LSD Docs/LSD Docs.iso/FILEZ/lsd15.dms/lsd15.adf/BlueBox.infomation.pp/BlueBox.infomation

Text File | 1991-02-19 | 37KB | 715 lines

                THE INCREDIBLE HELP PROGRAM FOR BLUE BOXING

By Keepermann, also known as the "THE VIRUS" of SKID ROW.
Edited by PARASITE.


NOTE:
  a Modem link virus in the original program is removed...
  please check your "libs/icon.library" if the size is 6680 bytes,
  your library is infected..

What makes this a virus?????
 your modem connection to bbs's would end up with a lot of noise, and
 crap on the line (LOOKS LIKE CRAP), more about the virus is available
 in the original program for programmers!

BETTER HOMES AND BLUE BOXING: PART I

THEORY OF OPPERATION
  To quote Karu Bluel Marx, blue boxing has always been the most able form of
phreaking. As opposed to such things as using an MCI code to make a free
fone call, which is merely mindless pseudo-phreaking, blue boxing is
actual interaction with the Bell System toll network. It is likewise
advisable to be more cautious when blue boxing, but the careful phreak
will not be caught, regardless of what type of switching system he is under.
  In this part, I will explain how and why blue boxing works, as well as
where. Ind  h later parts, I will give more practical information for blue
boxing and routing information.
  To begin with, blue boxing is simply communicating with trunks. Trunks must
not be confused with subscriber lines (or "customer loops") which are
standard telefone lines. Trunks are those lines that connect central
offices. Now, when trunks are not in use (i.e., idle or "on-hook" state)
they have 2600Hz applied to them. If they are two-way trunks, there is
2600Hz in both directions. When a trunk IS in use (busy or "off-hook"
state"), the 2600Hz is removed from the side that is off-hook. The 2600Hz
is therefore known as a supervisory signal, because it indicates the
status of a trunk; on hook (tone) or off-hook (no tone). Note also that
2600Hz denoted SF (single frequency) signalling and is "in-band." This is
very important. "In-band" means that is is within the band of frequencies
that may be transmitted over normal telefone lines. Other SF signals, such
as 3700Hz are used also. However, they cannot be carried over the telefone
network normally (they are "out-of- band") and are therefore not able to
be taken advantage of as 2600Hz is.
  Back to trunks. Let's take a hypothetical phone call. You pick up
your fone and dial 1+806-258-1234 (your good friend in Armarillo,
Texas). For ease, we'll assume that you are on #5 Crossbar switching and
not in the 806 area. Your central office (CO) would recognize that
806 is a foreign NPA, so it would route the call to the toll centre
that serves you. [For the sake of accuracy here, and for the more
experienced readers, note that the CO in question is a class 5 with
LAMA that uses out-of-band SF supervisory signalling]. Depending
on where you are in the country, the call would leave yq  iour toll centre
(on more trunks) to another toll centre, or office of higher "rank".
Then it would be routed to central office 806-258 eventually and the
call would be completed. Illustration:

A---CO1-------TC1------TC2----CO2----B

A=you
CO1=your central office
TC1=your toll office.
TC2=toll office in Amarillo.
CO2=806-258 central office.
B=your friend (806-258-1234)

  In this situation it would be realistic to say that CO2 uses SF
in-band (2600Hz) signalling, while all the others use out-of-band
signalling (3700Hz). If you don't understand this, don't worry too much.
I am pointing this out merely for the eake of accuracy. The point is that
while you are connected to 806-258- 1234, all those trunks from YOUR
central office (CO1) to the 806-258 central office (CO2) do *NOT* have
2600Hz on them, indicating to the Bell equipment that a call is in
progress and the trunks are in use.
  Now let's say you're tired of talking to your friend in Amarillo
(806-258-1234) so you send 2600Hz down the line. This tone travels down
the line to your friend's central office (CO2) where it is detected.
However, a that CO thinks that the 2600Hz is originating from Bell
equipment, indicating to it that you've hung up, and thus the trunks
are once again idle (with 2600Hz present on them). But actually, you
have not hung up, you have fooled the equipment at your friend's CO into
thinking you have. Thus,it disconnects him and resets the equipment to
prepare for the next call. All this happens very quickly (300-800ms for
step-by-step equipment and 150-400ms for other equipment).
  When you stop sending 2600Hz (after about a second), the equipment thinks
that another call is coming towards it (e.g. it thinks the far end has
come "off-hook" since the tone has stopped. It could be thought of as a
toggle switch: tone --> on hook, no tone -->off hook. Now that you've
stopped sending 2600Hz, several things happen:
1) A trunk is seized.

