SEOUL TRIP REPORT FOR 23 NOV - 3 DEC 1981

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85-00024R000400150001-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 23, 2007
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: February 19, 1982
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP85-00024R000400150001-0
?
FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
UNITED STATES FORCES, JAPAN
OKINAWA BUREAU
APO SAN FRANCISCO 96239
MOK-2017
19 February 1982
MEMORANDUM FOR: t,Chief, Engineering Division
Chief, Okinawa Bureau
Chief, Seoul Bureau
Far East Regional Engineer
SUBJECT: Seoul Trip Report for 23 Nov - 3 Dec 1981
STAT
This memorandum is a report on the engineering activities of
the Seoul Bureau. The purpose of this TDY was to become knowledge-
able in the Bureau's engineering activities and projected require-
ments. This trip was in conjunction-;-with a cruising survey by
the Okinawa Staff Cruising Officer.
STAT
2. Receiver Site
a. In effect, the receiver site is a two-
site operation with the military providing all communications
services and the Bureau having responsibility for the receiving,
remote control and communications equipment.
b. The equipment is in an enclosed (caged)
area within a secured operations building. The technicians
must be escorted to-and from the work area. It is satisfactorily
maintained by the technicians on their periodic visits.
Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP85-00024R000400150001-0
 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP85-00024R000400150001-0
c. An inspection of the Bureau's four beverage
antennas showed that the antenna maintenance is being completed
in a professional manner. The coupling transformer project has
been completed satisfactorily.
a. The Bureau is small and is configured
efficiently for operations.
b. The cruising room and the technicians' shop and
desk areas are small and cluttered for the amount of human
activity in those areas. The cruising room is usually too warm
for comfort.
B. Personnel (Technical)
1. The Bureau's technical staff consists of three
indigenous technicians. The Chief Technician is responsible
for the Bureau's technical support requirements including
supervision, guidance and training of the subordinate technicians,
engineering,-logistics and commercial liaison with local vendors.
2. The technical staff appear to be well qualified
in their maintenance capabilities for receivers, teletype and
communications equipment. There is some doubt of their capabilities
for more advanced technology. They all appear to be able to read
and understand circuit schematics satisfactorily. Most of the
time, it takes all three to do a single task, under the guise
of training. Trouble-shooting techniques appeared satisfactory
but they had trouble determining what to check for the given
symptoms.
3. It is suspected that the above deficiencies
could.be-resolved by providing technical supervision and guidance
on an individual basis.
4. Additional difficulties encountered are the lack
of familiarization of American standards and the ever-present
language problem which approached 100 percent during periods
of questioning concerning the noted deficiencies.
Technical Inspection
1. An inspection was conducted to evaluate the present
system in terms of installation practices, system configuration
and technical quality (i.e., workmanship).
2. None of the basic installation practices have been
implemented. There is no system ground, cable shields are left
floating or do not exist (i.e., twisted pairs), and some rack
cable wiring needs to be dressed up. No corrective action was
requested at this time. A project to upgrade this facility
2
Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP85-00024R000400150001-0
 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP85-00024R000400150001-0
S
to appropriate standards could be done on a long-term basis
with proper guidance and instructions. Costs would be minimal
but an extensive effort would be required.
3. The patch panel configuration could be improved
by using miniature, low-level type panels. Patch panels in a
communications facility should provide signal ground patching.
4. As is the case when telephone terminal blocks
are used, all connections have to be soldered. This means
that when circuit configurations change, wires have to be
unsoldered, unwrapped and left hanging loose, resoldered or
replaced. All of these contribute to a non-professional looking
installation. This is the case throughout the Far East Bureaus.
The patch panels, terminal blocks and connections to outside lines
should be done with a 2-block wire wrap configuration which would
eliminate all of the above arguments and provide a permanent
cable print.
5. The signal distribution system was not observed
but it is assumed that it is a loop current configuration.
This system is outdated and is not a convenient system to work
with. It requires too much rack space and special attention
has to be made on every patch and system reconfiguration. It also
limits the purchase of new equipment to the interfacing of an
antiquated method vice modern signalling techniques. Plans should
be made to upgrade this system to the MIL-188c system being
developed by the Okinawa Bureau.
6. The Bureau's technical responsibility is limited
to in-house equipment and wiring. All signal carrier functions
(i.e., microwave circuits) are provided by the military circuits.
7. The WJ remote receiver control system was installed
in preparation for the staff cruising officer's survey. This
installation was completed and checked out the day before.
Thanksgiving. Returning to work Friday morning, it was found
that the remote system was inoperative. An investigation showed
that an IC chip was inverted, 2 other IC chips needed replacing
and the internal test control switches were not set for proper
operation... The time required to return this unit to operational
status was 2 1/2 working days, during which time the observations
in section II.B were made.
A. Project Fastback
The completion of this project, to upgrade the military
microwave capabilities between Seoul and the receiver site, has
been rescheduled for June 1982.
3
Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP85-00024R000400150001-0
 Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP85-00024R000400150001-0
B. Possible Bureau Move
Embassy queries concerning the Bureau's floor space,
power and air conditioning requirements have alerted the Bureau that
the Embassy may request the Bureau to relocate. The Bureau will
report any further developments along these lines.
C. Cruising
1. A Bureau cruising survey was being conducted by the
Okinawa Staff Cruising Officer from 30 Nov through 11 Dec 1981.
Observations were made during a portion of this period to identify
areas of concern where engineering support could be improved.
2. Utilizing fixed direction antennas for cruising
efforts is very restrictive. They also hinder operational coverage
but not to the same extent as cruising. Where possible, rotatable
or steerable 360? coverage antennas should be available for
cruising surveys.
3. Using receiver remote control units also has its
drawbacks. The Collins remote control is cumbersome, hard to
operate and responds very slowly for cruising requirements. The
WJ remote system is a remarkable improvement over the Collins
system and with digital communications paths, it could be-much
better.
4. Antenna matrices are a
must in
remote systems.
However, more versatility should be
provided
in the sizing and
control capabilities. In the Seoul
Bureau,
a minimum matrix
size should be a 1 x 10 with a 4 bit
control
word.
5. Beverage antennas are, in effect, useless for
cruising. The inability to have them pointing directly at the
targeted station and their inherent broadband noise effectively
render them useless. Frequency band filters with band switching
capability should be proved to minimize this noise problem.
A. The Bureau is in adequate technical condition. The
technical staff is capable of supporting the Bureau's requirements
as they exist today. However, in the event of automatic data
processing equipment, and sophisticated STAT
remote control systems, extensive training would be required.
B. The technical staff needs technical supervision.
They are adequately knowledgeable in technical matters but
have difficulty in execution. This Bureau is a prime candidate
for a staff technical training position.
Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP85-00024R000400150001-0
 " Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP85-00024R000400150001-0
C. A project should be established to upgrade the Bureau
to MIL-188c signal distribution, miniature tip/ring/sleeve
patch panels using wire wrap terminal blocks and installation
of a grounding system. This project could be implemented on
a long-term basis.
D. A project should be established to provide switchable
frequency band selection for the beverage antennas. This project
could be applicable worldwide.
STAT
cc: C/Ops
Approved For Release 2007/10/23: CIA-RDP85-00024R000400150001-0