BGetting started

BBasic Operations
Selecting the Microphone Sensitivity
Step 1: Installing the Batteries

Replacing the batteries

Recording Messages
You can record up to 99 messages in each of the four folders (A, B, C, and D). Since a newly recorded message is automatically added behind the last recorded message, you can start recording quickly without searching for the end of the last recording.
e.g. Message 1 Message 2 Newly recorded message Blank space

Note on recording

Noise may be recorded if an object, such as your finger, etc., accidentally rubs or scratches the unit during recording.
Press DISPLAY/MENU for more than 1 second until MODE appears in the display window. Press . or >+ to select SENS and press NxPLAY/STOP.

IC Recorder

Owners Record
The model number is located at the rear and the serial number is located inside the battery compartment. Record the serial number in the space provided below. Refer to these numbers whenever you call upon your Sony dealer regarding this product. Model No. ICD-B500 Serial No._______________________
Slide and lift the battery compartment lid.
The battery indicator in the display window shows the battery condition. When flashes, replace the batteries with new ones. When flashes, the batteries are exhausted and the unit will stop operation. Battery life*
With continuous use, approx. 11 hours recording/7.5 hours playback in the HQ mode, and approx. 22 hours recording/11 hours playback in the SP and LP modes is possible. * Using Sony alkaline batteries LR03 (size AAA) * When playing back through the internal speaker with the medium volume level The battery life may shorten depending on the operation of the unit.

Maximum recording time

The maximum recording time of all the folders is as follows. You can record messages for the maximum recording time in a single folder. HQ* 30 h. 25 min. 81 h. 15 min. 150 h. 15 min.
Before making a long recording, be sure to insert new batteries and check the battery indicator.
Press . or >+ to select H (high sensitivity) or L (low sensitivity) and press NxPLAY/STOP.
Select the recording mode.
See Changing the Recording Mode on the reverse side.

SP** LP***

Press xSTOP to exit the menu mode.

Operating Instructions

ICD-B500

2007 Sony Corporation

Printed in China
Insert two LR03 (size AAA) alkaline batteries with correct polarity, and close the lid.
Make sure to insert both of the batteries from their ends.

Select the folder.

See Selecting the Folder.
(h.: hours/min.: minutes) * HQ: High quality recording mode (monaural sound) ** SP: Standard play recording mode (monaural sound) ***LP: Long play recording mode (monaural sound)
To record in better sound quality, select the HQ mode. For switching the recording mode, see Changing the Recording Mode on the reverse side. Before making a long recording, be sure to check the battery indicator. The maximum recording time and the number of messages you can make vary depending on the conditions of use. When you record messages in the mixture of HQ, SP and LP mode, the maximum recording time will be between those for the HQ and LP modes. Due to the limitation of the IC recording system, this unit records in the minimum recording unit of approx. 2 seconds at most, therefore the following symptoms may occur: When a message is shorter than the minimum recording unit, it is still counted as approx. 2 seconds at most so the remaining recording time will decrease by more than the actual length of the message. When the message is longer than the minimum recording unit, the remaining recording time will decrease by more than the actual length of the message if it cannot be divided by the minimum recording unit without a remainder. The sum of the number on the counter (elapsed recording time) and the remaining recording time may be less than the units maximum recording time.

Do not use manganese batteries for this unit. When you replace the batteries with new ones, the clock setting display appears. In this case, set the date and time again. The recorded messages and alarm setting, however, will remain. When replacing the batteries, be sure to replace both batteries with new ones. Do not charge dry batteries. When you are not going to use the unit for a long time, remove the batteries to prevent damage from battery leakage and corrosion. The unit is accessing data while ACCESS appears in the display window. While accessing, do not remove the batteries. Doing so may damage the data.

Playing Back Messages

When playing back a previously recorded message, start from Step 1. When playing back a message you have just finished recording, start from Step 3.

Start recording.

2 Speak to the builtin microphone. OPR indicator (lights in red during recording.)
* The display selected with the DISPLAY/ MENU button appears.
1 Press zXREC/ PAUSE. Current message number Recording mode
Playing back a message repeatedly Repeat Play
During playback, press NxPLAY/STOP for more than one second. will be displayed and the selected message will be played back repeatedly. To resume normal playback, press NxPLAY/STOP again. To stop playback, press xSTOP.
For the customers in the U.S.A.
The following FCC statement applies only to the version of this model manufactured for sale in the USA. Other versions may not comply with FCC technical regulations.
Notice for customers: the following information is only applicable to equipment sold in countries applying EU directives
The manufacturer of this product is Sony Corporation, 1-7-1 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan. The Authorized Representative for EMC and product safety is Sony Deutschland GmbH, Hedelfinger Strasse 61, 70327 Stuttgart, Germany. For any service or guarantee matters, please refer to the addresses given in separate service or guarantee documents.

INFORMATION

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. You are cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this equipment. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. If you have any questions about this product, you may call: Sony Customer Information Services Center 1-800-222-7669 or http://www.sony.com/

If the battery compartment lid is accidentally detached, attach it as illustrated. Clock setting display appears when you insert batteries for the first time, or when you replace the batteries with new ones. Please refer to Steps 2 to 3 in Step 2: Setting the Clock to set the date and time.
Counter display* Remaining memory indicator You do not need to keep pressing zXREC/PAUSE while recording.
Select the message number.
Playing back all messages in a folder continuously Continuous Play
You can select the continuous play mode with CONT in the menu. When you set CONT to ON, you can play back all messages in a folder continuously.
Press . or >+ to display the desired message number. .: for smaller message number >+: for larger message number

Troubleshooting

Before taking the unit for repair, check the following sections. Should any problem persist after you have made these checks, consult your nearest Sony dealer.
Step 2: Setting the Clock
Clock setting display appears when you insert batteries for the first time, or when you replace the batteries with new ones. In this case, proceed from step 2. Remove the film on the display window before you use the IC recorder.

Stop recording.

NxPLAY/STOP
Searching forward/ backward during playback (Cue/Review)
To search forward, keep >+ pressed during playback and release the button at the point you wish to resume playback. To search backward, keep . pressed during playback and release the button at the point you wish to resume playback. If you keep >+ or . pressed, the unit starts to search at higher speed. For the first 10 seconds of cue/ review, fast playback sound can be heard. When searching at a higher speed, playback sound will not be heard. During cue/review, the counter will be displayed, regardless of the display mode setting. 1 Tip
When fast playback is done to the end of the last message, END flashes for 5 seconds. (You cannot hear the playback sound.) If you keep . pressed while END is flashing, the messages are played back rapidly, and normal playback will start at the point you release the button. When END stops flashing and the OPR indicator goes off, the unit will stop at the beginning of the last message. If the last message is long and you wish to start playback at a later part of the message, keep >+ pressed to play back the message to the end and then press . while END is flashing to go back to the desired point. (For messages other than the last one, go to the beginning of the next message and play backward to the desired point.)
Selected message number Number of messages in a folder Counter display*
The unit does not operate.
The batteries have been inserted with incorrect polarity. The batteries are weak. The buttons are locked with the HOLD switch. (If you press any button, HOLD will flash for 3 seconds.)

zXREC/ PAUSE

No sound comes from the speaker.
The ear receiver or headphones are plugged in. The volume is turned down completely.
FULL is displayed and you cannot start recording.
The memory is full. Erase some of the messages. 99 messages have been recorded in the selected folder. Select another folder or erase some of the messages.