2) A "wink" is sent to the CALLING end from the CALLED end indicating that
the CALLED end (trunk) is not ready to receive digits yet.

3) A register is found and attached to the CALLED end of the trunk within
about two seconds (max).

4) A start-dial signal is sent to the CALLING end from the CALLED end
indicating that the CALLED end is ready to receive digits.

Now, all of this is pretty much transparent to the blue boxer. All he
really hears when these four things happen is a <beep><kerchunk>. So,
seizure of a trunk would go something like this:

  1> Send a 2600Hz
  2> Terminate 2600Hz after 1-2 secs.
  3> [beep][kerchunk]

  Once this happens, you are connected to a tandem that is ready to obey your
every command. The next step is to send signalling information in order
to place your call. For this you must simulate the signalling used by
operators and automatic toll-dialing equipment for use on trunks. There
are mainly two systems, DP and MF. However, DP went out with the dinosaur
, so I'll only discuss MF signalling. MF (multi-frequency) signalling is the
signalling used by the majority of the inter- and intra-lata network. It is
aO  also used in international dialing known as the CCITT no.5 system.
  MF signalling consists of 7 frequen- cies, beginning with 700Hz and
separated by 200Hz. A different set of two of the 7 frequencies represent the
digits 0 thru 9, plus an additional 5 special keys. The frequencies and uses
are as follows:

Frequencies (Hz)  Domestic    Int'l
--------------------------------------
 700+900             1          1
 700+1100            2          2
 900+1100            3          3
 700+1300            4          4
 900+1300            5          5
1100+1300            6          6
 700+1500            7          7
 900+1500            8          8
1100+1500            9          9
1300+1500            0          0

 700+1700           SM         Code 11
 900+1700           STp        Code 12
1100+1700           KP         KP1
1300+1700           ST2p       KP2
1500+1700           ST         ST

  The timing of all the MF signals is a nominal 60ms, except for KP, which
should have a duration of 100ms. There should also be a 60ms silent period
between digits. This is very flexible, however, and most Bell equipment will
accept outrageous timings.
  In addition to the standard uses listed above, MF pulsing also has
expanded uses known as "expanded inband signalling" that include such
things as coin collect, coin return, ringback, operator attached, and
operator released. KP2, code 11, and code 12 and the ST (STart "primes")
all have special uses which will be mentioned only briefly here.
  To complete a call using a blue box, once seizure of a trunk has been
accomplished by sending 2600Hz and pausing for the <beep><kerchunk>, one
must first send a KP. This readies the register for the digits that follow.
For a standard domestic call, the KP would be followed by either 7 digits
(if the call were in the same NPA as the seized trunk) or 10 digits (if the
call were not in the same NPA as the seized trunk). [Exactly like dialing a
normal fone call. Following either the KP and 7 or 10 digits, a STart is
sent to signify that no more digits follow. Example of a complete call:

  1> Dial 1-806-258-1234
  2> wait for a call-progress indication (such as ring, busy,
     recording, etc.)
  3> Send 2600Hz for about 1 second.
  4> Wait for about 2 seconds while a trunk is seized.
  5> Send KP+305+994+9966+ST

  The call will then connect if every- thing was done properly. Note that if
a call to an 806 number were being placed in the same situation, the area
code would be omitted and only KP+ seven digits+ST would be sent.
  Code 11 and code 12 are used in international calling to request
certain types of operators. KP2 is used in international calling to route
a call other than by way of the normal route, whether for economic or
equipment reasons.
  STp, ST2p, and ST3p (prime, two prime, and three prime) are used in
TSPS signalling to indicate calling type of call (such as coin-direct
dialed).
   This has been Part I of Better Homes and Blue Boxing. I hope you
enjoyed and learned from it. If you have any questions, comments, threats
or insults, please fell free to drop me a line. If you have noticed any
errors in this text (yes, it does happen), please let me know and
perhaps a correction will be in order. Part II will deal mainly with more
advanced principles of blue boxing, as well as routings and operators.

  Note 1: other highly trunkable areas include: 816,305,813,609,205.
I personally have excellent luck boxing off of 609-953-0000. Try that
if you have any trouble.

BETTER HOMES AND BLUE BOXING: PART II

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
(It is assumed that the reader has read and understood Part i of this series).
  The essential purpose of blue boxing in the beginning was merely to receive
toll services free of charge. Though this can still be done, blue boxing has
essentially outlived its usefulness in this area. Modern day "extenders" and
long distance services provide a safer and easier way to make free fone calls.
However, you can do things with a blue box that just can't be done with any-
thing else. For ordinary toll-fraud, a blue box is impractical for the
following reasons:

  1. Clumsy equipment required (blue box or equivalent)
  2. Most boxed calls must be made through an extender. Not for
     safety reasons, but for reasons I'll explain later.
  3. Connections are often sacrificed because considerable distances
     must be dialed to cross a seizable trunk, in addition to
     awkward routing.

