mikeswife - you sound just like us. When I scrapped the cable TV I signed up for Amazon prime so I'd have something to watch besides network TV (which I was getting through the cable at the time). I only recently got streaming Netflix to work with decent video quality. Part of the problem was that Comcast wasn't allocating sufficient bandwidth to Netflix but they apparently came to some kind of agreement on that with Netflix paying them more $. Then I upgraded my cable modem and router and now all is good. And I'm saving over $100 per month. It's such a racket with Comcast. When I first scrapped the landline - no savings of course from the bundle. Then when I scrapped the last basic network TV channels I was getting through them, they raised my internet price by an equivalent amount and the rep on the phone gloated when he pointed out I'd be saving sixty cents. He conveniently left out the additional $6.69 in taxes and fees and when I pointed it out he said well, we have no control over that. It's this kind of thing that causes me to hate Comcast. They have a monopoly on decent internet service where I live so I have no choice there.

Sorry, I was confusing. I had OTA with an antenna (and I still do), but my favorite channel sometimes lost its sound. My wife persuaded me to get cable, which I did, but I decided to replace the cable with DirectTV, because of the internet perks. However, I can't get that same channel on DTV's internet service (it comes in fine on my TV).

Hi As others have said, it really depends on what you want where. For example, we use Sonos extensively so regardless of whether we are running speaker cable out to wall or ceiling speakers or whether the zone players are located out in the ceiling, we know that we need additional power points for each of the zones so we work out the location and allow for them. With automated lighting/HVAC, there are complicated systems and simple ones that fit behind the light switch/interface with the unit and are simply controlled on an ios device. Again, depending on what is needed or desired we know that looking at the lighting plan and seeing what circuits/zones need to be wired eg two way will often dictate the solution. ie where you go to switch on the main lights to the living area is also a convenient location for the HVAC controls, intercom etc With entertainment, we always do multiple ethernet ports to entertainment locations as you quite often find both the TV, Xbox, cable tv also need connection to the internet and we prefer to hard wire. It is then simply a matter of running it back to a central hub to your signal source. I agree with the others it is how you want to live that needs the thought. Cheers

Jane, it can very every outage depending on the cause of the outage. Storms that take down a line will take down both generally. And internal issues is normally one service. Its impossible to have guaranteed service, especially in storms. I will say, in my old house where lines were above ground, I had more outages than I do now with buried cables. If the cables in your neighborhood are buried, then you’ll likely have a better track record and fewer outages. I would say that on average, we get 1-2 outages per year. My xfinity account app tells me what services are affected and an eta on resolution. They are vague times, but it lets me know they’re aware of it and working on it.