
                Ŀ
                     The nderground onsortium Presents    
                                                            
                                
                                       
                               
                                           
                                   
                                                            
                      and the History of The Pay Phone      
                
    
       
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                            TABLE OF CONTENTS 
                           
     
     
     I.  ACTS Pay Phone
    II.  MARS Pay Phone
   III.  MARS-2 Pay Phone
    IV.  Company Overview
     V.  Summary of Information
    VI.  Description of AVI File
   VII.  Description of GIFs

       
       Since the worlds first coin operated pay phone was put into service
     back in 1889, their have been many changes with the advent of  
     technology.  One of the first notable changes was the ACTS pay phone. 
     
                             Ŀ
                                   ACTS       
                             
       
       The ACTS (Automated Coin Toll System) is a computer system that 
     automates fortress phones by listening for the Nickel, Dime and Quarter 
     tones.  ACTS is also responsible for ACCS.  Which is how you pay by 
     calling card.  ACTS pay phones work on the basic principle that when you 
     place money in the pay phone it makes a tone.  For every 5 cents that is 
     inserted a tone is made.  The tones used are as follows:

     Nickel tone:      1700+2200 Hz  Once at 5-8.5 PPS (Pulses Per second)
     Dime tone:        1700+2200 Hz  Twice repeating at 5-8.5 PPS
     Quater tone:      1700+2200 Hz  Five times repeating at 12-17 PPS 

       It is basically the nickel tone repeated for however much you put in. 
     When you put a coin in a fortress phone it is subjected to a number of 
     tests.  The first being a magnetic test which will determine if it is a 
     light weight coin or slug or a "good" coin.  If it passes this test it 
     is then classified as a Quarter, Nickel, or Dime as it will be checked 
     for weight and size.  If the coin passes all these tests it is 
     then sent to the totalizer arm, the arm rotates once for every 5 cents, 
     i.e. a quarter will make it rotate 5 times.  The totalizer arm then 
     causes the Coin Signal Oscillator to output a dual frequency signal 
     indicating the value of the coin to the ACTS.
        
       A relay in the phone called the "B" Relay, places a capacitor across
     the speech circur during the totalizer "read-out" to prevent the user 
     from hearing the ACTS tones.  The ACTS is also responsible for those 
     messages saying, "Please deposit 50 cents for the next 5 minutes".

       There are also tones for other things such as, Ring Back, Coin Collect, 
     and Coin Return.  These would be used by the ACTS operator and sent to 
     the CO (Central Office) at appropiate times.  The tones are as follows:

     Coin collect: 700+1100  Hz
     Ring Back:    700+1700  Hz
     Coin Return:  1100+1700 Hz
        
       Before these tones are sent by the ACTS it first sends a signal to 
     the CO to alert it's Multi Frequency Detectors.  This tone is as 
     follows: 
     
     900+1700 Hz a 2600 wink, approximatly 90 milli-seconds, followed 
     by a 60 milli-second gap then the appropriate signal for at least 900 
     milli-seconds.  
     
       Once the above tones are recieved the CO transfers them 
     into the appropriate DC pulses, -130 volts for coin return, and +130 
     volts for collect.  This pulse is sent down the line to the fortress 
     phone and thus causing the coin relay to either return or collect the 
     coins.

       As for the physical nature, ACTS pay phones weigh about 50 pounds with 
     an empty coin box.  The coin plate is secured on all 4 sides by hardened 
     steel bolts which pass through 2 slots each and are interlocked by the 
     main lock.  The main lock is a 8 level tumbler lock, located on the 
     right side of the coin box.  This lock has 390,625 combinations. The 
     lock is held in by 4 screws and is case hardened and has anti drill 
     inserts thus keeping the coin collection safe from theft.  Though if you 
     are able to get ahold of some refridgerant like R-12, you can freeze the 
     case and a light tap with a hammer will shatter that area.

                             Ŀ
                                   MARS       
                             
       
       The next generational move was a modified version of the ACTS pay phone
     called MARS (MARS-1).  The MARS pay phone made by Mars Electronics 
     International (a sub-division of Mars International which is 
     known more for the candy it produces) looked the same as the ACTS pay 
     phone except for some internal changes that enhanced security and coin 
     management.
       
