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!          Bell Telephone Info        !
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   BRIDGING HEADS, RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESS MULTILINE DISTRIBUTION BOXES, LINE
AND TRUNK SPLITTERS, AND OTHER BELL SYSTEM WIRE TERMINATIONS.

   - HOW TO USE, AND/OR ABUSE THEM -

(INCLUDING A TUTORIAL ON BASIC TELEPHONE EAVESDROPPING TECHNIQUES.)

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WRITTEN BY :   PHUCKED
                 AGENT     07/29/84
                    04

REVISED FOR LOD!  10/84
CURRENTLY REVISION II

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        IN THIS ARTICLE, I WILL FIRST BESCRIBE THE TERMINATION, WIRING, AND
TERMINAL HARDWARE MOST COMMONLY USED IN THE BELL SYSTEM, AND I WILL INCLUDE
A SECTION ON METHODS OF USING THEM.

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LOCAL NETWORK
-------------

        THE LOCAL TELEPHONE NETWORK BETWEEN THE CENTRAL OFFICE/EXCHANGE AND
THE TELEPHONE SUBSCRIBERS CAN BE BREIFLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:
        FROM THE CENTRAL OFFICE (OR LOCAL EXCHANGE) OF A CERTAIN PREFIX(ES),
UNDERGROUND AREA FEEDER TRUNKS GO TO EACH AREA THAT HAS THAT PREFIX. (USUALLY
MORE THAN ONE PREFIX PER AREA) AT EVERY FEW STREETS OR TRACT AREAS, THE
UNDERGROUND CABLES SURFACE. THEY THEN GO TO THE SECONDARY TERMINATION, (THE
AERIAL TELEPHONE FEEDER CABLE) (OR BACK UNDERGROUND, DEPENDING ON THE AREA) AND
THEN TO THE SUBSRIBERS HOUSE (OR IN THE CASE OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING OR
MUTLILINE BUSINESS, TO A SPLITTER OR DISTRIBUTION BOX/PANEL).

NOW THAT WE HAVE THE BASICS, I'LL TRY AND GO IN-DEPTH ON THE SUBJECT.

------------------
UNDERGROUND CABLES
------------------

   THESE ARE SOMETIMES INTEROFFICE TRUNKS, BUT USUALLY IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA
THEY ARE FEEDER GROUPS THAT GO OTO BRIDGING HEADS OR DISTRIBUTION CASES. THE
CABLES ARE ABOUT 2-3 INCHES THICK (VARIES), AND ARE EITHER IN A METAL OR
PVC-TYPE PIPE (OR SIMILAR). RARELY (MAYBE NOT IN SOME REMOTE RURAL AREAS) ARE
THE CABLES JUST 'ALONE' IN THE GROUND. INSTEAD, THEY ARE USUALLY IN AN
UNDERGROUND CEMENT TUNNEL (RESEMBLES A SMALL SEWER OR STORMDRAIN). THE MANHOLES
ARE >HEAVY< AND WILL SAY 'BELL SYSTEM' ON THEM. THEY CAN BE OPEN ED WITH A 1/2
INCH WIDE CROWBAR (HOOK SIDE) INSERTED IN THE TOP RECTANGULAR HOLE. IF YOU GET
IT OPEN, GO INSIDE!! THERE ARE LADDER RUNGS TO HELP YOU CLIMB DOWN. YOU WILL
SEE THE CABLE PIPES ON THE WALL, WITH THE BLUE AND WHITE STRIPED ONE BEING THE
INTEROFFICE TRUNK GRP (AT LEAST IN MY AREA). THE OTHERS ARE LOCAL LINES, AND
ARE USUALLY MARKED OR COLOR CODED. THERE IS ALMOST ALWAYS A POSTED COLOR CODE
CHART ON THE WALL, NOT TO MENTION TELCO MANUALS DESCRIBING THE CABLES AND
TERMINALS, SO I NEED NOT GET INTO DETAIL. AGAIN: >IF YOU CAN GET INTO A
BELL MANHOLE, DO IT!, IT WILL PAY OFF<. ALSO, THERE IS USUALLY SOME KIND OF
TEST EQUIPMENT, AND OFTEN BELL TEST SETS ARE LEFT IN THERE. SO GET YOUR
CROWBARS!

