RS> Have yet to connect at 33.6 yet the USR modem text says my line supports
 RS> X2!
But again, it's probably not your house wiring where the problem is, it's 
probably the telco.  I'm not saying you shouldn't rewire, but (from what 
you've said) you shouldn't expect it to make a big difference in your 
connects.
 RS> I have two insulated wires twisted together in half the house.  Green
 RS> and red connected in the other half.
If it was me, so long as it is in twisted pairs I wouldn't replace it.  Real 
old wiring is separate wires and probably should be replaced. Then came 
(red/green, yellow/black) two pairs in a cable, now it's usually 3 pairs (I 
forget the colors).  The extra wires are for additional lines, and spares.
 RS> What is Cat 5?
Category 3 wire is the stuff they normally wire voice telephone with in a 
building.  Category 4 looks just the same, but is more expensive and suitable 
for 10Mbs Ethernet.  Category 5 still looks the same, but is more expensive 
and suitable for 100Mbs Ethernet.  (For price comparison, Cat 3 is about 
$70/1000', Cat 5 is about $125/1000'.  Cat 4 & 5 will normally have 4 pairs.) 
 Since the cost of the job is mostly labor, if you're going to do it you 
might as well spend a few bucks extra and put the fancy wire in.  It will be 
more resistant to crosstalk (noise from one line heard on another).  And who 
knows, next year Microsoft may introduce Ethernet kitchen appliances .
 RS> If I chose to hire someone to run the wires through the walls, who would
 RS> do it, an electrician or a telco person?
Either should be able to do it.  It's all low-voltage wiring, so there's no 
safety issues.
-Dave
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