How do I set it up so that I can talk to HAL from any room in the house?

With this method, you can talk to HAL from any room in the house that has a phone connected to the same phone line that HAL uses. You could then pick up the handset of any house phone and press an attention key to put HAL into listening mode. This method requires a HAL-compatible modem and requires a modification to the wiring setup of the telephone junction box outside your home. Go to the related topic in the Diagrams FAQs for information on setting up this method of interaction.

With this method, you can talk to HAL through microphones installed throughout the house. The microphones would be connected to a central mixer whose output would be connected to the computer on which HAL is installed. This method may require the assistance of a qualified audio technician and is easier to implement in new homes as they're being constructed. See the Automate Your Home section of this website for more information.