Wood & Douglas 70cm radio kit? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

mole42uk · 18th Dec 2017, 2:53 pm

During my on-going research into 1980's UHF radio control systems for models on 459MHz, I have been alerted to an idea that some equipment may have been based on Wood & Douglas 70cm radio kits.

Does anyone have any knowledge or literature about these kits?

G6Tanuki · 18th Dec 2017, 3:08 pm

I remember briefly playing around with a W&D transverter - only to discover that there was nothing on 70cm where I lived!

You may be able to find some ads in 1970s/1980s editions of SWM: http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Short_Wave_UK.htm

ian_rodger · 18th Dec 2017, 4:28 pm

Not a radio control system, but I have a pair of Wood & Douglas 459 Mhz radio modems complete with manual. I'd have to dig them out but I'm fairly sure the manual is complete with circuit diagrams and setup instructions if that is of any use.

Ian

mole42uk · 18th Dec 2017, 4:33 pm

Now that is interesting Ian, I'd certainly be interested to see that if you have time to dig it out.
There were a few UHF model control sets around in the 80's that I was more-or-less familiar with, the REFTEC sets I knew only too well, they being somewhat notorious for failures and I being a somewhat able radio fixer.....

Biggles · 18th Dec 2017, 4:54 pm

I wasn't aware that 459MHz was used for R/C in the eighties. We had lots of UHF cross band vehicle repeater systems at that time transmitting about 10W of power on 459MHz so I wouldn't be surprised if that managed to affect the occasional radio control model.
Alan.

dodgy-dxer · 18th Dec 2017, 6:52 pm

Wood and Douglas are still in business. Their premises are close to the London Liverpool Street to Cambridge railway line, maybe at Bishops Stortford

Fred

G6Tanuki · 18th Dec 2017, 7:09 pm

Yes - they have a website: http://ultra-woodanddouglas.com/company-heritage

[since 2013 part of "Ultra Electronics" - now there's another name with some long history!]

Could be worth dropping them a friendly email: in the past I've found that such companies are really quite approachable if you say that you're trying to research/resurrect some part of their company heritage. You may well find that there's some old codger still working there who remembers the original W&D product-line.

ian_rodger · 18th Dec 2017, 9:07 pm

Richard,

Here's a few photos. Apologies for the poor focus on the print - scanner currently unavailable. Let me know if you want any more.

Ian

ian_rodger · 18th Dec 2017, 9:11 pm

One more.

John KC0G · 18th Dec 2017, 9:35 pm

There is some interesting history here:
http://www.douglashistory.co.uk/hist...od&douglas.htm

Alan Wood held the call G4EEE, and Mike Telkman, G8DCA

The earliest advert which I found in "Radio Communication", RSGB, was in the November 1978 issue. It mentioned the 70cm RX and TX, and stated "Dozens already working throughout the country, notably 'AW and 'BK groups". Later adverts, which appeared monthly, were larger and included more products.

The earliest advert which I found in Short Wave Magazine wa in the September 1984 issue. I did not look in each issue, merely did a sampling. It is possible that I missed earlier ones if they were sporadic.

73 John

mole42uk · 19th Dec 2017, 1:30 pm

Thanks Ian.
That looks way more complex than the typical radio control gear that I worked with. Four crystals seems to indicate a much narrower band than we used at the time.

dsergeant · 19th Dec 2017, 7:02 pm

I have their 4m FM transmitter/receiver from the same era. Although it sits disconnected these days I had great use of it when packet radio was starting in the mid 1980s, very reliable too. I remember in those days there were just down the road from here, Aldermaston or nearby?

73 Dave G3YMC

Jon_G4MDC · 21st Dec 2017, 10:51 am

They were in Tadley I think. Now in Baughurst.

http://ultra-woodanddouglas.com/

I built and used their 70cm TX/RX pair to build a portable which provided a lot of fun at the time. I wonder where that is now? The multiplier tuned circuits were RF chokes resonated by plastic film trimmers.

I also built their 2m synthesiser and interfaced it to the VFO input on a Trio TR2200.
That was less successful, not too clean on adjacent channels.

