ACR X CLB TO OCCUPIED ALT HAD LTSS FROM ACR Y. SYS ERROR.

Narrative

2 DEP ACFT AND 1 ENRTE. SECTOR WAS BUSY WITH SEVERAL ACFT ON VECTORS AND LADDERING. I HAD SPD RESTR THE SECOND ACR X TO REMAIN BEHIND THE LEAD ACR. I MONITORED THIS SITUATION TO INSURE IT WAS WORKING. I HAD BUILT IN APPROX 15-20 MI. I HAD STOPPED BOTH DEPS AT FL290 BECAUSE OF THE ENRTE; CHKING SPDS AGAIN THE CLB SEPARATION WAS STABILIZED. IT APPEARED THE LEAD ACR WOULD CONFLICT WITH THE ENRTE ACR Y BUT THE FOLLOWING ACR X IF CLBED WOULD HAVE SEPARATION. I CHKED WITH VECTOR LINES AND RANGE AGAIN AND CLBED THE BACK ACR X TO FL330. ANOTHER TFC SITUATION REQUIRED SEPARATION (RADAR VECTORS) SO I WATCHED THIS FOR A MOMENT TO INSURE IT WOULD WORK. CONFLICT ALERT ACTIVATED. I LOOKED AND THOUGHT THE LEAD ACR HAD 'BUSTED' ALT. TOOK A SECOND TO REALIZE IT WAS THE BACK ACR X. I TURNED ACR X AND GAVE AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT. DUE TO POOR RADIOS IN THIS AREA (JUST REPAIRED/MOVED); BUT NOT FIXED; IT REQUIRED 2-3 CALLS TO GET CLRNC TO PLT. CONFLICT ALERT WAS FOOLED ALSO; IT SHOULD HAVE ACTIVATED WHEN ACFT LEFT FL290; ALLOWING MORE TIME TO RESOLVE SITUATION.