Years (about 30) ago I remember rigging a wire to run from my phone line to
a microphone jack. One wire went direct and the other had a capacitor and a
resistor in series with it. I had to experiment getting the right
resistance and capacitence but I finally got it right. At the time I was
feeding it to a tape recorder. I'd like to have one that I could just plug
in a modern modular phone jack on one end and a jack on the other end to
plug into my mike jack on my computer. I don't even have a soldering iron
anymore, much less a collection of resistors and capacitors. Surely someone
makes something like that. I've Googled and all I can come up with are
fancy boxes that will connect through USB ports and other such stuff
ranging anywhere from 80 to 150 dollars.
Someone probably has a cord for 5 or 10 dollars that will do exactly what I
want. But so far I haven't been able to locate one.
Maybe I'm not wording my Google searches properly. Radio Shack used to have
stuff like that (30 years ago). Any ideas?
--
-- I'm retired. I was tired yesterday. I'm tired again today --
On 11/21/2011 4:09 PM, Retired wrote:
> Years (about 30) ago I remember rigging a wire to run from my phone line to
> a microphone jack. One wire went direct and the other had a capacitor and a
> resistor in series with it. I had to experiment getting the right
> resistance and capacitence but I finally got it right. At the time I was
> feeding it to a tape recorder. I'd like to have one that I could just plug
> in a modern modular phone jack on one end and a jack on the other end to
> plug into my mike jack on my computer. I don't even have a soldering iron
> anymore, much less a collection of resistors and capacitors. Surely someone
> makes something like that. I've Googled and all I can come up with are
> fancy boxes that will connect through USB ports and other such stuff
> ranging anywhere from 80 to 150 dollars.
>
> Someone probably has a cord for 5 or 10 dollars that will do exactly what I
> want. But so far I haven't been able to locate one.
>
> Maybe I'm not wording my Google searches properly. Radio Shack used to have
> stuff like that (30 years ago). Any ideas?
>
John McGaw <Nobody@Nowh.ere> wrote in
news:Bezyq.92941$tf7.51071@en-nntp-13.dc1.easynews.com:
> On 11/21/2011 4:09 PM, Retired wrote:
>> Years (about 30) ago I remember rigging a wire to run from my phone
>> line to a microphone jack. One wire went direct and the other had a
>> capacitor and a resistor in series with it. I had to experiment
>> getting the right resistance and capacitence but I finally got it
>> right. At the time I was feeding it to a tape recorder. I'd like to
>> have one that I could just plug in a modern modular phone jack on one
>> end and a jack on the other end to plug into my mike jack on my
>> computer. I don't even have a soldering iron anymore, much less a
>> collection of resistors and capacitors. Surely someone makes
>> something like that. I've Googled and all I can come up with are
>> fancy boxes that will connect through USB ports and other such stuff
>> ranging anywhere from 80 to 150 dollars.
>>
>> Someone probably has a cord for 5 or 10 dollars that will do exactly
>> what I want. But so far I haven't been able to locate one.
>>
>> Maybe I'm not wording my Google searches properly. Radio Shack used
>> to have stuff like that (30 years ago). Any ideas?
>>
>
> One way:
>
> http://www.famguardian.org/Subjects/...les/TelephoneR
> ecording.htm#1.__Telephone_Recording_Cable_
>
> But all you should really need is:
>
> http://www.famguardian.org/Subjects/...les/TelephoneR
> ecording.htm#1.__Telephone_Recording_Cable_
>
> Since software for recording is probably already on the computer or
> are available for free.
That's pretty close to what I'm looking for. It's saying it uses a
"handset" cord which differs from a line cord a bit, but I can make up a
cord with one kind on one end and the other on the other.
I think I'll go with that. Thanks!
Just for the record you posted the same Radio Shack URL twice, but that
one was good enough to suit me.
