ARI Grado OdV (IQ3AZ): Connecting the World, Serving the Community Since 1973

Grado, Italy – The A.R.I. (Associazione Radioamatori Italiani) Sezione di Grado OdV, identified by its call sign IQ3AZ, is a vibrant local chapter for amateur radio enthusiasts in the picturesque town of Grado.

The section is located at RIVA GRANDI NAVIGATORI, 3, 34073 GRADO GO. For inquiries, you can contact President IV3VFR Regolin Andrea. The section is open every Friday from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM. You can also visit their website for more information: www.arigrado.it.

Our History: Rooted in Passion and Community

ARI, the Associazione Radioamatori Italiani, was founded in 1927 and was known as "Associazione Radiotecnica Italiana" until 1977. In 1950, it was declared a "Moral Entity" by Presidential Decree. Among its esteemed honorary presidents was Guglielmo Marconi, the father of radio, who held the position from 1927 to 1937.

The Grado section proudly adheres to this national association, alongside other regional sections located in Trieste, Gorizia, Udine, Pordenone, Manzano, Monfalcone, and San Daniele del Friuli.

The Grado section itself was founded on December 8, 1973, with an initial 12 members. The first president was the late Giacometto Zuberti. Zuberti, a passionate scholar of all arts and sciences, was also a poet and composer, famously remembered as the author of the well-known Grado song "Mamola." His enthusiasm helped the Grado radio amateur section grow to over twenty members, a number maintained even today, although it's estimated that there are around forty "potential" radio amateurs in Grado.

A lineage of dedicated individuals has led the section since its inception: Giacometto Zuberti, followed by Giovanni Salvini, Livio Morsut, Silvano Bonini, Ettore Scaramazza, Claudio Deltin, and currently Andrea Regolin. The section has also honored two honorary presidents: Gino Mantoani and Luigino Laganà. Secretaries over time have included Antonio Boemo, Ennio Varin, Omar Grigolon, Claudio Deltin, Gianluca Recchia, and Paolo Burg.

Our Objective: Study, Service, and Connection

The association's core purpose is the study of all aspects related to radio transmission: ionospheric propagation, and the optimization of equipment such as receivers, transmitters, and antennas. In essence, it's an association of experts who, when needed, offer their services to civil society and institutions to re-establish communication links broken by major disasters like earthquakes, floods, fires, and more.

Ultimately, the goal of all this technical pursuit is human connection – establishing contact with correspondents across the world, physically unknown but increasingly familiar "vocally" with each new communication.