Tourist Ham Radio in Italy

Italy Ham Radio map
Ham Radio Map of Italy

Foreign Ham Radio Operations in Italy

So, are you planning a trip to Italy and want to operate amateur radio ?

I often get emails from foreign hams asking for repeater list, licensing polices or just asking if it is possible to take their own ham radio equipment for their holidays in Italy.

Please read also the other article about Foreigns Amateur Radio Operations in Italy by  IK2XYU

Ham Radio License compatibility

C.E.P.T. Amateur radio licenses

If the country of which you are citizen have an amateur licensee has entered into a bilateral or multilateral reciprocal operating agreement with the C.E.P.T. Countries, you will not need any additional permission.

C.E.P.T. is the abbreviation of  European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations. C.E.P.T. provides ham radio licenses that permit hams to operate from many European countries without obtaining an additional permit.

Just bring with you your ham radio license, a valid passport or ID Card.

CEPT Novice License

ECC/REC/(05)06 is not implemented, so operations with this kind of license is not allowed

Non C.E.P.T. Amateur radio licenses

If your country does not fulfill the  C.E.P.T. agreement, you should contact directly the Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico, Dipartimento Comunicazioni, and ask them for a reciprocal permit.

HAREC -Harmonized Amateur Radio Examination Certificate

T/R 61-02 is implemented .  Harec is not a license, but rather a certificate you can bring with you.

Ham Licenses in Italy

All Italian licenses are equivalent to C.E.P.T. class 1 – recommendation T/R 61-01

You can use mobile and portable operations.

If you will stay longer than 90 days, you should apply for a local license.

Since 2005 in Italy is available only a Class of Amateur Radio licenses  (full license), and morse code is no more a requirement.

Call-Signs: using your callsign while  in Italy.

According to the CEPT Rules you should use the country prefix / your call / operating mode in example I/F5ER/P

The usage of the regional digit, is an option. In example I4/F5ER if you are in Emilia Romagna, I5/ if you are in Tuscany.

Have a look to the Italian Ham Radio Map and locate the correct prefix of find in the list below


I1/ Liguria, Piemonte/Piedmont
IX1/ Valle d’Aosta/Aosta Valley
I2/ Lombardia/Lombardy
I3/ Friuli Venezia Giulia
IN3/ Trentino-Alto Adige
IV3/ Venezia Euganea
I4/ Emilia-Romagna
I5/ Toscana/Tuscany
I6/ Abruzzo, Marche
I7/ Basilicata (province of Matera), Puglia/Apulia
I8/ Basilicata (province of Potenza), Calabria,
Campania, Molise
IT9/ Sicilia/Sicily
IØ/ Lazio, Umbria
ISØ/ Sardegna/Sardinia
Tolerated letter/digit combination designating the
island or group of islands:
IA5/ Isole Toscane/Tuscan Archipelago
IJ7/ Arcipelago delle Cheradi/Cheradi Islands
IL7/ Isole Tremiti/Trimiti Island
IC8/ Isole Napoletane/Islands of Naples Bay
ID9/ Isole Eolie/Aeolian Islands
IE9/ Isola di Ustica/Ustica Island
IF9/ Isole Egadi/Aegadian Islands
IG9/ Isole Pelagie/Pelagie Islands
IH9/ Isola di Pantelleria/Pantelleria Island
IBØ/ Isole Ponziane/Pontine Islands
IMØ/ Isole della Sardegna/Islands of Sardinia


Extensions: /M, /P (are optional)
Equivalent: Class A

Summarizing, if you plan to operate from a single region, I would recommend using just I/YOURCALL, if you plan to move across regions, it would be better to use the additional digit, but it’s an option.

Ham Radio Frequencies in Italy

Band / Frequency Range / Power / Modes
2200 m 135.700 – 137.800 kHz 1 W EIRP any
630 m 472.000 – 479.000 kHz 1 W EIRP any
160 m 1.830 – 1.850 MHz 500 W any
80 m 3.500 – 3.800 MHz 500 W any
60 m 5.3515 – 5.3665 MHz 15 W EIRP any
40 m 7.000 – 7.200 MHz 500 W any
30 m 10.100 – 10.150 MHz 500 W CW
20 m 14.000 – 14.350 MHz 500 W any
17 m 18.068 – 18.168 MHz 500 W any
15 m 21.000 – 21.450 MHz 500 W any
12 m 24.890 – 24.990 MHz 500 W any
10 m 28.000 – 29.700 MHz 500 W any
6 m 50.000 – 52.000 MHz 500 W any
4 m – not allowed
2 m 144.000 – 146.000 MHz 500 W any
70 cm 430.000 – 434.000 MHz 500 W any
435.000 – 438.000 MHz 500 W any
23 cm 1.240 – 1.245 GHz 500 W any
1.260 – 1.298 GHz 500 W any
13 cm 2.300 – 2.450 GHz 500 W any
9 cm – not allowed
6 cm 5.650 – 5.670 GHz 500 W any
5.760 – 5.770 GHz 500 W any
5.830 – 5.850 GHz 500 W any
3 cm 10.300 – 10.500 GHz 500 W any
1.2 cm 24.000 – 24.050 GHz 500 W any
6 mm 47.000 – 47.200 GHz 500 W any
4 mm 76.000 – 81.500 GHz 500 W any
2.5 mm 122.500 – 123.000 GHz 500 W any
2 mm 134.000 – 141.000 GHz 500 W any
1.2 mm 241.000 – 250.000 GHz 500 W any

