To a young person dabbling in the underground in the early 1980s, few concepts
were as powerful, alluring, or exciting as the "Blue Box". A number of simple
circuits enclosed with push buttons, it changed everything in the relationship
between the Phone Company (Ma Bell) and her customers (The Peons).
Created in the late 1960's and working well into the 1980s (and maybe beyond),
the Blue Box took advantage of a design flaw in the entire telephone system:
it was possible to gain access to parts of phone switching equipment and
send them false signals to make the machinery do whatever you wanted.
With the blast of a 2600hz tone down a telephone line (signifying you Meant
Serious Business), you could seize the telephone trunk and gain a sort of
"Administrator" access to the phone switching equipment. And since operators
were unlikely to do the sort of wild experimentation that a phreak with a
blue box would try, all sorts of amazing things would happen with a few
button presses.
The Blue Box was a tangible Swiss Army Knife of the telephone, a powerful tool
that gave the whole world to you in a small box. Little like it has been seen
since. It inspired dozens and dozens of other <A HREF="../BOXES">phone-related
home-grown circuits</A>, who all were given the label of "(Color) Box" in
homage.
Blue Box Plans (40 Columns, with Borders!)
Advanced Blueboxing, by Guru Josh (December 13, 1991)
The Real "Info's" about Blue Boxing Version 1.01 by Phreaker's Paradise (August 5, 1991)
Collection of 1-800 Numbers that will Drop a Trunk in ESS
Blue Boxing Information, Part 1
Better Homes and Blue Boxing Part I, by Mark Tabas
Better Homes and Blue Boxing Part II: Practical Applications
Better Homes and Blue Boxing Part III: Advanced Signalling
How to Blue Box into Russia, by Mark Tabas
Blue Box Plans, by Mr. America
Basic Construction, Troubleshooting and Adjustment of the Blue Box
Blue Boxing Safely Today, by the Micro Master
The Real Info About Blue Boxing from Hannover, United Germany
Blue Box Construction, by Mr. Nibblemaster
Using a Blue Box as Associated with PicturePhone
COMPLETELY (but humorously) screwed up transcription of a Blue Boxing File
Blue Box Plans: An Original OSUNY Phile
Compilation of many Blue Boxing Textfiles
Blue Boxing, by The Micro Master
Building your own Blue Box, by Jester Sluggo
Some Things To Do With Your Blue Box When You're Bored
Complete Overview of the Technical Reasons behind Blue Boxing
The Art and Practice of Blue Boxing, by Nickie Halflinger
Some Advice on Using a Blue Box
Informative Overview of the History and Aspects of Blue Boxing
The Art and Practice of Blue Boxing
"Secrets of the Little Blue Box" by Ron Rosenbaum (40 col. version, from the Greek Inn BBS)
Documentation on the BlueBEEP Boxing Program
Better Homes and Blue Boxing, Parts II and III
Various Blue Boxing Information
Basic Construction and Operation of the Blue Box, from OSUNY BBS
Advanced Blue Boxing, from 13th Floor Enterprises
Don't Believe the Hype of Lamers! Blue Boxing in the UK is Dead! By 2Tuff/Crystal
Making a TI/994a into a Blue Box
Some Guys In France Got Busted for Blue Boxing!
How to Blue Box Into Russia by Mark Tabas
Blue Boxing in 1991 (Phreaking Without Knowledge)
Well, Dudes, Here's How you Use a Blue Box
What may be the End of Blue Boxing, by the Kook (1986)
Advanced Blueboxing by Guru Josh (December 13, 1991)
Information about Blue Boxing in Other Countries
Jolly Box Plans (Creates a <B>Blue</B> box on a computer)
Blue Boxes, by the Technician (A Layman's Definition)
TSC Multi-Frequency Dialer v7.1: The Bluebox Program for Atari ST/STE
Blue Box Information/Construction, from The Overlord
The Blue Box Filter, by Lord Raphael (December 29, 1991)
The Basic Construction, Troubleshooting, and Adjustment of a Blue Box
Secrets of the Little Blue Box (Short) by AP&P
Portable Blue Box Plans by Ford Prefect (May 21, 1984)
The UK Blue Box Plans, using 2280hz.
A Very Big Italian Warning To Stop using Blue Boxes
Warning about using Blue Box Numbers in Germany, by TRAX
Documentation for the Yet Another Blue Box Software, Version 0.93, January 1992