18th Dec 2017, 2:53 pm	#1
mole42uk Nonode Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Resolven, Wales; and Bristol, England Posts: 2,614	Wood & Douglas 70cm radio kit? During my on-going research into 1980's UHF radio control systems for models on 459MHz, I have been alerted to an idea that some equipment may have been based on Wood & Douglas 70cm radio kits. Does anyone have any knowledge or literature about these kits? __________________ Richard Index: recursive loop: see recursive loop

18th Dec 2017, 3:08 pm	#2
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 14,010	Re: Wood & Douglas 70cm radio kit? I remember briefly playing around with a W&D transverter - only to discover that there was nothing on 70cm where I lived! You may be able to find some ads in 1970s/1980s editions of SWM: http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Short_Wave_UK.htm

18th Dec 2017, 4:28 pm	#3
ian_rodger Pentode Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Greenock, Inverclyde, UK. Posts: 161	Re: Wood & Douglas 70cm radio kit? Not a radio control system, but I have a pair of Wood & Douglas 459 Mhz radio modems complete with manual. I'd have to dig them out but I'm fairly sure the manual is complete with circuit diagrams and setup instructions if that is of any use. Ian

18th Dec 2017, 4:33 pm	#4
mole42uk Nonode Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Resolven, Wales; and Bristol, England Posts: 2,614	Re: Wood & Douglas 70cm radio kit? Now that is interesting Ian, I'd certainly be interested to see that if you have time to dig it out. There were a few UHF model control sets around in the 80's that I was more-or-less familiar with, the REFTEC sets I knew only too well, they being somewhat notorious for failures and I being a somewhat able radio fixer..... __________________ Richard Index: recursive loop: see recursive loop

18th Dec 2017, 4:54 pm	#5
Biggles Rest in Peace Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hexham, Northumberland, UK. Posts: 2,234	Re: Wood & Douglas 70cm radio kit? I wasn't aware that 459MHz was used for R/C in the eighties. We had lots of UHF cross band vehicle repeater systems at that time transmitting about 10W of power on 459MHz so I wouldn't be surprised if that managed to affect the occasional radio control model. Alan.

18th Dec 2017, 6:52 pm	#6
dodgy-dxer Heptode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Newmarket, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 613	Re: Wood & Douglas 70cm radio kit? Wood and Douglas are still in business. Their premises are close to the London Liverpool Street to Cambridge railway line, maybe at Bishops Stortford Fred

18th Dec 2017, 7:09 pm	#7
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 14,010	Re: Wood & Douglas 70cm radio kit? Yes - they have a website: http://ultra-woodanddouglas.com/company-heritage [since 2013 part of "Ultra Electronics" - now there's another name with some long history!] Could be worth dropping them a friendly email: in the past I've found that such companies are really quite approachable if you say that you're trying to research/resurrect some part of their company heritage. You may well find that there's some old codger still working there who remembers the original W&D product-line.

18th Dec 2017, 9:07 pm	#8
ian_rodger Pentode Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Greenock, Inverclyde, UK. Posts: 161	Re: Wood & Douglas 70cm radio kit? Richard, Here's a few photos. Apologies for the poor focus on the print - scanner currently unavailable. Let me know if you want any more. Ian Attached Thumbnails

18th Dec 2017, 9:11 pm	#9
ian_rodger Pentode Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Greenock, Inverclyde, UK. Posts: 161	Re: Wood & Douglas 70cm radio kit? One more. Attached Thumbnails

18th Dec 2017, 9:35 pm	#10
John KC0G Hexode Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Posts: 279	Re: Wood & Douglas 70cm radio kit? There is some interesting history here: http://www.douglashistory.co.uk/hist...od&douglas.htm Alan Wood held the call G4EEE, and Mike Telkman, G8DCA The earliest advert which I found in "Radio Communication", RSGB, was in the November 1978 issue. It mentioned the 70cm RX and TX, and stated "Dozens already working throughout the country, notably 'AW and 'BK groups". Later adverts, which appeared monthly, were larger and included more products. The earliest advert which I found in Short Wave Magazine wa in the September 1984 issue. I did not look in each issue, merely did a sampling. It is possible that I missed earlier ones if they were sporadic. 73 John

19th Dec 2017, 1:30 pm	#11
mole42uk Nonode Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Resolven, Wales; and Bristol, England Posts: 2,614	Re: Wood & Douglas 70cm radio kit? Thanks Ian. That looks way more complex than the typical radio control gear that I worked with. Four crystals seems to indicate a much narrower band than we used at the time. __________________ Richard Index: recursive loop: see recursive loop

19th Dec 2017, 7:02 pm	#12
dsergeant Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire,UK. Posts: 1,175	Re: Wood & Douglas 70cm radio kit? I have their 4m FM transmitter/receiver from the same era. Although it sits disconnected these days I had great use of it when packet radio was starting in the mid 1980s, very reliable too. I remember in those days there were just down the road from here, Aldermaston or nearby? 73 Dave G3YMC

21st Dec 2017, 10:51 am	#13
Jon_G4MDC Nonode Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 2,015	Re: Wood & Douglas 70cm radio kit? They were in Tadley I think. Now in Baughurst. http://ultra-woodanddouglas.com/ I built and used their 70cm TX/RX pair to build a portable which provided a lot of fun at the time. I wonder where that is now? The multiplier tuned circuits were RF chokes resonated by plastic film trimmers. I also built their 2m synthesiser and interfaced it to the VFO input on a Trio TR2200. That was less successful, not too clean on adjacent channels.