Daryl wrote --

>   I've got the cable modem, and pay a fee for that

  A few years ago when I got my new (to me) laptop I lost my cable.
  This laptop has wifi and I contacted the Comcast office about the
trouble using a signal I didn't recognise and leery of them.  (This was
before the free city wifi).  And thinking back the old modem didn't have
wifi either.  Now I have had cable since '01 and the first thing I do if
there's a problem is check the connections, reset the modem, etc.
  The woman (I assume) on the other side of the chat program told me to
do that. I had done it several times already.  My problems had been
outside the apartment with various former tenants tapping wires, etc. 
(The junction box is two and a half stories off the ground on the side of
the wall and someone once even tampered with that!  We have had students
here and they are always looking to get everything free).  
  Long story short she eventually gave in and a repairman was here a
couple of days later.  He said the problem was with the modem, replaced
it with a new one that is also a router and back in business.
  In the past the repair guy came when he felt like it.  Now they say
such-and-such a time and are there in that time frame.  No more making
appointments to be here after I got off work only to find a note they had
been here an hour before I got off work then reschedule for 10 days out.
 And they also now work weekends at no extra charge.  
  My guy was here on a Sunday.

> I mainly wanted the high speed internet...I rarely watch TV.

  I don't even have a tv.  Got rid of it years ago.

> JM>  The city has free limited wifi downtown here which is really nice.
> JM>Limited in the sense it only covers so far, not in speed.
> 
>   Some Amtrak routes have onboard WiFi, and some of the passenger
> stations (mainly the larger ones) have it in the lounges.

  Most all businesses here have free wifi for customers, get a temporary
USID/PW, sometimes only a PW is required.
  Some places you can even get a signal outside the building and not even
have to buy anything once you get a signal.
  I have heard the buses have wifi on them and I think Lyft and Uber does
as well.

>   That show was so hokey. 

  I loved that show.  I used to hurry home for lunch to watch it.
  Of course the big hit of the show was "Gene Gene the Dancing Machine".
  You know of course after the show went off the air he developed
diabetes and lost both his legs.  He been dead for years.
  The show is (or was) on You Tube, not all of them, but a few dozen.
  Joe
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