--
-- I'm retired. I was tired yesterday. I'm tired again today --
On 11/21/2011 5:24 PM, Retired wrote:
> John McGaw<Nobody@Nowh.ere> wrote in
> news:Bezyq.92941$tf7.51071@en-nntp-13.dc1.easynews.com:
>
>> On 11/21/2011 4:09 PM, Retired wrote:
>>> Years (about 30) ago I remember rigging a wire to run from my phone
>>> line to a microphone jack. One wire went direct and the other had a
>>> capacitor and a resistor in series with it. I had to experiment
>>> getting the right resistance and capacitence but I finally got it
>>> right. At the time I was feeding it to a tape recorder. I'd like to
>>> have one that I could just plug in a modern modular phone jack on one
>>> end and a jack on the other end to plug into my mike jack on my
>>> computer. I don't even have a soldering iron anymore, much less a
>>> collection of resistors and capacitors. Surely someone makes
>>> something like that. I've Googled and all I can come up with are
>>> fancy boxes that will connect through USB ports and other such stuff
>>> ranging anywhere from 80 to 150 dollars.
>>>
>>> Someone probably has a cord for 5 or 10 dollars that will do exactly
>>> what I want. But so far I haven't been able to locate one.
>>>
>>> Maybe I'm not wording my Google searches properly. Radio Shack used
>>> to have stuff like that (30 years ago). Any ideas?
>>>
>>
>> One way:
>>
>> http://www.famguardian.org/Subjects/...les/TelephoneR
>> ecording.htm#1.__Telephone_Recording_Cable_
>>
>> But all you should really need is:
>>
>> http://www.famguardian.org/Subjects/...les/TelephoneR
>> ecording.htm#1.__Telephone_Recording_Cable_
>>
>> Since software for recording is probably already on the computer or
>> are available for free.
>
> That's pretty close to what I'm looking for. It's saying it uses a
> "handset" cord which differs from a line cord a bit, but I can make up a
> cord with one kind on one end and the other on the other.
>
> I think I'll go with that. Thanks!
>
> Just for the record you posted the same Radio Shack URL twice, but that
> one was good enough to suit me.
>
Did a bad copy and paste somehow and just didn't pay enough attention.
The handset and line wiring is substantially different so I wouldn't count
on it being easy (or even possible?) to fake it with a simple reassignment
of pins. What you need to do is to pick off the voice pair in an 'AC only'
way and attenuate the signal to a level low enough to be compatible with
the computer input while nullifying the extra-hot AC ring voltage which
might just fry the computer input if not handled correctly. Some phone on
the pair will be involved in seizing the line by creating a DC path. If the
phone is the one at the computer it would be reasonable to just use the box
as designed. If you wanted to bug some other phone on the same line I'd
think that simply taking the phone by the computer 'off hook' to listen in
on the conversation would work.
BTW don't forget the legalities involved -- they are seldom reasonable or
rational.
John McGaw <Nobody@Nowh.ere> wrote in
news:EJCyq.48805$zC6.4157@en-nntp-15.dc1.easynews.com:
> On 11/21/2011 5:24 PM, Retired wrote:
>> John McGaw<Nobody@Nowh.ere> wrote in
>> news:Bezyq.92941$tf7.51071@en-nntp-13.dc1.easynews.com:
>>
>>> On 11/21/2011 4:09 PM, Retired wrote:
>>>> Years (about 30) ago I remember rigging a wire to run from my phone
>>>> line to a microphone jack. One wire went direct and the other had a
>>>> capacitor and a resistor in series with it. I had to experiment
>>>> getting the right resistance and capacitence but I finally got it
>>>> right. At the time I was feeding it to a tape recorder. I'd like to
>>>> have one that I could just plug in a modern modular phone jack on
>>>> one end and a jack on the other end to plug into my mike jack on my
>>>> computer. I don't even have a soldering iron anymore, much less a
>>>> collection of resistors and capacitors. Surely someone makes
>>>> something like that. I've Googled and all I can come up with are
>>>> fancy boxes that will connect through USB ports and other such
>>>> stuff ranging anywhere from 80 to 150 dollars.