       The MARS incorporates a modified shute that would allow or disallow
     coin deposit.  Their are three magnets that are designed for the  
     three main coins used by us today (Nickel, Dime and Quarter).  This
     security was established for the ACTS pay phone and enhanced to a greater
     level with the MARS and its following generation.  When a coin is placed 
     in the pay phone it passes the three magnets which are controlled by a 
     proprietary chip made by Mars Electronics International
     and if accepted it sends a charge that serves two purposes.  1) It 
     switches a lever that blocks the exit of the coin to the coin return 
     and dumps it in the collection box and 2) Sends that charge/tone to the 
     CO letting the CO know that a coin has been accepted.  The advent of 
     this technology seriously limited the use of the Red Box but would still 
     allow T-Networking to be used as a phreaking technique.  Some of you 
     might have wondered whether the minium amount to place a call is managed 
     and established at the CO or at the pay phone site.  It is set up 
     internally through manual switches on the totalizer.
                             
                             Ŀ
                                  MARS-2      
                             
       
       The latest edition to the pay phone developement is the MARS-2 pay 
     phone.  Developed back in early 1993 but not cost effective to 
     release to the masses until recently, MARS-2 is much like its predecessor 
     MARS-1, but incorporates newer anti-theft technology.  This technology 
     offers more physical protection from damage, theft, and T-Networking.  
     It also offers better money management, and customer relations.

       As with the previous changes in the pay phones there is no discernable
     difference in look since it uses the same old style housing but rather 
     internal changes that cannot be seen but only felt.  The MARS-2 
     electronic coin validator is what we call a "smart phone".  It uses the 
     same components as the previous MARS version but this pay phone is 
     installed with an Intel Chip readily designed for upgrade by simply 
     removing it from the socket and installing a newer version as needed.  
     
       One of the purposes of this chip is for self diagnosing and 
     self reporting, the sets keep themselves in reliable working condition 
     so customers can make calls.  This diagnosing monitors handsets, lines, 
     mechanical failures, and coin box status.  On a daily basis the CO sends 
     a signal to the pay phone to ensure that it is still working and no 
     failures have occured.  When a failure happens, the CO is immediatley 
     aware.  This also goes for the responsiveness of the pay phone itself.
     If a wire or handset is cut a signal is sent to the CO and an alarm is 
     sounded at the Central Office and the pay phone is shut down.  A repair 
     notice is issued and a technician dispatched to the pay phone to repair 
     it (usually the next day depending on the availability).  Another 
     purpose of the chip is to assist in weighing and measuring the coins in 
     conjunction with the Mars Electronic Chip and magnets.  It also is used 
     as a form of calculator.  When the coin box is full it calls the  
     Public Services Center (PSC) for an early collection but will keep the 
     pay phone open for credit card use only, where as the earlier phones 
     would completely shut down.  When the coin collector comes out to 
     collect, he knows exactly how much should be in that collection box and 
     in what amount of quarters, dimes, and nickels since the pay phone has 
     kept intouch with the PSC.  Another benefit with these pay phones are 
     with the heavy drug dealing areas.  The pay phones if set up for, will 
     not accept key pad input once a call has been placed.  Thus using a 
     pager will not work on a MARS-2 set up for this protocol.  What this 
     means is that one cannot use a voice mail system or a pager from said 
     phone.

       This new model does not have a need for the use of tones seeing as it
     contains the best of the earlier generations and the use of a "smart"
     chip to literally let the CO know of a "good" coin collection and what
     kind it was.  Thus the Red Box is obsolete with this phone.  Also with
     the monitoring of cut wires the T-Network is obsolete.

       Some of the older models of pay phones have been refurbished to 
     contain an RS-232 port for the repair technician to use his laptop and 
     connect with the CO.  This is standard issue for new phones and can be 
     reached when the pay phone is opened up.  The kind of refurbishing thats 
     going on allows the telephone company to use existing stock before 
     releasing a new housing.  The bread and butter of the MARS-2 is the 
     electronic coin validator that the coin goes through.  This is the only 
     piece, with some minor modifications to the internal housing that 
     replaces the old version and brings the pay phone up to MARS-2 
     generation.  Its made out of black plastic and fitted together by 2 
     screws and the rest is simply held in by pressure.  This piece contains 
     the heart of the system and is easily replaced and upgraded as needed.  
     This piece of equiptment holds the magnets, Mars Electronics 
     International control chip, Intel Chip and data connections.
       
