OT: Recording Telephone Conversations (w/o amplitude attenua

[lcoe]

i have been thinking about recording calls to/from my relatives, many
are getting older and it would be nice to have some of the stories and
observations they have told.

what would be a good method? the first problem i see is that any
additional device on the line 1/2's the volume of the incoming call,
dunno about the outbound.

is there special equipment for this? expensive? i grok component
level (discrete, and TTL) electronics so could do some work myself.
any web ref's, suggestions or experience welcomed. Thanks! --Loren

 

[Peter Reilley]

I seem to remember having an answering machine that had a record
feature. You would hit a button and it would record both sides
of a conversation. The machine is long gone. You may find
such a feature on some answering machines now.

Pete.


"lcoe" <lcoe@c1932201-a.attbi.com> wrote in message
news:5eCYa.91792$o%2.41437@sccrnsc02...

i have been thinking about recording calls to/from my relatives, many
are getting older and it would be nice to have some of the stories and
observations they have told.

what would be a good method? the first problem i see is that any
additional device on the line 1/2's the volume of the incoming call,
dunno about the outbound.

is there special equipment for this? expensive? i grok component
level (discrete, and TTL) electronics so could do some work myself.
any web ref's, suggestions or experience welcomed. Thanks! --Loren

 

[Des Bromilow]

Loren,

In australia, Dick Smith (www.dse.com.au), and Jaycar(www.jaycar.com.au)
used to sell a small microphone whihc was attached to the handset (via a
suction cap) which enabled you record both sides of the conversation. From
memory it wasn't that expensive, but I cannot speak for the quality since
I never needed one.

Des

lcoe wrote:

i have been thinking about recording calls to/from my relatives, many
are getting older and it would be nice to have some of the stories and
observations they have told.

what would be a good method? the first problem i see is that any
additional device on the line 1/2's the volume of the incoming call,
dunno about the outbound.

is there special equipment for this? expensive? i grok component
level (discrete, and TTL) electronics so could do some work myself.
any web ref's, suggestions or experience welcomed. Thanks! --Loren

 

[Leo Lichtman]

lcoe wrote: i have been thinking about recording calls to/from my
relatives, (clip) what would be a good method
^^^^^^^^^^^
I believe many answering machines allow you to record an ongoing
conversation by just pushing a button.

There are telephone "pickups" available at places like Radio Shack. Just
stick it to your phone with a suction cup, and plug into any recorder.

 

[Keith Marshall]

I posted this once before but it hasn't shown up and my 'net connection was
sick yesterday so I'll try again. Sorry if it shows up twice.

I've never tried it before but maybe this will help...

http://www.epanorama.net/documents/telecom/telerecord.html

Best Regards,
Keith Marshall
tooladdict@progressivelogic.com

"The universe is full of magical things,
patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper."
-Eden Phillpotts, A Shadow Passes, 1934
"lcoe" <lcoe@c1932201-a.attbi.com> wrote in message
news:5eCYa.91792$o%2.41437@sccrnsc02...

i have been thinking about recording calls to/from my relatives, many
are getting older and it would be nice to have some of the stories and
observations they have told.

what would be a good method? the first problem i see is that any
additional device on the line 1/2's the volume of the incoming call,
dunno about the outbound.

is there special equipment for this? expensive? i grok component
level (discrete, and TTL) electronics so could do some work myself.
any web ref's, suggestions or experience welcomed. Thanks! --Loren

 

[jakdedert]

I just yesterday bought one from RS. I can't tell you the ##, but it works
quite well...cost $27--some-odd bucks. They didn't have the cheaper ones in
stock, but I'm very happing with this one.

It plugs directly into an unused phone jack...doesn't load down the line,
and produces very clear recordings with minimal difference in volume level
between caller and callee--something I've had a problem with other units.
It automatically switches recorders which a remote jack...on your R to R,
you'd just leave that connection unused. You don't even have to connect it
in the same room as your conversation. It will record from any phone jack
connected to the same line.

For your R to R, you will need to also buy an adaptor to plug in the mini
phone plug to the rca type inputs. You may also want to purchase a 'Y'
adaptor to record both channels if it is a stereo unit.

jak

"HaroldA102" <harolda102@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030807235204.11428.00000215@mb-m04.aol.com...

radio shack has what you want

 

[lcoe]

jakdedert <jdedert@bellsouth.net> wrote:

I just yesterday bought one from RS. I can't tell you the ##, but it works
quite well...cost $27--some-odd bucks. They didn't have the cheaper ones in
stock, but I'm very happing with this one.

yes, i bot one today, along with the one that uses the handset (will
likely return it, tho). it's great to get a current report, this
model is new, the guy said he's only had them a few days and mine
was the 2nd he has sold.

they had the old one, too, just 3bucks cheaper, but the web site claimed
some kind of "auto-level?" feature on the new model, so i opted not to buy
the cheaper. it will probably go on sale for 40-50% off in a few weeks.
the old one has the same features, just in a larger case and it black.

It plugs directly into an unused phone jack...doesn't load down the line,
and produces very clear recordings with minimal difference in volume level
between caller and callee--something I've had a problem with other units.
It automatically switches recorders which a remote jack...on your R to R,
you'd just leave that connection unused. You don't even have to connect it
in the same room as your conversation. It will record from any phone jack
connected to the same line.