>>>>
>>>> Someone probably has a cord for 5 or 10 dollars that will do
>>>> exactly what I want. But so far I haven't been able to locate one.
>>>>
>>>> Maybe I'm not wording my Google searches properly. Radio Shack used
>>>> to have stuff like that (30 years ago). Any ideas?
>>>>
>>>
>>> One way:
>>>
>>> http://www.famguardian.org/Subjects/...icles/Telephon
>>> eR ecording.htm#1.__Telephone_Recording_Cable_
>>>
>>> But all you should really need is:
>>>
>>> http://www.famguardian.org/Subjects/...icles/Telephon
>>> eR ecording.htm#1.__Telephone_Recording_Cable_
>>>
>>> Since software for recording is probably already on the computer or
>>> are available for free.
>>
>> That's pretty close to what I'm looking for. It's saying it uses a
>> "handset" cord which differs from a line cord a bit, but I can make
>> up a cord with one kind on one end and the other on the other.
>>
>> I think I'll go with that. Thanks!
>>
>> Just for the record you posted the same Radio Shack URL twice, but
>> that one was good enough to suit me.
>>
>
>
> Did a bad copy and paste somehow and just didn't pay enough attention.
>
> The handset and line wiring is substantially different so I wouldn't
> count on it being easy (or even possible?) to fake it with a simple
> reassignment of pins. What you need to do is to pick off the voice
> pair in an 'AC only' way and attenuate the signal to a level low
> enough to be compatible with the computer input while nullifying the
> extra-hot AC ring voltage which might just fry the computer input if
> not handled correctly. Some phone on the pair will be involved in
> seizing the line by creating a DC path. If the phone is the one at the
> computer it would be reasonable to just use the box as designed. If
> you wanted to bug some other phone on the same line I'd think that
> simply taking the phone by the computer 'off hook' to listen in on the
> conversation would work.
>
> BTW don't forget the legalities involved -- they are seldom reasonable
> or rational.
I understand the legalities. I have no mal intent. :-)
Actually, I work part time for our local small town phone company. Our
secretary has an answering machine on her home phone and the "greeting"
message was made by her son years ago when he was about 10 years old. It
was really cute and they've kept it over the years. The kid is graduating
from high school this spring. We want to get that message recorded in as
high a quality as we can for old times sake. I've tried just holding the
receiver up to a microphone and recording it that way but the quality is
lousy. Anyway, that's what prompted me to try and get something that'll
do it direct. I can't get the kid to redo it anymore since his voice has
dropped a couple of octaves since then! :-)
Thanks for your assistance!
--
-- I'm retired. I was tired yesterday. I'm tired again today --
"Retired" <senile@nursinghome.nat> wrote in message
news:Xns9FA4D3F5268DFbutter@wefb973cbe498...
> John McGaw <Nobody@Nowh.ere> wrote in
> news:EJCyq.48805$zC6.4157@en-nntp-15.dc1.easynews.com:
>
>> On 11/21/2011 5:24 PM, Retired wrote:
>>> John McGaw<Nobody@Nowh.ere> wrote in
>>> news:Bezyq.92941$tf7.51071@en-nntp-13.dc1.easynews.com:
>>>
>>>> On 11/21/2011 4:09 PM, Retired wrote:
>>>>> Years (about 30) ago I remember rigging a wire to run from my phone
>>>>> line to a microphone jack. One wire went direct and the other had a
>>>>> capacitor and a resistor in series with it. I had to experiment
>>>>> getting the right resistance and capacitence but I finally got it
>>>>> right. At the time I was feeding it to a tape recorder. I'd like to
>>>>> have one that I could just plug in a modern modular phone jack on
>>>>> one end and a jack on the other end to plug into my mike jack on my
>>>>> computer. I don't even have a soldering iron anymore, much less a
>>>>> collection of resistors and capacitors. Surely someone makes
>>>>> something like that. I've Googled and all I can come up with are
>>>>> fancy boxes that will connect through USB ports and other such
>>>>> stuff ranging anywhere from 80 to 150 dollars.
