Wireless newbie needs to know

About 3 months ago I acquired a new Vista laptop. I had been running an XP laptop on an Actiontec gt701wg dsl modem from Qwest, with never a problem. Since I started with this machine, though, I have had numerous problems. I couldn't properly VPN into my work network, even though I had the Vista version of Cisco vpn. More recently I am getting a lot of dropped connections, where sometimes the icons show connection and sometimes show it's gone.

There is a firmware upgrade available for this modem. Would it do anything for me? How can I tell if the problem is software or hardware? How can I tell if it's the OS or the modem?

 

You'll have to do some troubleshooting to see if it is software/hardware.First if there is a firmware upgrade definitely do that first,then go from there.

 

As followup:

1. Can firmware upgrade do any harm?

2. What sort of troubleshooting would you suggest first?

 

If you flash it with the wrong firmware you can do irreversible damage,but if your getting it from the manufacturers site then I wouldn't worry about it to much. Get the firmware update for the modem,and then see if you're up to date with your vista drivers for your wireless adapter.

 

The modem was supplied by Qwest, whose website says to use their firmware updates, not those on the manufacturer's website. The modem is the wireless adapter (wireless gateway), if I'm understanding the terminology correctly.

 

I was thinking that you said there is a firmware update, or do you mean router??

 

Qwest has a firmware update for this modem, which is a wireless gateway. Is that a router, as well? It's an Actiontec GT701-WG. I can access the internet wirelessly in my home through it.