Chester County ham radio operators from the 985 Repeater Group will hold their annual Field Day event at Lines Self-Storage, 964 Pottstown Pike (Rt. 100), in Chester Springs, PA 19425 from 2 PM Saturday to 2 PM Sunday.

They will be operating their temporary stations off-grid as they demonstrate their technical operating skill and emergency communications preparedness. They will have multiple stations set up and will be contacting other stations around the world by morse code, DMR dual band radio, high power walkie talkie and even satellite! The public will be welcomed to see what ham radio is and to get on the air at the event!

Prominent Americans who are licensed amateur radio operators include comedian Tim Allen, former FEMA Director Craig Fugate, Harvard University President Lawrence Bacow, Nobel Prize laureate Joe Taylor, guitarist Joe Walsh of the Eagles, and astronaut Bob Behnken, who is currently aboard the International Space Station and who rode aboard the Dragon SpaceX rocket to get there. Many of the ISS astronauts are licensed ham radio operators.

During Field Day, hams demonstrate their readiness to provide emergency communications. Because ham radio functions without the internet, phone systems, and the electric power grid, it is often called upon to provide vital communications during natural and manmade disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires. When all other communications methods fail, ham radio prevails.