Antonello URBANI (Italy)
IK0PHU – Antonello Urbani (Tony)
It was 1976, I was 10 years old, I listened to the shore-to-ship communications, i.e. the transmissions that took place between the ships and the Civitavecchia Radio Coastal Station – IPD -.
I was born in Civitavecchia in 1966, a port town where the big cruise ships moor today, basically the Port of Rome.
Fascinated by those voices and those ‘strange’ signs, made of dots and dashes, I would stay for hours listening without understanding anything, through a small radio my mother used to listen to various information while she looked after the house.
I obtained my international “OM” radio operator’s licence in 1990, after having passed the exams in radio technology and telegraphy transmission and reception.
Since that time, many years have passed but, now as before, my interest is only in radiotelegraphy with a maritime focus.
My way of doing radio is exclusively CW.
Actually I also love to do general listening, I am SWL and BCL, in this case, for obvious reasons, I receive all kinds of emissions.
In 2017, after getting to know many Shipboard and Coastal Station Radio Operators and having made hundreds of QSOs with many of them, I had the idea to create a group united by the same passion.
Shipboard Radio Operators and OMs, united by the passion of maritime CW.
The MORSEGroupwas born: Maritime Operators Radiotelegraphy SErvice.
With the help of Lino Pappalardo, IZ0DDD ex R/O and other friends, we started to listen to each other on a fixed frequency: 3556 KHz, later we created a group on WhatsApp, and finally a website that I manage as best I can.
I invite those interested to visit MORSE Group.
I would like to thank all the Marconists I know for their commitment during the service, it was you who inspired and nurtured my greatest passion.
I thank Alfredo De Cristofaro – IK6IJF, for giving me the opportunity to be honoured to be part of the Friends of Professional Radio Operators.
I hope to meet new friends and to continue this ‘mission’. to keep maritime radiotelegraphy alive.
A sincere 73. TNX QRU AR VA. De IK0PHU Tony – Antonello Urbani.
Antonello R/T CERTIFICATE for SHIPS
Below Antonello’s morse keys collection
