power line from the farmer's yard to the repeater site and constructing a weather proof repeater shack. Considering the amount of work to be done and the weather conditions, they felt optimistic that the repeater will be in operation at the end of October 1978.

Sunday, 17 September 1978: Ralph, VE6BEB drove to the repeater site on this cold, showery day to take soil samples. These samples were tested and proved to be excellent according to Ralph and this gave them the green light to proceed with the digging of the holes for the tower base and the dead men.

Monday, 18 September 1978: The survey with respect to the location of the 170' tower and the anchor points were confirmed by Ralph, VE6BEB during the afternoon, Ralph brought these measurements to VE6BIK's place where the calculations for the lengths of the fifteen guy wires were made including the placement of the anchors for the equalizer plates.

Thursday, 21 September 1978: Jim, VE6APO motored out to Gibbons, picked up Russ, VE6ANM and proceeded to Bon Accord(Bow Wow Inn) where a borrowed trailer was hooked up to Jim's truck-camper. With no trailer jack to lift the trailer hitch, Jim and Russ had to really use their energy from the Wheaties they had for breakfast.

Friday, 22 September 1978: Jerry VE6CZ escorted the back-hoe, operated by Jim Ostapowich, Jerry's neighbor, to the repeater site - a distance of fifteen miles. In the meantime, Jim, VE6APO drove to Edmonton with the truck and trailer to pick up five surplus C.N. power.telegraph poles. The poles were loaded on to the trailer by Jim, VE7BKW, Jim, VE6APO and a friend, Jack Warner who now is VE6AJC.

Saturday, 23 September 1978: Russ VE6ANM delivered the materials for the repeater shack and Jerry noticed that he loaded his pickup truck to the full tolerance of the springs, Jim VE6APO delivered the five power/telegraph poles and the reinforcement bars which had been delivered by Norm VE6HR to Jim's home Friday evening. The reinforcement bars were loaded directly on Russ's truck and he proceeded to Tom VE6BEX's place where the two of them set to work to make up the "cages" for the dead men and the tower base. Jim VE6APO and Jerry VE6CZ proceeded to the repeater site with Jim, the back hoe operator, where they met Emil VE6YN, John VE6DH and Larry VE6BGB. They all then got busy, made the necessary measurements and assisted the back hoe operator in digging the three holes and the hole for the tower base. Russ VE6ANM didn't wear "welding goggles" while he was busy making the "reinforcement cages" and as a result suffered on Sunday with sore eyes.

Sunday, 24 September 1978: Jim VE6APO, Emil VE6YN and Tom VE6BEX placed the reinforced cages and anchor rods into place at the site in preparation for pouring concrete. Jim VE6APO, Fred Kupina and Jerry VE6CZ started working on the construction of the repeater shack in the farm quonset. Bill VE6WP(silent key) dropped in for a visit and coffee and inspected the carpentry work. Russ VE6ANM, out for an evening drive with his family, dropped in for a coffee and ended up helping with the building of the repeater shack till 9:00p.m.

Monday, 25 September 1978: Emil, Russ, Tom, Hugh and Fred Kupina were up early to get the concrete poured at the site. Russ and Fred returned to the farm after the concrete pour to work further on the construction of the repeater shack - completing it to the stage of electrical wiring, shingling and fastening the doors.

Thursday, 28 September 1978: Russ VE6ANM delivered three more tower sections obtained from Milo VE6CU at Namao and Russ also delivered more building materials for the repeater shack.

Friday, 29 September 1978: Two flat tire on the portable generator and a couple of hours later, Jim arrived at the farm (Jerry's) with some more hardware and electrical supplies for the repeater shack.

Saturday, 30 September 1978: Jim VE6APO, Jim Ostapowich and Jerry VE6CZ went to the repeater site to back fill the dead men guy anchor holes and the tower base hole. Measurements were also made at this time for the placement of the power poles. Jim VE6APO and Jerry VE6CZ returned to the farm and along with Jerry's dad, Fred, proceeded to complete the work on the repeater shack - completing the facia, shingling and started on the wiring.

Sunday, 01 October 1978: Jerry VE6CZ took the tractor and picked up a three point hitch post hole auger from a neighbor, Mike Kapicki, and drove to the repeater site to dig the holes for the five power poles required to bring the power tot he site. Jerry was met at the site by his father and Ed Fediuk, his brother-in-law, who helped with the digging of the power pole holes. Jim VE6APO used Jerry's truck to bring additional tower sections from Milo VE7CU's place near Namao. After going their separate ways, they met at Jerry's place and began working removing the old paint from the seventeen 10' tower, the task being slow and tedious. Jim VE6APO and Jerry took stock of the materials on hand and made a list of any additional materials which were required for the tower and repeater shack.

