Special MRD station – Genova Radio c/s ICB

During the next MRD R/O Massimo Nardi IK1FXX and crew (former Operators at Genoa Radio) will be active with spcial callsign II1ICB.

Genoa-Radio (ICB): in the heart of the fourth district, right in front of the historic Via Romana della Castagna, there is the former radio station founded in 1952 and since that time used for maritime radio communications. The radio station was composed of two different receiving stations – the first one  in Levantine district, and the other one dislocated a few kilometers away, on Mount Righi – its transmitters were inside the ancient Fort called “The Castelaccio” (it would seem that the same Guglielmo Marconi has called this site “one of the best Italian stations for broadcasting”). Both stations, transmitter and receiver, were used to fulfill various functions: transmission of messages in Morse code between ship and shore; sending of telegrams, for example to relatives, while at the sea and away from home. The telex system used for the transmission of commercial data available 24 hours on 24, 365 days a year.
The two pylons of over 60 meters that still stand in the middle of the ancient town of Quarto and the passion of some “aggressive” amateurs, keep alive the memory of this Genoese excellence and a profession, the Radio Operator, now disappeared.
While the first operations were carried out thanks to the use of short-wave, on the various marine bands, the distress call was exploiting the medium wave 500 kHz used for about 90 years in the Maritime Mobile Radio Service for safety at sea, all radio stations that used telegraphy on medium wave had an obligation to ensure the continuous listening on this frequency with an operator in charge to receive at any time SOS and “urgent messages” for the Safety of Life at Sea. Only in 1999, the 500 kHz has been replaced by digital satellite systems. Genoa Radio now it is still active on VHF and Medium Wave SSB but remote controlled by Rome Radio. During its activity Genoa Radio has been largely appreciated from all Radio Officers entered in touch with its for the very high efficiency of this coastal radio.

73’s

MRD Crew