"Frequently Asked Questions About Red Boxing v.001"
by Mr. Sandman (an132432@anon.penet.fi)
3/01/95
-={Contents}=-
I. What is a Red Box?
II. How do I Build a Red Box?
a) The Radio Shack Tone Dialer Red Box
b) The Hallmark Recordable Card Red Box
III. How much does a Red Box Cost?
a) The Cost to Construct a Red Box
b) The Cost to Purchase a Red Box
IV. Is any Type of Red Box Better than Another?
V. How do I use a Red Box?
a) Local Calls
b) Non-Local and Long Distance Calls
c) International Calls
VI. What are the Chances of Getting Caught Red Boxing?
VII. My Red Box does not Work from some Pay Phones. Why not?
a) COCOT Phones
b) Digital Pay Phones
VIII. Credits
IX. Conclusion
X. UUENCODEd Files
I. What Is a Red Box?
A Red Box is an electronic device that produces the tones which tell a pay
phone that money has been inserted. Depending upon the type of Red Box, it is
possible for a Red Box to generate the tones for a nickel, dime, and quarter.
Each coin is recognized by producing the 1700+2200mhz tones in different
patterns. In a nutshell, a Red Box is a device that allows you to make free
telephone calls by tricking the phone into thinking money has been deposited.
II. How do I Build a Red Box?
The construction of a Red Box is not too hard. There are basically two
different types of Red Boxes people are using today which are either Radio Shack
Tone Dialer Red Boxes or Hallmark Recordable Card Red Boxes. This file will
tell you how to construct both.
a) The Radio Shack Tone Dialer Red Box
* A very simple modification to Radio Shack pocket tone dialer part #43-
141 ($24.95) can make it into a red box. The modification consists of
changing the crystal frequency used to generate the microprocessor's
timing. To make this modification you will need a Phillips screwdriver, a
flat head screwdriver, a soldering iron, a pair of long nose pliers, a
pair of wire cutters and a 6.5536 MHz (megahertz) crystal.
Orient the dialer with the keypad down and the speaker at the top.
Remove the battery compartment cover (and any batteries) to expose two
screws. Remove these two screws and the two on the top of the dialer near
the speaker. There are four plastic clips that are now holding the two
halves of the dialer together. Push on the two bottom clips near the
battery compartment and pull up to separate the bottom part. Now slide a
flat screwdriver into the seam on the left starting from the bottom and
moving towards the top. (You may have to do this on the right side as
well.)
When the two halves separate, slide the speaker half underneath the
other half while being careful not to break the wires connecting the two.
Locate the cylindrical metallic can (it's about half an inch long and an
eighth of an inch in diameter) and pull it away from the circuit board to
break the glue that holds it in place. Unsolder this can, which is a
3.579545 MHz crystal, from the circuit board.
The hard part of this modification is getting the new crystal to fit
properly. Bend the three disk capacitors over,[And out of the way the best
you can, making room for the new crystal. You may need to remove the screw
in the way as well.] Since the 6.5536 MHz crystal is probably much bigger
than the crystal you are replacing, you will need to bend the leads on the
new crystal so that they will match up will the pads on the circuit board.
Place the new crystal on the circuit board by soldering it in place. As an
added touch you might peel the QC sticker off of the PC board and place it
on top of the crystal. Now carefully snap the two halves back together
while checking to make sure that none of the wires are getting pinched or
are in the way of the screw holes. Put the case screws back ion and insert
three AAA batteries into the battery compartment.
You dialer is now ready to test. Switch the unit on. The LED on the
dial pad side should be lit. Set the lower slide switch to STORE mode.
Press the MEMORY button on the dial pad. Press the * key five times.
Press the MEMORY key again and then press the P1 key. A beep tone when any
key is pressed and a long beep should sound after the P1 key has been
pressed to indicate that the programming sequence was performed correctly.
Switch the unit into DIAL mode. press the P1 key, and five tone
pulses that sound remarkably like coin tones should come out of the
speaker. I usually program P1 to be four quarters (insert one or two
PAUSE's between each set of five tones), P2 to be two quarters, and P3 as
one quarter. Of course, you can no longer use the unit to generate touch
tones.....
The crystal is available from Fry's Electronics in Freemont, CA for
$0.89 plus the charge for UPS Red or Blue. Their number is 415-770-3763.
