The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with North America and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. The specific issue is: Telecommunications networks in various countries use different network signalling technologies and standards and also have different billing policies You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate.(December 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
A phreaking box is a device used by phone phreaks to perform various functions normally reserved for operators and other telephone company employees.
Most phreaking boxes are named after colors, due to folklore surrounding the earliest boxes which suggested that the first ones of each kind were housed in a box or casing of that color. However, very few physical specimens of phreaking boxes are actually the color for which they are named.
Most phreaking boxes are electronic devices which interface directly with a telephone line and manipulate the line or the greater system in some way through either by generating audible tones that invoke switching functions (for example, a blue box), or by manipulating the electrical characteristics of the line to disrupt normal line function (for example, a black box). However a few boxes can use mechanical or acoustic methods - for example, it is possible to use a pair of properly tuned whistles as a red box.
List of phreaking box typesedit
This is not a comprehensive list. Many text files online describe various "boxes" in a long list of colors, some of which are fictional (parodies or concepts which never worked), minor variants of boxes already listed or aftermarket versions of features (line in use indicators, 'hold' and 'conference' buttons) commonly included in standard multi-line phones.
Tone generator, emits a 2600 Hz tone to disconnect a long-distance call while retaining control of a trunk, then generates multi-frequency tones to make another toll call which is not detected properly by billing equipment.
A resistor bypassed with a capacitor and placed in series with the line to limit DC current on received calls. On some mechanical relay switching systems, separate relays were used to stop ringing on an inbound call and to start billing timers. The black box was intended to trip one but not both relays, allowing ringing to stop but not showing the call as answered for billing purposes.
Microphone and amplifier, coupled inductively to payphones where the handset microphone (and just the microphone) was disabled until a coin was inserted. An "opaque box" was a variant which also included a keypad. Obsolete as specific to a rarely used post-paid coin phone design which is no longer deployed.
Violet box
A resistor (several hundred ohms) which can be clipped directly across the line to make it appear off-hook or in use.
Telephone installer's test handset; a standard telephone set on which the plug has been replaced with a pair of alligator clips.
White box
In Australia there was a software program based on the Commodore Amiga 500 personal computer called White box which was used for phreaking. It used CCITT#5- (R2) tones to manipulate the phone systems in Australia in a similar way to blue boxing (See screenshot on External links section). In other countries white box can be referred to a Portable DTMF-dial keypad with a speaker which can be used to access an answering machine to hear your messages when you are away from home and also can be used on PBX phone systems that require tone dialling and used to generate tones if the telephone is rotary-dial or its keypad is locked.
"Glossary of 'Box' terms". lospadres.info. from the original on 7 September 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
Capello, Valerio (5 September 2000). . elfqrin.com. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) published on 2600: The Hacker Quarterly, Volume 19 Number 1 (Spring 2002 issue), page 15 (author's website)
on the Wayback Machine
April 12, 2024
phreaking, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, becau. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations March 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with North America and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject The specific issue is Telecommunications networks in various countries use different network signalling technologies and standards and also have different billing policiesYou may improve this article discuss the issue on the talk page or create a new article as appropriate December 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message A phreaking box is a device used by phone phreaks to perform various functions normally reserved for operators and other telephone company employees Most phreaking boxes are named after colors due to folklore surrounding the earliest boxes which suggested that the first ones of each kind were housed in a box or casing of that color However very few physical specimens of phreaking boxes are actually the color for which they are named Most phreaking boxes are electronic devices which interface directly with a telephone line and manipulate the line or the greater system in some way through either by generating audible tones that invoke switching functions for example a blue box or by manipulating the electrical characteristics of the line to disrupt normal line function for example a black box However a few boxes can use mechanical or acoustic methods for example it is possible to use a pair of properly tuned whistles as a red box List of phreaking box types editThis is not a comprehensive list Many text files online describe various boxes in a long list of colors some of which are fictional parodies or concepts which never worked minor variants of boxes already listed or aftermarket versions of features line in use indicators hold and conference buttons commonly included in standard multi line phones This list of boxes does not include wiretapping bugs pirate broadcasting apparatus or exploits involving computer security Blue box Tone generator emits a 2600 Hz tone to disconnect a long distance call while retaining control of a trunk then generates multi frequency tones to make another toll call which is not detected properly by billing equipment Black box A resistor bypassed with a capacitor and placed in series with the line to limit DC current on received calls On some mechanical relay switching systems separate relays were used to stop ringing on an inbound call and to start billing timers The black box was intended to trip one but not both relays allowing ringing to stop but not showing the call as answered for billing purposes Red box Tone generator emits a Coin Denomination Tone CDT tone pair 1700 Hz and 2200 Hz to signal coins dropping into a payphone Green box Tone generator emits coin accept coin return and ringback tones at the remote end of an Automated Coin Toll Service payphone call Clear box Microphone and amplifier coupled inductively to payphones where the handset microphone and just the microphone was disabled until a coin was inserted An opaque box was a variant which also included a keypad Obsolete as specific to a rarely used post paid coin phone design which is no longer deployed Violet box A resistor several hundred ohms which can be clipped directly across the line to make it appear off hook or in use Gold box Diverter Calls received on one line are forwarded elsewhere using a second telephone line Beige box Telephone installer s test handset a standard telephone set on which the plug has been replaced with a pair of alligator clips White box In Australia there was a software program based on the Commodore Amiga 500 personal computer called White box which was used for phreaking It used CCITT 5 R2 tones to manipulate the phone systems in Australia in a similar way to blue boxing See screenshot on External links section In other countries white box can be referred to a Portable DTMF dial keypad with a speaker which can be used to access an answering machine to hear your messages when you are away from home and also can be used on PBX phone systems that require tone dialling and used to generate tones if the telephone is rotary dial or its keypad is locked Silver box Tone dial keypad with four extra buttons A B C D formerly used to indicate priority on military autovon calls Magenta box AC ringing current generator connected directly to a telephone to make that phone ring Orange box Caller ID frequency shift keying generator connected directly to a telephone to send CID Vermilion box The combination of a magenta box and an orange box DLoC box The combination of a beige box and a two line conferencer See also editWalter L Shaw John Draper Phreaking Dual tone multi frequency signalingExternal links editRosenbaum Ron Secrets of the Little Blue Box Esquire Magazine October 1971 Glossary of Box terms lospadres info Archived from the original on 7 September 2016 Retrieved 23 April 2017 Capello Valerio 5 September 2000 The definitive guide to Phreak Boxes elfqrin com Archived from the original on 11 May 2013 Retrieved 23 April 2017 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link published on 2600 The Hacker Quarterly Volume 19 Number 1 Spring 2002 issue page 15 author s website White box screenshot on the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Phreaking box amp oldid 1187732898, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