  As stated in reason #2, boxed calls are usually made through an extender.
This is for billing reasons. If you recall from Part i, 2600Hz is used as a
"supervisory" signal. That is, it signals the status of a trunk--
"on-hook" or "off-hook." When you seize a trunk (by briefly sen+  ding
2600Hz), your end (the CALLING end) goes on hook for the duration of the
2600Hz and then goes off-hook once again when the 2600Hz is terminated.
The CALLED end recognizes that a call is on the way and attaches a register,
which inerprets the diE  gits which are to be sent. Now, understand that even
though your end has come off-hook (no 2600Hz present), the other end is
till on-hook. You may wonder then, why, if the other end (the CALLED end)
is still on-hook, there is no 2600Hz coming the other way on the trunk,
when there should be. This is correct. 2600Hz *IS* present on the trunk when
you seize it and afterwards, but you cannot hear it because of a Band
Elimination Filter (BEF) at your central office.
  Back to the problem. Remember that when you seize a trunk, 2600Hz is
indeed coming the other way on the trunk because the CALLED end is still
on-hook, but you don't actually hear it because of a filter. However, the
Bell equipment knows it's there (they can "hear" it). The presence of the
2600Hz is telling the billing equip- ment that your call has not yet been
completed (i.e., the CALLED end is still on-hook). When finally you do
connect with your boxed call, the 2600Hz from the called end terminates.
This tells the billing equipment that someone picked up the fone at the
CALLED end and you should begin to be billed. So you do start to get billed,
but for the call to the trunk, NOT the boxed call. Your billing equipment
thinks that you've connected with the number you used to seize the trunk.

Illustration:

  1. You call 1+806-258-2222
     (directly)
  2. Status of trunks:

<---- you ------------------------------->
(You)                    806-258-2222
No 2600Hz-------> <------------2600Hz

  When you seize a trunk (before the number you called answers) there is
no affect on your billing equipment. It simply thinks that you're still
waiting for the call to complete (the CALLED end is still on-hook; it
is ringing, busy, going to recorder or intercepts operator.
  Now, let's say that you've sezied a trunk (806-258-2222) and for example,
KP+314+949+1705+ST. The call is routed from the tandem you seized to:
314-949-1705.

Illustration:

<------------------>O<--------------->
(You)              806         314-949
                 tandem
No 2600Hz----------> <----------2600Hz

  Note that the entire path towards the right (the CALLED end) has no
2600Hz present and is therefore "off- hook." The entire path towards the left
(the CALLING end) does have 2600Hz present on it, indicating that the
CALLED end has not picked up (or come "off-hook"). When 314-949-1705 answers,
"answer supervision" is given and the 2600Hz towards the left (the CALLING
end) terminates. This tells your billing !  nequipment, which thinks that
you're still waiting to be connected with 806-258-2222, that you've
finally connected. Billing then begins to 806-258-2222. Not exactly an
auspicious beginning for an aspiring young phone phreak.
  To avoid this, several actions may be taken. As previously mentioned,
one may avoid being charged for the number called to seize a trunk by
using an extender (in which case the extender will get billed). In some
areas, boxing may be accomplished using an 800 number, generally in the
format of 800-858-xxxx (many Amarillo numbers) or 800-NN2-xxxx (special
intra-state class in-WATS numbers). However, boxing off of 800 numbers is
impossible in many areas. In my area, Denver, I am served by #1A ESS and it
is impossible for me to box off of any 800 number.
  Years ago, in the early days of blue boxing (before my time), phreaks often
used directory assistance to box off of because they were "free" long
distance calls. However, because of competetive long distance con  mpanies,
directory assistance surcharges are now $0.50 in many areas. It is
additionally advised that directory assistance numbers not be used to box
from because of the following:
  Average DA calls last under 2 minutes. When you box a call, chances
are that it will last considerably longer. Thus, the Bell billing equip-
ment will make a note of calls to directory assistance that last a long
time. A call to a directory assistant lasting for 4 hours and 17 minutes
may appear somewhat suspicious.
  Although the date, time, and length of a DA call do not appear on the bill,
it is recorded on AMA tape and will trip a strouble report if it were to
last too long. This is how most phreaks were discovered in the old
days. Also, sometimes too many calls lasting too long to one 800 number
may raise a few eyebrows at the local security office.
  Assuming you can complete a blue box call, the following are listed routings
for various Bell internal operators. These are in the format of KP+NPA+
special routing+1X1+ST, which I will explain later. The 1X1 is the actual
operator routing, and NPA and NPA+ special routing are used for out-of-
area code calls and out-of-area code calls requiring special routing,
respectively.

