Rachelh, I know that it *does* depend on where you live. I'm in an urban area just outside Boston, and the cable almost never goes out. I can't remember the last time I had an issue with cable service. Many of my neighbors and friends use VoiP phones, and I never hear anyone complain that they lost service. I'm sure it happens somewhere around here, I've just been lucky. It's definitely a case of how risk-tolerant you are. I agree that the most risk-free course is to stick with a wired land line, but I'm not willing to pay $30 a month (for the cheapest phone service I could find, plus taxes and other charges) as insurance for the chance that both cable and cell phones will be out at the same time that I have an emergency. That insurance might be worth $5-$10 to me, at most. Even at that, I probably wouldn't buy it.:)

Thanks for the info kurto, but maybe you didn't completely read my last post (yep, I know its kind of long). Or, maybe I didn't explain things properly. At all three jacks, I only have a line in. Also, there is only one line that runs down to the utility room. Thats why I said above that I thought this indicates that there is a secondary termination block somewhere. One that runs the one line down the utility room and then branches off into three lines to supply the three jacks. I'm only guessing on this one. So, I know where this line ends at the jack, but I have no idea where it begins. Besides, I probably can't gain access to it because I don't have an attic. As well, the connections to all the jacks, including the one that doesn't work are good. Also, all the jacks have been tested and are in good working order. This seems to only leave a problem with this one line that goes from this one jack in the living room to who knows where. If the directions that came with this tester/toner were a little more explanatory, I could figure out how to test the line and what the results tell me. But its not and I can't. Can't find anything anywhere online either. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again!!! :)

I'd just pull the two original jacks and go star-config if I can get to the wires. I don't like the position of them, and two is hardly enough, there isn't even a jack in the bedroom. I am putting in a structured media panel, and if I leave the jacks in place, I'll either run a wire from the demarc box to the panel, then back to the demark to take care of the legacy jacks, or just leave them as they are, and run the rest of the new jacks from the media panel with a single feed from the demark - fortunately I have a large chase where the gas line runs in, I'll feed it through there.

Well, all it not quite lost. If there is 120V going to the fireplace (most likely is the case) and you can use something else to turn on and off the fire place (many come with an optional remote control or such), you may be able to abandon this as a remote control for the fire place and reuse that piece of wire to feed the receptacle. Of course, it's probably as easy to run a proper receptical. If you can get in to the attic above or craw/basement below, it's not even likely to be beyond the means of a competent DIYer.