SECOND VIENNA-CAVERSHAM CIRCUIT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85-00024R000300520005-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 18, 2007
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: December 18, 1981
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2007/10/19: CIA-RDP85-00024R000300520005-0
------------------
-- ORI [NAT ND CONTROL NO.
RECEIVED OAT MATERIAL CLASSIFICATION
1075;
AL'ST. 5-31 JDATE
4 Jan. 1c Dec. 1811L
NO COPIES
RETAINED
COPY DISPOSITION IN EXECUTIVE REGISTRY
CHRONO FILE D EXECUTIVE SUBJECT FILE
W/O ATTACHMENT El WITH ATTACHMENT I] W/O ATTACHMENT WITH ATTACHMENT
3JECT
era: Sub: Secon:- Vienna Ca.versh2.m circuit
INFO I I ACTION COMMENT I (CONCURRENCE
FORM 3970
2-77
PREPARE
RFPLY
(i ~CQ (~ W S 4w /J 7 I Gl a Cwru.~ ~~O'L
RETURN THIS DOCUMENT TO EXECUTIVE REGISTRY WHEN DOCUMENT IS FILED
FBIS REGISTRY ROUTING SLIP
Approved For Release 2007/10/19: CIA-RDP85-00024R000300520005-0
 Approved For Release 2007/10/19: CIA-RDP85-00024R000300520005-0
18 December 1981
MAU-1076
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, Operations Group
1. Planning for the second Vienna-Caversham circuit has now
reached the point where I believe we should review both the
objectives driving the further enhancement of the present BBC
remote monitoring system and the means for reaching these objectives.
2. There seems little doubt on anyone's part that the original
Vienna-Caversham link has proved itself efficient in increasing the
BBC's ability to meet significant coverage commitments. The
addition of a second circuit, allowing more live feeds and thus more
timely coverage of sources now handled on a delayed basis, can only
work to the overall benefit of FBIS. However, Austrian Bureau
managers have, from the beginning of discussions on a second circuit,
viewed the establishment of this circuit as an opportunity to seek
~o 5~-to reduce the BBC-associated workload now resting on the bureau's
technical staff. We fear that utilizing the new circuit as a straight
voice circuit, as outlined in LD266 of 10 November 1981, will not
yield the hoped-for reduction in human interventions required at
present to operate the system. Also, use of the new circuit as a
straight voice channel seems to us to underutilize the potentials
inherent in having two lines available.
3. I have asked) for his thoughts on how the dual
objectives of fewer manual interventions and greater system
flexibility could be met. response is forwarded as an
attachment to this memorandum.
4. In brief, what is being proposed is greater FBIS cooperation
with the BBC in determining the technical aspects of the Vienna end
of the two circuits (and any others that might be added later). We
would like to see FBIS move to initiate the upgrading of the remote
capabilities of the Vienna-Caversham circuits by expressing a willingness
to put into place equipment familiar to FBIS personnel at the Vienna
end of the circuit and encouraging the BBC to interface a true
remote monitoring system with the FBIS equipment. Simply viewing
Vienna as a site at which BBC equipment as been emplaced neither fits
present circumstandes nor takes into account FBIS' growing body of
knowledge and skill in remote monitoring operations. Direct FBIS
participation in creating a true remote capability for the Vienna-
Caversham links would prevent the carrying of the deficiencies of
the present circuit into the two-circuit configuration.
STAT
STAT
Approved For Release 2007/10/19: CIA-RDP85-00024R000300520005-0
 Approved For Release 2007/10/19: CIA-RDP85-00024R000300520005-0
5. I recommend that an in-depth look atl proposal
be taken by FBIS Headquarters with a view to timely implementation
of the steps necessary to giving the present largely ad hoc technical
arrangement a truly systematic character.
Chief, Austrian Bureau
Attachment
As stated
cc: Chief, London Bureau
Chief, Engineering Division
STAT
STAT
Approved For Release 2007/10/19: CIA-RDP85-00024R000300520005-0
 Approved For Release 2007/10/19: CIA-RDP85-00024R000300520005-0
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, Austrian Bureau
1. This memorandum responds to your concern about the second Vienna-
Caversham circuit regarding how the Austrian Bureau can obtain fewer
manual interventions and provide greater system flexibility for FBIS
and the BBC. As.a starting point for discussion, I have outlined in
1 paragraphs 6 through 9 what I feel are deficiencies in the existing
enna-Cavers am circuit, technical requirements and goals for a
second circuit, types of channels required, and terminal equipment
which could now accomplish these requirements. I believe a technical
system built around this outline would meet your objectives.
