

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

      Better Homes and Blue Boxing

		Part II

	  Practical Applications

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=



(It is assumed that the reader has read and understood Part I of this series).



  The essential purpose of blue boxing in the beginning was merely to receive

toll services free of charge.  Though this can still be done, blue boxing has

essentially outlived its usefulness in this area.  Modern day "extenders" and

long distance services provide a safer and easier way to make free fone calls.

However, you can do things with a blue box that just can't be done with any-

thing else.  For ordinary toll-fraud, a blue box is impractical for the

following reasons:



  1. Clumsy equipment required (blue box or equivalent)

  2. Most boxed calls must be made through an extender. Not for

     safety reasons, but for reasons I'll explain later.

  3. Connections are often sacrificed because considerable distances

     must be dialed to cross a seizable trunk, in addition to

     awkward routing.



As stated in reason #2, boxed calls are usually made through an extender.

This is for billing reasons.  If you recall from Part I, 2600Hz is used as a

"supervisory" signal.  That is, it signals the status of a trunk-- "on-hook" or

"off-hook." When you seize a trunk (by briefly sending 2600Hz), your end (the

CALLING end) goes on hook for the duration of the 2600Hz and then goes off-hook

once again when the 2600Hz is terminated.  The CALLED end recognizes that a call

is on the way and attaches a register, which interprets the digits which are to

be sent.  Now, understand that even though your end has come off-hook (no 2600Hz

present), the other end is still on-hook.  You may wonder then, why, if the

other end (the CALLED end) is still on-hook, there is no 2600Hz coming the other

way on the trunk, when there should be.  This is correct.  2600Hz *IS* present

on the trunk when you seize it and afterwards, but you cannot hear it because of

a Band Elimination Filter (BEF) at your central office.



  Back to the problem.	Remember that when you seize a trunk, 2600Hz is indeed

coming the other way on the trunk because the CALLED end is still on-hook, but

you don't actually hear it because of a filter.  However, the Bell equipment

knows it's there (they can "hear" it).  The presence of the 2600Hz is telling

the billing equipment that your call has not yet been completed (i.e., the

CALLED end is still on-hook).  When finally you do connect with your boxed call,

the 2600Hz from the called end terminates.  This tells the billing equipment

that someone picked up the fone at the CALLED end and you should begin to be

billed.  So you do start to get billed, but for the call to the trunk, NOT the

boxed call.  Your billing equipment thinks that you've connected with the number


you used to seize the trunk.



Illustration:



  1. You call 1+806-258-2222 (directly)

  2. Status of trunks:



<----------------------------------->

(You)			 806-258-2222

No 2600Hz-------> <------------2600Hz



  When you seize a trunk (before the number you called answers) there is no

affect on your billing equipment.  It simply thinks that you're still waiting

for the call to complete (the CALLED end is still on-hook; it is ringing, busy,

going to recording or intercept operator).



  Now, let's say that you've sezied a trunk (806-258-2222) and for example,

KP+314+949+1705+ST.  The call is routed from the tandem you seized to:

314-949-1705.



Illustration:



<------------------>O<--------------->

(You)		   806	       314-949

      
		 tandem

No 2600Hz----------> <----------2600Hz



  Note that the entire path towards the right (the CALLED end) has no 2600Hz

present and is therefore "off-hook." The entire path towards the left (the

CALLING end) does have 2600Hz present on it, indicating that the CALLED end has

not picked up (or come "off-hook").  When 314-949-1705 answers, "answer

supervision" is given and the 2600Hz towards the left (the CALLING end)

terminates.  This tells your billing equipment, which thinks that you're still

waiting to be connected with 806-258-2222, that you've finally connected.

Billing then begins to 806-258-2222.  Not exactly an auspicious beginning for an

aspiring young phone phreak.



  To avoid this, several actions may be taken.	As previously mentioned, one may

avoid being charged for the number called to seize a trunk by using an extender

(in which case the extender will get billed).  In some areas, boxing may be

accomplished using an 800 number, generally in the format of 800-858-xxxx (many

Amarillo numbers) or 800-NN2-xxxx (special intra-state class in-WATS numbers).

