HREADQUARTERS COMMUNIC..TIONS ELEMENT PROVISIONAL *- ~ APO 187, c/o PM, San Francisco, California 26 March 1954 SUBJECT: TO: Trip Report to the Estes (Lt Young) Commander Comunications Element APO 187 1. M/Sgt Barber, S/Sgt Miller and myself prepared to leave Eniwetok the 11th of March 1954 at 0130Z by air. When we had reported at the flight terminal I noticed that all the other passengers except us were wearing badges. After asking questions it became apparent that some kind of badge or pass would be necessary before we could depart for TARE. JI immediately tried to procure badges; however, as the aircraft was due to depart at 0130Z, I was only able to get a badge for myself, but I instructed Sgt Barber and Sgt Miller to get “ ~~ some kind of authority and follow me the next day. 2. I arrived at the Estes at approximately 0530Z on the llth, =" ~ After eating chow I inquired into the status of CKT J401. The CKT, at this time, was operational intermittently. I immediately gathered together some of the best Navy technicians and attempted to get the circuit in. Although we tried, it just wasn't possible to keep the circuit receive side in more than a few minutes at a time. The main trouble seemed to be interference. We also had trouble which is attributable, I believe, to P-l or P-2. It was apparent, however, that the Navy personnel were not too well trained in the little things that keep a circuit in during marginal conditions. Specifically, I speak of maximum use of frequency diversity and shifting receivers to see if a better antenna can be found. The unstable circuit condition at that time however, was attributable mainly to interference and propagation, although I believe some of the outage could have been avoided by proper technical control procedures. 3. M/Sgt Barber and S/Sgt Miller arrived the 12th of March at 0530Z, They immediately started learning the circuit and trying to improve the circuit efficiency. Sgt Barber anc Sgt Miller did much to inprove”the circuit efficiency. speak for thenselves: I believe the following figures Outage Circuit J-401 Mar 2 thru 12 Send 25:00 ronan Receive 61:15 ae AX

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