>>>>>
>>>>> Someone probably has a cord for 5 or 10 dollars that will do
>>>>> exactly what I want. But so far I haven't been able to locate one.
>>>>>
>>>>> Maybe I'm not wording my Google searches properly. Radio Shack used
>>>>> to have stuff like that (30 years ago). Any ideas?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> One way:
>>>>
>>>> http://www.famguardian.org/Subjects/...icles/Telephon
>>>> eR ecording.htm#1.__Telephone_Recording_Cable_
>>>>
>>>> But all you should really need is:
>>>>
>>>> http://www.famguardian.org/Subjects/...icles/Telephon
>>>> eR ecording.htm#1.__Telephone_Recording_Cable_
>>>>
>>>> Since software for recording is probably already on the computer or
>>>> are available for free.
>>>
>>> That's pretty close to what I'm looking for. It's saying it uses a
>>> "handset" cord which differs from a line cord a bit, but I can make
>>> up a cord with one kind on one end and the other on the other.
>>>
>>> I think I'll go with that. Thanks!
>>>
>>> Just for the record you posted the same Radio Shack URL twice, but
>>> that one was good enough to suit me.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Did a bad copy and paste somehow and just didn't pay enough attention.
>>
>> The handset and line wiring is substantially different so I wouldn't
>> count on it being easy (or even possible?) to fake it with a simple
>> reassignment of pins. What you need to do is to pick off the voice
>> pair in an 'AC only' way and attenuate the signal to a level low
>> enough to be compatible with the computer input while nullifying the
>> extra-hot AC ring voltage which might just fry the computer input if
>> not handled correctly. Some phone on the pair will be involved in
>> seizing the line by creating a DC path. If the phone is the one at the
>> computer it would be reasonable to just use the box as designed. If
>> you wanted to bug some other phone on the same line I'd think that
>> simply taking the phone by the computer 'off hook' to listen in on the
>> conversation would work.
>>
>> BTW don't forget the legalities involved -- they are seldom reasonable
>> or rational.
>
> I understand the legalities. I have no mal intent. :-)
> Actually, I work part time for our local small town phone company. Our
> secretary has an answering machine on her home phone and the "greeting"
> message was made by her son years ago when he was about 10 years old. It
> was really cute and they've kept it over the years. The kid is graduating
> from high school this spring. We want to get that message recorded in as
> high a quality as we can for old times sake. I've tried just holding the
> receiver up to a microphone and recording it that way but the quality is
> lousy. Anyway, that's what prompted me to try and get something that'll
> do it direct. I can't get the kid to redo it anymore since his voice has
> dropped a couple of octaves since then! :-)
>
> Thanks for your assistance!
Could you just phone the number from a skype account and record the
conversation using the PC?
On 11/21/11 21:09, Retired wrote:
> Years (about 30) ago I remember rigging a wire to run from my phone line to
> a microphone jack. One wire went direct and the other had a capacitor and a
> resistor in series with it. I had to experiment getting the right
> resistance and capacitence but I finally got it right. At the time I was
> feeding it to a tape recorder. I'd like to have one that I could just plug
> in a modern modular phone jack on one end and a jack on the other end to
> plug into my mike jack on my computer. I don't even have a soldering iron
> anymore, much less a collection of resistors and capacitors. Surely someone
> makes something like that. I've Googled and all I can come up with are
> fancy boxes that will connect through USB ports and other such stuff
> ranging anywhere from 80 to 150 dollars.
>
> Someone probably has a cord for 5 or 10 dollars that will do exactly what I
> want. But so far I haven't been able to locate one.
