168 DEAR HACKER

168 DEAR HACKER

Dear 2600: Since the foneco strike in New York, the outdoor payphones that were

vandalized and are now repaired do not allow red box usage. Even after putting in the first coin, using the box results in a recorded request to deposit the balance due. They must have done something with the coin detect relay setup. Indoor phones in building lobbies and stores still seem to work okay.

Curious Throughout most of New York, a new relay system known as MARS has been

installed over the last year. You may have noticed a difference in the way the dial tone appears. Some phones may not have been switched over yet. We’re looking for more information on this, as well as ways of bypassing the disadvantages.

Dear 2600: From what you know about the Caller ID systems that are gradually

being introduced, do you think it would be possible to build a circuit or add-on box to your own home phone to send a false number to the party you are calling? It would seem to be the ultimate defense against the invasion of privacy while at the same time giving the appearance of cooperation without a “P” for privacy showing up on everyone’s Caller ID screen.

Pete Akron, OH

Absolutely. We hope to see someone do this soon.

TECHNOLOGY

Dear 2600: Kudos to Noah Clayton for that most excellent Autumn 1990 article,

“Converting a Tone Dialer into a Red Box”! I found this article to be among the best on this subject and Mr. Clayton’s genius is unsurpassed in considering and actually designing a successfully working red box out of a tone dialer—both in terms of styling and simplicity—not to mention effectiveness! It sure as hell beats using a converted Walkman for the purpose!

But, speaking of payphones, I am very much interested in learning more about employing these phones for channeling to other numbers.

I am aware of using internal corporate loop lines for such action, but in one of your previous issues, you made mention of employing payphones to call out to other numbers. Could you recommend to me where I could find this information out?

TG PA

Any phone line can be modified to forward to another number. Payphone lines are not supposed to be able to do this, but they certainly are not totally immune. Such modifications generally require access to phone company computers, which we frequently make reference to in these pages.

Dear 2600: I’m not sure if you’ve covered this or not; I’d expect you probably have.

Caller ID is the greatest thing to come along since caffeine pills. The Caller ID blocking system they have in my area is bullshit. It will not work if you run the whole gamut of options available. Reason: though the number displays as P or PRIVATE, you can still add the number to your Priority List or call back directly, in which case you can tap your line to see what numbers are being dialed. I haven’t tried this; this is an assumption that the numbers are stored in the box, and not