However, boxing off of 800 numbers is impossible in many areas.  In my area,

Denver, I am served by #1A ESS and it is impossible for me to box off of any 800

number.



  Years ago, in the early days of blue boxing (before my time), phreaks often

used directory assistance to box off of because they were "free" long distance

calls.	However, because of competetive long distance companies, directory

assistance surcharges are now $0.50 in many areas.  It is additionally advised

that directory assistance numbers not be used to box from because of the

following:



  Average DA calls last under 2 minutes.  When you box a call, chances are that

it will last considerably longer.  Thus, the Bell billing equip- ment will make

a note of calls to directory assistance that last a long time.	A call to a

directory assistant lasting for 4 hours and 17 minutes may appear somewhat

suspicious.



  Although the date, time, and length of a DA call do not appear on the bill, it

is recorded on AMA tape and will trip a trouble report if it were to last too

long.  This is how most phreaks were discovered in the old days.  Also,

sometimes too many calls lasting too long to one 800 number may raise a few

eyebrows at the local security office.



  Assuming you can complete a blue box call, the following are listed routings

for various Bell internal operators.  These are in the format of KP+NPA+ special

routing+1X1+ST, which I will explain later.  The 1X1 is the actual operator

routing, and NPA and NPA+special routing are used for out-of- area code calls

and out-of-area code calls requiring special routing, respectively.



KP+101+ST ...... toll test board


KP+121+ST ...... inward op

KP+131+ST ...... directory assistance

KP+141+ST ...... was rate & route. Now only works in 312, 815, 717,

	  and a few others. It has been replaced with a universal

	  rate & route number, 800+141+1212.

KP+151+ST ...... overseas completion operator (inbound). Works

	  only in certain NPAs, such as 303.

KP+181+ST ...... in some areas, toll station for small towns



  Thus, if you seize a trunk in 806 NPA and wanted an inward (in 806), then you

would dial KP+121+ST.  If you wanted a 312 inward and were dialing on an 806

trunk, an area code would be required.	Thus, you would dial KP+312+121+ST.

Finally, some places in the network require special routing, in addition to an

area code.  An example is Franklin Park, Ill.  It requires a special routing of

032.  For this, you would dial KP+312+032+121+ST for a Franklin Park inward

operator.



  Special routings are in the format of 0XX.  They are used primarily for load

balance, so that traffic flow may be evenly distributed.  About half of the

exchanges in the network require special routing.  Note that special routings

are NEVER EVER EVER used to dial normal telephone numbers, only operators.



  Operator functions:




TOLL TEST BOARD- Generally a cordboard position that assists in trunk testing.

They are not used by operators, only switchmen.



  INWARD- Assists the normal TSPS (0+) operator in completing calls out of the

TSPS's area.  Also, inwards perform emergency interrupts when the number to be

interrupted is out of the area code of the original (TSPS) operator.  For

example, a 303 operator has a customer that needs an emergency interrupt on

215-647-6969.  The 303 operator gets the routing for the inward that covers

215-647, since she cannot do the interrupt herself.  The routing is found to be

only 215+ (no special routing required).  So, the 303 operator keys

KP+215+121+ST.	An inward answers and the 303 says to her, "Inward, this is

Denver.  I need an emergency interrupt on 215-647-6969.  My customer's name is

Mark Tabas." The inward will then do the interrupt (off the line, of course).

If the number to be interrupted had required special routing, such as, say,

312-456-1234 (spec routing 032), then the 303 operator would dial

KP+312+032+121+ST for the inward to do that interrupt.



  DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE- These are the normal NPA+555+1212 operators that assist

customers with obtaining telefone directory listings.  Not much toll-fraud

potential here, except maybe $0.50.



  RATE AND ROUTE- These operators are reached by dialing KP+800+141+1212+ST.

