PLATTEVILLE — Two amateur radio clubs will be participating in the nationwide ham radio Field Day this weekend.

More than 100,000 ham radio operators will observe their annual Field Day from Saturday at 1 p.m. to Sunday at 1 p.m.

Field Day is an exercise in which hams assemble a radio station away from their homes using alternative power sources, including batteries, portable generators or solar energy, for 24 hours, making as many radio contacts around the world as possible.

The Hidden Valleys Amateur Radio Club and the UW–Platteville Amateur Radio Club will be setting up their radios in the parking lot across from the new UW–Platteville engineering building, at Southwest Road and Longhorn Drive. The clubs will operate two stations using portable towers and various types of antennas to communicate via the ionosphere using Single Sideband, FM, digital and Morse code.

One station will be available for visitors to make contacts under the supervision of Federal Communications Commission-licensed ham operators.

Members of the two clubs have been involved in public service, including weather spotting, participating in state and local emergency drills, and assisting with communications with walking and biking events.

More information about the clubs is available at www.qsl.net/kc9kq.

•    An introduction to ham radio course will be offered by HVARC member David Christ at the Platteville Public Library Saturday, June 30 at 10 a.m.