Phone Phreaking Device (Custom Design - Simulated Operation)
Product information
On Sale
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Description
Circa Late 1970's to Early 1990's
A custom movie prop manufactured by PROPOLOGY.ca featuring authentic simulated functionality. It includes an operational digital audio recorder that can store up to 10 seconds of audio, such as telephone DTMF touch tones, audible computer "handshake" signals, or any combination thereof.
Use Cases:
- Making Free Long-Distance Calls: The main objective for many phreakers was to make free calls. They achieved this by recording specific tones and playing them into the phone handset:
- "Blue Boxing" (Multi-Frequency Tones): This involved recording the multi-frequency (MF) tones that the telephone switching equipment used to communicate with itself. A critical tone was the 2600 Hz "supervisory signal," which tricked the phone system into thinking a line had hung up but was still connected to the long-distance network ("seizing a trunk"). After playing the 2600 Hz tone, the recorded MF tones for a desired number could be played to route a new, unbilled call anywhere in the world.
- "Red Boxing" (Coin Tones): For payphones, a user could record the specific tones generated when nickels, dimes, or quarters were deposited. Playing these recorded "coin tones" into the receiver tricked the payphone mechanism into granting credit for free local or long-distance calls.
- Network Exploration and Hacking: Beyond free calls, recorded tones were used by enthusiasts to map and explore the global phone network. They listened to the clicks, clunks, and beeps to understand how calls were routed and find vulnerabilities. This curiosity-driven exploration led to the development of early hacker culture and influenced technology pioneers like the founders of APPLE.
- Accessing Internal Services: Phreakers could use recorded tones to access internal telephone company test lines and services, such as the Automatic Number Announcement Circuit (ANAC) which read back the number you were calling from, or "bridges" used for group communication.
(H-7.5cm x W-6cm x D-10.5cm)