247 lines
12 KiB
Plaintext
247 lines
12 KiB
Plaintext
*******************************************************************************
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BRIDGING HEADS, RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESS MULTILINE DISTRIBUTION BOXES, LINE AND
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TRUNK SPLITTERS, AND OTHER BELL SYSTEM WIRE TERMINATIONS.
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- HOW TO USE, AND/OR ABUSE THEM -
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(INCLUDING A TUTORIAL ON BASIC TELEPHONE EAVESDROPPING TECHNIQUES.)
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***************************************
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WRITTEN BY : AGENT 07/29/84
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04
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***************************************
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IN THIS ARTICLE, I WILL FIRST DESCRIBE THE TERMINATION, WIRING, AND TERMINAL
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HARDWARE MOST COMMONLY USED IN THE BELL SYSTEM, AND I WILL INCLUDE A SECTION ON
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METHODS OF USING THEM.
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***************************************
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-------------
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LOCAL NETWORK
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-------------
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THE LOCAL TELEPHONE NETWORK BETWEEN THE CENTRAL OFFICE/EXCHANGE AND THE
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TELEPHONE SUBSCRIBERS CAN BE BREIFLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:
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FROM THE CENTRAL OFFICE (OR LOCAL EXCHANGE) OF A CERTAIN PREFIX (ES),
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UNDERGROUND AREA TRUNKS GO TO EACH AREA THAT HAS THAT PREFIX. (USU- ALLY MORE
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THAN ONE PREFIX PER AREA) AT EVERY FEW STREETS OR TRACT AREAS, THE UNDERGROUND
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CABLES SURFACE. THEY THEN GO TO THE TELEPHONE POLE (OR BACK UNDERGROUND,
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DEPENDING ON THE AREA) AND THEN TO THE SUBSRIBERS HOUSE (OR IN THE CASE OF AN
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APARTMENT BUILDING OR MUTLILINE BUSINESS, TO A SPLITTER OR DISTRIBUTION
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BOX/PANEL).
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***************************************
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NOW THAT WE HAVE THE BASICS, I'LL TRY AND GO IN-DEPTH ON THE SUBJECT.
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UNDERGROUND CABLES
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------------------
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THESE ARE SOMETIMES INTEROFFICE TRUNKS, BUT USUALLY IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA
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THEY ARE TRUNK LINES THAT GO OTO BRIDGING HEADS OR DISTRIBUTION CASES. THE
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CABLES ARE ABOUT 2-3 INCHES THICK (VARIES), AND ARE EITHER IN A METAL OR
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PVC-TYPE PIPE (OR SIMILAR). RARELY (MAYBE NOT IN SOME REMOTE RURAL AREAS) ARE
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THE CABLES JUST 'ALONE' IN THE GROUND. INSTEAD, THEY ARE USUALLY IN AN
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UNDERGROUND CEMENT TUNNEL (RESEMBLES A SMALL SEWER OR STORMDRAIN) . THE
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MANHOLES ARE >HEAVY< AND WILL SAY 'BELL SYSTEM' ON THEM. THEY CAN BE OPENED
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WITH A 1/2 INCH WIDE CROWBAR (HOOK SIDE) INSERTED IN THE TOP RECTANGULAR HOLE.
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IF YOU GET IT OPEN, GO INSIDE!! THERE ARE LADDER RUNGS TO HELP YOU CLIMB DOWN.
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YOU WILL SEE THE CABLE PIPES ON THE WALL, WITH THE BLUE AND WHITE STRIPED ONE
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BEING THE INTEROFFICE TRUNK (AT LEAST IN MY AREA). THE OTHERS ARE LOCAL LINES,
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AND ARE USUALLY MARKED OR COLOR CODED. THERE IS ALMOST ALWAYS A POSTED COLOR
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CODE CHART ON THE WALL, NOT TO MENTION TELCO MANUALS DESCRIBING THE CABLES AND
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TERMINALS, SO I NEED NOT GET INTO DETAIL. AGAIN: >IF YOU CAN GET INTO A BELL
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MANHOLE, DO IT!, IT WILL PAY OFF <. ALSO, THERE IS USUALLY SOME KIND OF TEST
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EQUIPMENT, AND OFTEN BELL TEST SETS ARE LEFT IN THERE. SO GET YOUR CROWBARS!