--------------
BRIDGING HEADS - (WE MS2'S)
--------------

   THE INNOCENT-LOOKING GRAYISH-GREEN BOXES.  WHEN IN GROUPS OF TWO OR THREE,
THEY ARE FOR SECONDAY/TERTIARY TERMINATION AND ACCESS POINTS (BRIDGED ACCESS).
THESE ARE THE WESTERN ELECTRIC SAI 55 OR 22/E TERMINAL CASES. THEY HOLD ON THE
ORDER OF 900-1200 CABLE PAIRS. THIS IS USUALLY THE SECOND TERM. POSITION ON THE
LOCAL LOOP (AFTER THE MTF FRAME AT THE CO/ OR THE UNDERGROUND 'FTP' POSITION).
THESE CAN BE EITHER TRUNK BRIDGES OR BRIDGING FOR RESIDENCES. THE AREA FEEDER
BRIDGING HEADS ARE USUALLY LARGER, AND THEY HAVE THE 'WESTERN ELECTRIC' LOGO AT
THE BOTTOM, WHEREAS THE NORMAL BRIDGING HEADS (WHICH MAY BE DIFFERENT IN SOME
AREAS DEPENDING ON THE COMPANY YOU ARE SERVED BY. GTE B.H'S LOOK SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT. ALSO, DO NOT BE FOOLED BY SPRINKLER BOXES!) CAN BE FOUND IN JUST
ABOUT EVERY CITY.
   TO OPEN A BRIDGING HEAD: IF IT IS LOCKED (AND YOU'RE FEELING DESTRUCTIVE),
PUT A HAMMER OR CROWBAR (THE SAME ONE YOU USED ON THE MANHOLE) IN THE SLOT
ABOVE THE TOP HINGE OF THE RIGHT DOOR. PULL HARD, AND THE DOOR WILL RIP OFF.
VERY EFFECTIVE!
   IF IT ISN'T LOCKED (AS USUAL), TAKE A 7/16 INCH HEX SOCKET AND WITH IT, TURN
THE BOLT ABOUT 1/8 OF A TURN TO THE LEFT (YOU SHOULD HEAR A SPRING RELEASE
INSIDE). HOLDING THE BOLT, TURN THE HANDLE ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT AND PULL
OUT.
        NOW INSIDE, FIRST CHECK FOR A TEST-SET (WHICH ARE OFTEN LEFT BY BELL
EMPLOYEES). THERE SHOULD BE A PANEL OF CABLE PAIRS + SCREW TERMINALS (TYPE
45/47IB REGULAR BINDERS) . PUSH THE PANEL BACK ABOUT AN INCH OR SO, AND ROTATE
THE TOP LATCH (ROUND WITH A FLAT SECTION) DOWNWARD. RELEASE THE PANEL AND IT
WILL FALL ALL THE WAY FORWARD. THERE IS USUALLY A LARGE AMOUNT OF WIRE AND
EXTRA TERMINALS. THE TEST-SETS ARE OFTEN HIDDEN HERE, SO DONT OVERLOOK IT (400
FOOT ROLLS OF #22 SOLID WIRE ARE OFTEN NEAR THE TOP IN THE BACK OF THE BOX.
'BORROW THEM'). ON THE RIGHT DOOR IS A METAL BOX OF INSULATORS, BINDERS, CLIPS,
ETC. TAKE A FEW (COMPLIMENTS OF BELL...). ON EACH DOOR IS A USEFUL ROUND METAL
DEVICE. (SAYS 'INSERT GENTLY' OR 'CLAMP GENTLY - DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN' ETC..) ON