Thursday, 05 October 1978: Jerry drove to Jim VE6APO's place to do modifications on the base section of the tower. Hugh VE6AN met them and explained the required alterations.

Friday, 06 October 1978: Russ VE6ANM picked up the drill pipe required as a cradle for the repeater shack and delivered the pipe to Jim VE6APO's place. Jim picked up additional tower materials and went to Milo VE6CU's place to borrow some tower bolts. Jerry worked with his dad and his son Kevin a couple of hours trying to untangle a 1000 foot coil of guy wire. They succeeded to the 700 foot mark but gave up for the evening with sore shins and bruises on arms and legs.

Monday, 16 October 1978: Jim VE6APO and Russ VE6ANM picked up some aluminium pipe for the antenna construction. They worked late into the night on the four element folded dipole antenna.

Tuesday, 17 October 1978: More material was required for the antenna so Jim VE6APO and Russ VE6ANM visited a scrap metal yard in the morning and obtained the necessary pipe for mounting the antenna to the tower. The afternoon and evening were spent working on the antenna.

Wednesday, 18 October 1978: Jim VE6APO and Russ VE6ANM once again burnt some midnight oil and worked on completing the repeater antenna. The antenna was temporarily set up and checked out.

Thursday, 19 October 1978: Jim VE6APO and Russ VE6ANM put the final touches to the antenna, making sure that all connectors were secure and all joints were sealed and weather proofed.

Friday, 20 October 1978: Jim VE6APO and Russ VE6ANM and Terry VE6BDQ placed the antenna on Jim's ranchero in preparation for an early Sunday morning departure for the repeater site.

Saturday, 21 October 1978: Emil VE6YN, Tom VE6BEX and Jerry VE6CZ arrived at the repeater site along with Bill Good and his son. They set to work plumbing the already erected 90' of tower. The tower was plumbed and they set to work successfully completing the remaining 80' of tower and two more sets of guy wires. In the meanwhile, Norm VE6HR worked on the repeater, receiver and transmitter, and he advised they of the tentative installation date of Saturday, November 4th, 1978.

Sunday, 22 October 1978: Jim VE6APO arrived at the repeater site along with the 36 foot long antenna on his ranchero escorted by his wife Gayle and Matt Cassels. Tom VE6BEX, Jim VE6APO and Jerry VE6CZ assisted Bill Good and his son in getting the proper tensions for the guy wires and securing the turn buckles. The big job of raising the antenna and securing it into the top tower section at the 170 foot level; was completed. The tower lights were installed on the tower and conduit along with the heliax was secured to the tower. Grounds wires and ground rods were put in at the repeater shack, at the tower base and at each anchor point.

Friday, 27 October 1978: Jim VE6APO and Norm VE6HR met and all invoices were tabulated in preparation for the ARLA director's meeting to be held at Red Deer, Alberta on Saturday, 28 October 1978.

Saturday, 28 October 1978: Jerry VE6CZ drove to his cousin's farm near Smokey Lake and picked up a post hole auger required to auger the poles for the fence posts around the anchor points, the tower and the repeater shack.

Sunday, 29 October 1978: Jim VE6APO, Tom VE6BEX, Russ VE6ANM and Jerry VE6CZ worked at the site completing the electrical wiring and hooking up the photocell which Russ made from parts obtained from Bert VE6BLT and Jim VE6APO. Jim completed the job of securing the conduit on the tower. The fence around the tower, repeater shack and anchor was completed. The batteries were put into place in the repeater shack and a final check of all electrical wiring and tower lights was made.

Monday, 30 October 1978: Bob VE6AGT visited the site for a look around.

Thursday, 02 November 1978: Norm BE6HR was assisted by Jim VE6APO in working on the repeater package at Norm's place. They worked late into the night checking out the repeater package, making sure that the repeater was working to maximum efficiency.

