Damn, you got one bizarre problem. This makes no sense regarding why the connection is failing via ODBC. What does is the info in aerror() provide? This is what the definition of the error is according to Oracle:

TNS-12204 TNS:received data refused from an application

Cause: The application using the Interchange or Connection Manager refused the connection at the listener.

Action: Make sure that the application listener at the destination is functioning correctly. If it is and the problem persists, contact Oracle Customer Support.

This makes me think something is actually reaching the server [the listener is on the server], but the listener can not determine the source to reply back to. Which leads me to believe that it very well could be the router. I would provide the Oracle port that the server is using, and see if there is some problem with accessing that port with respect to your new router. I know next to nothing about routers except for the one I have for my DSL modem that acts as my firewall.

>Hi Mark,
>I've been beyond busy as usual.
>
>I've tried SQLSTRINGCONNECT() and it is behaving exactly the same as SQLCONNECT() where the returned handle is -1 and the Oracle error is 12204.
>
>Also, there's a couple of points I forgot to include in my original post:
>
>1) The exact same VFP application and ODBC drivers are still functioning on client computers outside the office that connect to the Internet without the Checkpoint firewall.
>
>2) The firewall guys say they are convinced that the firewall has all ports open and is not configured to only allow applications with a certain name to communicate.
>
>Thanks
>David