Nothing at all to do with ePods or wireless LANs...

["Phillip Harris" <phillip.harris1@xxxxxxx>]

Was just contemplating (again) buying a TIVO although I know that I really
shouldn't until TIVO decide to activate the S-Video output in a later
software release ... however, one thing that does come to mind is the
question of all these appliances that connect to your phone line. BT still
have a maximum specification for a domestic line of 4.0 REN.

Just wondering whether anyone is actually taking any steps to avoid going
over that number? After all, given a phone, a modem, a Sky Digital receiver
and a TIVO then that's your lot ... what about a second (or third) phone,
an
answering machine and/or a fax machine?

I know that BT sell a powered "booster" to allow the connection
of
additional items up to a maximum REN of 11 but is anyone using these? Do
they have any downsides?

The reason I ask is that I'm looking to start work decorating the house
that
we live in (bought four months ago) and I would like to rewire
appropriately
for todays more "connected" requirements ... i.e. phone and
network points
in all rooms. (By the way ... I can vouch for network points in bathrooms,
web browsing in the bath is quite relaxing!)

Also, given the current move towards digital services then can I assume
that
I should be looking at composite / S-Video and audio distribution to rooms
over RF distribution? (Maybe Keith's KAT5 kind of thing? I haven't been on
this group long enough to know the whole history behind that.) The only use
for RF would seem to end up being for OnDigital and the free to air
channels
(if I could find somewhere that would sell me a box rather than selling me
a
years minimal subscription and wanting the box back at the end of the
subscription that is!)

Phil