>
> Maybe I'm not wording my Google searches properly. Radio Shack used to have
> stuff like that (30 years ago). Any ideas?
>
It would be easier to plug your fone into a Vonage box, you ****ing moron.
On 11/24/11 13:28, GT wrote:
> "Retired"<senile@nursinghome.nat> wrote in message
>
> Could you just phone the number from a skype account and record the
> conversation using the PC?
>
>
But could you trust this ****ing retard to use Skype let alone record
anything on the PC? I know I sure as ****ing hell couldn't.
"GT" <a@b.c> wrote in
news:4ece467d$0$22741$c3e8da3$63ee2bc3@news.astraw eb.com:
> "Retired" <senile@nursinghome.nat> wrote in message
> news:Xns9FA4D3F5268DFbutter@wefb973cbe498...
>> John McGaw <Nobody@Nowh.ere> wrote in
>> news:EJCyq.48805$zC6.4157@en-nntp-15.dc1.easynews.com:
>>
>>> On 11/21/2011 5:24 PM, Retired wrote:
>>>> John McGaw<Nobody@Nowh.ere> wrote in
>>>> news:Bezyq.92941$tf7.51071@en-nntp-13.dc1.easynews.com:
>>>>
>>>>> On 11/21/2011 4:09 PM, Retired wrote:
>>>>>> Years (about 30) ago I remember rigging a wire to run from my
>>>>>> phone line to a microphone jack. One wire went direct and the
>>>>>> other had a capacitor and a resistor in series with it. I had to
>>>>>> experiment getting the right resistance and capacitence but I
>>>>>> finally got it right. At the time I was feeding it to a tape
>>>>>> recorder. I'd like to have one that I could just plug in a modern
>>>>>> modular phone jack on one end and a jack on the other end to plug
>>>>>> into my mike jack on my computer. I don't even have a soldering
>>>>>> iron anymore, much less a collection of resistors and capacitors.
>>>>>> Surely someone makes something like that. I've Googled and all I
>>>>>> can come up with are fancy boxes that will connect through USB
>>>>>> ports and other such stuff ranging anywhere from 80 to 150
>>>>>> dollars.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Someone probably has a cord for 5 or 10 dollars that will do
>>>>>> exactly what I want. But so far I haven't been able to locate
>>>>>> one.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Maybe I'm not wording my Google searches properly. Radio Shack
>>>>>> used to have stuff like that (30 years ago). Any ideas?
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> One way:
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.famguardian.org/Subjects/...rticles/Teleph
>>>>> on eR ecording.htm#1.__Telephone_Recording_Cable_
>>>>>
>>>>> But all you should really need is:
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.famguardian.org/Subjects/...rticles/Teleph
>>>>> on eR ecording.htm#1.__Telephone_Recording_Cable_
>>>>>
>>>>> Since software for recording is probably already on the computer
>>>>> or are available for free.
>>>>
>>>> That's pretty close to what I'm looking for. It's saying it uses a
>>>> "handset" cord which differs from a line cord a bit, but I can make
>>>> up a cord with one kind on one end and the other on the other.
>>>>
>>>> I think I'll go with that. Thanks!
>>>>
>>>> Just for the record you posted the same Radio Shack URL twice, but
>>>> that one was good enough to suit me.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Did a bad copy and paste somehow and just didn't pay enough
>>> attention.
>>>
>>> The handset and line wiring is substantially different so I wouldn't
>>> count on it being easy (or even possible?) to fake it with a simple
>>> reassignment of pins. What you need to do is to pick off the voice
>>> pair in an 'AC only' way and attenuate the signal to a level low
>>> enough to be compatible with the computer input while nullifying the
>>> extra-hot AC ring voltage which might just fry the computer input if
>>> not handled correctly. Some phone on the pair will be involved in
>>> seizing the line by creating a DC path. If the phone is the one at
>>> the computer it would be reasonable to just use the box as designed.
