Ian's Ham Radio Page
I started in ham radio in the early 1950's with the call sign 4S7IW as a young man in Ceylon. At that time there was plenty of ex-military radio gear left over from World War II, as Ceylon was the base for South East Asia Command. There was a flourishing Amateur Radio Society where I became Editor of the 4S7 Bulletin and 4S7 Callbook.
I am now forgetting people's callsigns, but Gabriel 4S7GR (who showed me
how a few watts of RF power can illuminate a strip light and encouraged me to go
for the exam), Soma 4S7YL (who had an amazingly high power AM station), Paddy
4S7PG and Shelley 4S7SG were all my Elmers (mentors).
I was also a founder member in 1964 of the South East Asia Net (still going strong with annual
conventions - see http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Hollow/4283/seanet.html).
American Mount Everest Expedition of 1963
A ham I often spoke to was Father Marshall D. Moran S.J., 9N1MM in
Kathmandu, Nepal, where he was the Headmaster of St.Xavier School, known
far and wide as "Father Moran of Kathmandu". 
It was through him I became involved with the American Mount Everest Expedition of 1963, led by Norman G. Dyhrenfurth.
Communications between the Mount Everest Base Camp situated on the Khumbu Glacier at 17,800 feet (9N1ME operator Al Auten, using a Collins KWM-2) and 9N1DD (operator Lt. Col. Bill Gresham, Military Attaché at the American Embassy) were difficult or impossible after sunset, due to the lengthening of the skip distance. I was well placed to act as relay station between them and passed many messages during the time they were on the mountain.
Extract from "Americans on Everest" by James Ramsay Ullman, page 195, published by J. B. Lippincott Company 1964, Library of Congress Catalogue Card #64-14475:
There was a goodly predinner crowd that evening at the Yak and
Yeti Bar (in the Hotel Royal, Kathmandu). I (J.R.U.) had told the press that there
might be an interesting announcement forthcoming by eight o'clock.......
At 7:40 I heard I was wanted on the phone.
Bill Gresham's voice was studiedly casual. "I've just been gabbing with a
ham called Ian Wollen in Ceylon," he said. He'd been talking talking to
9N1ME and had a message for us.* There was a pause. "The message is
that two mail runners left at 1300 hours, May one. Repeat: two mail
runners left at 1300 hours, May one."
* Footnote at bottom of page: At the time Mr. Wollen had no idea the message meant anything but what it said. Later, however, he was told - and warmly thanked for his remote assistance."
This is how the message got out to the world that two climbers had reached the summit. I later got a very nice letter from Norman G. Dyhrenfurth which I treasured for a long time - it unfortunately disappeared on one of my moves.
My radios
My first ham shack had a two valve (tube) c.w. (6C4 crystal oscillator & 807 final) transmitter with an RCA AR88LF receiver:
The transmitter was replaced with a Heathkit DX40U (c.w. and AM) which gave me a lot of pleasure, both building and operating it:
Heathkit was a great company!
I then had a beautiful Collins KWM-2 with its power supply that fitted
into a Samsonite suitcase. It was obtained through QST from Owen, W9ADN of Organs and
Electronics in Lockport, Illinois. This transceiver was (and still is) a wonderful radio!
It came with its own Samsonite suitcase and 110/220V power supply. I used this with a Hygain Thunderbird three element monobander on 20m at 70 ft. I believe I was the only 4S7 operator on ssb at the time which made me very popular with DX'ers and caused some mighty pileups! My QSL Manager was K8RTW who sent me the matching 312B-4 station control console for working split frequency.
The KWM-2 accompanied me after I left Ceylon, so other callsigns it was used
with were:
MP4BGS (Big Gulf Station Bahrain),
MP4DAU (Das Island), MP4TCD (Trucial States,
now United Arab Republic) and MP4MPD (Muscat and Oman).
I am currently licensed as G3UZI/MM
and using a Kenwood TS50S with its AATU and insulated backstay (but would love to have a KWM-2 again with its quality feel and glowing tubes/valves).