TAP YIPL/TAP_and_YIPL_Collection_CD.iso/PHREAK/BOXES/FREEPHON.TXT

Text File | 2000-01-02 | 20KB | 335 lines

February 1994

HOW TO MAKE FREE PAYPHONE CALLS BY USING TONES INSTEAD OF COINS!

FOR INFORMATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY!

Each time a coin is inserted into a payphone, the payphone sends tones to
the phone company's centraswitching computer indicating the value of that
coin.

A "RED BOX" is a device which produces these same tones through a small
speaker.  In most cases, actating a RED BOX into a payphone's microphone
will fool the central switching computer into believin hat coin(s) have in
fact been deposited into the payphone, thereby allowing a phone call to go
thrug.

For the purposes of this manual, a payphone is defined as a "Bell" or
"Wireline" company owned payphe.  These are usually distinguishable from
"COCOTS" (Consumer owned Coin Operated Telephones) by th Bell" Logo on the
front of the payphone.  These payphones are operated by the same company
which povdes regular telephone service to that particular area.

RED BOXES only work at "Bell" or "Wireline" company payphones.  RED BOXES
do not work at COCOTS.  REBOXES only work for calls costing more than a
local call.  RED BOXES are not legal.  Use of RED BOXSto place telephone
calls without paying for them constitutes fraud.

When a payphone is used to make a call outside of its local calling area,
the payphone connects withts central computer, not a live operator.  The
first thing that the central computer does is send acin return signal to
the payphone.  Any coins  previously deposited into the payphone (if any)
are ouinely returned through the coin return.  Following the coin return
signal, the central switching ompter, in a synthesized voice, asks for the
correct amount to be deposited for that call.  RED BOXS ony work at this
point.   If a live operator answers, it is very likely that the RED BOX
will notbe efective and its use will probably raise suspicion.

RED BOXES work with most long distance carriers.  If a RED BOX is
ineffective with a particular longistance carrier, it may help to switch to
a different long distance carrier.  This is done by preceig the number to
be called with the five digit access code for the long distance carrier of
choice  or example, the access code for AT&T is 10288.  Remember to dial
"1" between the access code and he hone number if required.


WHAT IS REQUIRED TO GET STARTED

The core of the RED BOX is Radio Shack's Memory Pocket Tone Dialer (Catalog
#43-141) and it costs on $24.95.  As it was intended, this Memory Pocket
Tone Dialer remembers and dials phone numbers as tns.  It is used on the
road as a convenience to remember and dial up to thirty three numbers.
Thiselminates mistakes due to memory lapses or misdialing.

Because the Memory Pocket Tone Dialer is designed specifically to be held
up to payphone microphonesit will not look the least bit suspicious when in
use.   It is powered by three AAA batteries whichmst be purchased
separately.  At only thirty nine cents each, (Radio Shack Catalog #23-584)
this wil dd just $1.17 to the Radio Shack bill.

Using this manual, my eight year old daughter constructed a RED BOX by
following these simple steps.The reference photographs make it so easy that
virtually anyone can finish a RED BOX faster than Doio's can deliver a
pizza.Figure 1 shows all the parts and tools required.  The dialer, three
batteres two tools, one component and solder is all it takes.  It's that
easy.

This manual repeatedly refers to a "crystal oscillator"  This crystal
oscillator is the only hard toind part needed to make your own RED BOX.
Everything else needed is so commonplace, it can be purcaed at any Radio
Shack Store.  The crystal oscillator is available by mail-order from an
electronicpats distributor in California called T.N.C.I.   The crystal
oscillator is T.N.C.I. Part Number 19875 nd they'll even ship it out C.O.D.
T.N.C.I.'s quantity one price is $33.25 for the crystal osillaor and their
price goes down by 30% at quantity ten.