For your R to R, you will need to also buy an adaptor to plug in the mini
phone plug to the rca type inputs. You may also want to purchase a 'Y'
adaptor to record both channels if it is a stereo unit. > jak

i will startout with a micro cassette, the r-r comes later when i can
get it set up. my immediate problem now is _finding_ that damn microcassette
recorder or even the varible speed cassette unit i bot years ago from
RShack (a really neat product). Regards, --Loren

"HaroldA102" <harolda102@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030807235204.11428.00000215@mb-m04.aol.com...

radio shack has what you want

 

[Doug Goncz]

i grok component
level (discrete, and TTL) electronics so could do some work myself.

The phone line and set impedance are 600 ohms. The off hook DC is 6V, I think.
The AC current is 20 ma, I think. The AC voltage is certainly going to be less
than 6V. The telset mic is a variable resistor, a carbon mic.

I remember using a pair of 1K resistors and caps to isolate both sides of the
phone line from the OUTPUT of a Commodore 64 for my program "64 Dialer", which
could emulate the operator's signals.

Anyway, one R and one C on each side will isolate the LINE input of your
recorder just fine. It's a bit much for a mic input, I think. A line input is
usually 1VAC.

the first problem i see is that any
additional device on the line 1/2's the volume of the incoming call,
dunno about the outbound.

Actually, it's only supposed to halve the power, which is a barely noticeable 3
decibel drop.

Anyway, the little Radio Shack and kit builder catalog box is just right. It
takes the modular jack and plugs into the mic input. One version also controls
the mini plug for the motor start / stop when the phone is picked up. This is
great, but if you leave the capstan pinch roller pressed against the capstan,
it'll develop a bump, and your recordings will sound burbly. I mean leave it
for days, waiting for a call, like a wiretap. Leaving it in place for a short
while is no problem.



Yours,

Doug Goncz, Replikon Research, Seven Corners, VA
Unequal distribution of apoptotic factors regulates
embryonic neuronal stem cell proliferation

 

[Gary R Coffman]

On Fri, 08 Aug 2003 00:34:09 GMT, lcoe <lcoe@c1932201-a.attbi.com> wrote:

i have been thinking about recording calls to/from my relatives, many
are getting older and it would be nice to have some of the stories and
observations they have told.

what would be a good method? the first problem i see is that any
additional device on the line 1/2's the volume of the incoming call,
dunno about the outbound.

That's only true if the additional device is the same impedance. If
you use a high input impedance amplifier to bridge across the line,
there will be negligible effect on the levels.

Note that there is DC on a phone line, and also that the signals
*you* generate with the mouthpiece will be *much* louder than
the received signal. It is much better to tap into the phone after
the hybrid, across the line feeding the receiver element. The
hybrid suppresses the locally generated signal by about 20 dB,
so your speech won't overwhelm the recorder, and there is no
DC at that point in the circuit.

The receiver element has an impedance of about 40 ohms,
so bridge it with an amplifier whose input impedance is at
least 400 ohms (several kilohms would be better, though
hum might become a problem with a very high impedance
bridging connection).

is there special equipment for this? expensive? i grok component
level (discrete, and TTL) electronics so could do some work myself.
any web ref's, suggestions or experience welcomed. Thanks! --Loren

The simplest least intrusive method to do this is to attach an
induction coil to the telephone receiver. The receiver element,
actually a small speaker, will generate a magnetic field in step
with the received speech. The induction coil will intercept part
of the field, and will produce an electrical current that you can
feed to a recorder. These are commercially available (inexpensively)
with a little suction cup to hold them on the receiver. This will
also have negligible effects on the received levels.

Gary

 

[lcoe]

Doug Goncz <dgoncz@aol.comewsolurb> wrote:

i grok component
level (discrete, and TTL) electronics so could do some work myself.

The phone line and set impedance are 600 ohms. The off hook DC is 6V, I think.
The AC current is 20 ma, I think. The AC voltage is certainly going to be less
than 6V. The telset mic is a variable resistor, a carbon mic.

thanks to Doug and Gary for the detailed replys(!).

the first problem i see is that any
additional device on the line 1/2's the volume of the incoming call,
dunno about the outbound.

Actually, it's only supposed to halve the power, which is a barely noticeable 3
decibel drop.

iirc, 3db is 1/2? definitely noticable, on "typical connections".

Anyway, the little Radio Shack and kit builder catalog box is just right. It
takes the modular jack and plugs into the mic input. One version also controls
the mini plug for the motor start / stop when the phone is picked up. This is
great, but if you leave the capstan pinch roller pressed against the capstan,
it'll develop a bump, and your recordings will sound burbly. I mean leave it
for days, waiting for a call, like a wiretap. Leaving it in place for a short
while is no problem.

yea, no wiretap, but it would be nice to have it on all the time. will work
on that. for now i am looking into the "Olympus" volice recorder, and the
few MP3 players that do voice. some are very pricey but you can upload the
sound files, which would be a nice upgrade from dealing with the tape.

even speech recognition is touted, but there are transcription services
right now that accept voice files online. neat, never knew that 'dictation'
advanced to far. Best Regards, --Loren

Yours,

Doug Goncz, Replikon Research, Seven Corners, VA
Unequal distribution of apoptotic factors regulates
embryonic neuronal stem cell proliferation