The 1GW Radio Station: Bruno Brunacci's Landmark Achievement in Italian Amateur Radio

Introduction

The amateur radio station 1GW (later i1GW), operated by Bruno Brunacci from Rome, Italy, stands out as one of the most celebrated Italian shortwave stations of the 1920s. Chronicled extensively in Il Radio Giornale, the official organ of the Radio Club Nazionale Italiano (R.C.N.I.), 1GW achieved remarkable long-distance contacts with modest power, culminating in a historic bilateral communication with Quito, Ecuador, in 1926. This feat not only demonstrated technical excellence but also garnered national attention, including a telegram to Benito Mussolini, underscoring amateur radio's role in showcasing Italian ingenuity abroad.

Technical Achievements and Experiments

Bruno Brunacci was a skilled experimenter based in Rome, utilizing valve-based transmitters with powers around 30-366 watts (as noted in reports) on shortwave bands (typically 32-80 meters). His setups included modified circuits like the Colpitts oscillator and long-wire antennas, enabling clear telegraphy and occasional telephony despite atmospheric noise (QRN).

Key highlights from Il Radio Giornale:

• December 1926, Page 22: Brunacci reported the first bilateral shortwave communication between Italy and Ecuador on the morning of July 7 (likely 1926). Using low power (approximately 366 watts initially, later reduced to 32 watts), he established contact with the Italian Military Mission in Quito, led by Major Fava (or Fara in some references). Signals were strong enough for the mission to forward a telegram to Mussolini. The article notes: signals received with such intensity that the Italian Military Mission in Quito could send the following telegram to Mussolini: “S. E. Mussolini – Roma Dilettanti radiotelegrafia Maggiore Fava in Quito Brunacci in Roma riusciti comunicare. stop” (H.E. Mussolini – Rome Amateur radiotelegraphers Major Fava in Quito Brunacci in Rome succeeded in communicating. stop). The communication was hailed as the first between Italy and Ecuador via amateur stations.
• The station also received a QSL from the Ecuador contact, with 1GW noted as the first Italian station and the second European one received there (QRK R7).
• January 1927 Activity (reported in a later issue): Extensive bilateral contacts during January, including with Argentina (AA), Brazil (multiple stations like 1AB, 1AC, 1AI, 1AX), Canada (1AR, 2BE), Mexico (1AA), New Zealand (2XA, 3AF), Panama (99X), Porto Rico (4JE), and numerous U.S. stations (e.g., 1ACI, 1RD, 2AHM, 3CHG, etc.). A notable telephony test on January 26 with rAA8 produced carrier QRK R6 but poor modulation due to noise; with bz1AC, 16 prolonged contacts (some lasting ~2 hours) occurred in December-January.

These logs highlight 1GW's consistency in South American and transatlantic DX, often at high signal strengths.

International Receptions and Recognition

1GW's signals were frequently logged in the "Le vie dello spazio" sections:

• South America: Strong presence in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and the historic Ecuador link.
• North America: U.S. and Canadian stations at R4-R8.
• Oceania: New Zealand (multiple times in 1926 reports).
• Europe and Beyond: Various European logs, with the Ecuador event elevating its profile nationally.

The Mussolini telegram, forwarded via the Italian press office, was publicized as a patriotic achievement: “La prima comunicazione Italia-Equatore… per mezzo di stazioni dilettanti… ha potuto inviare all’On. Mussolini il seguente telegramma…” This placed amateur radio in the spotlight, linking technical success to national pride.

Organizational Role and Legacy

As an active R.C.N.I. member and contest participant (e.g., placed 2nd in the 1925 Radioemissione Contest, shown in the June 1926 issue photo), Brunacci contributed to the amateur community's growth. His detailed reports in Il Radio Giornale (e.g., reader letters and activity summaries) helped educate and inspire others.

Brunacci's legacy as a pioneer endures: the 1926 Italy-Ecuador contact remains a celebrated "primato" in Italian ham radio history, symbolizing how low-power amateurs bridged continents and even reached government attention. His work helped pave the way for the formalization of amateur radio in Italy through the Associazione Radioamatori Italiani (A.R.I.).

Key Specifications of 1GW