Every so often, a new guy comes along whose passion for radio communications makes welcoming them into our club a straightforward decision…
The Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) is delighted to welcome another highly experienced Freeband DX operative to our international membership, with 1DA118 Vittorio, from Lo Stivale (“The Boot”), joining our club in late September 2026.
Located in northern Italy, 1DA118 Vittorio is a popular and well-respected guy, and certainly no newcomer to Eleven-Meter Band operations…
In fact, the guy is a veteran.
With an impressive 35 years on the band and 303 confirmed DXCC divisions, our newest Italian recruit has spent more than three decades doing what he loves most — chasing long-distance contacts, hunting rare DX and searching for those increasingly difficult ‘New Ones’ still missing from his log.
And with that impressive number already nailed down, snaring a new one these days isn’t quite as easy as it used to be!
From Ferrara, Italy
1DA118 Vittorio lives in Ferrara, a historic city in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, situated between Bologna and Venice…
Italy lies in southern Europe, extending deep into the Mediterranean Sea and easily recognised on a map by its famous boot-shaped peninsula.
Vittorio’s country shares its northern land borders with France (14), Switzerland (15), Austria (35) and Slovenia (327), while the independent states of San Marino (136) and Vatican City (137) are completely surrounded by Italian territory.
On the Penisola Italiana, Ferrara itself is one of northern Italy’s great Renaissance cities, with its historic centre recognised as an incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Among its best-known landmarks and an attractive proposition for Castles On The Air (COTA) enthusiasts, is the imposing Castello Estense, a moated medieval fortress built in the 14th century for the powerful Este family and later transformed into their ducal residence.
Another architectural landmark of Vittorio’s city is the Palazzo dei Diamanti, instantly recognisable by its extraordinary façade of thousands of diamond-shaped marble blocks…
Visitors to Ferrara will also encounter the city’s historic Cathedral, the Renaissance Palazzo Schifanoia, the atmospheric medieval Via delle Volte and its remarkably well-preserved old city walls.
In general, Ferrara’s combination of palaces, churches, gardens and fortifications reflects the enormous influence of the Este family on the development of the city.
For radio operators, however, Italy is better known simply as 1 Division — one of Europe’s largest and most active 11m DX communities and home to countless operators who have contributed to the international DX scene over the decades...
It’s from this historic part of northern Italy that 1DA118 Vittorio will now represent the Delta-Alfa callsign.
A Serious DX Hunter
1DA118 Vittorio has previously represented several well-known clubs during his long involvement in the hobby, including Sierra Alfa, Sugar Delta, Lima Radio and Romeo Charlie.
While DX Hunting has always been his main passion, and essentially, his gateway into the DA-RC in the DX Chaser category, he also has some experience from the other side of the pile-up.
During his time as a Sugar Delta member, Vittorio completed an activation from 107 Division – the Principality of Monaco.
He now has his sights set on the DA-RC’s popular World Beauties Award (WBA) concept and some dx adventures activating incredible heritage listed sites in his local region.
A DXpedition to the sovereign city-state and microstate of Monaco remains his only activation to date, with most of his radio career instead dedicated to hunting DX from home…
And he has certainly been successful at it.
303 confirmed divisions represents an enormous amount of time behind the radio, patience through poor propagation, plenty of pile-ups and, undoubtedly, a few frustrating signals that disappeared just before the contact was completed.
Despite everything he’s already worked, Vittorio remains extremely active on the band and a prominent member of the Freeband landscape.
The hunt isn’t finished yet!
The Station
As you’d expect from the Hunter of this notoriety, 1DA118 Vittorio has a station well equipped for serious DX work….
His shack includes a Yaesu FTDX10, Kenwood TS-870 and Icom IC-756PROII, backed by an ACOM 1000 amplifier for extra punch
On the antenna side, his station includes Grazioli equipment and a 6-element directional antenna, giving 1DA118 Vittorio plenty of capability when those distant openings appear.
1DA118 Vittorio regularly monitors the International Call Frequency, 27.555 MHz USB, listening for DX openings and new stations appearing from around the world…
If propagation is running into northern Italy, there’s every chance you’ll find him listening or calling there before moving away from the frequency to complete the contact.
For this guy, the attraction of radio has never changed.
It’s about long-distance QSOs and hunting new divisions.
Even after 35 years on the band, he’s still listening for that signal from somewhere he hasn’t worked before.
A traditionalist, Vittorio is also a keen QSL card collector and enjoys exchanging cards to provide a physical confirmation and lasting reminder of contacts made on the air…
Operators who work home are therefore encouraged to arrange a QSL exchange with him — particularly fellow DX Hunters who, like Vittorio, still appreciate the tradition of receiving a card through the post.
Away From the Shack
1DA118 Vittorio is now retired after spending his working life as a plumber…
When he’s not searching the band for another elusive division, he still enjoys working with his hands and building small items from wood and iron.
But radio remains a major passion.
After 35 years, Vittorio still enjoys the challenge that attracted so many of us to DX in the first place — hearing a distant signal emerge from the noise and trying to put it into the log.
With more than 300 divisions already in the trophy cabinet, there aren’t too many left.
That just makes finding the next one even more satisfying.
We hope you wear the Delta-Alfa callsign with pride, and we look forward to hearing it across the band for many years to come.
QSL INFOS
Vallini Vittorio, Via Dei Calzolai 460 44123 Ferrara Italy
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