So I thought I'd explain the story behind the eviL FM Radio Transmitter..

At the time, I was involved in a summer program that helped introduce kids into finding what career paths they would want to venture onto as they got older. I was very in tune with my senses and knew at an early age that I was destined to be a "techno-weenie", so I chose the path of "Electronics". I sign up and got to know the instructors and staff at this program and they seemed to respond to me very well. During the second week of the program, the members initiated a contest with submissions for projects pertaining to your field. My instructor recommended I look into DIY Electronic Kits... After researching kits via Electronics & Computing catalogues, I stumbled upon a simple FM Radio Transmitter kit for $7. I ordered 2 just in case and as soon as I got the kits, I immediatly built it in under an hour and tested and was stoked to display my project. After I constructed a simple plastic case, I kinda started to realize how simple and dull the project was to me... So I thought to myself... what could one do to spruce this puppy project up? (curling "grinch" smile)

[ I can only assume that what compelled me to do what I did next was probably for the reasons being that I was getting into the "Phone Phreaking" culture at the time and was obsessed with phone phreak boxes...google if you have no idea what I'm talking about. ]

I examine the small board and its simplistic setup while pondering the main idea of what a transmitter is and does. After several hours, I realized that the kit has you solder a small microphone to have you transmit your voice. Why should it be a microphone... can't it be something else? After more and more research, I ran through a bunch of ideas onto what I could connect as an alternative: which ended up being a 3.5mm headphone jack I ripped off an old pair of crappy headphones and it worked! My Sony Discman was now being transmitted over FM in full clarity! ..but I couldn't stop there.

I proceed to solder 2 x standard wires to the connection on the board where the mic should of been as well as solder 2 x Alligator Clips to the end of the wires. I now had open terminals as inputs. I reconstructed the plastic box I had the project in so that it was much smaller for easier hiding capabilities.

[ WARNING: HIGHLY ILLEGAL ] I proceeded to then hop over to my neighbor's yard where I located their Bell Atlantic phone box on the side of there home. Back in the day they used to look very similar to this:

Things have changed now but at the time, if you "tampered" with the Red & Green connectors ( I believe those colors.. was so long ago ) you had a chance of actually being able to open or pickup the phone line to the house and connected line.

I connected the transmitter clips to the correct color terminals in the phone box, busted out a mini FM radio that I had gotten as a gift for Christmas and fine tuned that sucker... and to my surprise..... I COULD HEAR MY NEIGHBOR TALKING TO HIS WIFE! My mind was officially blown and I was so excited to show this to everyone at the summer program. I buttoned everything back up w my "eviL" device and tested the range. Sure enough, I could still pick up the frequency from my bedroom and snoop on their home phone calls.

Next day, I brought my eviL transmitter in.. did not tell anybody about it or what the project was, presented the project (save the best for last) and was followed by shock & awe. The instructors had to phone my Mother and explain what had happened for legal reasons, which they just needed to make her aware of the situation. When she came to pick me up and meet the instructors, they explained to her that they were not angry but more or less impressed at my abilities and ideas. They then offered me free electronics education via a program that tied into a really good Vocational School, which I accepted and was able to go to High School early as well as immediately bank in on internships for companies like Polycom, HP & US Robotics.

:) Hope You Enjoyed My Story.