**Intercepting & re-transmitting data over phone lines** - By Captain B Fax machines, modems, CID (Caller ID) units, and even TTY/TDD machines all transmit data over landline phone lines. And, of course, all data is sent over phone lines in the form of sounds. So, just as you can record a string of DTMF (touch tones), and play it back after recorded to dial that same number, or voice mailbox passcode, or whatever, so too could you also record a fax transmition, then play back that transmition over a phone line connected to a fax machine. Thereby re- transmitting the same fax document. Much the same thing is the case for TTY/TDD machines. You could record an entire conversation between 2 people using a TTY/TDD on each end of the line, or even between a relay operator and a person using a TTY/TDD. After recording the TTY/TDD conversation, simply play it back while a TTY/TDD is on the other end of the line to re-transmit all the data (the TTY/TDD conversation) again. Recording CID data transmitions will, of course, enable you to spoof sent caller ID. (Orange box) But since that's already been covered in 2600 magazine, and on the Internet, I won't bother going into that. With modems and computer networks however, things aren't as straightforward. Since you have such security features as the 3 way handshake with TCP/IP, things get more complex than they do with fax and TTY/TDD machines. I'll leave that sort of thing alone, and continue on about recording methods. The most common method is to use a cassette or micro cassette recorder. Radio Hack sells a "Phone cassette recorder" (Cat# 43-473 Cost: $99.99) but, any cassette recorder with either a mic input jack, or left/right channel "audio in" RCA phono jacks will work. You'll need to buy one of Radio Shack's recorder controls. 2 of which (Cats. #43-228 and 43-1236) connect between your phone and phone jack. Another, (Cat# 43-1237) connects between your phone and the handset. And the last one (Cat# 44-533) is nothing more than a suction cup mic that attaches near the receiver (earpiece) of your handset. The price range for these is between $24.99 for the deluxe recorder control, to $4.49 for the telephone pickup suction cup mic. All use a 1/8 plug for connecting to 1/8 jacks. But, with the countless audio plug adapters availible, you can adapt the 1/8 plug to an RCA phono plug, 1/4 plug, even the more obscure 3/32 plug. By using these adapters, you can connect up your phone line via a recorder to various types of equipment for audio monitoring or recording purposes. For instance, you could connect up to a stereo amp for monitoring, or a stereo amp with a cassette deck connected to the amp for recording purposes. You could also connect up to standard cassette or micro cassette dictation-type recorders, and tapeless digital dictation-type recorders. With certain tapeless digital recorders, you can even upload the audio to your PC as a .wav file. 2 phone recorders that connect to your PC can be found at http://www.ahernstore.com/phonerecorders.html And, they also sell standard phone recorders, too. And, Radio Shack sells 2 digital tapeless dictation-type recorders you could use with a recorder control to connect it to your phone line, and then connect to a PC for uploading the audio. Or, you could just connect up the recorder control directly to the sound card on your PC, and run a program that records the audio as a .wav file. You could even connect up to a DJ stereo mixer, or CD recorder (burner). As long as you use the proper audio plug adapters, you can connect up to many different types of audio equipment. There's lots of possibilities. For example, when connecting to a single (Mono) RCA phono plug, use a 1/8 jack-to-RCA phono plug adapter. In the case of any stereo audio equipment with seperate L/R audio inputs, attach the 1/8 jack-to-RCA phono plug adapter to a RCA phono jack-to-dual RCA phono plugs "Y adapter". Ask them at Radio Shack about other adapters if you need to. It'll give them something else to do besides asking for your name/address/phone number when making purchases. Have phun.