The Humboldt Amateur Radio Club will host its annual “Field Day” Saturday at the Woodley Island Marina in Eureka from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Amateur radio operators — also known as “hams” — will be setting up portable two-way radio stations complete with antenna towers and will try to contact as many other stations throughout the United States as they can, mostly using shortwave frequencies, said local amateur radio operator Peter Esko.

“I was licensed for a year in my teens, then lost interest until 2008, when I took the test in Crescent City when I worked there,” said Esko, who enjoys being involved in ham radio for several reasons.

“Friendship, public service, contacting hams around the country and the world,” he said. “It’s a fun hobby for those of us who like it. My primary interest right now is preparing for disaster response with training, drills and exercises.”

Amateur radio has been around for a century, according to the American Radio Relay League, the national association for amateur radio in the United States. In that time, ham radio has grown into a worldwide community of licensed operators of all ages using the airwaves with every conceivable means of communications technology.

The public is invited to attend Saturday’s Field Day, learn more about amateur radio and even get on the air and talk to hams in other places.

Field Day is a free event that takes place every June, with more than 40,000 amateur radio operators throughout the U.S. and Canada setting up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio’s science, skill and service to communities and beyond.

“Hams ‘ragchew’ on-air with other hams, we practice emergency communications, check in to weekly ‘nets’ to test our equipment and participate in contests to make the most contacts in a given time frame,” Esko said.

He added: “For disaster response, ham radio works when other systems may be down. Also, we’re distributed just about everywhere to report on conditions.”

To be an amateur radio operator, Esko said, one must have a license from the Federal Communications Commission, which is obtained by passing a test that includes technical radio knowledge and FCC rules. Entry-level, hand-held radios can be purchased new for under $50, he said.

One way to learn more about ham radio is to get involved with the Humboldt Amateur Radio Club. For more information, go to www.humboldt-arc.org.