THE FRONT OF THE DISC, YOU SHOULD FIND TWO TERMINALS. THESE ARE FOR YOUR TEST
SET. (IF YOU DONT HAVE ONE, DONT DEPAIR -I'LL SHOW YOU WAYS TO MAKE BASIC TEST
SETS LATER IN THIS ARTICLE). HOOKING THE RING (-) WIRE TO THE 'R' TERMINAL; AND
THE TIP (+) WIRE TO THE OTHER. (BY THE WAY, AN EASY WAY TO DETERMINE THE
CORRECT POLARITY IS WITH A 1.5V LED. TAP IT TO THE TERM. PAIR, IF IT DOESNT
LIGHT, SWITCH THE POLES UNTIL IT DOES. WHEN IT LIGHTS, FIND THE LONGER OF THE
TWO LED POLES. THIS ONE WILL BE ON THE TIP WIRE (+))  BEHIND THE DISC IS A
COILED UP CORD. THIS SHOULD HAVE A SPECIALIZED CONNECTOR. ITS VERY USEFUL,
BECAUSE YOU DONT HAVE TO KEEP CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING THE FONE (TEST SET)
ITSELF, AND THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO AID IN LOCATING THE PAIR AND ASSURING THE
CORRECT POLARITY.
   ON THE TERMINAL BOARD, THERE SHOULD BE ABOUT 20 PAIRS (RED/WHITE) PER ROW
PER SIDE. HOOK THE CLIP TO ANY TERMINAL PAIR, AND YOU'RE SET! DIAL OUT IF YOU
WANT, OR JUST LISTEN (IF SOMEONE'S ON THE LINE). LATER, I'LL SHOW YOU A WAY TO
SET UP A TRUE 'TAP' THAT YOU CAN SETUP, AND WILL LET THE PERSON DIAL OUT ON HIS
LINE AND RECEIVE CALLS AS NORMAL, AND YOU CAN LISTEN IN THE WHOLE TIME. MORE
ABOUT THIS LATER...
   ON MAJOR PREFIX-AREA BRIDGING HEADS ('SAI' FOR AREA C.O. FEEDER CABLE) YOU
CAN SEE TEMPORARY 'LOCAL LOOPS', WHICH ARE TWO CABLE PAIRS (CABLE PAIR =RING +
TIP, A FONE LINE) THAT ARE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER ON THE TERMINAL
BOARD. THESE 'CHEAP LOOPS' AS THEY ARE CALLED, DO NOT WORK NEARLY AS WELL AS
THE EXISTING ONES SET UP IN THE SWITCHING HARDWARE AT THE EXCHANGE OFFICE. (TRY
SCANNING YOUR PREFIXES' 00XX OR 99XX #'S. THE TONE SIDES WILL ANNOUNCE
THEMSELVES WITH THE 1000 HZ LOOP TONE, AND THE HANG SIDE WILL GIVE NO RESPONSE.
THE FIRST PERSON SHOULD DIAL THE 'HANG' SIDE, AND THE OTHER PERSON DIAL THE,
TONE SIDE, AND THE TONE SHOULD STOP IF YOU HAVE GOT THE RIGHT LOOP). THE LOOPS
ARE USED IN FRAME TERMINATION AND IN SONIC/600 OHM TERM. TESTING AND
LINE/CABLE/FEEDER LOCATION.
   IF YOU WANT TO FIND THE NUMBER OF THE LINE THAT YOU'RE ON, YOU CAN EITHER
TRY TO DECIPHER THE 'BRIDGING LOG' (OR WHATEVER), WHICH IS ON THE LEFT DOOR. IF
THAT DOESNT WORK, YOU CAN USE THE FOLLWING:

