FM Telephone Bug

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Here is a simple transmitter that when connected to a phone line, will transmit anything on that line (execpt the dial tone) to any FM radio. The frequency can be tuned from 88 to about 94Mhz and the range is about 200 feet. It is extremely easy to build and is therefore a good, useful beginner project.

Schematic

Parts

Part	Total Qty.	Description	Substitutions
R1	1	180 Ohm 1/4 W Resistor
R2	1	12K 1/4 W Resistor
C1	1	330pF Capacitor
C2	1	12pF Capacitor
C3	1	471pF Capacitor
C4	1	22pF Capacitor
Q1	1	2SA933 Transistor
D1, D2, D3, D4	4	1SS119 Silicon Diode
D5	1	Red LED
S1	1	SPDT Switch
L1	1	Tuning Coil
MISC	1	Wire, Circuit Board

Notes

L1 is 7 turns of 22 AWG wire wound on a 9/64 drill bit. You may need to experiment with the number of turns.

By stretching and compressing the coils of L1, you can change the frequency of the transmitter. The min frequency is about 88 Mhz, while the max frequency is around 94 Mhz.

The green wire from the phone line goes to IN1. The red wire from the phone line goes to IN2. The green wire from OUT1 goes to the phone(s), as well as the red wire from OUT2.

The antenna is a piece of thin (22 AWG) wire about 5 inches long.

All capacitors are rated for 250V or greater.

The transmitter is powered by the phone line and is on only when the phone is in use. S1 can be used to turn the transmitter off if it is not needed.

If you have problems with the LED burning out, then add a 300 ohm 1/4W resistor in series with it.

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Comments

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Foolshatch FM Telephone Bug Thursday, May 10, 2012 9:23:19 PM

Nice. Actually its always good to have some elementary mistakes in schematic. So it will dump these fools around here who want to make all fast / grap/rip for their university courses and have no patience. Its very hilarious about led and switch and gurus can laugh later when the fools around here comment what happened with them or cant make it work... :D :D

Spork FM Telephone Bug Sunday, August 15, 2010 2:14:51 PM

For those asking why there's two inputs and two outputs, in the states, when you rip apart a phone line, you'll notice 4 wires. Two of these wires are generally not used. Once you splice the wire, instead of having one main telephone wire, you'll have two. The telephone wire that goes to the source (outside), is IN. The one that goes to the telephone, is OUT. You take the two wires inside of the IN main telephone wire and put it in IN1 and IN2 respectively. Then you do the same for the OUT1 and OUT2 but with the main line that goes to the telephone.

anonymous FM Telephone Bug Tuesday, July 27, 2010 11:24:57 AM

could someone please suggest an equivalent diode, mabye one that is more common, to use? i cant seem to find the "1SS119 Silicon Diode". also a link to a site where they sell this diode or a similar one would be great.

WICKED FM Telephone Bug Wednesday, June 16, 2010 11:30:56 PM

is the oscillator Q1, C2, C4, L1, R2, R1, and C1

Riaz FM Telephone Bug Wednesday, June 16, 2010 12:45:33 AM

I made this circuit as a project for telecommunications class. It works well and is fairly easy to assemble. yes, capacitors can be a little different than shown above (using a 10pf cap instead of a 13pf, for example). Two notes: Switch is useless in this schematic, as it would simply separate the phone line from the rest, so you can just eliminate it. You can also get rid of the LED (there is absolutely no point in having a bug with a light). For the connections, here is a image of how to connect: http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/2186/bugconnect.png . This circuit does not care which side of the connection is in and which is out. If built compactly can easily fit inside a small phone box. Good luck, and have fun! btw, why silicon diodes? germanium work just as well as far as i can see!

9A3HP FM Telephone Bug Tuesday, May 25, 2010 6:51:28 AM

http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqFJ_Or switch must be connected between IN2 and OUT2 when switch is close, bug is off, if switch open bug is on. 470 and 471 pF same work well , any 1N4xxx will be same , how connected IN1 and IN2 to phone line, OUT1 and OUT2 to telephone device, simple ?

anonymous FM Telephone Bug Saturday, March 20, 2010 6:38:00 PM

I can't seem to find a 471pF capacitor, but i suppose i can use a 470 pF?

anonymous FM Telephone Bug Saturday, February 06, 2010 5:21:45 AM

how do we connect circuit to the phone line because we have two inputs and two outputs?

