Tricks and Treats of the AUTOVON

by N-Tolerant

The Automatic Voice Network (AUTOVON) is the military's worldwide switch system used to link all DOD installations together on one telephone network.

It is not a secure communications system.  Classified information is discussed over the AUTOVON only when a secure telephone such as a STU-III or a STU-5 is used.   Otherwise, it works much like the normal telephone systems you use every day.  The functional switching technology, however, is very similar to that of the outdated telephone networks of years long past.

I recommend that you read ShAdOwRuNnEr "Intro to Automatic Voice Network - Commonly known as AUTOVON" parts one thru three for more information, including an introduction, how to get into AUTOVON using a Silver Box, and a few tricks to do once you're inside.  That article can be found at: ftp://ftp.fc.net/pub/phrack/underground/misc

In this article I will cover the following:

• Common Features
• "Area Codes"
• Installation Prefixes
• Other Phunee Stuff

Disclaimer:  Information in this article is just that - information.  You can use this information however you wish.  That is your right.  I take no responsibility for whatever you decide to do with the knowledge you gain from reading this material.

Common Features of AUTOVON Systems

Once you are connected to the AUTOVON system, there are certain procedures that you can perform from your phone which activate and cancel functional features of the system.  Some are trivial, but others can be fun if the user is creative enough.  These are performed using a standard Touch-Tone phone.  Some commands vary from installation to installation, but most are universal.

Automatic Call Back

If the number you are trying to call is busy, this will cause the other party's phone to ring once they hang up.  Yours will also ring, and once both ends are off hook, the two phones will be connected.

Active:

1. Lift receiver.
2. Dial number.
3. When busy signal is received, press and release the switch hook.
4. When dial tone is received, dial: 161
5. Listen for Positive Acknowledgment tone (wavering continuous tone).
6. Replace receiver.

Cancel:

1. Lift receiver.
2. Listen for dial tone.
3. Dial: 162
4. Listen for Positive Acknowledgment tone.
5. Replace receiver.

Call Transfer

To patch someone who calls you to another number.

1. Press switch hook to put incoming call on hold.
2. Listen for continuous dial tone.
3. Dial desired number.

(At this point, you can, but don't have to, wait for the third-party to answer and announce the caller before you hang up.)

4. Replace receiver.

Note:  When you have a third-party on line and the original caller on hold, you can press and release the switch hook for a three-party conference call.

Malicious Call Identification

Self-explanatory.  Most of us were busted with something like this in our younger years, before we got smart.

With the caller still on the line:

1. Depress switch hook.
2. Listen for continuous tone.
3. Dial: 12
4. Continue talking.
5. When conversation ends, dial: 114

(Caller hangs up.)

6. Lift receiver.
7. Listen for busy tone.
8. Within 3 seconds, depress switch hook.
9. Listen for continuous dial tone.
10. Dial: 12
11. Replace receiver.  Lift receiver.
12. Dial: 114

Call Forwarding

Forward incoming calls to another number.

Activate:

1. Lift receiver.
2. Listen for continuous dial tone.
3. Dial 131 and second-party number.
4. Listen for wavering continuous tone (Positive Acknowledgment).
5. Replace receiver.

Cancel:

1. Lift receiver.
2. Listen for intermittent tone.
3. Dial: 132
4. Listen for wavering continuous tone.
5. Replace receiver.

Deactivate (Lock) Phone

No incoming or outgoing calls.

1. Lift receiver.
2. Listen for dial tone.
3. Dial:143
4. Replace receiver.

Activate (Unlock) Phone

1. Lift receiver.
2. Listen for intermittent tone.
3. Dial: 142
4. Replace receiver.

"Area Codes"

An AUTOVON telephone number is in the same format as a regular U.S. number: (NPA)-NXX-XXXX

The first part, which is the area code in normal numbers, identifies the theater to which you are calling.  The AUTOVON codes are as follows:

• 312  - CONUS (Continental U.S.)
• 312  - Canada
• 313  - Caribbean
• 314  - Europe
• 315  - Asia/Pacific
• 316  - Persian Gulf
• 317  - Alaska
• 318  - Persian Gulf

Installation Prefixes

Each DOD installation has its own three-digit prefix (like cities on civilian systems).

