Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!maverick.ksu.ksu.edu!unmvax!bbx!yenta!dt
From: dt@yenta.alb.nm.us (David B. Thomas)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Answering Machines
Message-ID: <1669@yenta.alb.nm.us>
Date: 18 Jul 90 09:24:29 GMT
References: <31790@cup.portal.com> <31823@cup.portal.com>
Distribution: na
Organization: yenta unix pc, Rio Rancho, NM
Lines: 14

My radio shack answering machine (which is a fantastic unit -- I highly
recommend r/s's telephone answerers), can respond to brief tones.

The security afforded by the secret code is not that great.
It expects *nn where nn is a two digit code you set with dials
on the back.  To hack, first press a star during the announcement.
If the machine stops and beeps, you are probably dealing
with such a machine.  For you hardcores, the beep is about 840 Hz.

The machine doesn't give you an obvious hint if you type a wrong guess,
so you might have to try 100 combinations, but you can try several per
call if you're quick, or if their message is longwinded :-)

						David