They assist normal (TSPS) operators with rates and routings (thus the name).

The only uses I typically have for them are the following:

 
                                             


  1.  Routing information.  In the above example, when the 303 operator needed

to dial an inward that served 215-647, she needed to know if any special routing

was required and, if so, what it was.  Assuming she would use rate and route,

she would dial them and say nicely, "Operator's route, please, for 215-647."

Rate & route would respond with "215 plus." This means that the operator would

dial KP+215+121+ST to reach the inward that serves 215-647.  If there were

special routing required, such as in 312-456, rate & route would respond with

"312 plus 032 plus." In that case, the operator would dial KP+312+032+ST for the

inward that serves 312-456.



  It is good practice to ask for "operator's route" specifically, as there are

also "numbers route" and "directory routes." If you do not specifically ask for

operator's route, rate & route will generally assume that is what you want

anyway.



  "Numbers" route refers to overseas calls.  Example, you want to know how to

reach a number in Geneva, Switzerland (and you already have the number).  You

would call routing and say "Numbers route, please, Geneva, Switzerland." The

operator would respond with:  "Mark 41+22.  011+041+ST (plus) 041+22" The "Mark

41+22" has to do with billing, so disregard it.  The 011+041 is access to the

overseas gateway (to be discussed in Part III) and the 041+ 22+ is the routing

for Geneva from the overseas sender.




"Directory" routings are for directory assistance overseas.  Example:  you

want a DA in Rome, Italy.  You would call rate & route and say, "Directory

routing please, for Rome, Italy." They would respond with "011+039+ST (plus)

039+1108 STart." As in the previous example, the 011+039 is access to the

overseas gateway.  The 039+1108 is a directory assistant in Rome.



  2.  Nameplace information.  Rate & Route will give you the location of an NPA+

exchange.  Example:  "Nameplace please, for 215-648." The operator would respond

with "Paoli, Pennsylvania." This isn't especially useful, since you can get the

same information (legally) by dialing 0, but using rate & route is often much

faster and it avoids having to hang up when you are already on a trunk.



  *NOTE on Rate & Route:  As a blue boxer, always ask for "IOTC" routings.

(e.g., "IOTC operator's route", "IOTC numbers route", etc.) This tells them that

you want cordboard-type routings, not TSPS, because a blue boxer is actually

just a cordboard position (that Bell doesn't know about).



  OVERSEAS COMPLETION OPERATOR (inbound)- These operators (KP+151+ST) assist in

the completion of calls coming in to the United States from overseas.  There are

KP+151+ST operators only in a few NPAs in the country (namely 303).  To use one,

you would seize a trunk and dial KP+303+151+ST.  Then you would tell the

operator, for example, "This is Bangladesh calling.  I need U.S.  number

215-561-0562 please." [in a broken Indian accent].  She would connect you, and

the bill would be sent to Bangladesh (where I've been billing my KP+151+ST calls


for two years).



  Other internal Bell Operators.



KP+11501+ST ...... universal operator

KP+11511+ST ...... conference op

KP+11521+ST ...... mobile op

KP+11531+ST ...... marine op

KP+11541+ST ...... long distance terminal

KP+11551+ST ...... time & charges op

KP+11561+ST ...... hotel/motel op

KP+11571+ST ...... overseas (outbound) op



  These 115X1 operators are identical in routing to the 1X1 operators listed

previously, with one exception.  If special routing is required (0XX), then the

trailing 1 is left off.



Examples:



A 312 universal op ... KP+312+11501+ST

A Franklin Park (312-456) universal op

	 (special routing 032 required) KP+312+032+1150+ST

[The trailing 1 of 11501 is left off].





  Purposes of 115X1 operators.



  UNIVERSAL- Used for collect/callback calls to coin stations.



  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

centraized 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 cordboard 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.



  This concludes Part II.  There is one final part in which I will explain

overseas dialing, IOCC (International Overseas Completion Centre), RQS

(Rate/Quote System), and some basic scanning.


                                                                                                          