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***************************************
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--------------
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BRIDGING HEADS
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THE INNOCENT-LOOKING GRAYISH-GREEN BOXES. THESE CAN BE EITHER TRUNK BRIDGES
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OR BRIDGING FOR RESIDEN CES. THE MAJOR TRUNK BRIDGING HEADS ARE USUALLY
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LARGER, AND THEY HAVE THE 'WESTERN ELECTRIC' LOGO AT THE BOTTOM, WHEREAS THE
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NORMAL BRIDGING HEADS (WHICH MAY BE DIFFERENT IN SOME AREAS DEPENDING ON THE
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COMPANY YOU ARE SERVED BY. GTE B.H.'S LOOK SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. ALSO, DO NOT
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BE FOOLED BY SPRINKLER BOXES!) CAN BE FOUND IN JUST ABOUT EVERY CITY.
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TO OPEN A BRIDGING HEAD: IF IT IS LOCKED (AND YOU'RE FEELING DESTRUCTIVE),
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PUT A HAMMER OR CROWBAR (THE SAME ONE YOU USED ON THE MANHOLE ) IN THE SLOT
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ABOVE THE TOP HINGE OF THE RIGHT DOOR. PULL HARD, AND THE DORR WILL RIP OFF.
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VERY EFFECTIVE!
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IF IT ISN'T LOCKED (AS USUAL), TAKE A 7/16 INCH HEX SOCKET AND WITH IT, TURN
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THE BOLT ABOUT 1/8 OF A TURN TO THE RIGHT (YOU SHOULD HEAR A SPRING RELEASE
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INSIDE). HOLDING THE BOLT, TURN THE HANDLE ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT AND PULL
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OUT.
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NOW INSIDE, FIRST CHECK FOR A TEST-SET (WHICH ARE OFTEN LEFT BY BELL
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EMPLOYEES). THERE SHOULD BE A PANEL OF TERMINALS AND WIRES. PUSH THE PANEL
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BACK ABOUT AN INCH OR SO, AND ROTATE THE TOP LATCH (ROUND WITH A FLAT SECTION)
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DOWNWARD. RELEASE THE PANEL AND IT WILL FALL ALL THE WAY FORWARD. THERE IS
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USUALLY A LARGE AMOUNT OF WIRE AND EXTRA TERMINALS. THE TEST-SETS ARE OFTEN
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HIDDEN HERE, SO DONT OVERLOOK IT (MANUALS, AS WELL, ARE SOMETIMES PLACED IN THE
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HEAD) . ON THE RIGHT DOOR IS A METAL BOX OF ALLIGATOR CLIPS. TAKE A FEW
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(COMPLIMEN- TS OF BELL...). ON EACH DOOR IS A USEFUL LITTLE ROUND METAL
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DEVICE. (SAYS 'INSERT GENTLY' OR 'CLAMP GENTLY-DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN' ETC..) ON
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THE FRONT OF THE DISC, YOU SHOULD FIND TWO TERMINALS. THESE ARE FOR YOUR TEST
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SET. (IF YOU DONT HAVE ONE, DONT DEPAIR-I'LL SHOW YOU WAYS TO MAKE BASIC
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TEST SETS LATER IN THIS ARTICLE). HOOKING THE RING (-) WIRE TO THE 'R'
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TERMINAL; AND THE TIP (+) WIRE TO THE OTHER. (BY THE WAY, AN EASY WAY TO
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DETERMINE THE CORRECT POLARITY IS WITH A 1.5V LED. TAP IT TO THE TERM. PAIR,
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IF I DOESNT LIGHT, SWITCH THE POLES UNTIL IT DOES. WHEN IT LIGHTS, FIND THE
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LONGER OF THE TWO LED POLES. THIS ONE WILL BE ON THE TIP WIRE (+)) BEHIND THE
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DISC IS A COILED UP CORD. THIS SHOULD HAVE TWO ALLIGATOR CLIPS ON IT..ITS VERY
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USEFUL, BECAUSE YOU DONT HAVE TO KEEP CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING THE FONE
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(TEST SET) ITSELF, AND THE CLIPS WORK NICELY.