KP+101+ST ...... a toll test board
KP+121+ST ...... inward op
KP+131+ST ...... directory assistance
KP+141+ST ...... was rate & route. Now only works in 312, 815, 717,
          and a few others. It has been replaced with a univer-
          sal rate & route number, 800+141+1212.
KP+151+ST ...... overseas completion operator (inbound). Works
          only in certain NPAs, such as 303.
KP+181+ST ...... in some areas, toll station for small towns

  Thus, if you seize a trunk 806 NPA and wanted an inward (in 806), then you
would dial KP+121+ST. If you wanted a 312 inward and were dialing on an 806
trunk, an area code would be required. Thus, you would dial KP+312+121+ST.
Finally, some places in the network require special routing, in addition to
an area code. An example is Franklin Park, Ill. It requires a special
routing of 032. For this, you would dial KP+312+032+121+ST for a Franklin
Park inward operator.
  Special routings are in the format of 0XX. They are used primarily for
load balance, so that traffic flow may be evenly distributed. About half
of the exchanges in the network require special routing. Note that
special routings are NEVER EVER EVER used to dial normal telephone numbers,
only operators.

  Operator functions:

TOLL TEST BOARD- Generally a cordboard position that assists in trunk testing.
They are not used by operators, only switchmen.

INWARD- Assists the normal TSPS (0+) operator in completing calls out of
the TSPS's area. Also, inwards perform emergency inerrupts when the number to
be interrupted is out of the area code of the original (TSPS) operator. For
example, a 303 operator has a customer that needs an emergency interrupt on
215-647-6969. The 303 operator gets the routing for the inward that covers
215-647, since she cannot do the interrupt herself. The routing is
found to be only 215+ (no special routing required). So, the 303 operator
keys KP+215+121+ST. An inward answers and the 303 says to her, "Inward, this
is Denver. I need an emergency interrupt on 215-647-6969. My
customer's name is Mark Tabas." The inward will then do the interrupt (off
the line, of course). If the number to be interrupted had required special
routing, such as, say, 312-456-1234 (spec routing 032), then the 303
operator would dial KP+312+032+121+ST for the inward to do that interrupt.

DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE- These are the normal NPA+555+1212 operators that
assist customers with obtaining telefone directory listings. Not much
toll-fraud potential here, except maybe $0.50.

RATE AND ROUTE- These operators are reached by dialing KP+800+141+1212+ST.
They assist normal (TSPS) operators with rates and routings (thus the
name). The only uses I typically have for them are the following:

1. Routing information. In the above example, when the 303 operator needed
to dial an inward that served 215-647, she needed to know if any special
routing was required and, if so, what it was. Assuming he would use rate
and route, she would dial them and say nicely, "Operator's route, please, for
215-647." Rate & route would respond with "215 plus." This means that the
operator would dial KP+215+121+ST to reach the inward that serves 215-647.
If there were special routing required, such as in 312-456, rate & route would
respond with "312 plus 032 plus." In that case, the operator would dial
KP+312+032+ST for the inward that serves 312-456.
  It is good practice to ask for "operator's route" specifically, as
there are also "numbers route" and "directory routes." If you do not
specifically ask for operator's route, rate & route will generally assume
that is what you want anyway.
  "Numbers" route refers to overseas calls. Example, you want to know how to
reach a number in Geneva, Switzerland (and you already have the number). You
would call routing and say "Numbers route, please, Geneva, Switzerland."
The operator would respond with: "Mark 41+22. 011+041+ST (plus) 041+22"
The "Mark 41+22" has to do with billing, so disregard it. The 011+041
is access to the overseas gateway (to be discussed in Part III) and the 041+
22+ is the routing for Geneva from the overseas sender.
  "Directory" routings are for directory assistance overseas. Example:
you want a DA in Rome, Italy. You would call rate & route and say, "Directory
routing please, for Rome, Italy." They would respond with "011+039+ST (plus)
039+1108 STart." As in the previous example, the 011+039 is access to the
overseas gateway. The 039+1108 is a directory assistant in Rome.

2. Nameplace information. Rate & Route will give you the location of an NPA+
exchange. Example: "Nameplace please, for 215-648." The operator would
respond with "Paoli, Pennsylvania." This isn't especially useful, since you
can get the same information (legally) by dialing 0, but using rate & route is
often much faster and it avoids having to hang up when you are already on a
trunk.

