Question: I don’t know if you are knowledgeable about Comcast? But, I switched to Comcast one year ago from US Family/Centurylink. US Family was my ISP and they used the Centurylink lines in our area. They could not provide adequate speed to run Netflix properly. So, we switched to Comcast. I still use US Family/Velocity for my email ($1.00/mo.) and land line ($35.00/mo.)

Response: I have switched back and forth between Comcast and Centurylink over the years to get the best deal which you usually only get for a limited time. Centurylink DSL has a download limit of 3-8 Mbps depending on how far your house is from their neighborhood connection box. Fiber can offer speeds up to 1 Gbps. To stream Netflix at High Definition requires about 5 Mbps per TV. For you email, I would recommend switching to Gmail which is free. Most people have dropped their land line and just use their cell phone. That would save you $420 a year. If you still want a land line, I would recommend using VOIP which uses your Internet connection, see this site: https://www.voip-info.org/ooma-vs-magicjack-plus/  About fifteen years ago I dropped my land line from CenturyLink and went to MagicJack which provides phone service "VOIP" over an Internet connection. MagicJack at that time cost $19 a year with no taxes and worked great. When I got a cell phone about six years ago, I dropped MagicJack and just use the cell phone. For the cell phone I have a 4 home phone wireless system with Bluetooth that lets me make and receive calls on any of the phones using the cell phone. Many new wireless home phones support connecting one or more cell phones using Bluetooth. 
 
Question: Comcast provides these speeds generally: Download; 55 Mbps. Upload; 5.4 Mbps. Which seems to be good enough for us. My price for 2018 was $41.78/month.(includes $10/mo. for their modem/wifi box). Starting in January Comcast has increased the price to $51.78 (includes $11/mo. for their box). I don’t understand the speeds very well for one thing...and I could buy my own modem/wifi box. But, I have no idea what to buy. We do not have fiber option in our area of Cottage Grove. We just use the service for internet access and watching Netflix or Amazon Prime on one tv.

Response: The more you know about your own home network and needs, the better off you will be.  Each provider offers different speed levels at different costs. Buying 1 Gig service when you only need 40 Mb is like having a 12” water pipe into your house and you only need a 2”.  Link to info on what you need: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/internet-speed-what-you-need,news-24289.html   

I currently have a two year contract with CenturyLink for 40 Mb for $29 a month, only buy what you need. I recommend not leasing from the provider. A Modem is a device that takes the signal and converts it to an Ethernet signal. The Router takes the Ethernet signal and provides WiFi and multiple Ethernet ports for hard wire connections. Routers come from many vendors, speeds, security, prices, and features. They range from $20 to $500 with most around $80. If you have trouble with your connection being too weak or not fast enough, you can try a better Router. Buy a separate modem and a separate WiFi router. That way you can get the best router at the best price for your place. The $10-$15 a month lease router from the provider is about the same as a $70 router (not bad, but not great). It is easy to configure your own network if you can follow simple directions. The Comcast site: https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/list-of-approved-cable-modems  has info on what Modem/routers are supported. There are three type – Modem only, Modem with Phone, Modem with WiFi. You can buy a few of the models in stores like Best Buy and Target. If you go online you can find better prices and also get used modems for as little as $20 on sites like eBay or Craigslist. What WiFi router is best for you depends on your house and needs. FYI…You can also buy the exact model you are renting. Buying vs Leasing will usually pay for itself after the first year when you buy new.

Question: I have been retired from 3M for over 10 years and have a reduced pension and reduced Social Security payment, so I have to keep monthly expenses as low as I can. Do you think I can get service at a lower cost?

Response: Your cost is about average. You can try calling to see if they will lower your cost, but you usually only get the best rate when switching which can be a hassle. Starting in 2019 and into 2020 you will see 5G Internet options that will provide Internet that will not require a fiber or cable into your home. This would use a Modem that would receive a 5G signal like your phone currently does for 4G and be high speed. We will see what the price is and at what speed.

Question: For cell phone I use Tracfone and an iPhone4 (I know ancient)...my wife is on a Sprint plan with my son and has an iPhone6. I will hopefully get a new phone in 2019, because it cannot be updated and will not accept any apps...like from Novation Credit Union app or even my church app.

Response: Lots of options for phones and plans. There is no such thing as a free phone, you pay for it with the plan. Personally I have Moto G5 phone that cost $299 and I use the Republic plan with unlimited call and text for $15 month and 1 GB data for $5 month. There are other providers like Consumer Cellular or family plans that get close to that price.