The 1MG (I1MG / EI1MG) Radio Station: G. Manni's Role in Early Italian Amateur Radio

Introduction

The amateur radio station 1MG (later I1MG following the 1925 IARU prefix adoption for Italian stations, with occasional variants like EI1MG in transitional or international notations), was operated by G. Manni. This callsign belongs to the pioneering series of Italian experimental amateur stations active in the mid-1920s, during the formative period documented in Il Radio Giornale, the official organ of the Radio Club Nazionale Italiano (R.C.N.I.). As with many early 1xx-series callsigns, 1MG reflects the grassroots enthusiasm of Italian dilettanti amid limited licensing, valve technology experiments, and growing interest in shortwave propagation. While specific biographical details on G. Manni remain limited in accessible historical compilations, the callsign's inclusion in period radiotelegraphy lists and amateur directories confirms its place in the foundational Italian ham radio community, contributing to the momentum that led to the Associazione Radiotecnica Italiana (A.R.I.) in 1927.

Technical Achievements and Experiments

G. Manni's 1MG operated in the classic 1920s amateur framework, employing valve-based transmitters for telegraphy (CW) on medium and emerging shortwave bands. Power was modest (typically 10-50 watts to align with early regulations), with equipment and circuits inspired by contemporary Il Radio Giornale articles on regenerative receivers, simple amplifiers, and antenna designs.

Key contextual highlights:

• Callsign Documentation: Listed in early amateur radiotelegraphy callbooks and abbreviation tables (e.g., mid-1920s international QRA lists), placing 1MG among the first wave of documented Italian experimental stations.
• Typical Operations: Focused on emission tests, local and continental QSOs, and reception experiments across wavelengths from 200-3000 meters. Setups likely included standard valve receivers with audio frequency stages and antennas adapted for urban or regional use (e.g., long-wire or unifilar types).
• No Major Individual Feats Recorded: Unlike stations with celebrated DX achievements (e.g., 1GW's transatlantic contacts), no standout transoceanic records, contest placings, or specific technical innovations are directly attributed to 1MG in surviving primary sources or secondary histories.

These activities mirrored the era's emphasis on practical home construction, signal reliability, and community knowledge-sharing.

International Receptions and Recognition

1MG's signals were part of the early European amateur exchange network, with recognition primarily through inclusion in international callsign directories used for QRA identification.

• Callbook Visibility: Appears in 1920s amateur radiotrasmissione lists and related publications, ensuring recognizability during QSOs and log entries.
• Propagation Context: Likely contributed to regional European reception data, potentially featuring in reader-submitted logs or "Le vie dello spazio" sections of Il Radio Giornale during 1925-1927 transcontinental and transoceanic proof periods.
• Limited DX Profile: No major international breakthroughs or widely preserved QSL confirmations are documented in accessible records, suggesting a more localized or supportive role within the Italian amateur community.

Organizational Role and Legacy

As an early licensed amateur, G. Manni supported the R.C.N.I.'s mission of uniting dilettanti, technicians, and experimenters for scientific advancement, experimental proofs, and liaison with authorities.

• R.C.N.I. Affiliation: Part of the network that published reports, circuits, and contest results in Il Radio Giornale, fostering collective progress amid regulatory evolution.
• Legacy: 1MG represents the foundational layer of Italian radiantismo—ordinary but essential operators whose routine participation sustained community momentum during the uncertain 1920s. In the broader history of Italian amateur radio, callsigns like 1MG illustrate how modest stations helped build the organized framework that evolved into A.R.I., inspiring later generations of hams.

Key Specifications of 1MG (I1MG / EI1MG)