very cool and sexy

Hmm... how did the thought process go? "If I say I'm having a router problem, then nobody will read my post. So I'll make a title that lots of people will click on and they'll flock to my aid even though they're slightly p!$$-d off that the title had nothing to do with my post"?

We'll cut some slack because you're new here. Next time, make the post title descriptive of the question or comment you're making. Or risk getting mocked much more savagely than I have done...

THere are too many variables in your setup to give you a step by step, but here are some gernat hints. You need to isolate your problem - there are too many links in the chain.

Modem
Cable
Router
Wireless Transmission
Wireless reception
Mac software settings

First, hook your Mac directly to the modem via cable (you will want to set up a separate "location" under Networking and set it to DHCP) . Do you get relible connection?
Hook your router back up, and hook the Mac to the router via cable. You may have to alter your Network settings to recognize the router IP address as your Gateway/Router
Turn off all three devices. Turn them on in this order: Modem - pause - Router - pause - Mac
Do you get a reliable connection now? If not, what is the IP address that your Mac is displaying? Is it 169.x.x.x? That means you haven't achieved connection with the router's DHCP server.
If you do get a good connection, then progress to connecting to the router by wireless and test that.

Refer to your router's owner's manual. You can log onto the router with a Web browser to check its settings and whether it is connected correctly to the 'net. You will also want to reestablish your router passwords, if you have reset the unit.

Call your ISP support.

Only call your ISP if:
-you're allowed to have more than one computer on your network
-you're sure the problem is on their end.
They're not going to help you with your router. If you plug your computer right in to the modem, you likely have to reset your modem (unplug it for a minute) to give the Mac an address. Modems usually remember the MAC address of the last computer/router plugged in and won't issue another address unless reset. (This is why we use routers instead of hubs).
A few things that helped me (I'm on comcast if that relates)
I had to enter the MAC address (that's the hardware address) of the network card in my router, to report to the modem, or I would get knocked off after a few minutes. This just started happening to me lately - they never cared about it before it seems.
Second, Make sure the router is getting good circulation. I've heard reports that routers overheat. Mine came with a stand that allows it to stay up vertically.
Finally, make the topic of your post relevent, as CanadaRAM suggested. Maybe that should be against the rules, if it's not already