. (Review)

Press xSTOP. The unit stops at the beginning of the current recording.
Remaining memory indication
During recording, the remaining memory indicator decreases one by one. The memory is nearly full.

Flashing

* The display selected with the DISPLAY/MENU button appears (see the reverse side).
Display the clock setting display.
2 Press . or >+ to display SET DATE. If you do not change the folder after you stop recording, the next time you record you will record in the same folder.

Noise is heard.

An object, such as your finger, etc., accidentally rubbed or scratched the unit during recording so that noise was recorded. The unit was placed near an AC power source, a fluorescent lamp or a mobile phone during recording or playback. Plug of the connected microphone was dirty when recording. Clean the plug. Ear receiver/headphones plug is dirty. Clean the plug.
1 Press DISPLAY/MENU for more than 1 second until MODE appears in the display window. The unit enters the menu mode.

Start playback.

i (headphone) jack OPR indicator (lights in green during playback.) 2 Adjust the volume with the VOL control.
pause recording* 3 Press NxPLAY/STOP. The year digits will flash. release pause and resume recording

Do this

Press zXREC/PAUSE. During recording pause, the OPR indicator flashes in red and PAUSE flashes in the display window. Press zXREC/PAUSE. Recording resumes from that point. (To stop recording after pausing recording, press xSTOP.) Press xSTOP to stop recording, then press recording NxPLAY/STOP. Press NxPLAY/STOP during recording. Hold down . during recording or recording pause. Recording mode will be released, and reviewing of the current recording starts. If you release the button, playback starts from that point. You can select the microphone sensitivity using the menu. See Selecting the Microphone Sensitivity. H (high): To record at meeting or in a quiet and/or spacious place. L (low): To record for dictation or in a noisy place.

1 Press NxPLAY/STOP.

listen to the current

For customers in Europe

Disposal of Old Electrical & Electronic Equipment (Applicable in the European Union and other European countries with separate collection systems)

This symbol on the product or on its packaging indicates that this product shall not be treated as household waste. Instead it shall be handed over to the applicable collection point for the recycling of electrical and electronic equipment. By ensuring this product is disposed of correctly, you will help prevent potential negative consequences for the environment and human health, which could otherwise be caused by inappropriate waste handling of this product. The recycling of materials will help to conserve natural resources. For more detailed information about recycling of this product, please contact your local Civic Office, your household waste disposal service or the shop where you purchased the product. Cinappropriate waste handling of this product. The recycling of materials will help to conserve natural resources. For more detailed information about recycling of this product, please contact your local Civic Office, your household waste disposal service or the shop where you purchased the product.

Recording level is low.

Set the microphone sensitivity to H (high) using the menu.

Set the date.

2 Press NxPLAY/STOP. The month digits will flash.
review the current recording instantly search backward during recording (Review)
When the remaining time of recording reaches 5 minutes, the last one of the indication flashes. If the remaining recording time display mode is selected, REMAIN and the counter display flash when the remaining time reaches 1 minute. To continue recording, first erase some of the messages. Notes
If you press zXREC/PAUSE when the memory is full, FULL will flash with an alarm sound. Erase some of the messages before you start recording again. If you press zXREC/PAUSE after you have recorded 99 messages, FULL will flash with an alarm sound. Select another folder or erase some of the messages.
Counter display (or the selected display mode)
Recording is interrupted.
The advanced VOR function is activated. Set VOR to OFF.
1 Press . or >+ to select the digits of the year.
Recording level is unstable (when recording music, etc.).
This unit is designed to automatically adjust the recording level when recording meetings, etc., and is not suitable for music recording.
select the microphone sensitivity 3 Set the month and day in sequence, then press NxPLAY/STOP. The hour digits will flash.
After playing back one message, the unit stops at the beginning of the next message. When the continuous play function is set to ON (see the reverse side), the unit stops after playing all messages in a folder. When the last message on a folder has been played back, the unit stops at the beginning of the last message.
--Y--M--D or --:-- is displayed.
You have not set the clock.
--Y--M--D or --:-- is displayed on the REC DATE display.
The date and time of recording will not be displayed if you recorded the message when the clock was not set.

To set the date to Year 2007, display 07Y.
* About one hour after you pause recording, recording pause is automatically released and the unit goes into the stop mode.
Starting recording automatically in response to the sound Advanced VOR function
When VOR (voice operated recording) is set to ON in the menu, recording starts when the recorder detects sound. (VOR is displayed in the display window.)

For private listening

Connect an ear receiver or headphones (not supplied) to the i (headphone) jack. The built-in speaker will be automatically disconnected. If noise is heard, wipe the headphones plug.

Other operations To

stop at the current position
Press NxPLAY/STOP or xSTOP. To resume playback from that point, press NxPLAY/STOP again. Press . once. Press >+ once. Press . or >+ repeatedly. (During stop mode, keep the button pressed to skip the messages continuously.)
You cannot divide a message.
You cannot divide a message in a folder which has 99 messages. If you divide messages frequently, the unit may become unable to divide a message. You cannot divide a message in the first or the last 1 second of a message.

Set the time.

3 Set the minute.

Selecting the Folder

1 Press . or >+ to select the digits of the hour.
Press DISPLAY/MENU for more than 1 second until MODE appears in the display window.
Recording stops when no sound is heard. (VOR PAUSE flashes in the display window.) Note
VOR function is affected by the sound around you. Set the microphone sensitivity to H (high) or L (low) using the menu. If recording is not satisfactory after you have changed the microphone sensitivity, or for important recording, set VOR to OFF.
go back to the beginning of the current message skip to the next message go back to previous messages/skip to succeeding messages
It takes longer for the unit to start operation.
If you divide messages too frequently while the unit is recording them, the following phenomenon may occur: The OPR indicator keeps flashing, and you cannot operate the unit for a certain period. This is not a malfunction. Wait until the OPR indicator goes off.
4 Press NxPLAY/STOP at the time signal. The display will return to SET DATE. 2 Press NxPLAY/STOP. The minute digits will flash. 5 Press xSTOP to exit from the menu mode. If the unit is left unused for more than 3 seconds in the stop mode, the display will show the current time.
Press . or >+ to select FOLDER and press NxPLAY/STOP.
Disposal of waste batteries (applicable in the European Union and other European countries with separate collection systems)
This symbol on the battery or on the packaging indicates that the battery provided with this product shall not be treated as household waste. By ensuring these batteries are disposed of correctly, you will help prevent potentially negative consequences for the environment and human health which could otherwise be caused by inappropriate waste handling of the battery. The recycling of the materials will help to conserve natural resources. In case of products that for safety, performance or data integrity reasons require a permanent connection with an incorporated battery, this battery should be replaced by qualified service staff only. To ensure that the battery will be treated properly, hand over the product at end-of-life to the applicable collection point for the recycling of electrical and electronic equipment. For all other batteries, please view the section on how to remove the battery from the product safely. Hand the battery over to the applicable collection point for the recycling of waste batteries. For more detailed information about recycling of this product or battery, please contact your local Civic Offi ce, your household waste disposal service or the shop where you purchased the product.

