Expanding the Capacity of Caller ID Boxes 
A HackerZ Hideout Original 
www.hackersclub.com/km 
written by mR. dISCO  (06/08/97)
mrdisco@hackersclub.com 
(c) copyright 1997
This document may be freely reproduced as long as it remains intact. 


*****************DISCLAIMER*******************
This is for informational purposes only.  Anything you screw up is your own damn fault.
Neither mR. dISCO or the HackerZ Hideout will be held responsible if you fuck up your
caller id box.  With that out of the way....
********************************************


Whats up?
	I found an article in a back issue of 2600 (Spring 1996) on how to change the capacity
	of a CIDCO caller ID box.  This file recaps some of that article and gives my own
	experiences.

The Background...
	CIDCO is the primary brand of caller ID boxes around the country.  Many other 
	companies market CIDCO boxes under their own name.  CIDCO boxes come in many different
	capacities ranging from 10 to 85 callers.  Most units have about  25 or 30.  
	Since CIDCO is into mass production, its cheaper to produce one circuit board
	and just jumper (solder) what capacity they want.  All the owner has to do is 
	open the unit up and change the solder point. =]

What Tools You Need...
	- A Cidco Caller ID Box Revision 1.2A to 4.1** 
		To check the rev pop out the batteries, wait until the screen fades out
		and put them back in.  It should say C-NAM 1.2A or C-NAM 4.1 or whatever.
		It should then display the capacity.  If your capacity is 85 you probably 
		can't increase the capacity any.
		** This may work on other revisions.  2600 sez 1.2A or 1.4.  It worked
		for me on 4.1.  I'll bet they haven't changed much.
	- A soldering iron and basic soldering skills.  
	- Optional: Multitester...helpful for testing the circuit before you put the thing 
	  back together.

How to hack it...
	Turn the unit upside down and unscrew the two visible screws. Take off the battery 
	cover.  You'll see too more screws.  Unscrew these (duh).  There may be some more
	screws...you know what to do.  Eventually you'll get to the circuit board.  There
	should be a big chip in the middle.  On one of the sides (left on rev 4.1) You'll
	see four sets of solder points labeled A - D.  The functions depend on the Caller
	ID version. 

	REV 1.2A 
		This has a blue wire from the center chip to one of the following.
		A  10 numbers
		B  85 numbers
		C  10 numbers
		D  10 numbers
		Don't forget to put the wire on the same side of the solder pad you found it on

	REV 1.4
		Solder/Unsolder the points for the capacity you want
		(make sure only one pair is soldered)		

	   X2	C  10 numbers
		B  30 numbers
		A  60 numbers
		(none) 85 numbers

	   R17  D  French/English
		E  Spanish/English
		F  English only

	REV 4.1		
		A 30 Numbers   
		B 60 Numbers 
		C 25 Numbers
		D 30 Numbers
		(none) 85 numbers {I think. I had to stop before it was tested I'll 
				   update this when I get a chance}


In Conclusion...
	If anyone finds different combinations for different boxes,  I'd be interested.  




This page was created Wed Aug 11 12:24:26 EDT 1999


Using Linux
 version 2.0.32
 on an i586

unix   linux   networking   c   c++   operating systems     Copyright (C) 1999 - Matarese.com