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ON THE TERMINAL BOARD, THERE SHOULD BE ABOUT 10 SCREW TERMINALS PER SIDE.
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FOLLOW THE WIRES, AND YOU CAN SEE WHICH CABLE PAIRS ARE ACTIVE. HOOK THE CLIPS
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TO THE TERMINAL PAIR , AND YOU'RE SET! DIAL OUT IF YOU WANT, OR JUST LISTEN
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(IF SOMEONE'S ON THE LINE). LATER, I'LL SHOW YOU A WAY TO SET UP A TRUE 'TAP'
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THAT YOU CAN SET UP, AND WILL LET THE PERSON DIAL OUT ON HIS LINE AND RECEIVE
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CALLS AS NORMAL, AND YOU CAN LISTEN IN THE WHOLE TIME. MORE ABOUT THIS
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LATER...
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ON MAJOR PREFIX-AREA BRIDGING HEADS, YOU CAN SEE 'LOCAL LOOPS', WHICH ARE TWO
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CABLE PAIRS (CABLE PAIR = RING+TIP, A FONE LINE) THAT ARE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO
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EACH OTHER ON THE TERMINAL BOARD. THESE 'CHEAP LOOPS' AS THEY ARE CALLED, DO
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NOT WORK NEARLY AS WELL AS THE EXISTING ONES SET UP IN THE SWITCHING HARDWARE
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AT THE EXCHANGE OFFICE. (TRY SCANNING YOUR PREFIXES' 00XX OR 99XX #'S. THE
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TONE SIDES WILL ANNOUNCE THEMSELVES WITH THE 1000 HZ LOOP TONE, AND THE HANG
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SIDE WILL GIVE NO RESPONSE. THE FIRST PERSON SHOULD DIAL THE 'HANG' SIDE, AND
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THE OTHER PERSON DIAL THE TONE SIDE, AND THE TONE SHOULD STOP IF YOU HAVE GOT
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THE RIGHT LOOP)
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IF YOU WANT TO FIND THE NUMBER OF THE LINE THAT YOU'RE ON, YOU CAN EITHER TRY
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TO DECIPHER THE 'BRIDGING LOG' (OR WHATEVER), WHICH IS ON THE LEFT DOOR. IF
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THAT DOESNT WORK, YOU CAN USE THE FOLLWING:
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---
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ANI # (AUTOMATIC NUMBER INDENTICATION)
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---
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THIS IS A TELCO TEST NUMBER THAT REPORTS TO YOU THE NUMBER THAT YOURE CALLING
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FROM (IT'S THE SAME, CHOPPY 'BELL BITCH' VOICE THAT YOU GET WHEN YOU REACH A
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DISCONNECTED #)
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FOR THE 213 NPA - DIAL 1223
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408 NPA - DIAL 760
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914 NPA - DIAL 990
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THESE ARE EXTREMELY USEFUL WHEN MESSING WITH ANY KIND OF LINE TERMINALS,
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HOUSE BOXES, ETC.
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NOW THAT WE HAVE BRIDGING HEADS WIRED, WE CAN GO ON... (DONT FORGET TO CLOSE
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AND LATCH THE BOX AFTER..WOULDNT WANT TO GET AND TELCO PEOPLE MAD, NOW, WOULD
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WE?)
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***************************************
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------
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"CANS" - TELEPHONE POLE DISTRIBUTION
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------ BOXES
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BASICALLY, TWO TYPES:
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BASICALLY, TWO TYPES:
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1> LARGE, RECTANGULAR SILVER BOX AT THE END OF EACH STREET.