I would suggest buying five, some for future use and some just in case you
cut the leads too short when trying this project. *(1)
Other Companies where you can obtain the 6.5536mhz crystal:
*
Digi-Key
701 Brooks Avenue South
P.O. Box 677
Thief River Falls, MN 56701-0677
(80)344-4539
Part Number:X415-ND /* Note: 6.500Mhz and only .197 x .433 x .149! */
Part Number:X018-ND
JDR Microdevices:
2233 Branham Lane
San Jose, CA 95124
(800)538-5000
Part Number: 6.5536MHZ
Tandy Express Order Marketing
401 NE 38th Street
Fort Worth, TX 76106
(800)241-8742
Part Number: 10068625
*(2)
[ The UUENCODEd format of the Red Box GIF file. Is pasted to the end of this
FAQ. It is a color schematic which may help you out a bit when you open
up the Radio Shack Tone Dialer and start working on it. To put it back
in GIF format, you must have either the DOS UUDECODE program or access to
the UNIX UUDECODE program. ]
b) The Hallmark Recordable Card Red Box
*
Materials:
a) 1 Hallmark digital recording card
b) 1 1/8 inch mono phono plug
c) 1 SPST switch, or momentary contact NORMALLY CLOSED
d) The sound of magical quarter tones - you can get these from pay
phones, computer sound files (QUARTER.VOC is one), other red
boxes, tape recorders, etc.
e) A case of some sort (I used a case from a DAT, but anything you
can put the stuff in will work. Perhaps the case from a data tape
or an 8mm videotape, or just a cassette.)
f) A Tube of silicone sealant (epoxy will probably do, I just happened
to have silicone on hand)
What To Do:
1. Remove all components from the plastic thing inside the card. This
includes sliding the battery pack out of its drawer.
2. Cut the following wires:
Both wires going to microphone (both are green, mark which one goes to
the center of the mike)
Both wires to the battery pack (red and white)
Both wires to the switch mechanism (green and black)
2a. (optional) It is a wise idea (if you are fairly experienced
at soldering/desoldering on small PC boards) to desolder all the wires
and replace them with ones of a thicker gauge. The ones that Hallmark
supplies are just too damn thin and have a real tendency to break at
connections. Remember, the wires in this are supposed to be protected
in the little plastic grooves that you removed them from.
3. Discard the switch mechanism.
4. Wrap the battery pack in electrical tape (I used red tape just to be
cheesy, since the box is clear).
5. Solder the SPST switch to the black and green wires that used to go to
the original switch (polarity is not important).
6. Solder the phono plug to the two green wires. Polarity shouldn't really
be important, but to be on the safe side, the wire that the center of
the mike (I told you to mark it) should go to the TIP of the plug.
7. Connect the battery (This battery pack puts out 6.25 V DC. I suppose
you could replace it with another battery, but why bother?) Polarity
is extremely important! The red wire goes to the positive terminal, and
the white goes to the negative. On my box, if the pack is lying flat,
with the exposed part of the batteries pointing up, the positive
terminal is the one on the left (if you are facing the terminals). I'd
use a multimeter just to be sure.
8. Glue the PC board to the top of the battery (this saves space and hassle
later, but is not necessary for operation).
9. Program the thing.... I used the QUARTER.VOC file and I looped it 10
times, with a random delay of between .5 and 1 seconds between each
quarter (who puts them in at regular intervals anyway?) If you have this
file, plug the phono plug into your sound card, turn the volume way down
(trial and error will give you the proper volume) and play the VOC file
(after setting the switch on the PC board to the record position, and
flipping the SPST at the beginning of the VOC file).
10. Test it.... Best way to test is to call long distance Directory
Assistance (I'm partial to 808-555-1212 which is Hawaii). If it doesn't
work, go back to step 9. The ideal volume is one that can be heard
clearly, but does not cause the speaker to break up.
11. Once you have the thing programmed, there is no need to keep the
phono plug attached. If you want to save room, cut it off.
12. Put the thing in the case. Drill several holes in the case where the
speaker will mount. I mounted the speaker with silicon very carefully
applied to the edges of the speaker. Same was true of the battery pack.
The switch obviously mounts in a hole on the side of the case.
-Why the SPST Switch?
First off, I thought the switch that came with the thing looked really
cheaply made, and would probably break. Secondly, by putting in a switch
instead of a momentary switch, it allows me to record $2.50 on the box, and
play the whole thing back just by flipping the switch, rather than having
to hold it down.*(3)
[ For your ease, I have included the UUENCODEd format of the QUARTER.VOC
file at the end of this FAQ. If you follow the above instructions, you
will find it is easiest to use the QUARTER.VOC file with this type of
Red Box. Once again, you must use UUDECODE in order to convert the file
back to binary. ]
III. How much does a Red Box Cost?
a) The Cost to Construct a Red Box
The cost to construct a Red Box depends upon which type of Red Box you are
going to build. If you decide to build the Radio Shack Tone Dialer Red Box, the
parts are probably going to cost you between 20-35 dollars total. If you
decides to build the Hallmark Recordable Card Red Box, it is going to cost you
approximately 10 dollars.
b) The Cost to Purchase a Red Box
If you decide to go out and purchase a Red Box from someone (and after
reading this info, I don't know why you would), you are going to pay anywhere
from between 50-200 dollars depending upon how much of a sucker you are.