T.N.C.I. can be reached at [phone] for telephone C.O.D. Orders and
their mailing address is: N.C.I., 1525 Aviation Boulevard, Suite 215,
Redondo Beach, California, 90278.   Pricing for the crytl oscillator
(T.N.C.I. Part Number 198675) is as follows:  Quantity 1-9: $33.25;
Quantity 10-49: $3.5; Quantity 50-99: $19.95; Quantity 100+: $18.25.
T.N.C.I. charges $4.00 for shipping and handlig ad an extra $5.00 for
C.O.D. shipments so its cheaper to just send them a check or money order.
f yo live in California, don't forget to add  8.25% sales tax which (at
quantity 1-9) adds another 2.74 er crystal oscillator.  The total order
price for one crystal oscillator (T.N.C.I. Part Number198675 is $37.25
outside California and $39.99 in California.  Remember to include the part
number ith you order and to add $5.00 for C.O.D. orders.

Finally, making a RED BOX requires just two tools:  a soldering iron with a
small amount of solder a a small Phillips screwdriver.  If a soldering iron
is not available, Radio Shack sells many differn types.  They're all easy
to use, but the least expensive (Catalog #64-2067) will work perfectly ad
osts only $4.99.  Soldering irons are used to heat a metal called solder to
make electrical connetios. At Radio Shack, solder (Catalog #64-001) costs
only $0.99. Once heated, solder melts and turns into a liquid.  When the
heat is removed, the solder quickly solifies and bonds to whatever metal it
is touching.  By heating solder next to the leads of electrica omponents
and then allowing the solder to cool, it is easy to make quick
semipermanent electrical onections to them.  The reason these connections
are semipermanent and not permanent is reheating te slder will return it to
a liquid state.  Once the solder is a liquid, it is possible to remove th
eletrical component from its soldered connection.  This is called
desoldering.  This may sound triky, bt it's so easy that my eight year old
daughter, who had never even seen a soldering iron befor, was ble to solder
and desolder perfectly on her very first try.  The function of the Phillips
scrwdriveris simply to remove and replace the four small Phillips screws
which hold together the diale's case.


MAKING A RED BOX IS SIMPLE!

Using this manual, my eight year old daughter constructed a RED BOX by
following these simple steps.The reference photographs make it so easy that
virtually anyone can finish a RED BOX faster than Doio's can deliver a
pizza.  Be aware that once the conversion to a RED BOX is complete, the
Memory Pckt Tone Dialer will no longer function as it was originally
intended.

1. Turn the dialer over so that the keypad is facing down and slide off the
battery cover.

2. Using the screwdriver, remove the four screws holding the dialer case
together (see figure 2).  T only important thing of note here is that if
the screwdriver is too small it may strip the head ofte screws and if it is
too large it may mar the plastic case or simply not work at all with the
smal crews in the case.  Take extra care not to strip the heads of the
screws or to mar the plastic ofthedialer's case.

3. The case of the dialer is comprised of two plastic halves now held
together by only four small pltic catches (see figure 3).  Carefully
separate the two halves of the dialer case by first applyingasmall amount
of inward pressure on the two lower catches which are closest to the
battery compartmnt  There is very little plastic here, so only a small
amount of pressure is necessary.  Once the btto half of the case has been
separated slightly, run a fingernail up the small groove between the ase
alves while applying a small amount of inward pressure on the upper two
plastic catches.  This ill cuse the plastic halves to separate completely
(see figure 4).  Please note that there are foursmall ires that run between
the two case halves.  Be careful not to pull the halves too far apart, s
this ay damage the connections these wires make.

4. If it's not already hot, now would be a good time to plug in and preheat
the soldering iron.  Theetal part of the iron will reach temperatures in
excess of 400 degrees,  so be sure to prop it up t eep the tip from burning
anything.  Also, to allow the iron time to heat up, remember to wait at las
five minutes after plugging it in before trying to solder.

5. All that's required to convert the dialer to a RED BOX is the removal of
one of its components byesoldering it, and the installation of the T.N.C.I.
crystal oscillator. This is done by soldering tecrystal oscillator in a
slightly different place on the circuit board.  The component to be remove
i cylindrical in shape, has two small silver wires extending from one end
and is usually silver incolr (see figure 4 close up).  The first step in
removing it is gently prying it off of the circuitboar. This will make it
easier to remove any and all glue which may bind it to the circuit board an
to te components adjacent it (see figure 5).