Press . or >+ to select the folder you want and press NxPLAY/STOP.
You cannot record messages up to the maximum recording time.
If you record messages in a mixture of HQ, SP and LP modes, the recordable time varies from the maximum HQ mode recording time to the maximum LP mode recording time. No more recording can be made when 99 messages each have been recorded in a folder. Due to the limitation of the IC recording system, this unit records in the minimum recording unit. If the length of each message cannot be divided by the minimum recording unit, the remaining recording time may decrease by more than the total length of the messages.
This unit does not have a power on/off switch. The display is shown at all times.

Current folder

Power source
To turn the power off, slide the HOLD switch in the direction of the arrow in the stop mode. To turn the power on, slide the HOLD switch in the opposite direction from that of the arrow, and then press any operation button.
The unit does not operate correctly.
Take out the batteries and insert them again. Please note that recorded messages may be erased during service or repair work.
ICD-B500 GB U/CA/CE7/E 3-097-342-12 (1)

Erasing Messages

You can erase the recorded messages one by one or all messages in a folder at a time. Note that once a recording has been erased, you cannot retrieve it.
BVarious Ways of Recording

BOther Functions

Adding a Recording to a Previously Recorded Message
You can add a recording to the message being played back. The added recording will be placed after the current message and counted as a part of the message.
During playback of Message 3

Dividing a Message

You can divide a message during recording or playback, so that the message is divided into two and the new message number is added to the divided message. By dividing a message, you can easily find the point you want to play back when you make a long recording such as a meeting. You can divide messages until the total number of messages in the folder becomes 99.
Playing Back a Message at a Desired Time with an Alarm
You can sound an alarm and start playback of a selected message at a desired time. If you select B-ONLY in Step 6, an alarm sounds only and playback will not start.
To cancel the alarm setting before the playback starts
Press xSTOP while the alarm sound is heard. You can stop even when the HOLD function is activated. Notes
You cannot set the alarm if you have not set the clock or there is no message in the selected folder (the unit will not enter the alarm setting mode when you press DISPLAY/MENU in Step 2). If you try to set the alarm to play back a message at a previously set time on another message, PRE SET will be displayed, preventing new settings. If you try to set the alarm to the time before the current time, BACK-D appears in the display window and you cannot set the alarm. If the alarm time comes while another message is being played back with an alarm, the playback stops and the new message will be played back. If the alarm time comes during recording, alarm will sound for 10 seconds after the recording is finished and playback begins. , will flash when the alarm time comes. If more than one alarm time comes during recording, only the first message will be played back. When the alarm time comes when the unit is in the menu mode, alarm will sound and the menu mode will be cancelled. If you erase the message you set the alarm to play back, the alarm setting will be cancelled. If you divide a message with the playback alarm, playback will stop at the point you divided a message. You can adjust the playback volume with the VOL control. If the alarm time comes during erasing, alarm will sound for 10 seconds after the erasing is finished and playback begins. Alarm setting will not be cancelled when the alarm playback finishes. To cancel alarm setting, see below.

Press . or >+ to display BEEP ON (or OFF) and press NxPLAY/STOP.

ON (or OFF) will flash.

Added recording
Meeting at 2 oclock on December 1.

at Conference room A

Press . or >+ to select ON or OFF and press NxPLAY/STOP.
The setting is completed.
2 Press ERASE while the message is being played back. The message is erased and the remaining messages will be renumbered. (For example, if you erase Message 3, Message 4 will be renumbered as Message 3. When erasing is completed, the unit will stop at the beginning of the following message.)
During playback, press zXREC/PAUSE for more than 1 second.
The REC indication appears and ADD will flash for 3 seconds in the display window. The OPR indicator will turn red. The new recording will be added at the end of the current message.

To cancel erasing

Press xSTOP before step 2.

To erase other messages

Repeat steps 1 and 2.
To erase a message partially
First divide the message and then follow the steps to erase the message.
Press xSTOP to stop the recording.
You cannot add a recording if the remaining memory is not long enough. The added portion of a message will be recorded in the same recording mode (HQ, SP, or LP).
Erasing all messages in a folder
e.g. Folder A Message 1 Message 2 Message 3 Blank space Folder B Message 1 Message 1 Message 2 Message 2 Message 3 Message 3
When you press DIVIDE during playback: The message is divided into two at the point you pressed the button, and the new message number and DIVIDE flash for 3 seconds. The message numbers of the following messages will increase by one. Message 1 Message 2 Message 3
3 Press NxPLAY/STOP. OFF starts to flash.
Changing the Recording Mode
HQ: You can record with the high quality sound (monaural sound). SP: You can record with better sound (monaural sound). LP: You can record for longer time (monaural sound).

Backup recommendations

To avoid potential risk of data loss caused by accidental operation or malfunction of the IC recorder, we recommend that you save a backup copy of your recorded messages on a tape recorder, etc.
To cancel or change the alarm setting
4 Press . or >+ to select ON. ON starts to flash. 1 Select the message you set the alarm to play back, and press DISPLAY/MENU for more than 1 second to enter the menu mode. 2 Press . or > + to select ALARM ON. 3 Press NxPLAY/STOP to flash ON. 4 To cancel the alarm setting: Press . or > + to flash OFF and press NxPLAY/ STOP. To change the alarm setting: Press NxPLAY/STOP. When the alarm date is displayed, follow the Steps 3 to 6 of Playing Back a Message at a Desired Time with an Alarm to change the alarm setting. 5 Press xSTOP to exit the menu mode.

Specifications

Recording media Built-in flash memory 256 MB, Monaural recording Actual usable capacity may be smaller. Recording time HQ: 30 hours 25 minutes SP: 81 hours 15 minutes LP: 150 hours 15 minutes Frequency range HQ: 260 Hz - 6,800 Hz SP: 220 Hz - 3,400 Hz LP: 220 Hz - 3,100 Hz Speaker approx. 2.8 cm (1 1/8 in.) dia. Power output 250 mW Input/Output Headphone jack (minijack) for 8 - 300 ohms ear receiver/headphones Microphone jack (minijack, monaural) Plug in power Minimum input level 0.6 mV Power requirements Two LR03 (size AAA) alkaline batteries: 3 V DC Dimensions (w/h/d) (not incl. projecting parts and controls) 34.6 109.5 18.0 mm (1 3/3/8 23/32 in.) Mass (incl. batteries) 65 g (2.3 oz) Supplied accessories Operating instructions (1) LR03 (size AAA) alkaline batteries (2) Headphone (1) (excluding the U.S.A., Canada, Europe and Tourist model) Carrying pouch (1) (excluding the U.S.A., Canada, Europe and Tourist model) Optional accessories Electret Condenser Microphone ECMDM5P, ECM-CZ10, ECM-TL1 (for telephone recording) Audio connecting cable RK-G64HG / RK-G69HG (excluding Europe) Active speaker SRS-T88, SRS-T80 Your dealer may not handle some of the above listed optional accessories. Please ask the dealer for detailed information. Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Blank space

Recording with an External Microphone or from Other Equipment
A message is divided. Message 1 Message 2 Message 3 Message 4 The message numbers increase.
5 Press NxPLAY/STOP. DATE will flash in the display window.
1 Select the folder you want to erase using DISPLAY/MENU. (See Selecting the Folder on the front side.)
2 While pressing xSTOP, press ERASE for more than 1 second. ALL ERASE will flash for 10 seconds.
Connect a plug-in-power type microphone or other equipment to the (microphone) jack.
To play the divided message
Press. or >+ to display the message number as the divided messages each have message numbers. 1 To play the divided messages continuously
Select ON for CONT in the menu as described in Playing Back All Messages in a Folder Continuously.

