Thanks for all your help. From internet search and replies on forums I thought I might do this: 2 RG6 cable and 1 CAT5E cable in the 3 locations I plan on putting television. I was told that you want 2 cable outlets for satelite TIVO abilities and a phone line for "updating" Sound right? I'd add RG6 cable outlet and CAT5E phone outlet to all the locations I think I'd put a computer, basically one pair in each room. Then I'd have everything "homerun" to one location. Sound Okay? Eric Afterthought: Do cable companies offer Basic Basic cable of just the 5 or 6 major channels (ie CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, PBS ...) We're not big 50-60 channel tv fans, but we like our basic tv. We got 5 or 6 basic cable channel in Charleston, SC for 10 buck a month. Here in Monterey, CA they don't offer it, so we are just using the antenna. We're building a house and moving to the Memphis, TN (Arlington, TN) area next. I'm in the Navy, but we're hoping to settle down - so we want to build our house "right."

By definition, a dry loop has no dial tone nor battery. It is a 'raw' copper pair. HOWEVER, many of the telco's don't do it this way any more, especially as far as DSL is concerned. They charge more for a dry loop implementation. Hence, they may TARIFF DSL 'dry-loop' service as something with battery and perhaps even dial tone, but it's not a dry loop after that. And assigning the line a number is not a surprise either. Where I used to work, it was standard to assign a number to a DSL dry loop. But it was a number you could not dial (1nn-xxxx). It was simply a place holder for the billing system.

Jn3344 - we are still under construction.. My builder decided that he would wait until he heard snow was in forecast (NJ) and then decided to rip out sidewalks.. We then uncovered a water leak and a sewer issue.. So now we are still waiting on water company to finish (going on 3 weeks) so that sidewalks can be poured and we can apply for temporary co.. It's been a mess and every time we get a glimmer of hope we get crushed by something.. It's just been an overall mess with this builder.. Guy had nice weather up until February and decides that's when he wants to do outside work.. It amazes me.. Basically the inside of house is complete.. Minor touch ups with paint and some misc items that need fixing.. But everything else inside is good to go.. Oh and we took a visit at site and uncovered this mess..

How do I get the old box out of the wall?? It has no screws and seems to have just been mudded in. I cut the drywall around it (maybe not enough, but it is next to a light switch, so I don't really want to). The box itself is plastic. I thought that I could just push it through and let it fall inside the wall, but that doesn't work either. Do you have any suggestions? Also, how do I make sure the wires are not live, like a previous commenter, I have a landline included with my internet bundle (for some reason, that is cheaper)?