However, if you decide to sell the devices that you have made, you can make a
lot of money. I'll let you do the math.
IV. Is any Type of Red Box Better than Another?
The answer to this question depends upon what you are looking for. The
Hallmark Recordable Card Red Box is definitely cheaper to build. Plus, if you
sell this type of Red Box, you can still charge anywhere from between the above
range and thus make about 15-20 dollars more per Red Box you sell. However, it
is not very durable. After awhile, you are going to have to build another Red
Box if you use this type. Also, construction of the Hallmark Red Box may take
longer if you do not record the tones at the right volume. If the tones are too
quiet or so loud that they are distorted, your Red Box will not work. Thus, a
lot of trial and error is involved with the Hallmark Recordable Card Red Box.
If you decide to build the Radio Shack Tone Dialer Red Box, you are going
to have to shell out a few more bucks in order to get the parts to build it.
Also, it is going to take awhile to get these parts because, most likely, you
are going to have to mail order the Tone Dialer through Radio Shack and the
crystal through a separate company. However, once you have the parts, it is not
too hard to construct the box. Also, you will not have to go through the same
trial and error tests that you would with the Hallmark Red Box. The Tone Dialer
Red Box will simply work or not work. Plus, the Radio Shack Tone Dialer Red Box
is much more durable. If you take care of the Tone Dialer Red Box, you may be
able to use it until the Red Box becomes obsolete. Finally, it is possible for
some Tone Dialers to be converted into Red Boxes while still having the
capability to be used as a standard Tone Dialer (or White Box). This would give
you the advantage of making a free call from a COCOT (more on this later).
However, I do not have the plans for this type of Box at the moment. If I find
them or someone gives them to me (E-Mail), I will include it in the next
release.
V. How do I use a Red Box?
To actually use the Red Box is simple. All you have to do is hold the
speaker of the Red Box up to the receiver of the pay phone and press the button
to create the tones. However, when and why you use the Red Box will be
different depending upon where you are making the phone call to.
a) Local Calls
Using a Red Box to make local calls can be rather difficult for the
beginner. However, there are many ways to do it. The first way is to simply
insert a nickel and then you can use your Red Box to do the rest. However, I
would not recommend that you use this method because there are other ways to
make local calls for free. Afterall, you did make the Red Box in order to make
free calls right?
The Second way is to dial a number that is not local to you. After you
dial the phone number, an automated operator will come on the line telling you
to deposit a certain amount of money. Use your Red Box now. Then, when the
phone is ringing, press the # sign on the keypad of the pay phone before the
person you are calling answers the phone. This will cause the automated
operator to come back on the line and tell you to dial another phone number. At
this point, dial the local number you want to call and you should be connected
to the local phone number for free.
* The Third way you can make a free local call is by dialing 411 or 555-1212.
When the human operator comes on, ask them for the number of the person you are
trying to call. At this point, an automated operator will come on the line,
tell you the number, and then tell you that if you press a number, the number
will be dialed for an extra 35 cents. Press the number and then use your Red
Box. Your call should go through.
The fourth way is to dial 10288 followed by the number you want to call.
At this point, an automated operator will come on the line and tell you to
deposit the money. Use your Red Box now and your call should be put through.
*(4)
b) Non-Local and Long Distance Calls
By far, these are the easiest calls to make. All you have to do is dial
the number you want to call. Then an automated operator will get on the line
and tell you to deposit money. Hold your Red Box to the receiver, press the
button, and you should have a nice phone call courtesy of the phone company.
c) International Calls
* These are relatively simple, but you are going to be hassled by the
operator quite often during the call. First, dial the number you want to call.
A human operator will come on the line and ask you to deposit quite a bit of
money. The operator will then attempt to connect you to the number. If
the operator is successful, you will then be asked to insert even more money.
Use your Red Box whenever the operator asks you for money. Besides the fact
that the operator will come on the line frequently, you should not have any
other problems making this type of call with a Red Box. *(5)
VI. What are the Chances of Getting Caught Red Boxing?
There is not much of a chance that you are going to get caught using a Red
Box. However, since paranoia is a criminal's best friend (it does keep you
free), you may want to take certain precautions. But overall, the odds of you
getting caught are slim.
Now along the lines of paranoia, a person who was once on a BBS I called
WAS actually busted for Red Boxing. Apparently, the phone that he used was
being watched by the phone company because so many people had been Red Boxing on
it. The kid I knew used this phone to make his phone call and used his real
name while he was talking to the person. A few days later, some police officers
showed up at his door to question the kid. However, they did not have a warrant
for his arrest or to search his home. The moron got busted because when the
cops asked him if he had used an illegal means to make the phone call from that
one pay phone, he replied, "Yes." This kid made a mistake because he admitted
he was guilty. If he had said no, the cops would have been forced to leave.
