Here's one way to take advantage of the technology available for your home. It's called category 5 wiring. Category 5 wiring provides internet and fax connections 600 times faster than an ordinary phone line. Bundled with coaxial video cable, it allows you to view cable TV, your VCR, and even closed circuit cameras from any monitor in your home.

Bob Ryley meets with Ken Frankel from Lucent Technologies to talk about the new HomeStar wiring system. Ryley points out the outlet part of the system on the wall. These outlets, of which there are six in the house, connect into the basement. Ken explains that the HomeStar system takes care of television, phone, internet, and security for homeowners. Homeowners can be sitting in the living room and see who is at the front door without getting up. Cameras are linked into the television for exterior and interior monitoring. The wire connecting the outlets distributes voice, data, and video through the house. Bob then shows us the hybrid wire which consists of three wires on the inside. The first is a cable wire for television. The second is for video distribution and security monitoring, and the third is for telephone and computer. The telephone and data wire is the highest grade wire called a Category Five wire. Ken tells us that cat five is six hundred times faster than a regular phone wire and perfect for home office use. He points out that using HomeStar a homeowner can save money with the networking capabilities of cables linking various televisions and computers throughout the home.

Bob meets with Dan Drook to check out the multimedia entertainment center. Dan outlines the planned layout of the media components and describes the special television screen they will use to work with natural light of the room.

Bob meets with Tom Morgan of Home Automation Inc to look at the "brain" for the home automation system and then goes on to meet with the wiring contractor to see how the house is wired.

Bob works with carpenter Bob Ryley to construct an insert for an antique cherry armoire to house his bedroom TV and Video collection. The insert made of cherry veneered plywood is also dressed with some additional cherry trim to match the armoire. Ryley precut and rabbited out placements for the shelves to make assembly a snap. Vila and Ryley show how the shelves are glued and nailed into place.