19 thoughts on “Tourist Ham Radio in Italy”

  1. Thank you for your helpful website. I am on holiday in southern Tuscany, near Mercatale-Cortona and can hear a repeater on 145.60. You say a Tone is required, is that just a 1750Hz tone or is a CTCSS tone also required for this repeater? If so, which tone?
    Also, is the call sign prefix “I5” correct before my call-sign G8DMS/P?
    Thanks, 73s, Steve.

  2. Hello Simone, I found out about your blog when I was collecting information from Florence. My wife and I are going to stay a few days in your city from next thursday (April 17th). I’m a brazilian ham radio (call sign is PU1OPA) and I was wondering if I can take my TH-F6 tri-band handheld with me for some QSOs in 2 meters in this amazing city. I’m really searching abou this subject but there are few information about this on the internet. I would appreciate if you could send some light on it. Brgds! 73 !! Fábio.

  3. Sure.. 145.750 -600 shift .. R6 Monte Secchieta by ARI Firenze.
    You can have chance to talk to someone in the evenings…

  5. Thank you for explaining that, especially the correct prefix to use! The map is very helpful too.
    So I´ll be working as I5/OE9TKH/P near Venturina by mid August.

    tnx, vy 73!
    OE9TKH / Tom

  6. Thanks for your excellent info, Simone.
    On your helpful prefix map I miss the Pelagie Islands (AG) IG9.

    73, Andy

  7. Hello. I went to ARI.IT to look for the process that get an Italian amateur radio license. I was not able to find a link for the application process. I currently hold a USA Amateur Extra class license. Can you help me out?

    Thank you!

    73 de David AE4LH

  8. David,
    ARI.it is not the proper web site, since it’s a private association. You might refer to Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico e Comunicazioni, that is the governament department in charge of this topics.

  9. Sorry I bothered you with my uncertainty about Call Area numbers Simone. I appear to have gotten on another -not as helpful- web page before this time. I now see a good mal and tutorial on the call areas. Thank you for your patience. Perhaps I will work you when I am in country in October.

  10. Ciao Simone,

    After several months of paperwork process I’ve managed to get an Italian callsign from my Greek callsign. One (stupid perhaps) question: Do I need to carry all papers with me when I am mobile or portable within Italy in case someone (carabinieri, or whoever else) asks me to present a proof of ham license? Which papers are we supposed to have with us when we are operating our radio away from our base station?
    Also, I am paying every year the 5 euro contribution to operate my station.
    73
    Kostas
    IU2LIY

  11. Dear Simone, my callsign is EU1AEE (Novice) issued by Belarus authorities. Will I be eligible to operate my ham radio during summer vacation in Italy? The ham radio is installed in my car.

  12. Hello Simone,
    I am going for holiday in MONOPOLI in Italy next week (9.9. – 18.9.2022). I am taking my QRP QCX40 and LW 20m ant. with me. I will operate with a call I7/OK1MKX/P OK? At the same time I would like to connect with Italian OMs on FM 144/430 MHz nearby. Can you suggest me which frequency is convenient for accesible repeater in this area?
    Thank you very much!
    Jarda (81) OK1MKX

  13. Hello!I wkd in 1986-1989 near Moscow (Balashiha city),call (collectiv st.) UZ3DXF, my SWL call: UA3-142-212 (USSR,Noginsk radioclub). Good luck! 73&55!

  14. Hello
    Im Ron ON1DX now living in Italy (Scalea CS)
    I have Italian ID and Harec Certificato,I have mail several e mail to mise on trying to get I8 call
    It seems they dont understand HAREC
    Do you have any tips on how to obtain an I8 call??
    73 ON1DX

  16. Hello,
    i have a summer-qth in Liguria. How i can get a italien callsign? Next time (hopefully) i am retired and i will spend more time in Italy.
    Grazie molto,
    ciao
    Thomas

  17. Hello,
    i am Thomas again.
    To all readers: If You are in Italy and use UHF Repeaters, You have to check the UPLINKS!
    In Italy exist numerus differences in the uplinks od the UHF Repeaters and also the DMR Repeaters.
    Be carefull to avoid interferences with maybe comercial users.
    Vy 73 to all,
    Thomas, DG1PY

  18. I am invited for a conference in Genoa where I shall talk and make a demo in pactor & packet mode. So I cannot work under I*/myhomecall as it is not standard for data modes. Instead, I would need a special call for that event, with an Italian (special or regular) prefix. Let me know whom to contact for application

  19. I will be visiting Rome, Florence, Bologna, & Venice.
    Where do the Ham Radio Operators buy equipment in those areas?
    I would like to have a look around at the places that have actually sell Ham Radio equipment.
    Any information will be appreciated.

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