Local Amateur Radio Operators practice for the weekend

With over 700,000 licensed amateur radio operators in the United States, there are around 200 located within the Wood County area.

"Amateur operators are the unsung back up when all else does fail" said Myron Oestreich, the AEC/PIO Wood County.

"It's designed as an emergency preparedness exercise, for folks to operate their radio some place other than home. Set up their home equipment somewhere in public, in a park, what ever the case is, and operate on portable stuff to test out your abilities, to make contacts, in the event that there is a failure of power systems be it through natural or man made disasters".

HAM radio is a common term that people use to describe amateur radio operators. For those who have their license and gear, it is a good weekend to surf the waves and try to make connections across the country, and globe.