---
ANI # (AUTOMATIC NUMBER INDENTICATION)
---
   THIS IS A TELCO TEST NUMBER THAT REPORTS TO YOU THE NUMBER THAT YOU'RE
CALLING FROM (IT'S THE SAME, CHOPPY 'BELL BITCH' VOICE THAT YOU GET WHEN YOU
REACH A DISCONNECTED #) (PIP OR ONE OF THE 11X SERIES ANNOUNCE MENT FRAME
MACHINES.)

FOR THE 213 NPA - DIAL 1223
        213 NPA - (GTE AREAS) DIAL 114
        408 NPA - DIAL 760
        914 NPA - DIAL 990

THESE ARE EXTREMELY USEFUL WHEN MESSING WITH ANY KIND OF LINE TERMINALS,
FEEDER BOXES, ETC.

   WHEN FINISHED, BE SURE TO CUT OFF THE CONNECTOR AND TAKE IT WITH YOU (THEY
ARE VERY HANDY), AND CLOSE/LATCH THE BOX TO AVOID SUSPICION.


"CANS" - AERIAL-MOUNTED (TELEPHONE POLE TERMINAL) BRANCH FEEDER CABLE
SPLITTER.
 ----

BASICALLY, TWO TYPES:

1> MS3A SERVICE AREA INTERFACE. (LARGE, RECTANGULAR SILVER BOX AT THE END OF
   EACH STREET.)

2> SERIES 600 LOADING COIL, INCLUDES THE MSX AERIAL DROP SPLITTER. (BLACK,
   ROUND OR RECTANGULAR THING AT EVERY TELEPHONE POLE.)


TYPE 1 -   THIS IS THE CASE THAT TAKES THE UNDERGROUND CABLE FROM THE BRIDGER
AND RUNS IT TO THE AERIAL BRANCH FEEDER CABLE (THE LOWEST, LARGEST WIRE ON THE
TELEPHONE POLE). THE BOX IS ALWAYS ON THE POLE NEAREST THE BRIGING HEAD, WHERE
THE LINE COMES UP. LOOK FOR THE 'CALL BEFORE YOU DIG - UNDERGROUND CABLE'
STICKERS..
   THE CASE BOX IS HINGED, SO IF YOU WANT TO CLIMB THE POLE, YOU CAN OPEN IT
WITH NO PROBLEMS. THESE USUALLY HAVE 2 ROWS OF TERMINAL SETS. (TOTAL APPROX.
200-600 PAIRS, DEPENDING ON THE AREA.) THESE ARE ALL THE CABLE PAIRS FOR YOUR
STREET. (ITS SIMILAR TO A MINIATURE BRIDGING HEAD). USE/ABUSE IT IN THE SAME
MANNER AS WE DID BEFORE. (NOTE: ALL THE ACTIVE LINES CARRY FROM 15 TO 48 VDC,
AND EVEN 90VAC (WHEN RINGING), SO BE CAREFUL - IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT YOU,
BUT IT CAN SURPRISE YOU (AND IF YOU'RE HANGING BY ONE HAND FROM A TEL. POLE, IT
>CAN< BE HARMFUL!))
   OH, BY THE WAY, IF YOU USE ANI ON EVERY PAIR AND YOU FIND ONE THAT ISNT IN
USE ON YOUR STREET, YOU CAN HOOK IT UP FOR YOURSELF (ALMOST). ALSO, YOU HAVE TO
BE ABLE TO IMPERSONATE A TELCO TECHNICIAN AND REPORT THE NUMBER AS 'NEW ACTIVE'
(GIVING A FAKE NAME AND FAKE REPORT, ETC) I DONT RECOMMEND THIS AND IT PROBABLY
WONT (ALMOST POSITIVELY WONT) WORK, BUT THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT TELCO LINEMEN
DO).*

      * THE USE OF THE 'TEST BOARD' (A 7D# FOR LINEMEN TESTS, OFTEN FOUND
NXX-0003 OR NXX-0004) IS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THIS ARTICLE, BUT WILL BE COVERED
IN A FUTURE ARTICLE.


TYPE 2 - THIS IS THE SPLITTER BOX FOR THE AERIAL DROP WIRES FOR THE GROUP OF
HOUSES AROUND THE POLE. (USUALLY 4 OR 5 HOUSES). USE IT LIKE I MENTIONED
BEFORE. THE TERMINALS (20 OR SO) WILL BE IN 2 HORIZONTAL ROWS OF SETS. THE
EXTRA WIRES THAT ARE JUST 'HANGING THERE' ARE PROVISIONS FOR EXTRA LINES TO
RESIDENCES (1 EXTRA LINE PER HOUSE, THATS WHY THE INSANE CHARGE FOR LINE #3).
IF ITS THE BOX FOR YOUR HOUSE ALSO, HAVE FUN AND SWAP LINES WITH YOUR NEIGHBOR!
'PIGGYBACK' THEM OR USE A CHEESEBOX FOR A LOOP-AROUND, ETC. AGAIN, I DONT
RECOMMEND THIS, AND ITS DIFFICULT TO DO IT CORRECTLY. (ALTHOUGH USEFUL)
