Building a Beige Box
by: blakmac
blakmac@hackermail.com
http://www.page33.tk

It seems that everybody in the whole world has written an article on
how to build a beige box (homemade lineman's handset).  I suppose that
means it's my turn now.  Almost everybody that knows how to find my
site knows how to build these things (kind of like knowing how to
breathe...), but since I still hear "teach me how to be a phreak" on
a regular basis, this one is for the neophytes.

What you will need:

1 Telephone (with the buttons on the handset)
1 Phone Wire (I use a 6' cord, leave rj-11 jacks intact)
2 INSULATED Aligator Clips (color coded and INSULATED)

Now, on to the fun part.  Take the phone wire and cut off one of
the ends.  Now you should have one jack on one end, and none on
the other. Strip about 4 inches of the gray sheilding away from 
the wires.  They will be red, green, yellow, and black.  Cut the
yellow and black wires down so that they are out of the way.  
Next, attach the alligator clips to the red and green wires.  I 
prefer color coded clips, red on the red wire and black on the 
green wire.  To do this, remove the sheilding from the clip and 
slip it down over the wire you are attaching the clip to. Run the
wire through the clip and up through the opening in the arm of the
clip.  Loosen the screw, wrap the wire around it, and tighten it. 
Be sure to attach the wires firmly, either by crimping the clips 
or wrapping the wire around the screw (for the screw-down type).
Replace the sheilding around the clip, and then attach the phone
line to your handset.

The beige box is a very simple box to build, and is an excellent
tool to have for doing telephone diagnostics around the home and
office.  Feel free to experiment, and most importantly, have fun.