**Intercepting & re-transmitting data over phone lines** - By Captain B

Fax machines, modems, CID (Caller ID) units, and even TTY/TDD machines
all transmit data over landline phone lines. And, of course, all data is
sent over phone lines in the form of sounds. So, just as you can record
a string of DTMF (touch tones), and play it back after recorded to dial
that same number, or voice mailbox passcode, or whatever, so too could
you also record a fax transmition, then play back that transmition over
a phone line connected to a fax machine. Thereby re- transmitting the
same fax document. Much the same thing is the case for TTY/TDD machines.
You could record an entire conversation between 2 people using a TTY/TDD
on each end of the line, or even between a relay operator and a person
using a TTY/TDD. After recording the TTY/TDD conversation, simply play
it back while a TTY/TDD is on the other end of the line to re-transmit
all the data (the TTY/TDD conversation) again. Recording CID data
transmitions will, of course, enable you to spoof sent caller ID.
(Orange box) But since that's already been covered in 2600 magazine, and
on the Internet, I won't bother going into that. With modems and
computer networks however, things aren't as straightforward. Since you
have such security features as the 3 way handshake with TCP/IP, things
get more complex than they do with fax and TTY/TDD machines. I'll leave
that sort of thing alone, and continue on about recording methods. The
most common method is to use a cassette or micro cassette recorder.
Radio Hack sells a "Phone cassette recorder" (Cat# 43-473 Cost: $99.99)
but, any cassette recorder with either a mic input jack, or left/right
channel "audio in" RCA phono jacks will work. You'll need to buy one of
Radio Shack's recorder controls. 2 of which (Cats. #43-228 and 43-1236)
connect between your phone and phone jack. Another, (Cat# 43-1237)
connects between your phone and the handset. And the last one (Cat#
44-533) is nothing more than a suction cup mic that attaches near the
receiver (earpiece) of your handset. The price range for these is
between $24.99 for the deluxe recorder control, to $4.49 for the
telephone pickup suction cup mic. All use a 1/8 plug for connecting to
1/8 jacks. But, with the countless audio plug adapters availible, you
can adapt the 1/8 plug to an RCA phono plug, 1/4 plug, even the more
obscure 3/32 plug. By using these adapters, you can connect up your
phone line via a recorder to various types of equipment for audio
monitoring or recording purposes. For instance, you could connect up to
a stereo amp for monitoring, or a stereo amp with a cassette deck
connected to the amp for recording purposes. You could also connect up
to standard cassette or micro cassette dictation-type recorders, and
tapeless digital dictation-type recorders. With certain tapeless digital
recorders, you can even upload the audio to your PC as a .wav file. 2
phone recorders that connect to your PC can be found at
http://www.ahernstore.com/phonerecorders.html And, they also sell
standard phone recorders, too. And, Radio Shack sells 2 digital tapeless
dictation-type recorders you could use with a recorder control to
connect it to your phone line, and then connect to a PC for uploading
the audio. Or, you could just connect up the recorder control directly
to the sound card on your PC, and run a program that records the audio
as a .wav file. You could even connect up to a DJ stereo mixer, or CD
recorder (burner). As long as you use the proper audio plug adapters,
you can connect up to many different types of audio equipment. There's
lots of possibilities. For example, when connecting to a single (Mono)
RCA phono plug, use a 1/8 jack-to-RCA phono plug adapter. In the case of
any stereo audio equipment with seperate L/R audio inputs, attach the
1/8 jack-to-RCA phono plug adapter to a RCA phono jack-to-dual RCA phono
plugs "Y adapter". Ask them at Radio Shack about other adapters if you
need to. It'll give them something else to do besides asking for your
name/address/phone number when making purchases. Have phun.