Saturday, 04 November 1978: Jim VE6APO and Russ VE6ANM worked at Snip Lobuck's Shop in Gibbons manufacturing the copper adaptor plates for connecting the lead wires from the batteries to the repeater package as well as the battery charger. Jim VE6APO and Norm VE6HR proceeded to the repeater site. where Jerry VE6CZ, Tom VE6BEX and Emil VE6YN meet them. The installation of the electronic equipment was completed, the heliax connections secured, the 12 volt power source checked out and the repeater package switch turned to the on position - The Eagle Hill Repeater, VE6PP was declared on the air. There they stood, taller than the tower itself and broader than the distance between the anchor points - not because they indulged in the champagne for the official opening ceremonies ( in the first wet, soggy 4 inch snowfall of the year) - but because they had accomplished what was only a dream a few months ago - proud and happy that everything went exceptionally well and smooth with the volunteer help of so many amateurs and non-amateurs, knowing very well that the repeater will be used by amateurs living and driving east-northeast of Edmonton. They were not only numbed by the cold weather, but also by the accomplishment of this Amateur Radio project. The repeater was ON THE AIR, Bob VE6AGT from Heinsburg (Laurier Lake) was the first base contact (65 miles away). Larry VE6BGB was the first mobile contact (near Vilna) other than the local mobiles, Jim VE6APO, Norm VE6HR, Tom VE6BEX, Emil VE6YN, and Jerry VE6CZ. The above mobiles proceeded to Emil VE6YN's place where Emil's wife served them with a hearty lunch and coffee enjoyed by all. Later that evening, Russ VE6ANM succeeded in becoming the first mobile to use the repeater from the Edmonton area. Jim VE6APO and Jerry VE6CZ constructed a DC filter for the battery charger from old T.V. parts to eliminate the hum and hash being generated by the battery charger.

Sunday, 05 November 1978: Jerry VE6CZ, Jerry's son Kevin and Jim VE6APO constructed a home made (iron rod and electrical wire) hash filter choke for the battery charger. Jim VE6APO, Emil VE6YN, Bert VE6BLT, Tom VE6BEX and Jerry VE6CZ drove to the site where: The hash filter was installed, the transmitter audio was adjusted, the cw identification audio was turned up, the power meter was installed, the power poles were straightened and Bert VE6BLT took some professional pictures of the tower, repeater shack and the entire site. At 1600hrs they departed from the site. Tom VE6BEX borrowed a tower section from VE6APO to construct an anti-climbing device from barbed wire for the tower.

Sunday, 12 October 1978: Jim VE6APO, Russ VE6ANM, Tom VE6BEX and Larry VE6BGB were at the repeater site where they were very successful in removing the "hum" generated on the repeater carrier by the battery charger.

During the time that the amateurs worked at the repeater site, the wives and children would join us at the site. The wives were busy preparing pots of coffee, lunches and dinners for them, using the tail gates of pick-up for the kitchen area and the tables. In the meanwhile, the children had to be looked after as well, so to keep the children occupied, they suggested that they gather up rocks with a size of approximately 5 inches. The children were kept busy collecting these rocks and putting them on a pile. To continue this rock collection, we asked them to collect enough rocks to spell out the three foot letters VE6PP. Once this collection was made, they took the rocks to the south facing face about 200 feet east-southeast of the tower. There they laid out the rocks, spelling out VE6PP and painted them white. The next time amateur radio operators, who fly along side the south face of Eagle Hill, look down and they will see the rock sign VE6PP. Now that call sign of the repeater has changed to VE6RJK, we will have to change the lettering on the hill to reflect this change. The call sign VE6PP was assigned to the Whitecourt repeater.

During the ensuing years, the Eagle Hill Amateur Club members were busy doing just the regular maintenance at the site with respect to the tower, the repeater shack, the guy wires, the electronic equipment, the batteries, and the power line. Packet Radio was added complete with BBS VE6JET as well as a linking network, linking repeater VE6RJK to the SARA system and the IPARN system. We are very fortunate and thankful to the new amateurs who have come on board with the Eagle Hill Amateur Radio Club and have given so much of their expertise and time to make this club as viable as it is now. Very special thanks to Guy VE6BGH, the former VE3MSR, who joined our club when he and his family established residence in Andrew. Guy is the Sysop of the VE6JET BBS located in Andrew and we know that he has spent countless numbers of hours maintaining the Packet BBS for the use of fellow amateur operators. In addition to this, he has given his time voluntarily anytime that help was needed at the VE6RJK site during the day or night and during any kinds of weather conditions to make sure that there was only a minimal interruption in the operation of the VE6RJK repeater.

The Eagle Hill Amateur Radio Club is very proud and honored to sponsor its Annual Meeting,Dinner, and Flea Market every year on the second Sunday of March, at the Andrew Community Centre in Andrew. The event has become a tradition with the amateurs in the area and our hopes are that this annual get together continues to improve as it has done over the past number of years. It is through the support of the amateurs, which in our area are the best radio operators we have seen through their use of the repeater, their co-operation, their financial support and their progressive thinking.

It is because of them that the Eagle Hill Amateur Radio Club is
"THE BIGGEST LITTLE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB IN ALBERTA IF NOT CANADA" ===============================================================