*NOTE on Rate & Route: As a blue boxer, always ask for "IOTC" routings. (e.g.,
"IOTC operator's route", "IOTC numbers route", etc.) This tells them that you
want cordboard-type routings, not TSPS, because a blue boxer is actually just
a cordboard position (that Bell doesn't know about).

OVERSEAS COMPLETION OPERATOR (inbound)- These operators (KP+151+ST) assist in
the completion of calls coming in to the United States from overseas. There
are KP+151+ST operators only in a few NPAs in the country (namely 303). To
use one, you would seize a trunk and dial KP+303+151+ST. Then you would
tell the operator, for example, "This is Bangladesh calling. I need U.S.
number 215-561-0562 please." (in a broken Indian accent). She would
connect you, and the bill would be sent to Bangladesh (where I've been
billing my KP+151+ST calls for two years).

Other internal Bell Operators.

KP+11501+ST ...... universal operator
KP+11511+ST ...... conference op
KP+11521+ST ...... mobile op
KP+11531+ST ...... marine op
KP+11541+ST ...... long distance terminal
KP+11551+ST ...... time & charges op
KP+11561+ST ...... hotel/motel op
KP+11571+ST ...... overseas (outbound) op

  These 115X1 operators are identical in routing to the 1X1 operators listed
previously, with one exception. If special routing is required (0XX),
then the trailing 1 is left off.

Examples:

A 312 universal op ... KP+312+11501+ST A Franklin Park (312-456) universal
op (special routing 032 required)................... KP+312+03   2+1150+ST
[The trailing 1 of 11501 is left off].

Purposes of 115X1 operators.

UNIVERSAL- Used for collect/callback calls 2+1 to coin stations.

CONFERENCE- This is a cordboard conference operator who will set up a
conference for a customer on a manual operation basis.

MOBILE- Assists in completion of calls to mobile (IMTS) type telefones

MARINE- Assists in completion of calls to ocean going vessels.

LONG DISTANCE TERMINAL- Now obsolete. Was used for completion of long
distance calls.

TIME & CHARGES- Will give exact costs of calls. Used to time calls and
inform customer of exactly how much it cost.

HOTEL/MOTEL- Handles calls to/from hotels and motels.

OVERSEAS COMPLETION (outbound)- assists in completion of calls to oversead  Ls
points. Only works in some, if any NPAs, because overseas assistance has
been centraized to IOCC (covered in Part iii).

Note that all KP+1X1+ST and KP+115X1+ST operators automatically
assume that you are a TSPS or cordboard operator assisting a customer with a
call. DO NOT DO ANYTHING TO JEOPARDIZE THIS! If you do not know what to do,
don't call these operators! Find out what to do first.

  This concludes Part II. There is one final part in which I will explain
overseas dialing, IOCC (International Overseas Completion Centre), RQS
(Rate/Quote System), and some basic scanning.

BETTER HOMES AND BLUE BOXING: PART III

ADVANCED SIGNALLING
(It is assumed that the reader has read and understood parts I & II before
proceeding to this part).

  In parts I & II, I covered basic theory and domestic singalling and
operators. In this part I will explain overseas direct boxing, the IOCC, the
RQS, and some basic scanning methods.

Overseas Direct Boxing.

  Calling outside of the United States and Canada is accomplished by using an
"overseas gateway." There are 7 over- seas gateways in the Bell System,
and each one is designated to serve a certain region of the world. To
initiate an overseas call, one must first access the gateway that the call
is to be sent on. To do this auto- matically, decide which country you are
calling and find its country code. Then, pad it to the left with zeros as
required so it is three digits. [Add 1, 2, or 3 zeros as required].

Examples:

Luxembourg (352) is 352 (stays the
                         same)
Spain (34)   becomes 034 (1 zero added)
U.S.S.R. (7) becomes 007 (2 zeros added)

  Next, seize a trunk and dial KP+011+ CC+ST. Note that CC is the three digit
padded country code that you just determined by the above method. [For
Luxembourg, dial KP+011+352+ST, Spain KP+011+034+ST, and the U.S.S.R. KP+011+
007+ST]. This is done to route you to the appropriate overseas gateway that
handles the country you are dialing. Even though every gateway will allow
you to dial every dialable country, it is good practice to use the gateway
that is designated for the country you are calling.
  After dialing KP+011+CC+ST (as CC is defined above) you should be connected
to an overseas gateway. It will acknowledge by sending a wink (which
is audible as a <beep><kerchink> and a dial tone. Once you receive internat-
ional dial tone, you may route your call one of two ways:
a) as an operator-originated call, or
b) as a customer-originated call.
To go as a operator-originated call, key KP+ country code (NOT padded with
zeros)+city code+number+ST. You will then be connected, providing the
country you are calling can receive direct-dialed calls. The U.S.S.R. is an
example of a country that cannot.