The kid could then have trashed all evidence. But this kid was a moron.
Basically, there are two ways to avoid this situation. One is if the cops
come to your home, do not tell them you did anything wrong. The other is to
simply not use your real name on a pay phone. Keep in mind that this case is
almost unheard of and is, most likely, NEVER going to happen to you.
The other paranoia, which actually makes a little more sense than the
above, is involved in the purchasing of parts through Radio Shack. Many people
do not know why Radio Shack asks you for your name and home address when you
purchase something from them. Radio Shack claims it is so they can mail you
things but I have never known anyone who has received any Radio Shack mailings.
Anyways, when the Radio Shack clerk asks you for your name, just give him a
fake. Do not bother telling him you refuse to give him your name because it is
a waste of time. If you give him fake info or someone else's name, they will go
on record for purchasing the parts to a Red Box and you will not have to worry
your little paranoid head.
Once again, I would like to stress that you must be extremely paranoid if
either of the above REALLY worry you. Neither are likely to cause you any
problems and the validity of both stories are rather sketchy.
VII. My Red Box does not Work from some Pay Phones. Why not?
My first response to this would be, "Have you tested the Red Box well and
had any success with it at all?" If not, your Red Box is a dud and you will
have to start over. However, if you have succeeded in making a call with it
before, or unless you have tested it on either of the phones listed below, then
it is not a faulty Red Box causing the problem.
a) COCOT Phones
If you are trying to use a Red Box on a COCOT (Customer Owned Coin Operated
Telephone), you can forget about it because it is not going to work. This is
due to the fact that these phones do not belong to the phone company. They are
privately owned telephones. If you are curious as to whether or not you are
using a COCOT, try dialing ANI on it. Normally, this will give you a weird
message or simply wont work which is an easy clue as to whether or not you are
on a COCOT.
However, it is still possible to get free calls from a COCOT phone. COCOT
phones are where the Red and White Box roled into one is useful. There is a
fairly old trick which still seems to work today. What you can do is dial an
800 number and wait for a connection. Once you get the connection, simply do
not say anything and wait for the person on the other end to hang up. After the
800 number has hung up on you, you should get a dial tone. However, it is not
possible for you to use the keypad of the pay phone to dial. Instead, switch
your Red Box over to White Box mode, hold it to the receiver and dial the number
on the Red/White Box keypad. This should connect you to the number you have
dialed.
b) Digital Pay Phones
* Digital pay phones are the new and improved pay phone. It is not possible
for a Red Box to work on any digital pay phone. It is the digital pay phone
that will eventually cause the Red Box to become obsolete. However, it is going
to be an expensive and lengthy process for the phone company to convert every
pay phone over to a digital pay phone so you should be able to use a Red Box for
quite some time. Needless to say, if you are trying to use a Red Box on a
digital pay phone, it is not going to work. *(6)
VIII. Credits
As one can probably tell, I did not come up with most of this info.
Everything you have read I learned through others while running a BBS or from
people who wrote informational files. The parts of this file that are enclosed
in *'s and are followed by a number were works written by other people which I
did not change much, if at all. Below are the names of the people who wrote
these files. Thanks for the info guys!
(1) Clayton, Noah. "Converting a Tone Dialer into a Red Box" Reprinted, (c)
1990, 2600 Enterprises, Inc. Volume Seven, Number Three Autumn, 1990.
Typed by Havok Halcyon.
(2) Spencer, Will. "The alt.2600/#hack FAQ version .010 Beta" 1995.
(3) Toxic Avenger. "The Ten Dollar Red Box" 1994.
(4) Spencer, Will. "The alt.2600/#hack FAQ version .010 Beta" 1995.
(5-6) The New York Hack Exchange BBS. "The Art of Red Boxing" 1992.
IX. Conclusion
This wraps up the first release of the Red Box FAQ file. I hope some
people will actually read this damn thing and not ask questions covered in this
file. Once again, thanks to BGR and all of those that ever helped me while I
ran TEKAT. To Havok Halcyon, drop me a line through E-Mail some time if you see
this. I would also like to thank all the people who taught me over the years
and those who wrote the text files I used in this FAQ. I could not have done it
without you. If you have any corrections or new ideas you would like to see
covered in this FAQ, please send me E-Mail at an132432@anon.penet.fi. However,
DO NOT send me questions. If the question is not covered in the FAQ, then post
it to alt.2600. You will be more likely to get a response from there. Anyways,
hope you enjoyed this FAQ, and in the words of Alfred E. Neuman, "Nowadays, the
perfect crime is getting caught and then selling your story to TV!" Remember
those words, Mitnick!
Hasta,
Mr. Sandman