Phone Computer & Entertainment

Adding a new telephone jack is straightforward work. Just run cable and connect wires to terminals labeled with their colors. The most difficult part is running, and then hiding, the cable. Depending on your service contract, it may be cost-effective to have the phone company install new service for you. The lines they install will be under warranty.

Category 5, or CAT 5 cable, and telephone wire are fragile. Don't bend, stretch, or compromise these wires. Signals may become distorted. CAT 5 cable consists of four pairs of cable and is used for computer networks, phone, audio, and video. Because of their versatility, Cat 5 and 5E (four twisted pairs) are excellent when wiring your house for entertainment/media systems. Both wire types come in several colors to help you identify which cable came from where.

You can now buy faceplates that hold several interchangeable jacks along with distribution boxes that let you customize the phone, computer network, and cable services that go to each room in the house.