2. Although the present circuit has remote capabilities, it
should actually be classified as a manual remote feed system with
limited remote capabilities. It can be compared to a limited degree
to the Bangkok manual remote feed system, reviewed briefly
in paragraph 3.
3. Thee boardmen tune and feed approximately 39 source
receivers throughout fourteen nine-hour-shifts a week. The sources
are fed 20 miles to the via 30 dedicated microwave voice
channels and the boardmen are constantly coordinating activities with
via a direct phone system. The 0 board operation
and maintenance is accomplished using five boardmen and one full-time
technician, which contrasts to only four boardmen in Vienna, even
though Austrian Bureau boardmen are responsible for 29 source receivers
at the board position. In addition, Austrian Bureau technical personnel
are responsible for repair and maintenance of the bureau's 15 monitor
position receivers throughout fourteen eight-hour-shifts a week. Just
as the boardmen maintain contact with Austrian
Bureau boardmen coordinate with the BBC via a direct phone system. This
coordination can, however, be done only during vacant periods in the
schedule. After subtracting operational board duties, annual leave, sick
leave and holidays, there are barely three shifts per week available
for repair and maintenance of Austrian Bureau equipment. This forces
the Vienna boardman/technician to attempt maintenance and repair during
board shifts, the scheduling for which allows only limited periods of
free time.
4. A large portion of the Austrian Bureau board success can be
attributed to the dedication of the four Austrian Bureau technicians/ r
boardmen who make the system work. However, loss of this dedication,
a prolonged illness, or an unexpected departure could upset the existing
STAT
STAT
^
STAT
M
STAT
STAT
Approved For Release 2007/10/19: CIA-RDP85-00024R000300520005-0
 _'. Approved For Release 2007/10/19: CIA-RDP85-00024R000300520005-0
delicate balance, for which there is only limited backup, and could
leave me like the Little Dutch Boy trying to prevent a major system
failure.
5. I believe there are two directions (or a combination of these
two directions) which can be followed: either continue the present
manual remote feeds but increase technician/boardmen staffing to cover
the workload; or attempt to reconfigure the VCVC system into a more remote
operation with greater system operational control at the BBC end, freeing
Vienna technicians for more internal operational, maintenance and
repair activities. The first approach is simple in theory but would
require at least an additional Mode position. The second approach is
technical and requires more equipment dollars. .A combination of the
two approaches is also possible, such as a part-time contract boardman
in concert with a more remote VCVC system. The following paragraphs
address the technical problems and requirements of the second direction.
6. Deficiencies of the existing Vienna-Caversham circuit:
A. The present system should be classified as a manual remote feed
system with limited remote capabilities, which provides limited backup
protection for original source material.
B. Vienna editorial coordination with bureau technicians and message
coordination with FBIS/BBC London is time consuming and usually occurs
when the editor is busy with other bureau activities. Coordination
lead time is often short.
C. The BBC operators' seeming lack of confidence in the remote
portion of the system is reflected by Lanier cassette recorder use (or nonuse).
The present schedule shows a number of short casts (5 to 10 minutes)
that could be recorded an Lanier cassette recorders, but which are
recorded by bureau technicians and manually fed to BBC shortly after the
cast is finished.
D. Technician coordination with the BBC via the VCVC telephone can
occur only between scheduled feeds. Telephone signaling between Vienna
and BBC is nonstandard and allows the. ring signal to stay on for 7
extended periods when not needed. The editor and technician telephone
handsets cannot be used at the same, time without a reduction of the
signal level.
E. Manual feeds to the BBC require excessive technician time and
leaves inadequate time between scheduled feeds to perform other Vienna
bureau operational and technical activities.
F. BBC equipment used at Vienna is nonstandard to FBIS equipment and
requires special considerations for interfaces both physically and
Approved For Release 2007/10/19: CIA-RDP85-00024R000300520005-0
 Approved For Release 2007/10/19: CIA-RDP85-00024R000300520005-0
? ?
electronically. This includes power line voltages of 240 VAC which
must be stepped up from bureau line voltages of 110 and 220 VAC.
G. Signal levels from source casts must be reduced to protect
existing matrix FETs from burnout. Nontelephone interface equipment
such as the Ten-Tec Signal Analyzer is used for the outgoing signal
to Caversham.
