I take it Comcast is an cable tv provider? If it is then you have to remember the more subscribers get online the slower your connect speed will be. If your main service is over coxal cable. If it's over fiber optics then you should have a dedicated line to your house, with the limiting factor the coxal drop going to your house. Unless you have fiber optics up to your house.
The download trouble you spoke of Gatsby almost sounds like an equipment time out, where the equipment actually takes a time out if there is no action on the line.
Yes, I realize you were downloading, but that may not have been enough if in fact the equipment went to coffee.
And sometimes, there may be intermittent trouble that can't be detected until it finally becomes permanent. Even small troubles over any transmission medium can cause big troubles.