TIPP CITY — Local amateur radio operators — also known as 'hams' — are inviting the public to learn more about them this weekend as they set up equipment and communicate nonstop for 24 hours with others around the world via voice, Morse code and several digital modes.

Tipp City amateur radio operators will begin putting up antennas around 2 p.m. Friday, June 27, at the Tipp City Park, and return Saturday at 9 a.m. to continue with antenna work and set up radio equipment.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, the hams will begin the 24-hour communications with others around the world in an emergency exercise called Field Day. During that time, only emergency power supplies will be in use.

The hams will show they can send messages without using phone systems, Internet or other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis.

Last year, more than 34,000 amateur radio operators in the country participated in the Field Day events, according to information provided by the Tipp City Amateur Radio group.

Also on display at the park Saturday and Sunday, unless needed elsewhere for an emergency, will be the P&R Communications Tower Trailer. The 104-foot tower mounted on a trailer has been used to provide communications during 9-11 in New York City near Ground Zero and during Hurricane Katrina response.

To learn more about amateur radio, including how you can get started visit the web at www.tcar.org or contact Jim Fry or Karen Fry at (937) 387-6769 or jfry@cmdtechnologies.com

Information also is available from the American Radio Relay League at www.emergency-radio.org.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2292 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.