How to Wire Tap Your Home Phone, Essay Example

Introduction

Reasons for tapping phones

Obviously people have their own justifications for tapping calls but the main reason behind is comedy. They just record funk prank phone calls so as to keep on hearing them over and over again. Sometimes one may be too forgetful and thus need to be constantly reminded or just need to keep record for future review. Although illegal, one may need to tap the conversation on another individual’s personal phone or even a public booth.

Laws governing the recording and tapping of phone conversations

Unless carried out by law enforcement agencies, recording telephone conversation is a legal offense. It is there crucial for one to examine the existing federal and state laws before commencing on such kind of projects. The US federal Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 prohibits “the willful interception of phone communication either by means of any mechanical, electronic or any other device without and applicable exception”. The law however offers a chance of the same in situations where the involved parties agree in advance to the call consent i.e. the effective authorization by one or both parties in a call which is provided under the US federal laws 18 USC. Sec.2511 (2) (d).

The above are just the federal laws. Each state in the US have different degree of restrictions on tapping and both the caller and respondents area of resident rules will always apply especially in cases where a phone call is made to another state.

Different Types of Recording Devices

Speakerphone

This is the cheapest possible method of tapping phone calls. It involves the use of a tape recorder, speakerphone and PC’s microphone. By using the arrangement one can receive recording of high quality. The system however cannot promote the full duplex communication where the conversation can occur concurrently (Phonelosers.org).

Induction Motor Coil

This offers a rather portable method which can be hooked at any point on the telephone line, even in a pay phone! One only needs to position the suction head on the back of the phone’s handset and the other end is plugged to the, computer, stereo or recorder. It is crucial to use the headset when it is separate from the rest of the phone to avoid interference (Phonelosers.org).

In line recorders

This approach always gives highly quality recordings of phone calls. This involves plugging the recorder plugs into the phone jack and it is from that same line that all the phone calls will be recorded. The system has a remote jack that automatically sets off recording once the phone in the house is picked and ones it is hanged the recording stops (Phonelosers.org).

In-line Phone Cassette Recorders

The above device behaves like the in-line recorder described above; however there is an added convenience of having an inbuilt tape recorder. Sometimes recording can be initiated by voice or just picking of the phone. Despite its efficiency, the device is less sensitive thus the initial words of conversation are often slashed.

Police scanner and Cordless phone

This is applicable to older cordless phones with a frequency of 900MHZ. in recording one need to scan the frequency range when making a call. In making the conversation through the scanner the earphone outputs can be directly harmonized with computer or tape recorder.

Modems and Software

This is possible to record voice calls from phone lines using the Voice-enabled modems and computer. Examples of computer programs include Call Corder.

JK Audio Quick Tap

This device connects between the headset and the telephone although it does not work with a keypad in the headset (Phonelosers.org).

The instructions below outlines the basic steps required in tapping one’s phone so as to be able to record the calls made. This procedure works also with the wireless phones. Although it is not cheap gauging from the appliances required; the process is rather innovative and awesome.

The schematic diagram above represents a general outline of the connection

Apparatus required

1. A recorder with microphone jacks and REM
2. RadioShack recorder Control

Phone cline

1. 1-to-3 jack adapter for more than one phone
2. Extra cord
3. 8-condutor inline Coupler

Connecting the Lines Together

For more phones within a single house, one requires a Recoton Dual Modular T-Adapter. The connection is made in such a way that all the connection leads to the main jack to be used (Intractables).

Plugging the Phone Lines

The entire terminal phone lines to be used ate connected to the adapter

Connecting the Adapter in

At this point, the adapter and phones lines used are plugged into the port of the recorder control

Plugging in the Recorder Control

The incoming cord from the Control is plugged into the phone Jack. While doing this, the switch should be set on record mode

Connecting the REM and the microphone Cords

The microphone cords and the REM are plugged in. It is important to note the sizes as the smallest is always the REM cord.

Testing

After the necessary plug in have been done and running wires connected properly, the set-up is tested by inserting a tape. If everything is correctly done, the recorder should record once the phone is picked and turned on (Intractables).

Important tips

1. It is important to buy a salient recorder whose level of loudness has been pre tested
2. While in operation, the recorder should be hidden somewhere\

Work Cited

Intractables. How To Tap Your Phone Line. 17 Dec. 2009. <http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Tap-Your-Phone-Line/

Phonelosers.org. Recording telephone calls.  18 May 2009. 16 Dec. 2009 http://www.phonelosers.org/article/recording_telephone_calls/