6. Once the component to be removed has been freed from the glue, it is
time to desolder it.  This idone by using the soldering iron to
simultaneously heat the two solder pads where the wires of the oponent are
connected to the circuit board (see figure 6).  When both solder pads turn
liquid, liftth component away from the circuit board.  Make certain that
the two small pads of solder remainingon he circuit board are not touching
one another.  If they are touching, separate them by running te ponted tip
of the soldering iron along the circuit board between the two pads of
solder until the are o longer connected to each other (see figure 7).
Cleaning the tip of the soldering iron with  damp ag so that  it is free of
solder makes this process easier.

7. Next, to make installation of the T.N.C.I. crystal    oscillator easier,
it is best to gently be upward from horizontal to vertical the two
circular, beige, disk-like components nearest and to th ight of the
component which was just removed (see figure 8).

8. Now it is time to install the T.N.C.I. crystal oscillator.  Put the
crystal oscillator flat on thcircuit board with its two wires threaded
through the space under each disk-like component.  Make sr that only one of
the two wires from the crystal oscillator is under each disk-like component
(seefiure 9).

9. On the other side of each disk-like component, where the ends of the two
wires from the crystal oillator thread through, bend each end of the wire
slightly to the left (towards the side where the oponent was removed
earlier).  This is so each end of each wire from the crystal oscillator
only tochs the left of the two solder pads holding each disk-like component
to the circuit board (see figue 9.  Make sure that these two wires from the
crystal oscillator touch nowhere else on the circuit oard  Bending each
lead slightly to the left, so it is positioned directly on top of the left
solde pad f each disk-like component will make soldering easier.

10.  Using the soldering iron, gently press down on the right lead from the
crystal oscillator in su a way that the soldering iron heats both the lead
from the crystal oscillator and the correspondin older pad beneath it. Once
the solder on the board begins to liquefy, touch either end of the
solersupplied with this manual to the end of the wire coming from the
crystal oscillator being soldere (se figure 10).  Only a very small amount
of solder is required to make a good connection, especialy i a good amount
of solder is already on the circuit board.  The more solder used, the
greater th chane of shorting out a component, so use it sparingly.  Once
the solder has melted, remove both te soldring iron and the unused solder
from the board and allow the solder to cool.  Within five secnds thenew
solder joint will have cooled and the connection will be made.  Make sure
that the solde joint jst created has not flowed off of the solder pad and
accidentally connected to another compoent on th circuit board.  Also, make
certain that right lead of the circular beige disk-like componnt is not
ouching the wire coming from the crystal oscillator, which is running
beneath the disk-lie component

11.  Repeat Step 10 with the left lead from the T.N.C.I. crystal oscillator
(see figure 11).

12.  Gently bend both disk-like components back so they are almost flat
against the circuit board on again (see figure 12).  There is no reason to
force these components all the way back to horizonta. Bend them back very
gently without forcing them.

13. Carefully snap the two halves of the plastic case back together and
replace the four small Phills screws.  Insert the three AAA batteries (see
figure 13) and slide the battery compartment cover bc on.  To check it
works, slide the power switch to the "ON" position, and slide the
"STORE/DIAL" sith to the "DIAL" position.  Now, simply press a few of the
number keys, just like dialing a touch onetelephone, and listen for tones
coming out of the speaker.  If tones are present, CONGRATULATION!  Te
modification was successful.  Once  tones are present, proceed to step 14.
If no tones are adible check that the batteries are installed properly,
noting which direction that they must facingper th diagram inside of the
battery compartment. Be certain that the batteries are new.  If the
bateries heck out fine and there are still no tones, it will be necessary
to reopen the dialer to receck the ew  solder connections.  Also, make sure
that none of the four small wires between the casehalves ar broken, and
that no stray pieces of solder are causing other components to touch each
othr.  Do notproceed to the next step until all problems are fixed and
tones are heard from the dialers speaker.

14. The next step is to program the RED BOX memory with the "sound" of
quarter(s).  This is done by iding the power switch to the "ON" position,
and sliding the "STORE/DIAL" switch to the "STORE" poston.  The dialer has
three special one touch memory positions, labeled "P1", "P2", and "P3" (see
fiur 14). These will be used for storing the simulated sounds of one
quarter, two quarters, and threequaters, respectively.  The simulation of
one quarter is done by connecting five short bursts of th sta "*" button.
To store this in the memory location "P1", start by touching the "MEMORY"
button,then ress the star button five times, then the "MEMORY" button
again, and finally press the "P1" buton.  he dialer should respond with a
confirming beep and memory location "P1" is now programmed wih the sund of
one quarter.