Set the alarm date.

To play back on a desired date (the message will be played back at the same time on the same date every year until you erase the message) 1 Press NxPLAY/STOP while DATE is flashing. The year digits will flash. 2 Press . or > + to select the year digits and press NxPLAY/STOP. The month digits will flash. 3 Press . or >+ to select the month digits and press NxPLAY/ STOP. The day digits will flash. 4 Press . or >+ to select the day digits. To play back once a week
Make sure that MODE is displayed and press NxPLAY/STOP.
HQ (or SP, LP) will flash.
When recording with an external microphone

3 While the display is flashing, press ERASE.
Preventing Accidental Operation HOLD function
Slide the HOLD switch to ON. HOLD will appear for 3 seconds, indicating that all the functions of the buttons are locked. When the HOLD function is activated during stop, all the display will be turned off after HOLD is displayed. HOLD
mini-plug (monaural) (microphone)
External microphone (not supplied)
Press . or >+ to select HQ, SP or LP and press NxPLAY/STOP.
Now the setting is completed.
If 99 messages have been recorded in a folder, you cannot divide a message. In that case, reduce the number of messages to 98 or less by erasing unnecessary messages or by moving some of the messages to another folder before dividing a message. If you divide a message with an alarm setting, the alarm setting remains only with the former message divided. You cannot divide a message in the first or the last 1 second. If you divide a message frequently, the unit may become unable to divide a message. Once a message is divided, you cannot combine the divided messages with the IC recorder. If you divide messages too frequently while the unit is recording them, the following phenomenon may occur: The OPR indicator keeps flashing, and you cannot operate the unit for a certain period. This is not a malfunction. Wait until the OPR indicator goes off.
Press xSTOP before step 3.
The setting becomes effective and the normal screen will be displayed. If the unit is left unoperated for more than 3 seconds, the display will show the current time and the selected recording mode will be displayed.
Index to Parts and Controls

Main unit

MIC (built-in microphone) (microphone) jack OPR (operation) indicator Display window DISPLAY/MENU DIVIDE xSTOP zXREC (record)/PAUSE .(review/fast backward)/ >+ (cue/fast forward) (SELECT) Speaker
* There is a tactile dot beside the control to show the direction to turn up the volume. **The button has a tactile dot.
When you connect an external microphone, the built-in microphone is automatically cut off. When a plug in power type microphone is connected, power is automatically supplied to the microphone from the IC recorder.
When recording from other equipment
i (headphone) jack Audio connecting cable with attenuator (not supplied)
Press . or >+ to select the day of the week.
To cancel the HOLD function
Slide the HOLD switch to OFF. Note
When the HOLD function is activated during recording, cancel the HOLD function first to stop recording.

Playing Back All Messages in a Folder Continuously
CONT ON: You can play back all messages in a folder continuously. CONT OFF: Playback stops at the end of each message.
ERASE VOL (volume) control* HOLD NxPLAY/STOP (ENTER)**
EAR, EARPHONE, v or REC OUT mini-plug (stereo or monaural)
Tape recorder, TV, radio, etc.
Moving Messages to a Different Folder Move Function
You can move the recorded messages to another folder.
To play back at the same time every day
Press . or >+ to select DAILY.
Even if the HOLD function is activated, you can stop the alarm playback. To stop the alarm or playback, press xSTOP.

Press NxPLAY/STOP.

The hour digits will flash.
Follow the steps in Recording Messages on the front side to record messages.
Example: Moving Message 3 in Folder A to Folder C
Selecting the Display Mode
Make sure that the plugs are connected securely. We recommend you make a trial recording to check the connections and volume control. When connecting equipment other than Sonys, refer to the instruction manual of the equipment.
While the unit is stopped, select the message you want to move.

Set the alarm time.

1 Press . or >+ to select the hour digits and press NxPLAY/STOP. The minute digits will flash. 2 Press . or >+ to select the minute digits and press NxPLAY/ STOP. B-PLAY will be displayed.
You can select the display mode for the stop, recording and playback modes. Each time you press DISPLAY/MENU, the display mode will change as shown below: 1 On the current time display
If the unit is left unoperated for more than 3 seconds in the stop mode, the display will show the current time, regardless of the display mode setting.
Press . or >+ to display CONT and press NxPLAY/STOP.

OFF (or ON) will flash.

Starting Recording Automatically in Response to the Sound Advanced VOR function
VOR ON: The VOR (Voice Operated Recording) function is activated. Recording starts when the unit detects sound and stops when no sound is heard, eliminating recording from soundless period. The VOR function is disabled. Normal recording operation is selected.

Battery compartment Hook for handstrap (not supplied)
Press . or >+ to select MOVE and press NxPLAY/STOP.
The destination folder indication flashes.

Set the alarm sound.

1 Press . or >+ to select the alarm sound either from B-PLAY (playing back the message after the alarm) or B-ONLY (alarm only) 2 Press NxPLAY/STOP. ALARM ON will be displayed.
Counter: Elapsed playback/ recording time in one message
Remaining time (REMAIN): In the playback mode: The remaining time of one message indication. In the stop and recording mode: The remaining recording time indication.

Display window

Folder indication Microphone sensitivity Alarm indicator Selected message number REC DATE (recorded date) indication REMAIN indicator Remaining memory indicator Remaining battery indicator Recording mode indication REC (recording) indicator Repeat play indicator Number of messages in a folder/Menu indication/ Counter /Remaining time indication /Recording date indication /Current time indication /Messages

VOR OFF:

Press . or >+ to select the folder to which you want to move the message (C in this case). Press NxPLAY/STOP.
The message is moved in the destination folder.
, is displayed when the number of the message with alarm setting is selected. At the set time, the alarm will sound for about 10 seconds and the selected message will be played back. During playback, ALARM will flash in the display window. When the playback ends, the unit will stop automatically at the beginning of that message. Recorded date (REC DATE)*: The date the current message was recorded.
Press . or >+ to display VOR and press NxPLAY/STOP.
Recorded time (REC DATE)**: The time the current message was recorded.
To cancel moving the message(s)
Press xSTOP before step 5. Note
The move function does not duplicate a message in another folder. When you move a message to another folder, the one in the previous folder will be deleted.
To listen to the same message again
Press NxPLAY/STOP. The same message will be played back from the beginning.
* If the clock has not been set, --Y--M--D will be displayed. **If the clock has not been set, --:-- will be displayed.