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2> BLACK, ROUND OR RECTANGULAR THING AT EVERY TELEPHONE POLE.
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TYPE 1 - THIS IS THE CASE THAT TAKES THE UNDERGROUND CABLE FROM THE BRIDGER
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AND RUNS IT TO THE TELEPHONE POLE CABLE (THE LOWEST, LARGEST WIRE ON THE
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TELEPHONE POLE). THE BOX IS ALWAYS ON THE POLE NEAREST THE BRIGING HEAD, WHERE
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THE LINE COMES UP. LOOK FOR THE 'CALL BEFORE YOU DIG-UNDERGROUND CABLE'
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STICKERS..
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THE CASE BOX IS HINGED, SO IF YOU WANT TO CLIMB THE POLE, YOU CAN OPEN IT
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WITH NO PROBLEMS. THESE USUALLY HAVE 2 ROWS OF TERMINAL SETS. THESE ARE ALL
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THE CABLE PAIRS FOR YOUR STREET . (ITS SIMILAR TO A MINIATURE BRIDGING HEAD).
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USE/ABUSE IT IN THE SAME MANNER AS WE DID BEFORE. (NOTE: ALL THE ACTIVE LINES
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CARRY FROM 15 TO 48 VDC, AND EVEN 90VAC (WHEN RINGING), SO BE CAREFUL - IT'S
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NOT VERY WISE TO TOUCH AN OPEN WIRE WITH ONE HAND ON A CONDUCTING THING AND A
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HAND FROM A TEL. POLE, IT >CAN< BE HARMFUL!)) OH, BY THE WAY, IF YOU USE ANI
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ON EVERY PAIR AND YOU FIND ONE THAT ISNT IN USE ON YOUR STREET, YOU CAN HOOK IT
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UP FOR YOURSELF (ALMOST). ALSO, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO IMPER- SONATE A TELCO
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TECHNICIAN AND REPORT THE NUMBER AS 'NEW ACTIVE' (GIVING A FAKE NAME AND FAKE
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REPORT, ETC) I DONT RECOMMEND THIS AND IT PROBABLY WONT (ALMOST POSITIVELY
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WONT) WORK, BUT THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT TELCO LINEMEN DO).
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TYPE 2 - THIS IS THE SPLITTER BOX FOR THE GROUP OF HOUSES AROUND THE POLE.
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(USUALLY 4 OR 5 HOUSES). USE IT LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE. THE TERMINALS (8 OR
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SO) WILL BE IN 2 HORIZONTAL ROWS OF SETS. THE EXTRA WIRES THAT ARE JUST
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'HANGING THERE' ARE PROVISIONS FOR EXTRA LINES TO RESIDENCES (1 EXTRA LINE PER
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HOUSE, THATS WHY THE INSANE CHARGE FOR LINE #3!) IF ITS THE BOX FOR YOUR HOUSE
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ALSO, HAVE FUN AND SWAP LINES WITH YOUR NEIGHBOR! 'PIGGYBACK' THEM AND WREAK
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HAVOC ON THE NEIGHBORH OOD (IT'S EAVESDROPPING TIME...) AGAIN, I DONT RECOMMEND
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THIS, AND ITS DIFFICULT TO DO IT CORRECTLY. MOVING RIGHT ALONG..
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***************************************
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------------------------------
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APARTMENT / BUSINESS MULTILINE
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DISTRIBUTION BOXES
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------------------------------
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FOUND OUTSIDE THE BULIDING (MOST OFTEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE, BUT NOT
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ALWAYS..JUST FOLLOW THE WIRE FROM THE TELEPHONE POLE) OR IN THE BASEMENT. IT
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HAS THE TERMINALS FOR ALL THE LINES IN THE BUILDING. USE IT JUST LIKE ANY
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OTHER TERMINATION BOX AS BEFORE. USUALLY SAYS 'BELL SYSTEM' OR SIMILAR. HAS
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UP TO 20 TERMINALS ON IT (USUALLY) THE MIDDLE ONES ARE GROUNDS (FORGET THESE).