9A3HP FM Telephone Bug Thursday, October 22, 2009 1:36:03 PM

I see previous this schematic diagram and same error occurs in any possible web sites , the switch is wrong placed in schema. Switch must cutoff bug from telephone line and close contacts that IN2 and OUT2 short between. This only have logic. No hard feeling.

siva FM Telephone Bug Thursday, September 03, 2009 1:15:37 PM

we are highly interested in doing this as our semester project. But we are facing difficulties understanding this circuit as it has 2 inputs and 2 outputs. Kindly send us details in this regard and if u could send us report we will be highly thankful....

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Foolshatch	FM Telephone Bug	Thursday, May 10, 2012 9:23:19 PM
Nice. Actually its always good to have some elementary mistakes in schematic. So it will dump these fools around here who want to make all fast / grap/rip for their university courses and have no patience. Its very hilarious about led and switch and gurus can laugh later when the fools around here comment what happened with them or cant make it work... :D :D
Spork	FM Telephone Bug	Sunday, August 15, 2010 2:14:51 PM
For those asking why there's two inputs and two outputs, in the states, when you rip apart a phone line, you'll notice 4 wires. Two of these wires are generally not used. Once you splice the wire, instead of having one main telephone wire, you'll have two. The telephone wire that goes to the source (outside), is IN. The one that goes to the telephone, is OUT. You take the two wires inside of the IN main telephone wire and put it in IN1 and IN2 respectively. Then you do the same for the OUT1 and OUT2 but with the main line that goes to the telephone.
anonymous	FM Telephone Bug	Tuesday, July 27, 2010 11:24:57 AM
could someone please suggest an equivalent diode, mabye one that is more common, to use? i cant seem to find the "1SS119 Silicon Diode". also a link to a site where they sell this diode or a similar one would be great.
WICKED	FM Telephone Bug	Wednesday, June 16, 2010 11:30:56 PM
is the oscillator Q1, C2, C4, L1, R2, R1, and C1
Riaz	FM Telephone Bug	Wednesday, June 16, 2010 12:45:33 AM
I made this circuit as a project for telecommunications class. It works well and is fairly easy to assemble. yes, capacitors can be a little different than shown above (using a 10pf cap instead of a 13pf, for example). Two notes: Switch is useless in this schematic, as it would simply separate the phone line from the rest, so you can just eliminate it. You can also get rid of the LED (there is absolutely no point in having a bug with a light). For the connections, here is a image of how to connect: http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/2186/bugconnect.png . This circuit does not care which side of the connection is in and which is out. If built compactly can easily fit inside a small phone box. Good luck, and have fun! btw, why silicon diodes? germanium work just as well as far as i can see!
9A3HP	FM Telephone Bug	Tuesday, May 25, 2010 6:51:28 AM
http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqFJ_Or switch must be connected between IN2 and OUT2 when switch is close, bug is off, if switch open bug is on. 470 and 471 pF same work well , any 1N4xxx will be same , how connected IN1 and IN2 to phone line, OUT1 and OUT2 to telephone device, simple ?
anonymous	FM Telephone Bug	Saturday, March 20, 2010 6:38:00 PM
I can't seem to find a 471pF capacitor, but i suppose i can use a 470 pF?
anonymous	FM Telephone Bug	Saturday, February 06, 2010 5:21:45 AM
how do we connect circuit to the phone line because we have two inputs and two outputs?
9A3HP	FM Telephone Bug	Thursday, October 22, 2009 1:36:03 PM
I see previous this schematic diagram and same error occurs in any possible web sites , the switch is wrong placed in schema. Switch must cutoff bug from telephone line and close contacts that IN2 and OUT2 short between. This only have logic. No hard feeling.
siva	FM Telephone Bug	Thursday, September 03, 2009 1:15:37 PM
we are highly interested in doing this as our semester project. But we are facing difficulties understanding this circuit as it has 2 inputs and 2 outputs. Kindly send us details in this regard and if u could send us report we will be highly thankful....