RECORDING TELEPHONE CALLS

Thomas M. Goodpaster

NOTICE This ebooklet is copyrighted material. No part of it, including imagery contained herein, can be reproduced or sold without the written consent of Thomas M. Goodpaster dba Blue Heron Investigations. There are no reseller rights that came with your purchase of this ebooklet. Your use of the information contained within this ebooklet constitutes an agreement on your part to indemnify and hold harmless the author and Blue Heron Investigations from and against any and all claims, loss, liability, costs, damages and reasonable attorneys fees incurred by the author and / or Blue Heron Investigations arising from your actions. INTRODUCTION Before we begin, let me assure you that (in all probability) you will come to the conclusion that installing a recorder and recording telephone calls is a lot easier than you originally thought. I hope you keep in mind that, before you bought this ebooklet, that you didnt have the answers to your questions. I hope you dont feel cheated by the ease with which you are going to begin recording calls. If you find recording calls difficult, then I have failed you. I recall once ordering an ebooklet that proclaimed to teach the reader how to build a realtime GPS vehicle tracking device for under $50.00 and in only an hour or so. Knowing that GPS tracking devices were expensive and complicated devices (from personal / professional experience), I was intrigued enough with the authors claims that I actually bought the booklet for a couple of dollars. The answer, I found, was so obvious that I initially felt cheated by the author. But then I realized I didnt have this obvious answer until after I bought the ebooklet. Similar to a fantastic magic trick once you know how its done, you think to yourself Well thats not magic thats just stupid. People record telephone calls for a whole host of reasons some legitimate, others not. As a licensed private detective, hardly a week goes by without someone calling to ask, Can you bug phones? The questions phrasing implies a desire to tap a telephone or otherwise conduct illegal eavesdropping something I am unwilling to do. But Ive long since learned that follow-up questions are usually in order that, while a few callers really are asking for an illegal wiretap (almost certainly unknowingly), most have a legitimate and legal reason for their request. For the latter group, their asking for my assistance in bugging a phone is really a case of ignorance in proper terminology. Lets take a look at some cases that may be perfectly legitimate (if not always legal) reasons for people to record telephone calls and conversations: 1
EXAMPLE 1 Mary recently ended an abusive relationship with a jealous boyfriend well call him Mark. Mark is one of those if I cant have her then nobody can types and has taken to stalking and harassing Mary. Mary, in her infinite wisdom, went to the local courts and obtained an Order For Protection (OFP) to keep Mark from bothering her any more. Unfortunately for Mary Mark doesnt honor OFPs. Mark continues to call Mary to threaten, intimidate and harass her. Somehow, he thinks this will get Mary back by doing this. Marks not too bright. Mary goes to the police instead, and reports that Mark is continuing to call her in violation of the OFP she got. But they do nothing; there is no proof that Mark is calling Mary except for Marys statements. They require proof. Mary decides to record her own conversation with Mark should he make the mistake of calling her again. Because she has three telephones in the home, she ensures that the recorder can record calls regardless of which phone she picks up. Mary goes on to record a two party conversation of which she is a part. EXAMPLE 2 John and Maggie are the parents of a 16 year old girl. Their daughter, rather unwisely, saw fit to begin dating a twenty-something year old man. The parents demanded that this man stop seeing their daughter, and their daughter assured her parents that the relationship would end. It didnt. Out of concern for the safety and welfare of their daughter, John and Maggie get an OFP on behalf of (OBO) their daughter precluding the man from having any further contact with her. They install a telephone recorder on an extension line in their bedroom (where their daughter is unlikely to discover it) to document the fact that their daughter and this man are still seeing each other. While neither John nor Maggie will ever be a part of any impending two party conversation between their daughter and this adult male they believe, whether correctly or otherwise, that they have the right to consent to the recording on behalf of their minor daughter. EXAMPLE 3 Tom is a state licensed Private Detective who routinely takes statements from people by telephone, enters into contractual relationships with his clients who promise to pay him for his services if he just does this or that, and who occasionally calls the very subjects of his investigations (under pretext) to elicit truthful information from them (they wouldnt provide that information if they knew that he was a Private Detective). Tom wants to record his calls so that he can later transcribe the statements, prove that his client authorized him to conduct another day of surveillance (should the client refuse to pay), and to show that the subject of the investigation admitted to doing this or that. Tom installs a telephone recorder prominently on his desk to accomplish these tasks.

EXAMPLE 4 Jimmy is a businessman who owns Jimmys Business. He has three full-time people on his sales staff. After finding out that one of his employees spends the day on the golf course with his buddies, and the other two in the bars drinking their afternoons away, he decides that his sales staff should be making their calls from the office. Things pick up for awhile, but then sales begin to drop. Jimmy cant figure it out because his sales staff always seems to be busily making calls whenever Jimmy enters the office. To find out whats going on, Jimmy begins to record the calls made from his office. By doing this, he quickly realizes that, at least some of the time, his staff arent actually talking to anyone when he enters the office At the tone, the time will be 11:47 a.m. Jimmy believes that he has the right to record these calls because its a business that he owns. EXAMPLE 5 This caller well call him Dave, doesnt want to record his telephone calls at all; Dave wants to wear a wire, so to speak, for his own protection. You see, Dave is recently divorced from a very bitter woman. Dave would be happy to never see this woman again but, because he has young children with her, this is not an option. Dave and his ex are currently litigating their child custody case through the courts. In the meantime, Dave and Ms. Bitter get together every Friday afternoon and Sunday evening to exchange the children in the parking lot of the local five and dime. Dave tries his best to bite his tongue and remain civil, if only for the childrens sake, and does nothing to fuel the fire burning in Ms. Bitters eyes. Unfortunately for Dave, Ms. Bitter isnt so ethical; one Monday, she reports to her attorney just how abusive Dave is during these transfers at the five and dime. Why, she tells her attorney, He threatened to kill me and turn me into hamburger and then make meatloaf out of me and then to have me for dinner and then to. She goes on. Her attorney stops her and implores her to go to the police to report this assault. Dave does not find it amusing that he cannot prove that he didnt say these things. Dave decides to discreetly record his conversations with Ms. Bitter during future exchanges. He lives in a state where only one party of a two party conversation needs to be aware of the recording. EXAMPLE 6 Carol rents an apartment and lives alone. She begins to consider that, while shes at work, somebodys been coming into her apartment every once in awhile, things appear moved ever so slightly. She calls the local PI in town to install a video camera to document any unauthorized entry, but quickly learns that installing a video camera system is not an inexpensive proposition You see, the cameras the least of the expense the PI tells her Its the time lapse recorder, cables, power supplies, cable adapters, tapes, shipping and handling expenses to get the equipment here, three to four hours of my time to install and hide the equipment in your apartment, my travel time,