Example of a boxed int'l call:

To make a call to the Pope (Rome, Italy), first obtain the country code,
which is 39. Pad it with zeros so that it is 039. Seize a trunk and dial
KP+011+039+ST. Wait for sender dial tone and then dial KP+39+6+6982+ST.
39 is the country code, 6 is the city code, and 6982 is the Pope's number in
Rome. To go as an operator-originated call, simply place a zero in front of
the country code when dialing on the gateway. Thus, KP+0+39+6+6982+ST would
be dialed at sender dial tone. Routing your call as operator-originated does
not affect much unless you are dialing an operator in a foreign country
  To dial an operator in a foreign country, you must first obtain the
operator routing from rate & route for that country. Dial rate & route and if
you're trying to get an operat   or in Yugoslavia, say nicely, "IOTC
Operator's route, please, for Yugoslavia." [In larger countries it
may be necessary to specify a city]. Rate & route will respond with,
"38 plus 11029". So, dial your over- seas gateway, KP+011+038+ST, wait for
sP  pender dial tone, and key KP+0+38+ 11029+ST. You should then get an
operator in Yugoslavia. Note that you must prefix the country code on the
sender with a 0 because presumably only an operator here can dial an
operator in a foreign country.
  When you dial KP+011+CC+ST for an overseas gateway, it is translated to
a 3-digit sender code of the format 18X, depending on which sender is
designated to handle the country you are dialing. The overseas gateways and
their 3-digit codes are listed below.

  182 ..... White Plains, NY
  183 ..... New York, NY
  184 ..... Pittsburg, PA
  185 ..... Orlando, FL
  186 ..... Oakland, CA
  187 ..... Denver, CO
  188 ..... New York, NY

  Dialing KP+182+ST would get you the sender in White Plains, and KP+183+ST
would get the sender in NYC, etc., but the KP+011+CC+ST is highly suggested
(as previously mentioned). To find out what sender you were routed to after
dialing KP+011+CC+ST, dial (at int'l dial tone): KP+0000000+ST.
  If you have difficulty in reaching a sender, call rate and route and ask
for a numbers route for the country you're dialing. Sometimes, KP+011+
added country code+ST will not work. I have found this in many 3-digit
country codes. Lexembourg, country code 352, for example, should be
KP+011+352+ST theoretically. But it is not. In this case, dial KP+011+
003+ST for the overseas gateway. If you have trouble, try dialing KP+00+
first digit of country code+ST, or call rate The IOCC.

  Sometimes when you call rate and route and ask for an "IOTC numbers
route" or "IOTC operators route" for a foreign country, you will get
something like "160+700" (as in the case of the Soviet Union). This means
that the country is not dialable directly and must be handled through
the International Overseas Completion Centre (IOCC). For an IOCC routing,
pad the country code to the RIGHT with zeros until it is 3 digits. Then KP+160
is dialed, plus the padded country code, plus ST.

Examples:

The U.S.S.R. (7) ...... KP+160+700+ST
Japan (81) ............ KP+160+810+ST
Uraguay (598) ......... KP+160+598+ST

  You will then be routed to the IOCC in Pittsburg, PA, who will ask for
country, city, and number being dialed. Many times they will ask for a
ringback [thanks to Telenet Bob] so have a loop ready. They will then place
the call and call you back (or sometimes put you through directly). SoE me
calls, such as to Moscow, take several hours.

The Rate Quote System (RQS).

  The RQS is the operator's rate/quote system. It is a computer used by TSPS
(0+) operators to get rate and route information without having to dial the
rate and route operator. In Part II, I discussed getting an inward routing
for dialing-assistance and emergency interrupts from the rate and route
operators (KP+800+141+1212+ST). The same information is available from
RQS. Say you want the inward routing for 305-994. You would sieze a trunk
and dial KP+009+ST (to access the RQS). Sometimes, if you seize a trunk in an
NPA not equipped with RQS, you need to dial an NPA that is equipped with RQS
first, such as 303. Anyway, after you dial KP+009+ST or KP+303+009+ST, you
will receive a wink (<beep><kerchink>) and then RQS dial tone. At RQS dial
tone, for an inward routing for 305-994 you would dial KP+06+305+994+ST. That
is, KP+06+NPA+exchange+ST. RQS will respond with "305 plus 033 plus". This
means you would dial KP+305+033+121+ST for an inward that services 305-994.
If no special routing were required, RQS would have responded with "305
plus" and you would simply dial: KP+305+121+ST for an inward.
  Another RQS feature is the echo feature. You can use it to test your
blue box. Dial RQS (KP+009+ST) and then key KP+07+1234567890+ST. RQS will
respond with voice identification of the digits it recognized, between the
KP+07 and ST.
  RQS can also be used for rates and directory routings, but those are
seldom needed, so they have been omitted here.

Simple Scanning.

  If you're interested in scanning, try dialing on are a trunk, routings in
the format of KP+11XX1+ST. Begin with 11001 and scan to 11991. There are lots
of interesting things to be found there, as Doctor Who (413 area) can tell
you.
Those 11XX1 routings can also be prefixed with an NPA, so if you want
to scan area code 212, dial KP+212+ 11XX1+ST.

  There, now you know as much about blue boxing as most phreaks. If you
read and understand the material, and put aside preconceived ideas of what
blue boxing is that you may have aquired from inexperienced people or
other bulletin boards, you should be well on you way to an enlightening
career in blue boxing. If you follow    the guidelines in Part i to box, you
should have no problem with the fone company. Comments made by "phreaks" on
bulletin boards that proclaim "tracing" of blue boxers are nonsense and should
be ignored (except for a passing chuckle).

NOTE 1: CCIS and the downfall of blue boxing.

CCIS stands for Common Channel Interoffice Signalling. It is a signalling
method used between electronic switching systems that eminiates the
use of 2600Hz and 3700Hz supervisory signals, and MF pulsing. This is why
many places cannot be boxed off of; they employ CCIS, or out-of-band
signalling, which will not respond to any tones that you generate on the
line. Eventually, all existing toll equipment will be upgraded or replaced
with CCIS or T-carrier. In this case, we'll all be boxing with microwave
dishes. Until then (about 1995 by current BOC/AT&T estimates), have fun!

If you have ANY questions about this text, please feel free to drop me a
line. I will respond to all mail, messages, etc. Insults are also
welcomed. And if you discover anything interesting scanning, be sure to let
me know.

                  Mark Tabas
                    $LOD$

This text was prepared in full by Mark
Tabas for:

K.A.O.S.
Philadelphia, PA.
[215-465-3593].

Technical acknowledgements:

Karl Marx, X-Man, High-Rise Joe, Telenet Bob, Lex Luthor, TUC, John Doe,
Doctor Who (413 area), The Tone Sweep, Mr. Silicon, K00L KAT, The Glump.

References:

1. Notes on the BOC Intra-LATA Networks
   Bell System publication, 1983.
2. Notes on the Network
   Bell System publication, 1983.
3. Engineering and Operations in the
   Bell System
   Bell System publication, 1983.
4. Notes on Distance Dialing
   Bell System publication, 1968.
5. Early Medieval Architecture.

(c) February 6, 1900         Mark Tabas Call 1-305-994-9966


HOW TO 'BLUE BOX' INTO 'RUSSIA'

    BY: MARK TABAS
    AS POST   .......ED ON THE GREEK INN BBS 312-774-2035

HELLO   ,
  LATELY, I HAVE BEEN QUESTIONED ABOUT THE SUBJECT OF BOXING INTO THE SOVIET
UNION.  WHILE I AM BY NO MEANS AN EXPERT IN THIS, I HAVE PICKED UP A FEW
THINGS.

  STANDARD DIALING TO RUSSIA WOULD BEGIN SOMETING LIKE THIS:

KP+011+007+ST   (FOR INT'L, SENDER)
KP+0+95+295+9051+ST   (FOR NUMBER)

  IF ALL WENT WELL, YOU WOULD BE ROUTED INTO RUSSIA AS AN OPERATOR-ASSISTED
CALL.  (BY THE WAY, THE NUMBER ABOVE IS THE KREMLIN).  HOWEVER, SINCE ALL IS
NOT WELL BETWEEN US AND THE SOVIETS, YOU WILL PROBABL Y GET A RECORDING.  THIS
WILL GO SOMETHING LIKE, "INTERNATIONAL DIRECT-DIAL SERVICE IS NO LONGER
AVAILABLE TO THE SOVIET UNION-..." OR, "DUE TO CIRCUT CONGESTION IN THE
COUNTRY YOU DIALED, YOUR CALL DID NOT COMPLETE..."
  THESE RECORDINGS, HOWEVER, LIE.    THEY ARE MERELY PLACED THERE TO DETER THE
BLUE BOXER.  HE HEARS THEM AND THEN, BELIEVING THEM, GIVES UP.
  SEE, THE LAST THI  NG THAT AT&T AND THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IN GENERAL NEED IS
A BUNCH OF 11-YEAR-OLD BLUE BOXERS CALLING  RUSSIA  AND  SAYING  SOMETHBING
LIKE:


"HA HA, YOU FORNICATING COMMY PINKOS,WE'RE GONNA BOMB THE HELL OUT OF YOU!"