H. The present system consists of both off-the-shelf and one-of-a-kind
equipment which is not modular and has been modified and remodified
several times with only handwritten/drawn documentation.
I. The bureau has limited spare equipment for the existing VCVC
system.
J. The present system has no capability for remote receiver control
via narrowband FSK channels.
K. The system lacks capability for remote antenna selection. .'
7. Technical requirements for the second Vienna-Caversham circuit:
In order to reduce the deficiencies of the existing Vienna-
Caversham circuit as viewed from Vienna, the second circuit should be
built along the following general lines, which would allow the eventual
change of equipment used on the first circuit to a more remote and
flexible configuration. This would free Vienna editors and technicians
from BBC-related tasks that reduce time available for internal bureau
activities.
A. Aim for a technically uncomplicated remote system with high
reliability, minimum manual intervention at Vienna, and a high confidence
factor at Caversham.
B. Where possible use at each terminal location off-the-shelf
documented equipment that conforms to equipment standards used
respectively at Vienna and Caversham. if i, f` "_ '66'
C. Utilize a flexible data control system standardized in data
formats used between terminal locations.
D. Configure a 16 X 6 (source X output) matrix system capable of
selecting any source with any output. (An output is defined as either
a circuit line between Caversham and Vienna or a cassette recorder
capable of remote control from Caversham. As an example, with the
installation of the second Vienna-Caversham circuit, the six output
would be two line circuits and four cassette recorders.)
Approved For Release 2007/10/19: CIA-RDP85-00024R000300520005-0
 Approved For Release 2007/10/19: CIA-RDP85-00024R000300520005-0
E. Ensure full backup protection of all original source casts with
backup recordings remotely available to Caversham.
F. Install a modular system that can readily accept minor
modifications and future changes.
G. Perform maintenance and system modifications locally at Vienna
and Caversham respectively.
H. Institute system planning and coordination among Engineering
Division, Vienna Bureau, and the BBC.
I. Provide antenna selection capability for any source receiver as
needed.
J. Standardize the first two Vienna-Caversham circuits with
speech-plus data channels.
K. Remote the existing Collins 651S-1 receivers.
L. Record time code generator data in GMT time on control tracks
of all recorders used in the system for recall of casts using
GMT time.
8. Types of channels required:
A. Voice Channels (300 - 2400/2600 Hz.) -- Fax, Voice Casts,
Telephone and Racal Receiver Control.
B. Data Channels (above 2400/2600 Hz.) -- Bureau Altroute, RTTY,
Matrix Control Data, Recorder Control Data, Orderwire and Narrowband
FSK Receiver Control.
9. FBIS terminal equipment that can accomplish requirements:
Existing standard FBIS equipment that could be used to accomplish
most of the technical requirements listed in graf 7 is noted below.
Any FBIS equipment used at Caversham would most likely have to be
modified to conform to BBC equipment standards. Similarly, any British
equipment used at Vienna (as has already been experienced) would have
to be modified to conform to FBIS equipment standards. Mixing standards
should be avoided whenever possible, and close attention should be paid
to any equipment selection where different equipment standards exist.
A. Speach-Plus, QEI.
B. Frequency Division Multiplex, QEI.
C. Line Termination Equipment, ITI.
Approved For Release 2007/10/19: CIA-RDP85-00024R000300520005-0
 Approved For Release 2007/10/19: CIA-RDP85-00024R000300520005-0
D. Matrix Switching, MATRIX.
E. Line Filters and Amplifiers, QEI and ITI.
F. Telephone Equipment, QEI, ITI and GRAYBAR.
G. Antenna Switching, MATRIX.
H. Orderwire, EXTEL.
I. Matrix Data Control, BRAMCO.
J. Cassette Recorder Control, MAGNASYNC-MOVIOLA.
K. Cassette Recorder, MAGNASYNC-MOVIOLA.
L. Multichannel Tape Recorder, MAGNASYNC-MOVIOLA.
M. Multichannel Tape Recorder Control, MAGNASYNC-MOVIOLA.
N. Time Code Generator, MAGNASYNC-MOVIOLA.
0. Collins Receiver Control, DELTA.
P. Collins Receiver Remote Modification, COLLINS.
Q. Existing Source Receivers, COLLINS, RACAL, FREDERICK,
WATKINS-JOHNSON and METZ.
STAT
Chief Engineer, Austrian Bureau
Approved For Release 2007/10/19: CIA-RDP85-00024R000300520005-0