mileage to and from my office to your place, and state sales taxes on top of that that accounts for the high costs. Carol isnt ready to bite this big of a bullet, and shes heard that the wireless cameras sold at her local stores both compromise her privacy (by broadcasting the signal to neighboring tenants) and are unreliable. Instead, she decides to check first to see if shes just being paranoid she uses her phone recorder as a regular recorder to monitor sounds in the apartment while shes away. Its her place, after all, and nobody else lives there.
SOME IMPORTANT ISSUES TO CONSIDER Are any of the above examples legally justifiable? Can a business owner record his employees making calls on company time and equipment? Can a parent give consent to record on behalf of a minor child? Does knowing that a conversation is being recorded constitute consent to record? Im not qualified to offer this legal advice, and nothing contained within this ebooklet should be misconstrued to be legal advice. With that said, please allow me to share some non-lawyerly thoughts on the matter. Remember Linda Tripp and Monica Lewinski and the wonderful friendship the two of them seemingly had with each other? Apparently (and of course I would have no way of knowing if this were actually true), Ms. Tripp recorded her conversations with Ms. Lewinski and found herself in a world of hurt for doing so. In some states (I have heard) all parties to a conversation need to be made aware of the fact that the conversation is being recorded. So, its not good enough for Dave (in example # 5 above) or for Ms. Tripp to know that the conversation is being recorded if he or she lives in one of these all party states The two must notify the other party, i.e. Ms. Bitter and Ms. Lewinski that they are being recorded. In other states, as well as per federal government statutes (I was once told by somebody who didnt know anything about anything), only one party (that would be Dave and Tripp again) of a two party conversation (that would be Dave and Ms. Bitter or Tripp and Lewinski) needs to be aware of the recording. The other party does not need to be made aware of the recording or provide consent. Is this all getting confusing? Let me clarify by giving you an example of what I do (correctly or otherwise), as a Private Detective, in my own practice. I feel free to wear a recorder or have one on my telephone to record my own conversations with people here in Minnesota; I do not feel a need to tell people that I am recording them. However, I would neither wear a body-worn recorder, nor record a telephone conversation, that included someone across the border in Wisconsin. Minnesota is a one-party state, and Wisconsin is either a two-party or all party state. Just in case you feel less confused, let me muddy the waters some more. Federal law and Minnesota law only require one party of a two party conversation be made aware of the recording, but Wisconsin requires all parties be made aware. Which law takes

precedence when the telephone call crosses state lines such as when I place a call from my office in Minnesota to someone across the border in Wisconsin? Do we rely on Minnesotas and the federal statutes, or Wisconsins? Ill leave that one, like the others, for you and your attorney to decide. Youll notice that none of the examples above included a scenario in which one spouse wants to record the conversation that the other spouse may be having with a lover. In that scenario, the recording spouse would be conducting an illegal (so Im told) wiretap since he or she would be recording a two party conversation in which neither party is aware of the recording. When I try to explain this to the occasional caller who wants to record a spouses conversations with another, Im often hit with one of two but, buts But # 1 Its my telephone and I pay the bill To which I reply, Your ownership of the telephone, or the fact that you pay the bill, makes no difference. I own a gun, but am not allowed to go out and fire it in the air in my front yard (which I also own). I own my car, but am not allowed to drive 90 in a school zone. I own the shoes Im wearing on my feet, but cant take them off and whack somebody upside the head no matter how deserving they are. The ownership of an item does not allow you to violate somebodys rights by using that item. But # 2 Im not doing it for evil, or for evidentiary reasons, I just want to know whats going on. To which I reply, The laws dont read, Unless the perpetrator committing such an offense believes that its not evil or However, an individual can commit this crime so long as he or she doesnt try to use it in court or tell anyone else about it. That would be ludicrous. I hope that anyone reading this ebooklet will understand the need to discuss the matter with an attorney before they find themselves with a raging headache for, even if you do record legally, there are additional issues involving the admissibility in court for such recordings. Remember Im not offering any legal advice here; Im not a lawyer. For all I know, its perfectly legal for people to do 90 in a school zone just so long as they own the car. I just wont be the one doing so.
After asking your attorney, Is this legal? ask yourself What do I need to accomplish? Can I change the batteries in a recorder daily? Where will I put this recorder? Do I need to run the recorder off of batteries because theres no electrical outlet nearby? Can I plug

the recorder into an electrical outlet? Am I capable of doing some very light soldering? Do I want to download the recordings to a computer? If I dont download to a computer, then do I want to make a copy of pertinent conversations by transferring them from a recorder to an audio cassette? The above questions are a good place to start, but I am not in a position to answer them for you. Only you know what your particular situation and needs entail. You may find it helpful to read this entire ebooklet before committing to some of the questions. INSTALLING A RECORDER ON YOUR TELEPHONE TO RECORD CONVERSATIONS
Go down to your local Target store and purchase either the Sony ICD-B500 Digital Voice Recorder for $39.00 or the Sony ICD-PS20 Digital Voice Recorder & PC Link for $59.00. If you dont have a Target store in town, you might find these recorders at an office supply store. The units are virtually identical except that the latter allows you to download your recordings to a computer a $20.00 option that you obviously dont need to pay for if you dont intend to use that option. The maximum recording times vary from 130 hours to 150 hours so many hours each that Id consider the difference between the two to be a nonissue.
(The ICD- PS20 on the left and ICD B500 on the right.)
Go to Radio Shack and purchase their Telephone Recording Control (Item 43228A) unit for $26.99. Its black, like in the photo shown below. Dont buy the cheaper model (the one with the telephone cord cable). They have another model that is white; you can purchase that one if the above referenced one is not available. The white model (Item 43-2208) is slightly different, but works the same as the one shown in these pictures.
(The white strip in the center of the black box was put there by the owner to better indicate the play and record settings.)
Insert batteries into the recorder, if using batteries, and go ahead and program the recorder according to the directions to show correct time and date. This latter step really is not necessary at all since the recorder will record whether or not the time and date are properly set much like your VCR that is still blinking 12:00. Choose the telephone extension jack that you want to use in your home or office. Verify that it is active and on the same circuit as the phone you want to record conversation on. You can do this by making a call from the phone you want to record conversations from to your cell phone or another telephone where therell be conversation to listen to, and then going to the extension phone and listening to ensure that you can hear that call. NOTE: You wont need a phone at the extension jack to make the recorder work just to verify that the extension jack is active and on the same line as the phone(s) you want to record conversation from.

Choose one of the following set-ups according to your particular situation:
I am going to record from the phone I want to record conversation from, and want to place the recorder either next to or near the telephone. Disconnect the telephone cord from the back of the telephone base (not the handset) and plug it into the recording control unit. (See images below)
Take the black cord (with the telephone plug on it) on the recording control unit and plug it into the back of the telephone base. (See image below)
Plug the jack plug (the one that fits) on the recording control unit into the hole with the microphone icon on the top of your recorder. (See image below)
Skip ahead to the remainder of the directions.
I am going to record from the phone I want to record conversation from, but am unable to set the recorder either next to or near the telephone. Unplug the telephone cord from the wall. (See images below) Insert a 2-Outlet Modular Adapter (Item # 279-407) from Radio Shack for $6.99 into the now empty phone jack. (See images below) Plug the telephone cord that you had previously unplugged from the wall, into one side of the 2-outlet modular adapter. (See images below)
Take the black cord (with the telephone plug on it) on the recording control unit and plug it into the other plug on the 2-outlet modular adapter. (See image below)
Plug the jack plug on the recording control unit (the one that fits) into the hole with the microphone icon on the top of your recorder. (See image below)
I am going to record from an extension jack where there is no telephone. Take the black cord (with the telephone plug on it) on the recording control unit and plug it into the extension jack. (See image below) Plug the jack plug on the recording control unit (the one that fits)into the hole with the microphone icon on the top of your recorder. (See image below)
Notice that there is an empty phone jack in the recording control unit; this is not a problem. Skip ahead to the remainder of the directions.
I am going to record from an extension jack where there is a telephone. Follow the second set of instructions above.
(CONTD) Set your recorder to LP, SP, or HQ according to how much recording you need / want. I feel, having tested the various settings, that LP (longest recording length) was perfectly acceptable. Turn the Alarm and Beep settings in the recorder to off Turn the VOR setting to on (if you want the recorder to automatically record when the phone is picked up.) Set the switch on the recording control unit to Record Press the record button on the recorder Test the system by placing outbound calls.