15. Next, program the RED BOX's "P2" memory location with the sound of two
quarters.  Since the slidswitches are already in the correct position,
there is no need to move them.  Start by touching the"EMORY" button, then
press the star  "*" button five times, then the "PAUSE" button once,  then
pres he star "*" button five more times, then the "MEMORY" button again,
and finally press the "P2" buton  The dialer should once again respond with
a confirming beep and memory location "P2" is now prgramed with the sound
of two quarters.

16. Finally, program the RED BOX's "P3" memory location with the sound of
three quarters.   Start byouching the "MEMORY" button, then press the star
"*" button five times, then the "PAUSE" button onc, then press the star "*"
button five more times,  then the "PAUSE" button once,  then press the str
*" button five more times, then the "MEMORY" button again, and finally
press the "P3" button.  Th diler should respond with a confirming beep and
memory location "P3" is now programmed with the sond o three quarters.

17. Slide the "STORE/DIAL" switch to the "DIAL" position, and the RED BOX
is now finished.  Test itsrogramming and batteries by pressing the "P1"
button.  Five short, fast beeps should be heard. If nt go back to step 14
and carefully try again.  The RED BOX can now be used as described below by
hodig the RED BOX speaker firmly up against the microphone (see figure 15)
of most "Bell" or "Wirelin" cmpany owned payphones.

One important note about using the dialer:  If its batteries are removed
for more than two minutes oare allowed to completely discharge, the dialer
will lose its programming.  In this event, replace h dialer's batteries and
reprogram it by repeating steps 14 through 17.   More complete instruction
ad information about the dialer can be found in the owner's manual which
accompanies it.  Keep in indthat its touch tone buttons will no longer
function correctly.


USING A RED BOX

When contemplating the use of a RED BOX, remember the following:

RED BOXES only work at "Bell" or "Wireline" company payphones for calls
costing more than a local ca.  When a payphone is used to make a call
outside of its local calling area, the payphone connects ih the central
switching computer, not a live operator.  The central switching computer,
in a synthsied voice, asks for the correct amount to be deposited for that
call.

RED BOXES are only effective starting at this point.  Be sure to wait for
the synthesized voice,  fousing a RED BOX too soon will result in an
instant live operator intercept. If a live operator answr, it is very
likely that the RED BOX will not be effective and its use will probably
raise suspicin. As a general rule, use of a RED BOX should be limited to
synthesized requests for money and shoud nt be used with live operators.

Depending on the amount requested by the synthesized voice, use the "P1"
button to simulate droppingne quarter into the payphone, use the "P2"
button to simulate two quarters, and the "P3" to simulat hree quarters.
While the RED BOX is transmitting its tones, be very careful to continue to
hold te ED BOX speaker firmly and directly over the payphone's microphone
(see figure 15).  Do not overpa fo any call by more than twenty cents.
Should a live operator intercept the call, something is no woring
perfectly.  Hanging up and moving on to another payphone would not be a bad
idea.

During a call it is common for a voice to interrupt and request more money
to continue the call. Shod the request be made by a synthesized voice, as
is often the case, the RED BOX will work just fine On the other hand, if a
live operator is requesting the overtime money, disconnecting and moving o
wuld be prudent.  In the alternative inserting coins will of course always
work.

After a call is complete and the payphone is hung up, it is common for the
payphone to ring almost iediately and request more money for overtime.
Should the request be made by a synthesized voice, a s often the case, the
RED BOX will work fine.  On the other hand, if a live operator requests the
vetime money, disconnecting and moving on is suggested.  Keep in mind that
the operator still has arecrd of the phone number just called.  If the
operator suspects that a RED BOX was used to fraudulntlyplace the call, it
would not be difficult for the operator to recall the previous number and
as thatparty who they were just speaking to.  Although proving this is
indeed difficult, a situation ike ths is best avoided.  Think about what
may happen ahead of time and plan for it.

The use of a RED BOX is fraud and is illegal.  This information is
presented for educational and infmational purposes only and is not intended
to be implemented!  Regardless of the nature of this wriig, using these
methods is not recommended.

FOR INFORMATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY!