582 lines
30 KiB
Plaintext
582 lines
30 KiB
Plaintext
Blue Boxing
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Part I
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To begin with, blue boxing is simply communicating with trunks. Trunks must
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not be confused with subscriber lines (or "customer loops") which are standard
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telefone lines. Trunks are those lines that connect central offices. Now, when
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trunks are not in use (i.e., idle or "on-hook" state) they have 2600Hz applied
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to them. If they are two-way trunks, there is 2600Hz in both directions. When a
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trunk IS in use (busy or "off-hook" state"), the 2600Hz is removed from the
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side that is off-hook. The 2600Hz is therefore known as a supervisory signal,
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because it indicates the status of a trunk; on hook (tone) or off-hook (no
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tone). Note also that 2600Hz denoted SF (single frequency) signalling and is
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"in-band." This is very important. "In-band" means that is is within the band
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of frequencies that may be transmitted over normal telefone lines. Other SF
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signals, such as 3700Hz are used also. However, they cannot be carried over the
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telefone network normally (they are "out-of- band") and are therefore not able
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to be taken advantage of as 2600Hz is.
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Back to trunks. Let's take a hypothetical phone call. You pick up your fone
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and dial 1+806-258-1234 (your good friend in Armarillo, Texas). For ease, we'll
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assume that you are on #5 Crossbar switching and not in the 806 area. Your
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central office (CO) would recognize that 806 is a foreign NPA, so it would
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route the call to the toll centre that serves you. [For the sake of accuracy
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here, and for the more experienced readers, note that the CO in question is a
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class 5 with LAMA that uses out-of-band SF supervisory signalling]. Depending
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on where you are in the country, the call would leave your toll centre (on more
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trunks) to another toll centre, or office of higher "rank". Then it would be
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routed to central office 806-258 eventually and the call would be completed.
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Illustration:
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A---CO1-------TC1------TC2----CO2----B
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A=you CO1=your central office
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TC1=your toll office.
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TC2=toll office in Amarillo.
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CO2=806-258 central office.
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B=your friend (806-258-1234)
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In this situation it would be realistic to say that CO2 uses SF in-band
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(2600Hz) signalling, while all the others use out-of-band signalling (3700Hz).
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If you don't understand this, don't worry too much. I am pointing this out
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merely for the sake of accuracy. The point is that while you are connected to
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806-258-1234, all those trunks from YOUR central office (CO1) to the 806-258
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central office (CO2) do *NOT* have 2600Hz on them, indicating to the Bell
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equipment that a call is in progress and the trunks are in use.
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Now let's say you're tired of talking to your friend in Amarillo
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(806-258-1234) so you send a 2600Hz down the line. This tone travels down the
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line to your friend's central office (CO2) where it is detected. However, that
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CO thinks that the 2600Hz is originating from Bell equipment, indicating to it
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that you've hung up, and thus the trunks are once again idle (with 2600Hz
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present on them). But actually, yot have not hung up, you have fooled the
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equipment at your friend's CO into thinking you have. Thus, it disconnects him
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and resets the equipment to prepare for the next call. All this happens very
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quickly (300-800ms for step-by-step equipment and 150-400ms for other
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equipment).
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When you stop sending 2600Hz (after about a second), the equipment thinks
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that another call is coming towards it (e.g. it thinks the far end has come
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"off-hook" since the tone has stopped. It could be thought of as a toggle
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switch: tone --> on hook, no tone -->off hook. Now that you've stopped sending
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2600Hz, several things happen:
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1) A trunk is seized.
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2) A "wink" is sent to the CALLING end from the CALLED end indicating that the
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CALLED end (trunk) is not ready to receive digits yet.
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3) A register is found and attached to the CALLED end of the trunk within about
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two seconds (max).
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4) A start-dial signal is sent to the CALLING end from the CALLED end
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indicating that the CALLED end is ready to receive digits.
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Now, all of this is pretty much transparent to the blue boxer. All he really
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hears when these four things happen is a <beep><kerchunk>. So, seizure of a
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trunk would go something like this:
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1> Send a 2600Hz
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2> Terminate 2600Hz after 1-2 secs.
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3> [beep][kerchunk]
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Once this happens, you are connected to a tandem that is ready to obey your
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every command. The next step is to send signalling information in order to
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place your call. For this you must simulate the signalling used by operators
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and automatic toll-dialing equipment for use on trunks. There are mainly two
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systems, DP and MF. However, DP went out with the dinosaur, so I'll only
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discuss MF signalling. MF (multi-frequency) signalling is the signalling used
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by the majority of the inter- and intra-lata network. It is also used in
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international dialing known as the CCITT no.5 system.
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MF signalling consists of 7 frequencies, beginning with 700Hz and separated
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by 200Hz. A different set of two of the 7 frequencies represent the digits 0
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thru 9, plus an additional 5 special keys. The frequencies and uses are as
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follows:
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Frequencies (Hz) Domestic Int'l
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--------------------------------------
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700+900 1 1
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700+1100 2 2
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900+1100 3 3
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700+1300 4 4
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900+1300 5 5
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1100+1300 6 6
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700+1500 7 7
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900+1500 8 8
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1100+1500 9 9
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1300+1500 0 0
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700+1700 ST3p Code 11
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900+1700 STp Code 12
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1100+1700 KP KP1
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1300+1700 ST2p KP2
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1500+1700 ST ST
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The timing of all the MF signals is a nominal 60ms, except for KP, which
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should have a duration of 100ms. There should also be a 60ms silent period
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between digits. This is very flexible, however, and most Bell equipment will
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accept outrageous timings.
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In addition to the standard uses listed above, MF pulsing also has expanded
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usages known as "expanded inband signalling" that include such things as coin
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collect, coin return, ringback, operator attached, and operator released. KP2,
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code 11, and code 12 and the ST_ps (STart "primes") all have special uses which
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will be mentioned only briefly here.
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To complete a call using a blue box, once seizure of a trunk has been
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accomplished by sending 2600Hz and pausing for the <beep><kerchunk>, one must
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first send a KP. This readies the register for the digits that follow. For a
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standard domestic call, the KP would be followed by either 7 digits (if the
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call were in the same NPA as the seized trunk) or 10 digits (if the call were
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not in the same NPA as the seized trunk). [Exactly like dialing a normal fone
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call]. Following either the KP and 7 or 10 digits, a STart is sent to signify
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thap no more digits follow. Example of a complete call:
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1> Dial 1-806-258-1234
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2> wait for a call-progress indication (such as ring, busy, recording, etc.)
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3> Send 2600Hz for about 1 second.
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4> Wait for about 2 seconds while a trunk is seized.
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5> Send KP+305+994+9966+ST
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The call will then connect if everything was done properly. Note that if a
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call to an 806 number were being placed in the same situation, the area code
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would be omitted and only KP+seven digits+ST would be sent.
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Code 11 and code 12 are used in international calling to request certain
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types of operators. KP2 is used in international calling to route a call other
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than by way of the normal route, whether for economic or equipment reasons.
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STp, ST2p, and ST3p (prime, two prime, and three prime) are used in TSPS
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signalling to indicate calling type of call (such as coin-direct dialed).
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This has been Part I of Better Homes and Blue Boxing. I hope you enjoyed and
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learned from it. If you have any questions, comments, threats or insults,
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please fell free to drop me a line. If you have noticed any errors in this text
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(yes, it does happen), please let me know and perhaps a correction will be in
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order. Part II will deal mainly with more advanced principles of blue boxing,
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as well as routings and operators.
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Note 1: other highly trunkable areas include: 816,305,813,609,205. I
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personally have excellent luck boxing off of 609-953-0000. Try that if you have
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any trouble.
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Part II
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The dssential purpose of blue boxing in the beginning was merely to receive
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toll services free of charge. Though this can still be done, blue boxing has
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essentially outlived its usefulness in this area. Modern day "extenders" and
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long distance services provide a safer and easier way to make free fone calls.
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However, you can do things with a blue box that just can't be done with
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anything else. For ordinary toll-fraud, a blue box is impractical for the
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following reasons:
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1. Clumsy equipment required (blue box or equivalent)
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2. Most boxed calls must be made through an extender. Not for safety reasons,
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but for reasons I'll explain later.
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3. Connections are often sacrificed because considerable distances must be
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dialed to cross a seizable trunk, in addition to awkward routing.
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As stated in reason #2, boxed calls are usually made through an extender.
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This is for billing reasons. If you recall from Part I, 2600Hz is used as a
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"supervisory" signal. That is, it signals the status of a trunk-- "on-hook" or
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"off-hook." When you seize a trunk (by briefly sending 2600Hz), your end (the
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CALLING end) goes on hook for the duration of the 2600Hz and then goes off-hook
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once again when the 2600Hz is terminated. The CALLED end recognizes that a call
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is on the way and attaches a register, which inerprets the digits which are to
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be sent. Now, understand that even though your end has come off-hook (no 2600Hz
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present), thE other end is still on-hook. You may wonder then, why, if the
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other end (the CALLED end) is still on-hook, there is no 2600Hz coming the
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other way on the trunk, when there should be. This is correct. 2600Hz *IS*
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present on the trunk when you seize it and afterwards, but you cannot hear it
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because of a Band Elimination Filter (BEF) at your central office.
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Back to the problem. Remember that when you seize a trunk, 2600Hz is indeed
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coming the other way on the trunk because the CALLED end is still on-hook, but
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you don't actually hear it because of a filter. However, the Bell equipment
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knows it's there (they can "hear" it). The presence of the 2600Hz is telling
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the billing equipment that your call has not yet been completed (i.e., the
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CALLED end is still on-hook). When finally you do connect with your boxed call,
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the 2600Hz from the called end terminates. This tells the billing equipment
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that someone picked up the fone at the CALLED end and you should begin to be
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billed. So you do start to get billed, but for the call to the trunk, NOT the
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boxed call. Your billing equipment thinks that you've connected with the number
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you used to seize the trunk.
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Illustration:
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1. You call 1+806-258-2222 (directly)
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2. Status of trunks:
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<----------------------------------->
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(You) 806-258-2222
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No 2600Hz-------> <------------2600Hz
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When you seize a trunk (before the number you called answers) there is no
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affect on your billing equipment. It simply thinks that you're still waiting
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for the call to complete (the CALLED end is still on-hook; it is ringing, busy,
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going to recorder or intercept operator).
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Now, let's say that you've seized a trunk (806-258-2222) and for example,
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KP+314+949+1705+ST. The call is routed from the tandem you seized to:
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314-949-1705.
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Illustration:
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<------------------>O<--------------->
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(You) 806 314-949
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tandem
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No 2600Hz----------> <----------2600Hz
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Note that the entire path tovards the right (the CALLED end) has no 2600Hz
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present and is therefore "off-hook." The entire path towards the left (the
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CALLING end) does have 2600Hz present on it, indicating that the CALLED end has
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not picked up (or come "off-hook"). When 314-949-1705 answers, "answer
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supervision" is givelthe 2600Hz towards the left (the CALLING end)
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terminates. This tells your billhng equipment, which thinks that you're still
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waiting to be connected with 806-258-2222, that you've finally connected
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Billing then begins to 806-258-2222. Not exactly an auspicious beginning for an
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aspiring young phone phreak.
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To avoid this, several actions may be taken. As previously mentioned, one may
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avoid being charged for the number called to seize a trunk by using an extender
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(in which case the extender will get billed). In some areas, b%9may be
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accomplished using an 800 number, generally in the format of 800-858-xxxx (many
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Amarillo numbers) or 800-NN2-xxxx (special intra-statE class in-WATS numbers).
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However, boxing off of 800 numbers s=MM% 1in many areas. In my area,
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Denver, I am served by #1A ESS and it is impossible for me to box off of any
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800 number.
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Years ago, in the early days of blue boxing (before my time), phreaks often
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used directory assistance to box off of because they were "free" long distance
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calls. However, because of competetive long distance companies, directory
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assistance surcharges are now $0.50 in many areas. It is additionally advised
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that directory assistance numbers not be used to box from because of the
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following:
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Average DA calls last under 2 minutes. When you box a call, chances are that
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it will last considerably longer. Thus, the Bell billing equipment will make a
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note of calls to directory assistance that last a long time. A call to a
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directory assistant lasting for 4 hours and 17 minutes may appear somewhat
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suspicious.
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Although the date, time, and length of a DA call do not appear on the bill,
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it is recorded on AMA tape and will trip a trouble report if it were to last
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too long. This is how most phreaks were discovered in the old days. Also,
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sometimes too many calls lasting too long to one 800 number may raise a few
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eyebrows at the local security office.
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Assuming you can complete a blue box call, the following are listed routings
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for various Bell internal operators. These are in the format of KP+NPA+special
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routing+1X1+ST, which I will explain later. The 1X1 is the actual operator
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routing, and NPA and NPA+special routing are used for out-of-area code calls
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and out-of-area code calls requiring special routing, respectively.
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KP+101+ST ...... toll test board
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KP+121+ST ...... inward op
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KP+131+ST ...... directory assistance
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KP+141+ST ...... was rate & route. Now only works in 312,815, 717, and a few
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others. It has been replaced with a universal rate & route number,
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800+141+1212.
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KP+151+ST ...... overseas completiozAIQ=I(inbound). Works only in certain
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NPAs, such as 303.
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KP+181+ST ...... in some areas, toll station for small towns.
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Thus, if you seize a trunk in 806 NPA and wanted an inward (in 806), then you
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would dial KP+121+ST. If you wanted a 312 inward and were dialing on an 806
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trunk, an area code would be required. Thus, you would dial KP+312+121+ST.
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Finally, some places in the network require special routing, in addition to an
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area code. An example is Franklin Park, Ill. It requires a special routing of
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032. For this, yoa1dial KP+312+032+121+ST for a Franklin Park inward
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operator.
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Special routings are in the format of 0XX. They are used primarily for load
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balance, so that traffic flow may be evenly distributed. About half of the
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exchanges in the network require special routing. Note that special routings
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are NEVER EVER EVER used to dial normal telephone numbers, only operators.
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Operator functions:
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TOLL TEST BOARD- Generally a cordboard position that assists in trunk testing.
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They are not used by operators, only switchmen.
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INWARD- Assists the normal TSPS (0+) operator in completing calls out of the
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TSPS's area. Also, inwards perform emergency inerrupts when the number to be
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interrupted is out of the area code of the original (TSPS) operator. For
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example, a 303 operator has a customer that needs an emergency interrupt on
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215-647-6969. The 303 operator gets the routing for the inward that covers
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215-647, since she cannot do the interrupt herself. The routing is found to be
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only 215+ (no special routing required). So, the 303 operator keys
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KP+215+121+ST. An inward answers and the 303 says to her, "Inward, this is
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Denver. I need an emergency interrupt on 215-647-6969. My customer's name is
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Mark Tabas." The inward will then do the interrupt (off the line, of course).
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If the number to be interrupted had required special routing, such as, say,
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312-456-1234 (spec routing 032), then the 303 operator would dial
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KP+312+032+121+ST for the inward to do that interrupt.
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DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE- These are the normal NPA+555+1212 operators that assist
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customers with obtaining telefone directory listings. Not much toll-fraud
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potential here, except maybe $0.50.
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RATE AND ROUTE- These operators are reached by dialing KP+800+141+1212+ST. They
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assist normal (TSPS) operators with rates and routings (thus the name). The
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only uses I typically have for them are the following:
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1. Routing information. In the above example, when the 303 operator needed to
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dial an inward that served 215-647, she needed to know if any special routing
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was required and, if so, what it was. Assuming she would use rate and route,
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she would dial them and say nicely, "Operator's route, please, for 215-647."
