Switch Hook Dialing
For: 31337 Phreaking
By: Captain B 



As you should know, before the event of DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) 
or "touch tone" dialing, there was the standard old rotary dial. (Which, 
is still accesible today on many touch tone phones through a switch marked 
either T/P or tone/pulse). The principal on which rotary (or, pulse) dialing 
works is by cutting the current on and off repeatedly. In other words, you 
don't have to be using a rotary phone, or touch tone phone set to "pulse" 
to be able to dial in this way. Another method to do it is called switchhook 
dialing. I'll get into it in a bit. But first, some side notes. Although 
rotary (pulse) dialing is definitely a slower way to dial than touch tone, 
it does have a few advantages. For instance, if someone is tapped into your 
line and recording you, or you're using an old cordless phone with no voice 
scrambling technology, if you dial through rotary (pulse), the person recording 
you won't simply be able to play back the click sounds made by rotary (pulse) 
dialing to call back the same person you just talked to after hanging up. 
(You can do that with numbers that are touch tone dialed). Also, there may 
be DTMF decoders on the market, but I've yet to hear about any "Rotary decoders", 
or anything of the like on the market. The only way I currently know of 
to be able to tell what number was dialed is if you have a good ear, and 
listen close to the number of clicks for each dialed digit. Now, on to how 
to switchhook dial: There's really nothing particularly complicated about 
it. It's just a matter of clicking the switchhook the same number of times 
as each digit you wish to dial. The number zero is represented by 10 clicks 
of the switchhook. And, in my area (Verizon country) clicking the switchhook 
11 times represents the # key. (Although, this was only tested on Verizon 
payphones. I've yet to try that on my home phone). Perhaps it should also 
be mentioned that switchhook dialing won't work on COCOTS. That's because 
the dial tone you hear Isn't the true dial tone in the first place on COCOTS. 
However, if you physically bypass the COCOT, you can dial either rotary 
or DTMF for the dicounted rate of zilch. Another, more complex way to simulate 
rotary (pulse) dialing is to wire up a SPST momentary on/off switch between 
the phone and the phone jack. But, why go to all that trouble when there's 
simpler ways? From payphones, I will admit rotary (pulse) dial Isn't particularly 
useful. Unless, say, the DTMF tones the keypad is putting out are too low 
in volume, and therefore not being picked up properly on the line, thereby 
keeping the dial tone on. Or, maybe a payphone that has a bad problem with 
buttons staying stuck down when you push them. At any rate, just make sure 
you use only Bell payphones when trying the switchhook dialing method. It's 
the only ones I'm currently sure of that It'll work on. One final thing: 
You must try to keep a steady rhythmn when repeatedly flashing the switchhook, 
and don't do it too slowly. Do it at a fairly fast speed. Yes, it can take 
a bit of getting used to at first. But, like with anything else, practice 
makes perfect. One thing that'll help is the fact that you actually don't 
have to push the switchhook completely down on each repeated flash. It only 
need be down enough to cut the current off. You can determine just how far 
the switchhook need be down by very slowly pushing down the switchhook until 
the handset is muted. (Receiver speaker and transmitter mic muted). On payphones, 
you can hold a finger or 2 under the switchhook cradle to prevent the switchhook 
from going all the way down (That's my method). Or, develop a method that 
you like, and works best for you. Rotary dial may be dead, but It's not 
forgotten.