  SO, THEY MAKE IT *VERY*  DIFFICULT TO BOX THE  CALL.  AS I SAID  BEFORE, THE
RECORDINGS THAT YOU GET ARE FAKES. WHEN NORMAL TSPS PLACE A CALL TO RUSSIA
(LEGALL  Y), THEY MUST CONTEND WITH THE SAME RECORDING, ONLY INTERNATIONAL HAS
THIS NEAT EQUIPMENT THAT KEEPS DIALING THE NUMBER OVER AN D OVER AND OVER
UNTIL THE CALL GOES THROUGH.  THIS NORMALLY TAKES A FEW HOURS.  IT WOULD TAKE
YOU A YEAR ON A BLUE BOX. THIS 4 IS WHY WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO PLACE A LEGAL
CALL TO THE U.S.S.R., IOCC (TSPS) WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE IS A 2-3 HOUR
DELAY.  OFTEN IT IS MORE THAN THAT, IF THEY HAVE A LINE OF CALLS.
  TO HAVE IOCC PLACE A CALL, ONE WOULD BOX KP+160+700+ST FOR RUSSIA.
THIS WILL GIVE YOU AN IOCC OPERATOR WHO ASKS FOR COUNTRY, CITY AND NUMBER, AND
A BILLING NUMBER (THINKING THAT YOU ARE TSPS YOURSV ELF).  THEN  THEY WANT A
CUSTOMER RINGBACK NUMBER (LOOP OR PAYFONE, IF YOU PLAN TO HANG AROUND FOR A
FEW HOURS OR SO).  HOWEVER, ON CALLS TO OTHER COUNTRIES, THEY WILL CONNECT YOU
DIRECTLY AND DO NOT REQUIRE RINGBACK.
 IOCC COUNTRY ROUTINGS ARE AS FOLLg OWS:
KP+011+XXX+ST, WHERE XXX IS THE COUNTRY CODE PADDED TO THE *RIGHT* WITH ZEROS.

  TO CONTINUE ABOUT IOCC ROUTINGS, THEOUNTRY CODE IS PADDED TO THE RIGHT WITH
ZEROS.  THUS, AUSTRALIA (COUNTRY CODE OF 61) WOULD BECOME 610, AND THE ROUTING
WOULD BEa  KP+160+610+ST.
  THIS MESSAGE HASN'T SAID MUCH SINCE I HAVEN'T TOLD HOW TO BOX A CALL TO
RUSSIA, I'VE JUST TALKED ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH CALLING THERE.  THAT'S
BECAUSE IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DO.  UNLESS YOU ARE VERY PATIENT AND FEEL
LIKE TRYING TO BOX IT ABOUT 5000 TIMES BEFORE YOU FINALLY GET THROUGH (IN
WHICH CASE IT WOULD BE BUSY ANYWAY) THEN YOU NEED THE HELP O F THE BELL SYSTEM
OR POSSIBLY SOME INFERIORS LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE IRON CURTAIN.
  TO PLACE A CALL TO RUSSIA, OTHER THAN GOINK G THROUGH IOCC, ONE MIGHT TRY TO
CONTACT SOME SORT OF INWARD SOMEWHERE, LIKE YUGOSLAVIA (KARL MARX'S
SUGGESTION), OR MAYBE EASL T GERMANY.  TO BEGIN WITH, CALL RATE & ROUTE FOR
THE IOTC ROUTING (SAY YOU ARE ON CORDBOARD) FOR INWARD IN YUGOSLAVIA.  SHE'LL
SAY SOMETHING LIKE "038 PLUS BLAH-BLAH-BLAH" SO YOU WOULD BOX KP+011+038+ST,
WAIT FOR INT'L TONE, THEN DIAL KP+0+38+BLAH BLAH   BLAH+121+ST.  THAT SHOULD
GET YOU INWARD, YUGOSLAVIA, WHO SPEAKS LITTLE OR NO ENGLISH AND IS AT BEST
UNPLEASANT TO DEAL WITH.

 THAT'S ALL I KNOW.  IF YOU HAVE A BETTER WAY (OR ANY WAY AT ALL) TO CALL
MOTHER RUSSIA, LET ME KNOW.

End.