>>> If you wanted to bug some other phone on the same line I'd think
>>> that simply taking the phone by the computer 'off hook' to listen in
>>> on the conversation would work.
>>>
>>> BTW don't forget the legalities involved -- they are seldom
>>> reasonable or rational.
>>
>> I understand the legalities. I have no mal intent. :-)
>> Actually, I work part time for our local small town phone company.
>> Our secretary has an answering machine on her home phone and the
>> "greeting" message was made by her son years ago when he was about 10
>> years old. It was really cute and they've kept it over the years. The
>> kid is graduating from high school this spring. We want to get that
>> message recorded in as high a quality as we can for old times sake.
>> I've tried just holding the receiver up to a microphone and recording
>> it that way but the quality is lousy. Anyway, that's what prompted me
>> to try and get something that'll do it direct. I can't get the kid to
>> redo it anymore since his voice has dropped a couple of octaves since
>> then! :-)
>>
>> Thanks for your assistance!
>
> Could you just phone the number from a skype account and record the
> conversation using the PC?
Great idea! I do have a few dollars credit left in my SkypeOut account
which I hardly ever use. I never even thought about that! Thanks!
--
-- I'm retired. I was tired yesterday. I'm tired again today --
Graciela <dgonzalez@promisesandiego.com> wrote in news:jamhsa$ohu$6
@speranza.aioe.org:
> On 11/24/11 13:28, GT wrote:
>> "Retired"<senile@nursinghome.nat> wrote in message
>>
>> Could you just phone the number from a skype account and record the
>> conversation using the PC?
>>
>>
>
> But could you trust this ****ing retard to use Skype let alone record
> anything on the PC? I know I sure as ****ing hell couldn't.
On Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:09:14 -0600, Retired <senile@nursinghome.nat>
wrote:
>Years (about 30) ago I remember rigging a wire to run from my phone line to
>a microphone jack. One wire went direct and the other had a capacitor and a
>resistor in series with it. I had to experiment getting the right
>resistance and capacitence but I finally got it right. At the time I was
>feeding it to a tape recorder. I'd like to have one that I could just plug
>in a modern modular phone jack on one end and a jack on the other end to
>plug into my mike jack on my computer. I don't even have a soldering iron
>anymore, much less a collection of resistors and capacitors. Surely someone
>makes something like that. I've Googled and all I can come up with are
>fancy boxes that will connect through USB ports and other such stuff
>ranging anywhere from 80 to 150 dollars.
>
>Someone probably has a cord for 5 or 10 dollars that will do exactly what I
>want. But so far I haven't been able to locate one.
>
>Maybe I'm not wording my Google searches properly. Radio Shack used to have
>stuff like that (30 years ago). Any ideas?
I had occasion to tap a phone ages ago, from a normal dial phone not
connected to a PABX.
There were two lines entering the phone from a wall socket.
The voltage across the two terminals at the wall was 90V DC.
The trick was to make a series connection at the wall (ie leave one
connection intact) and pass the other thru a contactor coil. A
parallel connection does not work; it's current you want.
The circuit was dead as long as the handset was in place on the phone.
As soon as this was lifted either to make a call or receive a call,
the contactor coil was energized.
I had my contactor with appropriate terminals to:
1/ Start a Marantz CP230 tape recorder.
2/ Connect an input across (parallel) across the wall terminals.
3/ Other things I can't remember any more.
As soon as the party had finished the call and hung up, the recorder
would turn off and the tap across the terminals would open. In the
evening when all had left I removed the cassette tape and inserted a
fresh one. This worked well, but:
The recorder needs a plurality of sockets suitable to the task, and
even meters to determine signal strength. Also, the recorder should
be silent and concealable. The Marantz CP230 was the type used by
journalists - slung over their shoulders. The Marantz was easily
concealed in this case at the back of the bottom drawer of a filing
cabinet. Replace batteries occasionally.
Note that the above system operates only when the handset is off the
phone so ensuring tape economy. Typically the used tape can be
screened in the car on the way home and the actions of the next day
modified if necessary.