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THE WIRES COME FROM THE CABLE TO ONE ROW (USUALLY THE LEFT ONE) , WITH THE
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OTHER ROW OF TERMINALS FOR THE BUILDING FONE WIRE PAIRS. THE RING (-) WIRE IS
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USUALLY THE TOP TERM INAL IF THE SET IN THE ROW (1 OF 10 OR MORE), AND THE TIP
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IS IN THE CLAMP/ SCREW BELOW IT. THIS CAN BE REVERSED, BUT THE CABLE PAIR IS
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ALWAYS TERMINATED ONE-ON-TOP-OF-EACH-OTHER, NOT ON THE ONE NEXT TO IT. (IM NOT
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SURE WHY THE OTHER ONE IS THERE, PROBABLY AS A PROVISION FOR EXTRA LINES) DONT
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USE IT THOUGH, IT IS USUALLY TO CLOSE TO THE OTHER TERMINALS, AND IN MY
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EXPERIENCES YOU GET A NOISY CONNECTION.
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FINAL NOTE: ALMOST EVERY APARTMENT, BUSINESS, HOTEL, OR ANYWHERE THERE IS
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MORE THAN 2 LINES THIS TERMINATION METHOD IS USED. IF YOU CAN MASTER THIS
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TYPE, YOU CAN BE IN CONTROL OF MANY THINGS... LOOK AROUND IN YOUR AREA FOR A
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BUILDING THAT USES THIS TYPE, AND PRACTICE HOOKING UP TO THE LINE, ETC.
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AS AN ADDED HELP, HERE IS THE BASIC 'STANDARD' COLOR-CODE FOR MULTILINE
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TERMINALS/WIRING/ETC...
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SINGLE LINE: RED = RING
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GREEN = TIP
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YELLOW = GROUND (CONNECTED TO L1 RINGER COIL IN INDIVIDUAL AND
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BRIDGED RINGER PHONES (BELL ONLY)) USUALLY CONNECTED TO THE
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GREEN (TIP)
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RING (-) = RED
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WHITE/RED STRIPE
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BROWN
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WHITE/ORANGE STRIPE
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BLACK/YELLOW STRIPE
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TIP (+) = GREEN (SOMETIMES YELLOW, SEE ABOVE ^)
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WHITE/GREEN STRIPE
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WHITE/BLUE STRIPE
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BLUE
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BLACK/WHITE STRIPE
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GROUND = BLACK
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YELLOW
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***************************************
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----------------------
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RESIDENCE TERMINAL BOX
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----------------------
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SMALL, GRAY (CAN BE EITHER A RUBBER (PACIFIC TELEPHONE) OR HARD PLASTIC (AT &
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T) HOUSING) DEAL THAT CONNECTS THE CABLE PAIR FROM THE SPLITTER BOX (SEE TYPE
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2, ABOVE) ON THE POLE TO YOUR HOUSE WIRING. ONLY 2 (OR 4, THE 2 TOP TERMINALS
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ARE HOOKED IN PARALLEL WITH THE SAME LINE) TERMINALS , AND IS VERY EASY TO USE.
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THIS CAN BE USED TO ADD MORE LINES TO YOUR HOUSE OR ADD AN EXTERNAL LINE
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OUTSIDE THE HOUSE.
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***************************************
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WELL, NOW YOU CAN CONSIDER YOURSELF A MINOR EXPERT ON THE TERMINALS AND
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WIRING OF THE LOCAL TELEPHONE NETWORK. NOW YOU CAN APPLY IT TO WHATEVER YOU
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WANT TO DO..
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I HOPE THE ARTICLE WAS INFORMATIVE. BE LOOKING FOR 'INVADING THE BELL SYSTEM
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- PART II'
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***************************************
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