>>Does the connection simply disappear for a few seconds<
>
>Evidently it was the Cable Modem itself and/or the Cable company started storing my IP address (which also killed my Vonage Cisco box). They replaced it with a new (bad) one, and today they finally came out and replaced it with a good Cable Modem. I also had to put in a Router - as evidently the Cable company here no longer can deal with just a hub.
>
>So... and I am and going again...

Glad to hear you're operational. I didn't ask, I just assumed you were already using a router.

I just bought a D-Link DI604 for a friend - C$45 after rebate. Basic NAT firewall, VPN passthrough and 4-port 10/100 switch. IMO at this sort of price, anyone with a broadband connection not using at least a router like this is, frankly, a fool. Even if you're running a hardened *n?x or BSD box, it's such a cheap and effective layer of protection.