I no longer remember the contactor type and ratings I used, but is was
very small and looked like a spider. I remember buying a handful of
the little gadgets and handfuls of capacitors and resistors as well,
and it was all rather trial & error. This little episode saved my
business life at the time and I am forever grateful for the little
Marantz which I keep as a souvenir - though its rubber guts and
pulleys seized up long ago.
I was fortunate to pick a phone that everybody used. Besides the
information I needed there was other extraneous stuff such as love
calls, gossip, etc. Concentrate on what you need.
In article <g5sdd7tup1bp34pv16tjitf0cr61p210q0@4ax.com>, Peter Jason <pj@jostle.com> wrote:
>On Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:09:14 -0600, Retired <senile@nursinghome.nat>
>wrote:
>
>>Years (about 30) ago I remember rigging a wire to run from my phone line to
>>a microphone jack. One wire went direct and the other had a capacitor and a
>>resistor in series with it. I had to experiment getting the right
>>resistance and capacitence but I finally got it right. At the time I was
>>feeding it to a tape recorder. I'd like to have one that I could just plug
>>in a modern modular phone jack on one end and a jack on the other end to
>>plug into my mike jack on my computer. I don't even have a soldering iron
>>anymore, much less a collection of resistors and capacitors. Surely someone
>>makes something like that. I've Googled and all I can come up with are
>>fancy boxes that will connect through USB ports and other such stuff
>>ranging anywhere from 80 to 150 dollars.
>>
>>Someone probably has a cord for 5 or 10 dollars that will do exactly what I
>>want. But so far I haven't been able to locate one.
>>
>>Maybe I'm not wording my Google searches properly. Radio Shack used to have
>>stuff like that (30 years ago). Any ideas?
>
>I had occasion to tap a phone ages ago, from a normal dial phone not
>connected to a PABX.
>
>There were two lines entering the phone from a wall socket.
>
>The voltage across the two terminals at the wall was 90V DC.
>
>The trick was to make a series connection at the wall (ie leave one
>connection intact) and pass the other thru a contactor coil. A
>parallel connection does not work; it's current you want.
>
>The circuit was dead as long as the handset was in place on the phone.
>As soon as this was lifted either to make a call or receive a call,
>the contactor coil was energized.
>
>I had my contactor with appropriate terminals to:
>
>1/ Start a Marantz CP230 tape recorder.
>2/ Connect an input across (parallel) across the wall terminals.
>3/ Other things I can't remember any more.
>
>As soon as the party had finished the call and hung up, the recorder
>would turn off and the tap across the terminals would open. In the
>evening when all had left I removed the cassette tape and inserted a
>fresh one. This worked well, but:
>
>The recorder needs a plurality of sockets suitable to the task, and
>even meters to determine signal strength. Also, the recorder should
>be silent and concealable. The Marantz CP230 was the type used by
>journalists - slung over their shoulders. The Marantz was easily
>concealed in this case at the back of the bottom drawer of a filing
>cabinet. Replace batteries occasionally.
>
>Note that the above system operates only when the handset is off the
>phone so ensuring tape economy. Typically the used tape can be
>screened in the car on the way home and the actions of the next day
>modified if necessary.
>
>I no longer remember the contactor type and ratings I used, but is was
>very small and looked like a spider. I remember buying a handful of
>the little gadgets and handfuls of capacitors and resistors as well,
>and it was all rather trial & error. This little episode saved my
>business life at the time and I am forever grateful for the little
>Marantz which I keep as a souvenir - though its rubber guts and
>pulleys seized up long ago.
>
>I was fortunate to pick a phone that everybody used. Besides the
>information I needed there was other extraneous stuff such as love
>calls, gossip, etc. Concentrate on what you need.
>
>
>
Then this little guy came along at Rado Shack and allowed anyone to do it.
Phone line to computer 
Linear Mode
