Simple Phone Tap


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Derek Tombrello 186,046 127 92
This circuit is extremely simple, therefore there is less chance of any problems. It can be placed anywhere on the phone line and it will record any conversation on any phone on that line.

Please note: I have received several emails saying that this circuit will not work and that it may hold your line off hook and to me it looks like it will (it would put quite a load on the phone line). For some, it has worked fine. Build at your own risk.

Schematic

This the Schematic of the Simple Phone Tap

Parts

Part
Total Qty.
Description
Substitutions
R11470 Ohm 1/4 Watt Resistor
R211K 1/4 Watt Resistor
R31100K 1/4 Watt Resistor
R416K 1/4 Watt Resistor
C1, C220.01 uF 100V Ceramic Capacitor
K1124VDC Reed Relay
MISC1Wire, Headphone Plugs, Phone Plug Or Alligator Clips

Notes

  1. Email Derek Tombrello with comments, questions, etc.
  2. To use the circuit, simply connect it in series to the phone. Then plug in the recorder. It will start recording when the phone is picked up.
  3. The values of R1 and R2 may have to be adjusted, depending on the characteristics of the phone line it is connected to (they vary). If the R1+R2 combination is increased sufficiently (try 2.47K) then the circuit can be connected in parallel with the line, thus covering all attached devices. (Thanks to Mark Wright for the suggestion).
  4. T.A. Betts offers this suggestion for getting this problematic circuit working: "If you drop the resistors and add a 2.2uF capacitor the line will not stay off hook. It blocks the DC from the moniter position."

Related Circuits

Ringing Phone Light Flasher, Phone Busy Indicator, FM Telephone Bug, Cut Phone Line Detector, Simple Phone Tap, Telephone Hold Button, Telephone Recorder, Remote Telephone Ringer

Comments

Add A Comment

coolpops
Simple Phone Tap
Saturday, September 19, 2009 10:50:49 AM
How can I detect a phone tap on my line from the outside pole? What should I look for and listen for?
Melissa Green
phone tap
Friday, September 18, 2009 11:17:40 AM
My house phone is tap. What do i do to untapped my phone

(Editor's notes: No, it's not.)

miss dumber
Simple Phone Tap
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 1:49:34 PM
Hi I think i'm pregnant and the father has been playing around, can a simple fone tap cure my pregnacy ?
anonymous
Simple Phone Tap
Thursday, September 10, 2009 10:01:46 PM
If you honestly have that bad of trust issues you need to tap your significant other's phone, you should post on other forums like montel williams and jerry springer. They are profesionals in that technical area
anonymous
Simple Phone Tap
Thursday, September 10, 2009 9:58:35 PM
It's the hippocampus, trust me.
anonymous
Simple Phone Tap
Wednesday, August 05, 2009 1:38:30 AM
My friend believes her soon to be ex-husband is tapping her cell phone, can it be done if he has no access to her phone? In general can it be done and is it illegal? and how can she prove it is happening?
Noreen
Simple Phone Tap
Sunday, April 26, 2009 3:02:51 AM
Hi, I am looking for a simple phone tap that will record all day conversations from both parties for my landline phone that will be out of site and out of mind, for cheating husband, Sincerely, in desperate need of help.
Rikki
Simple Phone Tap
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 12:53:59 PM
I think that the cops should not phone tap anyone unless they have enough evidence to prove that the person that is being acused did something wrong, if so then let them be phone taped but other then that people who really didnt do anything is being phone taped and its wrong
anonymous
Simple Phone Tap
Monday, February 02, 2009 9:10:05 AM
I know my cats are crapping outside the litter box, and I need to implant this chip to read their minds and log the info on my computer via zigbee, so I can put a stop to this mess. Are there any good surgical sites that help with this procedure, I'm not sure if I should tap into the hippocampus or the cerebral cortex. Thanks
anonymous
Simple Phone Tap
Saturday, January 31, 2009 5:09:44 PM
I have a phone tap that is just wires that is to be hooked up into the phone box out side, and I can listen to phone convesation in my home through the radio in my car sitting in my drive way. I'm just not sure exactly how to hook it up. It has two different colored wires. I got my tap around the year 1998-2000. If you have an idea of what I'm talking about, Please explain to me how get it hooked up?!!
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