I1RG: Ernesto Montù's Trailblazing Role in Italian Shortwave Experimentation

Introduction

Ernesto Montù, a pioneering Italian engineer and radio amateur born in 1893 in Alessandria and passing in 1981, served as the director of Il Radio Giornale and operated the experimental station 1RG. As the official organ of the Radio Club Nazionale Italiano (R.C.N.I.), the magazine chronicled Montù's innovations, positioning 1RG at the forefront of shortwave advancements in the 1920s. Montù's work not only demonstrated technical prowess but also elevated Italy's standing in global amateur radio, fostering international collaborations and organizational growth.

Technical Achievements and Experiments

1RG, based in Milan, was the dedicated experimental station of Il Radio Giornale, focusing on shortwave telephony and telegraphy. By May 1925, it achieved daytime bilateral communications on 20 meters and 45 meters with European and American amateurs, a feat highlighted for its reliability despite modest power. Montù's setups often employed valves like the Huth L.S.87, powered at 200 watts with 2,500 volts AC, enabling clear modulation without vibrations.

Regular Sunday transmissions became a staple, evolving across wavelengths:

• In July 1925: 10m at 1400 GMT, 15m at 1500 GMT, and 20m at 1600 GMT, using telephony with announcements like "qui 1RG — Radiogiornale."
• By September 1925: Tests initiated on telephony, with plans detailed in the magazine's May and September issues.
• October 1925: Emissions on 12m (1400 GMT), 18m (1500 GMT), and 38m (0600 and 1600 GMT), emphasizing modulation systems.
• March 1926: Expanded to 12m (1400 Italian time), 18m (1430), 35m (1500), and 65m (1530), soliciting reception confirmations from amateurs.

Key milestones included:

• March 1925: Early experiments announced, following 1CO's bilateral success.
• May 30, 1925: Received by CB8 in Argentina on 7 MHz (40m).
• May 31, 1925: First Italian bilateral communication with New Zealand on 40 meters, correcting earlier claims and affirming 1RG's primacy.
• April 1925: Bilateral with G2FN (England) on shortwaves.
• October 1925: Telephony received in England at R7-8 on 38m daytime, and as low as 1 watt input yielding excellent results in France.

Reader letters praised 1RG's natural voice reproduction, clear timbre, and superior modulation compared to other stations, underscoring Montù's engineering finesse.

International Receptions and Recognition

1RG's signals were widely logged internationally, appearing in "Le vie dello spazio" rubrics:

• Europe: Bilateral with stations like 1BP, 1AY, 1AS, 1NO, 1MT, and others in Britain, France, Netherlands (e.g., B. van Gemert in Rotterdam).
• Americas: Connections with U.S. stations and receptions in Argentina.
• Antipodes: Confirmed in New Zealand by Les M. Mellars, solidifying transoceanic capabilities.
• Other: Heard in India, Finland, and beyond, often at high strengths (R7-R9).

Montù's leadership extended to founding the Radio Club Lombardo in 1924, which evolved into the R.C.N.I. with 1RCL as its station call. He represented Italy globally, contributing to amateur standards and earning mentions in international publications like QST and Wireless World.

Organizational Role and Legacy

As R.C.N.I.'s secretary-general and later director, Montù promoted contests, QSL exchanges, and education through Il Radio Giornale. His inventions and writings on receivers (e.g., superheterodynes, tropadinas) influenced generations. Post-1920s, Montù continued in radiotechnics, leaving a legacy as a bridge between amateur experimentation and professional engineering. 1RG symbolized Italy's radio "primati," inspiring modern ham radio with its emphasis on low-power, high-impact shortwave communications.

Key Specifications of 1RG