Some larger military bases or installations may have more than one prefix.  It would take way too much space to list all of them, but here's an abbreviated list:

CONUS (312)

227 Ft. McNair, DC 227 The Pentagon, DC 281 U.S. Naval Academy, MD 288 Naval Security Station, DC 333 U.S. Air Force Academy, CO 470 Ft. Irwin, CA 471 Ft. Sam Houston, TX 473 Lackland AFB, TX 478 Hanscom AFB, MA 483 Key West Naval Air Station, FL 551 Port Hueneme Naval Construction Battalion Ctr, CA 552 Ft. Leavenworth, KS 633 McClellan AFB, CA 682 Nellis AFB, NV 688 U.S. Military Academy, NY 691 Ft. Carson, CO 728 Mountain Home AFB, ID 777 Hill AFB, UT 792 Great Lakes Naval Training Center, IL 833 Los Angeles AFB, CA 858 Andrews AFB, MD 865 Ft. McClellan, AL 879 Yuma Proving Ground, AZ 884 Tinker AFB, OK 923 Ft. Meade, MD 984 McChord AFB, WA

Canada (312)

252 Military Area Pacific Headquarters, Vancouver 620 Calgary CFB 628 Air Defense Headquarters, Ontario 826 Air Command Winnipeg

Europe (314)

238 Mildenhall, U.K. 380 Mannheim, Germany 420 Stuttgart, Germany 480 Ramstein, Germany 625 Naples, Italy 632 Aviano, Italy 634 Vicenza, Italy 676 Incirlik, Turkey 722 Moron, Spain 727 Rota, Spain

Asia/Pacific (315)

225 Yokota AB, Japan 226 Misawa AB, Japan 366 Anderson AFB, Guam 471 Hickam AFB, HI 471 Pearl Harbor Naval Complex, HI 630 Kadena AB, Japan 732 Camp Red Cloud, Korea 753 Camp Humphreys, Korea 782 Kunsan AB, Korea

Alaska (317)

384 Ft. Richardson 692 Adak Naval Air Facility

Caribbean (313)

284 Howard AFB, Panama 740 Ft. Buchanan, Puerto Rico 740 Air National Guard, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Persian Gulf

435 Riyadh (316) 828 Dharan (318)

Other Phunee Stuff

If you are going to explore the world of the AUTOVON, there are some bits of knowledge that might make your journey more interesting, useful, and phun.  Here are a few of those bits:

The AUTOVON prefix for an installation is not the same as the civilian prefix.  The last part of the number is the same for wherever you are calling, but the prefix will rarely, if ever, be the same.

Not all phone lines on the AUTOVON have worldwide capability.  Some only have theater capability.  For instance, most phones in the European theater (Great Britain, Germany, Italy, etc.) can call AUTOVON phones within Europe, but no beyond.  Common worldwide-capable lines are installation operator, installation commander, other high-ranking officials/officers, and technical control facility lines.  Worldwide lines are much more common at stateside installations.

Note:  All AUTOVON phones can receive worldwide calls.

The common number for the installation operator is XXX-1110 (XXX being the prefix for that installation).  The operator can do just about anything, such as transfer your call to a local number or patch you through to another installation.  It sometimes takes social engineering to get a favor from a switch operator.  It also depends on the installation policy on such matters.  I recommend operators at Air Force bases.  They seem more willing that others such as Army or Navy.

Some places have automated switches that will allow you to dial out to a local number (or toll-free number).  One such place is Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

You dial 312-236-0001 and a recording will give you some options.

Sometimes AUTOVON calls are cut-off.  This could be because of a time limit.  Sometimes calls are preempted, though.  This means that the trunk you were using was seized by another phone by way of priority keys.