       Some of you might wonder how you can tell if a pay phone is at MARS-2 
     generation.  First is that the coin release lever will have a lead 
     space before giving in and releasing a coin to the coin return, it also  
     will not have the metallic sound or harder resistance as the ACTS pay
     phones did.  It will be smooth and not as resistive.  Second some of the
     phones in the process of moving up a generation had the "new" volume
     control changed from "nipple" style to a "square" push button.  Other
     than these mundane changes you can't tell the difference with out 
     playing.

                          Ŀ
                             COMPANY OVERVIEW   
                          

       The Mars Electronic Chip was copyrighted in 1982 with a part number of
     11155226.  Again this chip allows the passing of the coin by enabling
     the switch if the coin passes the magnets.  It will then let the Intel
     chip know of this occurance.  Otherwise no energy is expended if the
     coin is bogus and fails the magnet test.  It will simply fall out 
     through the coin return.
     
     Mars Electronics International     
     1301 Wilson Drive.
     West Chester, PA  
     19380
     
     (Phone) 215-430-2500
    
       The Intel MHS chip (part number 110446005) will keep the CO aware
     of what is going on with the pay phone in the aspects already described.
     The power comes from the phone lines (Black and Yellow Wires) and cutting
     those will simply alarm the CO and the pay phone becomes useless.

     Intel Corporation
     5200 Northeast Elam Young Parkway
     Hillsboro, Oregon
     97124
     
     (Phone) 800-321-4044
                          
                          Ŀ
                           SUMMARY of INFORMATION 
                          
    
       Little Johnny Phreaker thinks it would cool to steal one of these 
     phones.  He's going to be the first kid on the block with one in his 
     bedroom and he goes out and steals one right off of the Dairy Mart wall.
     He gets so K-raD 3l1t3 that he hooks it up in his room...
       
       The pay phone calls the CO and lets the CO know where its at...


       In essence the MARS-2 offers the following:

       1. Coin Management (Calculation and Auditing of Currency), 
       2. Security, Self Reliance and Self Monitoring (Cut Handsets, 
          Mechanical Failures, Coin Box Volume).
       3. Credit Card usage only when coin box is full.
       4. Drug Dealing deterents (No Keypad usage after call answered),
          thus no pagers or Voice Mail Systems (VMS) can be used on pay 
          phones set up for this procedure in high drug use areas.
       5. Coin Verification (Weight and Magnetism of coins).    
      
                                Ŀ
                                 AVI FILE 
                                
    
       MARSCOIN.AVI 
        
     Full motion video operation of the electronic coin validator and a coin 
     going through the system.

                           Ŀ
                            DESCRIPTION of GIFS 
                           
     
       GIF 1:  MARS-2 Electronic Coin Validator with Cover Removed.
     
     Descriptions:        
    
     1) Coin slot. 
     2) Mars Electronics Internatinal Chip (MEIC).
     3) Coin acceptance mechanism (blocks return of good coin)
        with data cable removed. 
        
       GIF 2:  MARS-2 Electronic Coin Validator with cover on.

     Descriptions:

     1) Coin slot.
     2) Triple magnet shute (anti-slug mechanism). 
     3) Coin shute

       GIF 3:  MARS-2 Electronic Coin Validator with cover removed.

     Descriptions:  
     
     1) Coin slot.  
     2) Mars Electronics International Chip (MEIC).
     3) Data cable (MEIC to Intel Chip connection).  
     4) Intel Chip.

       GIF 4:  Profile of MARS-2 Electronic Coin Validator
       
     Descriptions:  
     
     None Needed.
       
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                                  THE END 
                                 
       
       This concludes the write up on the generations of pay phones and the 
       MARS-2 Electronic Coin Validator.
       
       
       * Portions of ACTS write-up taken and re-written in part from "BIOC 6" 
       * and "ABC's of Payphones".
       * MARS (MARS-1) and MARS-2 researched and written in its entirety by 
       * The nderground onsortium.