OPTIONS: Virtually any of the digital recorders, being sold today, as well as many of the older tape based systems, will allow you to record telephone calls. If you are unable to find the above referenced recorders, or just want to save some money, you may want to look at some of these other recorders being sold for as little as $29.00 at various electronics, office supply and general purpose stores. I cannot attest to them working only because I have not personally used them. However, I have no reason to believe that they wont work (perhaps just as well) as the recommended recorder PROVIDED that they have a microphone input plug AND allow for Voice Operated Recording (VOR) if thats of interest to you. The 2-outlet modular adapter, similar to the one referenced above, can be found at virtually any store selling basic telephone supplies. NOTE: Modem noise from a dial-up Internet connection may activate the recorder. DSL use may require the use of a filter. EXTENDING THE MAXIMUM RECORDER OPERATING TIME WITH BATTERIES The Sony ICD-PS20 and ICD-B500 recorders do not come with an AC (electrical outlet) power supply, or even allow you to plug one in. These recorders are intended to run off of 2 triple A (AAA) batteries. While the LCD screen of the recorders are always on, the batteries will last for quite awhile in your recorder on stand-by mode. However, in the
VOR pause mode, the recorder draws about as much power as if it were actually recording about 22 hours or so. In other words if you had the recorder hooked up to a phone line in VOR on mode, the recorder would die within about a day even if there was nothing to record. To many people, this is not a terrible inconvenience changing batteries once a day. However, some people may want to continue to use the VOR mode without the hassle or expense of daily battery changes. For them, they can either use larger batteries to extend the run time or wire the recorder to run off of AC power (electrical outlet) using an adapter (see taking advantage of your recorders maximum recording time by using an AC (electrical outlet) power source). WARNING: Following these instructions may void any warranty you may have with your recorder. There may be other safety concerns, potentially involving fire, of which I am unaware. You must accept responsibility for your own actions, and consider whether or not following the directions below are in your best interest. The Sony ICD-PS20 and ICD-B500, like many recorders of this size, operates on 2 AAA batteries. Triple A (AAA) batteries produce 1.5 volts each, so two of them together produce 3 volts. The recorder doesnt care where the 3 volts come from, so long as its 3 volts. An AA, A, C or D battery also produces 1.5 volts each, so two of any of them together also produce 3 volts. If you look at the sizes of these batteries, while keeping in mind that any two of them still only produces 3 volts, its easy to grasp that the larger the battery the more run time (mAh) it will power a piece of equipment. Of the four alternate sized batteries referenced above, the D will produce the most run time about 750% more than a triple A (AAA) battery of equal quality to power the recorder for just over a week in a constant on or VOR pause mode But your recorder will not accept batteries of a larger size. So, heres what you do if you want more run time without going the way of plugging in the recorder: Purchase a battery holder (item # 270-386) from Radio Shack that holds 2 D batteries for $1.79. (See image below)

Insert two D sized alkaline batteries Check to ensure that you put the batteries in the holder correctly if you did not, you risk destroying your recorder. Check it again. Remove the lid to the battery compartment of your recorder, and remove any batteries contained therein.
WARNING: If you bought a recorder other than the Sony ICD-PS20 and ICD-B500, youll want to identify the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals before you follow the instructions below. You will also need to ensure that your recorder runs on 3 volts. Failure to do so may result in critical damage to your recorder that occur (from past experience) faster than you can say, oops that critical damage oftentimes accompanies the smell of something burning, and frequently results in throwing expensive equipment away in the trash. You may need to do things differently. Solder the bare part of the black (negative) wire from the battery holder to the spring (negative) in the battery compartment on the bottom right of the recorder (as youre looking at the recorder from the rear). (See image below) Solder the bare part of the red (positive) wire from the battery holder to the metal piece (positive) in the battery compartment on the bottom left of the recorder (as youre looking at the recorder from the rear). (See image below)
Optional: Set the battery compartment lid from the recorder aside, and tape the recorder to the battery holder to diminish the chance that the wires may be pulled loose. (See image below)
Optional: To allow you to use the battery lid from the battery compartment, consider drilling a small hole in the middle of it (See image below).
.to pass the red and black wires through BEFORE you solder the wires to the appropriate terminal post. Replace the lid, taking care not to tug on the wire, and use putty or hot glue to seal the hole in the battery lid around the wires.
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOUR RECORDERS MAXIMUM RECORDING TIME BY USING AN AC (ELECTRICAL OUTLET) POWER SOURCE WARNING: Following these instructions may void any warranty you may have with your recorder. There may be other safety concerns, potentially involving fire, of which I am unaware. You must accept responsibility for your own actions, and consider whether or not following the directions below are in your best interests, and accept all liability that may come with your decision. The Sony ICD-PS20 and ICD-B500 recorders do not have an on / off switch. Their LCD screens remain on at all times, but do not draw much battery power if they go unused. However, in the VOR pause mode, they use about as much power as if they are actually recording and last about 22 hours or so on battery power. In other words if you had the recorder hooked up to a phone line in VOR on mode, the recorder would die within about a day even if there were nothing to record. Some people want to continue to use the VOR mode, but dont want the hassle or expense of changing batteries every day. For them, they can either use larger batteries to extend the run time (read extending the maximum recording time with batteries) or wire the recorder to run off of AC power (electrical outlet) using an adapter. The Sony ICD-PS20 and ICD-B500, like many recorders of this size, operates on 2 AAA batteries. Triple A (AAA) batteries produce 1.5 volts each, so two of them together produce 3 volts. The recorder doesnt care where the 3 volts come from, so long as its 3 volts. You can use AC (an electrical outlet) to power your recorder to achieve its maximum recording time between 130 and 150 hours depending on model. But your recorder did not come with an AC wall adapter, and does not have an input jack even if you had one. So, heres what you do if you want the maximum recording time without dealing with batteries: Remove the lid to the battery compartment of your recorder, and remove any batteries contained therein.

