<=-=*=---------------------------=*=-=> | Blue Box construction | <=-=*=---------------------------=*=-=> <=-=*=---------------------------=*=-=> | Written by | | | | Dr. Nibblemaster | <=-=*=---------------------------=*=-=> <=-=*=---------------------------=*=-=> | | | Hello there, well I took a look | | at the old blue box schems going | | around a few days ago, and they | | certainly suck! They use ancient | | parts which are not easy to get a | | hold of today. Well anyway, I wrote | | up a new schem and built my own box,| | it works fine and Ill be writing a | | schem on an apple hires screen so | | every one can see it. Anyways if you| | know some stuff about electronics, | | and want to build a box, do not use | | the old 2207 VCO, the best thing to | | use is a voltage to freqency chip, | | otherwise known as the LM331N. | | These chips are fairly expensive, | | but all you credit card phreaks | | should order about a 1000 or so from| | an OEM distributer. Anyway, the | | chips are 8-pin dips, which don't | | take up alot of board real estate, | | so you should be able to fit a whole| | blue box tacti-mem keypad and | | digital display in a cigarette box. | | We don't want to look too obvious, | | do we? Well thats it for now. | | | <=-=*=---------------------------=*=-=> $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $ $ $ BLUE BOX PLANS! $ $ --------------- $ $ $ $ Edited and Uploaded by: $ $ $ $ $ $$$$$$$$$$$$-=>Lex Luthor<=-$$$$$$$$$$$ $ $ $ Written by: $ $ $ $ Mr. America from Osuny BBS $ $ $ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $ $ $ $ $ This file will explain the $ $ construction, troubleshooting, and $ $ adjustment of a Blue Box. $ $ $ $ $ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $ $ $ We all know that the touch tone $ $ frequencies are composed of 2 tones $ $ (2 different freqs.) so that is the $ $ reason why we have 2 VCO's (Voltage $ $ Controlled Oscilators). We'll call $ $ them VCO#1 and VCO#2. If you have $ $ noticed VCO#1 and VCO#2 are exactly $ $ the same type of circuits. That is $ $ why only 1 was drawn. But remember $ $ that whatever goes for VCO#1 also $ $ goes for VCO#2. Both VCO'S are $ $ composed of a handfull of part. One $ $ chip, two capacitors, 2 resistors $ $ and five potentiometers. All of $ $ this will give you (when properly $ $ calibrated) one of the freqencies $ $ necessary (the other one will come $ $ from VCO#2) for the operation of $ $ the Blue Box. Both of these freqs. $ $ will be mixed in the speaker to $ $ form the required tone. $ $ $ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $ $ $ This is one of the most $ $ sophisticated designs I have ever $ $ made. Why?. Because other designs $ $ will drain the battery after 10 $ $ calls. This design will make them $ $ last 10 months!!!!!!. But never the $ $ less, don't forget to put in a $ $ switch for on and off. Ok let's $ $ build the two VCO'S and calibrate $ $ the unit before we get to the $ $ keyboard construction. $ $ $ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ < > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ! ! ! VCO CONSTRUCTION ! ! === ============ ! ! ! ! TOOLS REQUIRED ! ! ----- -------- ! ! ! ! 1 ocilliscope(optional but not req) ! ! 1 Freq. counter (REQUIRED) ! ! 1 Volt meter " " " ! ! Electronics tools (Pliers,drll, ! ! screwdrivers, etc.) ! ! ! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- < > ....................................... . . . ------------- . . ! $-PARTS-$ ! . . ------------- . . . . R1 1.5K RESISTOR 5% . . R2 1K RESISTOR 5% . . C1 .1uf ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITOR 16VDC. . C2 .01uf " " (MYLQR)16VDC. .IC1 2207 VCO CHIP BY EXAR ELECTRONICS. . Remember the above only says . . VCO#1 but the same is for VCO#2 . . R3-R4 150 OHM RESISTORS 5% . . C3-C4 .1 uf ELECTROLITIC CAPACITOR . . C3-C4 .1 uf ELECTROLITIC CAPACITOR . . 10VDC . . P1-P10 200K TRIMMER POT - 20 TURNS . . DIODES USED IN THE KEYBOARD . . ARE 1N914 TYPE (40 OF THEM) & . . 13 SWITCHES FOR THE KEYBOARD . . SPST MOMENTARY. . . SPKR=YOU CAN USE A TELEPHONE SPEAKER. . FOR THIS (IT WORKS BEST) BUT . . REMEMBER TO TAKE OUT THE DIODE . . THAT IS CONNECTED ACCROSS IT. . . . ....................................... < > *************************************** * * * --------------------- * * ! *IMPORTANT NOTES* ! * * --------------------- * * * * 1. DO NOT USE ANYTHING ELSE OTHER * * THAN A MYLAR CAPACITOR FOR C2. * * 2. PINS 10,9,8 SHOULD BE TIED * * TOGETHER AND BE LEFT FLOATING. * * 3. ALL RESISTORS SHOULD BE 5%! * * NOTHING ELSE! * * 4. A TELEPHONE SPEAKER GIVES THE * * BEST RESULTS. * * * *************************************** < > %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% % % % -------------------- % % ! TROUBLE SHOOTING ! % % -------------------- % % % % By now you should have constructed% % the two VCO'S on a bread board or % % anything that pleases you. % % Check for cold solder joints, broken% % wires, polarity of the battery, etc.% % Before we apply power to the VCO'S % % we have to adjust the pots for their% % half way travel point. This is done % % by turning them 21 turns to the % % right and then 10 turns to the left.% % Do the same for all ten of them. % % % %-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-% % % % Now apply power to the unit check % % to see thaty you have power in the % % chips by putting the positive lead % % of your volt meter on pin 7 and the % % negative lead on pin 12. If you do % % not have anything there turn off % % the unit and RECHECK THE WIRING. % % % %-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-% % % % When you get the right voltages % % on the chips, connect a diode to a % % piece of wire (look at fig. 2 for % % the orientation of the diode) from % % ground to any pot at point T (look % % carefully at the schematic for % % point T it is labeled T1-T10 for % % all pots). You should be able to % % hear a tone, if not disconnect the % % lead and place the speaker close to % % your ear and if you hear a % % chirp-like sound, this means that % % the two VCO'S are working if you % % don't, it means that either one or % % both of the VCO'S are dead. So in % % this case it is always good to have % % an ocilloscope on hand. % % Disconnect the speaker from the % % circuit and hook the ocilliscope to % % 1 of the leads of the speaker & the % % ground from the scope to the ground % % of the battery. Connect again the % % ground lead with the diode connected% % to it from ground to any pot on the % % VCO that you are checking and you % % should see a triangle wave if not % % turn the pot in which you are % % applying the ground to until you see% % it. When you do see it do the the % % same for the other VCO to make sure % % same for the other VCO to make sure % % it is working. (amplitude is about % % 2VAC). When you get the two VCO's % % working you are set for the % % adjustment of the individuals pots. % % % %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% < > ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: : : : -------------- : : ! ADJUSTMENT ! : : -------------- : : : : DISCONNECT THE SPEAKER FROM THE : : CIRCUIT AND CONNECT A FREQ. COUNTER : : (THE POSITIVE LEAD OF THE COUNTER TO: : ONE OF THE SPEAKERS LEADS THAT : : BELONGS TO VCO#1 OR CONNECT IT TO : : PIN 14). : : : :-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-: : : : CONNECT THE NEGATIVE LEAD TO THE : : BATTERY NEGATIVE AND CONNECT THE : : JUMPER LEAD WITH THE DIODE FROM : : GROUND TO POT NUMBER 1.T1. : : ( THE FIRST POT NUMBER 1 POINT T1) : : IF YOU GOT IT WORKING YOU SHOULD : : HEAR A TONE AND GET A READING ON : : THE COUNTER. ADJUST THE POT FOR A : : FREQ. OF 1700hz AND CONTINUE DOING : : THE SAME FOR POTS 2-5 EXCEPT THAT : : THEY GET DIFFERENTS FREQS. WHICH ARE: : : : $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ : : $ $ : : $ P1= 1700hz $ : : $ P2= 1300hz $ : : $ P3= 1100hz $ : : $ P4= 900hz $ : : $ P5= 1500hz $ : : $ $ : : $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ : : : : NOW DISCONNECT THE FREQ. COUNTER : : FROM THE SPEAKER LEAD OF VCO#1 OR : : FROM PIN 14 (WHICH EVER YOU HAD IT : : ATTACHED TO AT THE BEGINNING) AND : : CONNECT IT TO THE SPEAKER LEAD OF : : VCO#2 OR TO PIN 14 OF VCO#2 AND : : MAKE THE SAME ADJUSTMENTS TO P6-10. : : : : $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ : : $ $ : : $ P6= 1100hz $ : : $ P7= 700hz $ : : $ P8= 900hz $ : : $ P9= 2600hz $ : : $ P10= 1500hz $ : : $ $ : : $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ : : : : WHEN YOU FINISH DOING ALL OF THE : : POTS GO BACK AND RE-CHECK THEM. : : : ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: < > < > < ------------ > < ! KEYBOARD ! > < ------------ > < > < IF YOU LOOK AT FIG-2 YOU WILL SEE > < THAT THE KEYS ARE SIMPLE SWITCHES. > < CONNECTED TO A GROUND AND TWO > < DIODES ON THE OTHER END. THESE > < DIODES ARE USED TO SIMPLIFY THE > < CONSTRUCTION OF THE KEYBOARD > < BECAUSE OTHERWISE THE DISTRIBUTION > < OF THE GROUND SIGNAL FOR BOTH VCO'S > < WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE MECHANICALLY. > < THE DIODE WILL GO TO VCO#1 AND THE > < OTHER WILL GO TO VCO#2. FIG-3 SHOWS > < THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE KEYS ON THE > < KEYBOARD. > < > <-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-> < > < BELOW IS A TABLE THAT WILL HELP > < YOU CONNECT THE KEYS TO THE > < REQUIRED VCO'S POTS. > < > <-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-> < > < (-FIG 2-) > < > <-----!-----!--------!--------!-------> < TO ! TO ! FREQ ! FREQ ! KEY > < POT ! POT ! OUT: ! OUT: ! > < ON ! ON ! ! ! > < VCO1! VCO2! ! ! > <-----!-----!--------!--------!-------> < 1 ! 06 ! 1700hz ! 1100hz ! C > < 2 ! 10 ! 1300hz ! 1500hz ! 0 > < 1 ! 10 ! 1700hz ! 1100hz ! E > < 4 ! 07 ! 0900hz ! 0700hz ! 1 > < 3 ! 07 ! 1100hz ! 0700hz ! 2 > < 3 ! 08 ! 1100hz ! 0900hz ! 3 > < 2 ! 07 ! 1300hz ! 0700hz ! 4 > < 2 ! 08 ! 1300hz ! 0900hz ! 5 > < 2 ! 06 ! 1300hz ! 1100hz ! 6 > < 5 ! 07 ! 1500hz ! 0700hz ! 7 > < 5 ! 08 ! 1500hz ! 0900hz ! 8 > < 5 ! 06 ! 1500hz ! 1100hz ! 9 > < - ! 09 ! ------ ! 2600hz ! X > < ! ! ! ! > <-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-> < > < REMEMBER THAT IN FIG-2 IT'S THE > < SAME FOR EACH KEY EXCEPT THE "X" > < KEY, WHICH ONLY TAKES ONE DIODE. > < > < > +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ + + + AS A FINAL WORD YOU CAN BUILD + + THIS IN ANY TYPE OF ENCLOSURE AND + + SHOULD NEVER BE USED TO MAKE FREE + + CALLS USING THE TELEPHONE LINES, OR + + ANYTHING ELSE ILLEGAL. + + + +-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+