Thanks, Raven. I'm sure he's behind on lots of stuff. Early in 2009, I had him change his update settings to notify him of updates, but not automatically download. That was to hold off on sp1 (at a time when I think I read here that folks were having trouble with it - but I didn't follow that topic, so didn't realize sp1 had become a good idea and that sp2 followed). We also set it that way bc. his computer was automatically updating and then rebooting when he was in the middle of doing other things. So this was to allow him to time his own downloads and installations. But he just never thought of it - and I didn't think I needed to keep track for him. I do keep track of his Avast, superantispyware, malwarebyte and spywareblaster. Every now and then when he's done surfing I have him leave out the laptop and go ahead and update and scan. I'll have to keep track of more than that, obviously. I got foxit reader on my ancient laptop in my office and love it. It takes so little room and does what I need quickly. Do you like pdf-xchange viewer more than foxit reader? Or does he need to use firefox to use foxit reader? I installed firefox for him - and set up tabs with the places he likes to go (did that in the summer) - but he hasn't used it. He's a bit resistant to tech changes. He balked when I got Tivo's - although he loves it now. He's a musician - and I got him Protools so he could record the music he wrote. That was over 1 1/2 years ago - and he hasn't learned it yet - he's barely scratched the surface. Last spring he bought an Imac bc. it was better for recording music. And now he's finally setting up his den and equipment. I'm hoping he'll actually learn the software this year. I'll take care of the rest for him so the only learning curve he has is Protools (certainly the most challenging of them all). But I digress. I'll check his other updates and run Secunia - I'm pretty sure I already put that on his computer last year. Thanks. Lynn.

Although, depending on any additional features of the Tivo you may use, the DSL would be much better. Once you connect your Tivo to your 'home network', you can do so much more with it. simple things like display pictures from your computer, through your Tivo onto your TV (so everyone doesn't have to stand around a possibly small PC monitor), to downloading movies from the web and watching them from the Tivo (again on your TV). Fun stuff indeed.

"Does this make sense?" I wouldn't do any of this. Instead, I'd get a Netgear Orbi mesh system (there are competitors, of course), deploy the satellites around the house, and connect all your devices via wifi. If, instead, you wanted to deploy a few ceiling-mounted wireless access points* (WAP) that could be configured into a mesh network, you could use the TP-Link EAP225 AC1350 Access Point (there are other EAP225 models as well) and use the controller to configure the network. The EAP225 access point support POE (power over ethernet) which eliminates the need for an electrical outlet for each WAP. There's also a EAP225-Outdoor AC1200 WAP. I have one AC1350 WAP located at one end of my 1000 sf condo and it powers all my wifi devices including an Internet-only TV (located at the other end of the house), computer, phone, wifi thermostat, and Sonos system. (It would probably work better if the WAP were in the middle of the house but it's satisfactory as is and I attached it, Verizon FiOS equipment, and an Ubiquiti router to a piece of wall-mounted plywood in a closet.) *e.g., main floor, upstairs, basement, attic -- though I'd try only the main floor and upstairs first.

mtvhike, maybe I've misunderstood you, but "the internet" as you refer to it is everything that carries or process a signal in-between the device (PC, tablet, smartphone and home automation devices whether wired or Wifi) and the ISP's switching office. Including the wire and wire connections, by the way. That includes your LAN. and each part of it. Spectrum's Tech Support department can access your modem remotely and get info about the signal it receives and signal drop outs. A technician with clips at the junction box of your house can do the same thing. These assessments leave out a few parts of the path but if your problems continue, a tech visit or a Tech Support call would be the next step.