WARNING: If you bought a recorder other than the Sony ICD-PS20 and ICD-B500, youll want to identify the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals before you follow the instructions below. You will also need to ensure that your recorder operates on 3 volts. You may need to do things differently. Failure to do so may result in critical damage to your recorder that occur (from past experience) faster than you can say, oops that critical damage oftentimes accompanies the smell of something burning, and usually results in throwing expensive equipment away in the trash. Purchase the 3VDC Regulated AC Adapter (Model: MU03-Z1030-A00S) from Radio Shack for $18.99, or purchase an equivalent adapter that provides 3 volts.
Cut off the end plug of the AC wall adapter. (See image below)
Separate the wires. (See image below)
Strip the insulation off the wire ends to expose about a quarter inch of bare wire. (See image below)
Remove the battery compartment lid from the recorder, and drill a small hole through the middle of the battery compartment lid large enough to be able to thread the wires from the AC wall adapter through the drilled hole. (See image below)
Thread the AC wall adapter wires through the hole in the battery compartment lid, and slide the lid out of your way up the wire. Use a multimeter to identify the positive and negative wires of the AC wall adapter DONT make assumptions based on wire coding. (See image below)
WARNING: Failure to confirm the polarity (i.e. which wire is positive, which negative) of the wires, coming from the AC adapter, may result in critical damage to your recorder that occur (from past experience) faster than you can say, oops that critical damage oftentimes accompanies the smell of something burning, and usually results in throwing expensive equipment away in the trash. Solder the bare part of the negative wire from the AC wall adapter to the spring (negative) in the battery compartment on the bottom right of the recorder (as youre looking at the recorder from the rear). (See image below) Solder the bare part of the positive wire from the AC wall adapter to the metal piece (positive) in the battery compartment on the bottom left of the recorder (as youre looking at the recorder from the rear). (See image to right)
Replace the lid, being careful not to tug on your soldering, and use some putty or hot glue to seal the hole when finished.
HOW TO USE YOUR RECORDER AS A BODY-WORN WIRE / RECORDING DEVICE Purchase the Omnidirectional Tie-Clip Microphone (Item Number 33-3013) from Radio Shack for $24.99. (See images below)

Identify a pocket in your clothing that would best conceal the small recorder that youre using, and cut a small hole in the bottom of that pocket. (See image below) Insert the microphone end of the tie clip microphone through the hole in the pocket (from the pocket side) so that the microphone is under your clothing. (See image below)
Fish the microphone up to a point somewhere between the second or third button from the top of your shirt. (HINT: You may want to consider wearing a dark shirt even black). You want it high enough so that it will not be covered by a jacket, but low enough so that an open shirt collar would not risk exposing it. Secure the microphone, using a safety pin, to the inside of your shirt on the button side of the shirt. (See image below)
Insert the plug of the tie clip microphone into the hole at the top of your recorder that has the microphone icon. (See image below)
Make sure you have a good battery in the small in-line amplifier box, along the cord of the tie clip microphone, and turn the in-line amplifier on. Press the record button on your recorder, or set your recorder to VOR on, and then slide the hold switch on the right side of your recorder (as youre looking at it from the front) to the upward position. This latter step will help prevent your unintentionally turning the recorder off. Put the recorder in your pocket.
SUGGESTIONS: Depending on the size of your pocket, you may want to have another object in your pocket to break up the silhouette of the recorder. Be careful not to pull or tug on the jack entering the recorder. protection, tape the plug down to the recorder. For extra
If youre going to use this set-up in a situation that is likely to cause you stress, consider testing / wearing the equipment through a series of relaxing situations. For example, you might want to test the equipment while out shopping or eating. By doing this, you reassure yourself that other people cannot detect the equipment or otherwise know of its presence. This allows you to focus at the task at hand, when it really counts, without concern for being caught. Most people move and sway a bit when talking. Be conscious of this movement. When important things are being said - stop moving! The rustling of clothing against the microphone will ruin an otherwise good recording.
TRANSFERRING YOUR DIGITAL AUDIO TO YOUR TAPE BASED ANALOG RECORDER Purchase the Radio Shack 1/8 Audio Cable (Item # 42223) cable for $5.99. (See image to right)
Connect one end of the cable into the earphone jack at the top of your Sony recorder i.e. the hole with the headphone icon. (See image below)

Plug the other end of the cable into the audio-in or mic-in jack of your tape based recorder. (See image below)
Press the record button on the on the tape based recorder. Press the play button on the digital recorder. HOW OTHER PEOPLE MAY HAVE USED THIS VERY SAME EQUIPMENT TO TAP YOUR TELEPHONES WITHOUT EVER HAVING ENTERED YOUR HOME!
Most people who contact me, do so only because they have a crisis in their life. In the examples given at the start of this ebooklet, we saw that Mary was being stalked by Mark a lunatic, John and Maggie couldnt keep an adult male from seeing their minor daughter, Dave was in the middle of a child custody case, Jimmys business was suffering because of employees he couldnt trust, and Carol thought that somebody (the caretaker of her apartment building?) may have been coming into her apartment when she wasnt home. Now lets ask ourselves a few final questions: Is Mark such a lunatic that hed tap Marys telephones to see who shes seeing? Could Daves ex wife, or the unprofessional PI she hired to get the goods on Dave, tap Daves phones to get information to use against Dave in a child custody case? Could Jimmy, or even Tom the PI, be the victim of eavesdropping by unscrupulous business competitors? Thousands of people are bugged every year for a variety of reasons. Theres a chance that if you feel a need to document your own calls, then you too are involved in some kind of crisis. Dont let yourself be the victim of eavesdropping by those who would use this very same equipment against you. Go outside right now and find whats known as the Telephone Network Interface (TNI) box that most people have attached to the side of their home. Its where the telephone companys wiring reaches your home. Yours may look different from the one shown in the images below.
(The small padlock shown in the above image was put there by the homeowner)
Its okay for you to open your side of the box. Notice how you only had to use a screwdriver (if anything at all) to open the box. Notice too that there are phone jacks (or wiring depending on your situation) inside the box that can be exploited / treated as just another telephone extension by an unscrupulous person!
Close and lock this TNI box! The lock you install is not meant to keep anyone out of the box its to let you know if anyone has been inside of it. Finally look around your property and become familiar with the location of the nearest telephone pedestal. It may be in your own yard down by the curb, or a few houses away. Inside that pedestal are wires that can be exploited just as easily (although the eavesdropper would first need to determine which of the wire pairs goes to your house if the telephone company didnt already write the phone number next to the proper set of wires) as well. You dont have a right to go into the box its not your property, but you might want to take a look to ensure that it appears closed. If its not, call your telephone company and ask that they come out and secure it. But beware, the boxes can be opened by anyone with a can wrench.

(This image shows the simple lock on a typical telephone pedestal. It can be locked or unlocked with anyone who has purchased a can wrench on the Internet.)
100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE If, for whatever reason, you are dissatisfied with this ebooklet please contact me by telephone at 763-323-7324 so that we can discuss your reason(s) for the dissatisfaction. I will NOT try to dissuade you or talk you out of exercising your right to a full refund I want only to know where the problem lies so that I can address the issue for future buyers. I will refund your payment, but the guarantee requires you to contact me by phone to discuss it. No messages (e.g., I want my money back), left at 3:00 a.m. meets my definition of discussion. People with questions can e-mail me directly at solutions@blueheronpi.com. Because of my schedule, I will not provide directions or take calls by telephone except for those exercising their money back guarantee. Be legal be safe - be good; Good luck to everyone!