I have the rioreceiver. Does anyone know if you can use a phone chord to connect the receiver to the modem phone jack output on the back of my Dell? or do I need a seperate card?

Does anyone know if you can use a phone chord to connect the receiver to the modem phone jack output on the back of my Dell?
Well, you can but it won't work.

You need an HPNA card if you want to use the phone cord or you can use an ethernet card with a crossover cable if you're going from your pc to the receiver OR if your computer is plugged into a hub you can just plug your receiver into the hub.

Can I pick up a HPNA card anywhere? (circuit city, best buy, etc?)

I'm not sure... I've never had a use for one but computers4sure has them in stock. If you live in Atlanta I'll give you one for a beer. (I have two sitting on a shelf collecting dust).

Thanks but I live in Maine...long drive for a HPNA card.

CompUSA is selling one, but it's $40. I'd consider trying an Ethernet instead - I used to run my Rio's through HPNA and got tired of dropouts. Now with Ethernet, I have not had a single dropout yet. Unfortunately I also live in Atlanta, so it wouldn't help if I offered my HPNA cards for a beer as well ;-)

If I use ethernet and I don't have an existing ethernet network wired in my house, how can I stream the music to my receiver which is in a room on another level in the house?

If I use ethernet and I don't have an existing ethernet network wired in my house...

I'd say that your problem is right there. If you want to use wired Ethernet, you'll have to get out the drill and put in the wires.

Alternatively, you can try wireless. Some people have had success with using a wireless access point connected to the PC, and a wireless-ethernet bridge connected to the Receiver.

I understand your hesitation to put in wires, but often its not such a big hazzle once you get started. Anyways, I never saw a post on that, but networking over powerlines should be an option as well. Prices have come down and you certainly have even more power outlets than phone plugs so maybe this is a good idea. And, if you DO go with phone wires, most houses have 2 lines wired but only line 1 in use. Line two are the outer contacts. Maybe it would be possible to use the unused line 2 and so not have any interferences? This idea came to me after my own (somewhat bad) experiences with running Rio's over HPNA with a SOny phone and a fax causing some random trouble.