;

ny

CHAPTER Il, SECTION 6

(Neg. No. W-V-340-8)

Figure No. 2-157.

Dial Exchange, Building 224 — Elmer.

to disconnect six trunks to each of these sites
in order to free cable pairs to meet User require-

ments. These changes caused numerous “All
Trunks Busy” conditions, as the remaining two
trunks could not handle the traffic load.

In many of the Scientific Stations and on

all shot barges, the Users required a dial line to
the nearest local exchange and a dial or magneto

ring-down line into the Elmer exchange as an

emergency back-up. This duplication of services

resulted in the trunk disconnection from the
sub-exchanges. Transmission was satisfactory
throughout the atoll, with the exception of service to Janet, where voice levels were weak due
to the excessive cable attenuation.

Very little trouble was experienced with the

Stromberg-Carlson XY automatic dialing equipment located on Elmer, Yvonne and Janet; however, routine trouble was caused by dust from
the cement floors of these exchanges. This was
eliminated with the installation of floor tile dur-

ing the middle of the Operation. The Yvonne
and Janet exchanges experienced heavy overpressures but remained in operation without
interruption or damage.

Page 314

A late requirement of JTF-7 for the construction of a Command Post in Building 221
had a one-week deadline. The schedule was met,
and the communications system was ready at
the completion of the construction. A one-position PBX, previously located at Janet, was used
to meet the requirements. Fifteen miscellaneous
circuits were terminated at this PBX for service
to specially lighted fixed and plug-in telephones.

The telephone system at the Bikini Atoll

consisted of a two-position, manual, 140-line
PBX at Nan and single-position 39-line PBX’s
at Oboe and How. Another 39-line board was
added to the How installation in March 1958
during the ABMA build-up. The switchboards at
How were removed when the site was rolled up
in April 1958. Telephone service at Bikini Atoll
was satisfactory during the major portion of
the build-up and early operational periods but
became inadequate in late March and early
April at the peak of the test activity. The size

of the Nan PBX was the limiting factor of the
system. In addition, the equipment was in poor
condition, and the operating room in Building
14 was too small to permit efficient operation.

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