Can I use the phones in the house to talk to HAL?

Advantage: Easier to implement than the other method.

This method is simple -- plug a telephone into the phone jack on the modem. If a standard phone is plugged into the modem then you'd have to be pick up the phone there by the computer to talk to HAL, which would basically be the same as using the computer's microphone (if one is installed). However, if a cordless phone is plugged into the modem, then the phone can be carried around the house and used to interact with HAL.

Disadvantage(s):

• Only one phone can be used to interact with HAL.
  
  
• The cordless phone would have to be returned to its base periodically to recharge -- not always convenient for those users who have a dedicated computer for home automation and have it located in the basement or a closet.

Requirements:

• A HAL-compatible modem.

Advantage: All of the phones in the house can be used.

This method works by having phone signals coming in from the street rerouted so that they pass through HAL before continuing on to the rest of the house. Likewise, signals originating in the house pass through HAL before proceeding out to the street. This means that when a phone is picked up in the house, HAL "listens" in to determine if a command is coming its way or if an outgoing call is being placed. If HAL doesn't hear the tone for the attention key (generally the pound [#] sign), then it allows the signal to continue outside.

Disadvantage(s):

• The phone line has to be rerouted at the telephone junction box outside, which may require the assistance of a qualified telephone technician. The graphic below diagrams the new route.
  
  
• There are usually at least two pairs of phone lines going through every home. Homes with one phone line (one phone number) use only one of these pairs, and homes with two phone lines (two phone numbers) use both pairs. This method for setting up the In-House Phone Interaction Feature can't be used in homes that have two phone lines because the recommended HAL wiring explained in the diagram below requires both pairs. There are a couple of ways, however, to have multiple phones lines in the home and still have in-house phone interaction with HAL:

• Use a PBX Phone System to handle the multiple phone lines.
  
  
• If the second phone line (second phone number) is dedicated to just one device, such as a "teen" line or a fax machine or strictly for Internet access, then a dedicated line can be run from the telephone junction box directly to the phone jack for that device. In other words, the second phone line is connected to another pair of lines that wasn't used before or to a new pair that is installed specifically for this device (the first phone line will still need to be rerouted -- see the diagram below). Contact your local telephone company for additional information and assistance.

Requirements:

• A HAL-compatible modem