Welcome!

If you have arrived here, we probably share the same passion: radio – real radio – made of signals that travel across the world, voices that meet without ever having seen each other, bits flowing without physical networks.

My name is Giorgio Rutigliano, callsign I8ZSE, and I have been a radio amateur since the 1970s: my first contact with amateur radio dates back to 1972, and from 1974 onwards this passion has been a constant thread throughout my life.

From the very beginning I have been deeply involved in digital modes. I started with RTTY and packet radio, building both software and hardware in an “open” way long before the term became common: it was simply the most natural way to share knowledge. In the 1980s I took part in the creation of the first Italian NET/ROM packet network and connected my packet BBS to the FidoNet network, building one of the earliest bridges between the world of dial-up BBS systems- which I had helped introduce in Italy- and digital radio communications. Today I continue experimenting with PSK31, FT8, and everything that connects radio and computing.

My operating philosophy comes from the Unix world and can be summed up in four words: keep it simple, stupid (KISS). I like experimenting, but with simplicity: minimal systems, low power, no unnecessary complexity. Part of it is necessity – I do not have space for large directional antennas – but it is also a stylistic choice. I rarely exceed 10 watts, yet those few watts have allowed me to work stations all over the world.

My main station reflects this approach: a Yaesu FTdx-1200, a Comet CHA-250, a ThinkCentre M91 that still performs reliably, and strictly home-built digital interfaces.

With this simple but honest setup I achieved the DX Century Club Award, working over 200 countries/entities. But what really matters to me is not the award itself: it is the quality of each contact, the human exchange that every QSO can still represent, and the curiosity to keep experimenting with new ideas.

The social side of the hobby has also been very important to me: in November 1980, during the earthquake that struck Irpinia and Basilicata, I took part in emergency radio operations, contributing to rescue communications during one of the most difficult and meaningful challenges for our amateur radio community.

For over forty years I was a member of the ARI, I am listed in its Honour Roll, and I contributed to the founding of the Potenza section. Over time, however, I felt a growing difference in vision: unlike hierarchical structures, I believe in a participatory and horizontal approach to amateur radio, close to the free and collaborative spirit of open-source communities. Despite some disappointment, I still strongly believe in the value of associations and knowledge sharing.

If we have made contact and you would like my QSL, I am on LoTW and eQSL. For those who still enjoy the magic of paper cards, I have created a small QSL server: just click here, or use the menu entry, enter your callsign, and download a PDF version of my traditional QSL card. A small gesture that brings back the spirit of “old-school” amateur radio.

This website is a work in progress. Time is limited, but I plan to gradually enrich it with useful and interesting content, hopefully inspiring others to try something new. With the hamlinux project I wanted to continue my long-standing path of building bridges: between radio and computing, between tradition and innovation, and between people who share the same curiosity and desire to experiment.

I would like to close with a thought that has always stayed with me: amateur radio is not just a hobby. It is a community, a way of sharing knowledge, experiences, mistakes, and successes. I am always happy to help anyone who loves radio as much as I do.

73, and good contacts – or good listening – to everyone.

Giorgio, I8ZSE [I8-20981]