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Rate & route would respond with "215 plus." This means that the operator would
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dial KP+215+121+ST to reach the inward that serves 215-647. If there were
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special routing required, such as in 312-456, rate & route would respond with
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"312 plus 032 plus." In that case, the operator would dial KP+312+032+ST for
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the inward that serves 312-456.
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It is good practice to ask for "operator's route" specifically, as there are
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also "numbers route" and "directory routes." If you do not specifically ask for
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operator's route, rate & route will generally assume that is what you want
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anyway.
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"Numbers" route refers to overseas calls. Example, you want to know how to
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reach a number in Geneva, Switzerland (and you already have the number). You
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would call routing and say "Numbers route, please, Geneva, Switzerland." The
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operator would respond with:
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"Mark 41+22. 011+041+ST (plus) 041+22". The "Mark 41+22" has to do with
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billing, so disregard it. The 011+041 is access to the overseas gateway (to be
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discussed in Part iii) and the 041+ 22+ is the routing for Geneva from the
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overseas sender.
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"Directory" routings are for directory assistance overseas. Example:
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You want a DA in Rome, Italy. You would call rate & route and say, "Directory
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routing please, for Rome, Italy." They would respond with "011+039+ST (plus)
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039+1108 STart." As in the previous example, the 011+039 is access to the
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overseas gateway. The 039+1108 is a directory assistant in Rome.
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2. Nameplace information. Rate & Route will give you the location of an NPA+
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exchange. Example: "Nameplace please, for 215-648." The operator would respond
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with "Paoli, Pennsylvania." This isn't especially useful, since you can get the
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same information (legally) by dialing 0, but using rate & route is often much
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faster and it avoids having to hang up when you are already on a trunk.
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*NOTE on Rate & Route: As a blue boxer, always ask for "IOTC" routings. (e.g.,
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"IOTC operator's route", "IOTC numbers route", etc.) This tells them that you
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want cordboard-type routings, not TSPS, because a blue boxer is actually just a
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cordboard position (that Bell doesn't know about).
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OVERSEAS COMPLETION OPERATOR (inbound)- These operators (KP+151+ST) assist in
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the completion of calls coming in to the United States from overseas. There are
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KP+151+ST operators only in a few NPAs in the country (namely 303). To use one,
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you would seize a trunk and dial KP+303+151+ST. Then you would tell the
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operator, for example, "This is Bangladesh calling. I need U.S. number
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215-561-0562 please." [in a broken Indian accent]. She would connect you, and
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the bill would be sent to Bangladesh (where I've been billing my KP+151+ST
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calls for two years).
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Other internal Bell Operators.
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KP+11501+ST ...... universal operator
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KP+11511+ST ...... conference op
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KP+11521+ST ...... mobile op
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KP+11531+ST ...... marine op
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KP+11541+ST ...6distance terminal
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KP+11551+ST ...... time & charges op
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KP+11561+ST ...... hotel/motel op
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KP+11571+ST ...... overseas (outbound) op
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These 115X1 operators are identical in routing to the 1X1 operators listed
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previously, with one exception. If special routing is required (0XX), then the
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trailing 1 is left off.
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Examples:
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A 312 universal op ... KP+312+11501+ST
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A Franklin Park (312-456) universal op (special routing 032 required)....
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................... KP+312+032+1150+ST
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[The trailing 1 of 11501 is left off].
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Purposes of 115X1 operators.
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UNIVERSAL- Used for collect/callback calls to coin stations.
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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 overseas
|
||
points. Only works in some, if any NPAs, because overseas assistance has been
|
||
centralized 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 cordbord 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.
|
||
|
||
|
||
Part III
|
||
|
||
|
||
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 automatically, 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 international 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 operator 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 11229". So, dial your over-
|
||
seas gateway, KP+011+038+ST, wait for sender 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+0020000+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+padded
|
||
country code+ST will not work. I have found this in many 3-digit country codes.
|
||
Luxembourg, 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). Some 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 seize 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 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 Inter-office 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. |