Macbook Help -- Connection Timeout

[Xaixis]

Hey guys, this seems to be my first real problem since I got my macbook, kinda pissing me off.

Everytime I try to connect to my home network I keep getting "connection timeout" when ever i try to connect (on ethernet now)... here's a pic of it:

Spoiler: pic

I really don't know what to do, I have my laptop right next to the router (mind you I was able to get fuul signal all around the house before). But I was on it, started to download a movie (Zeitgiest, nothing illegal), came back and I have 1 bar, and then it fluttered out and I wasn't able to reconnect.

I'm running on a WEP 128-bit encryption, and I was able to perfectly connect before and now it won't let me =(
(By the way, it doesn't matter which type of password I type, because it doesn't matter what I type.)

Is there some update or something that I can get? Please help!!! I'm not a very techy person as some of you might know... so please use small words xD... well you know what i mean


EDIT: I messed around with the MAC Filtering and I got through (it only has 3/4 bars though instead of 4, know how to get full strength?) but I still can't connect to the internet....

Spoiler: My Topic on MacRumors

Hey guys, this is my first post here so I'm sorry if this is in the wrong place or something.

Anyways, I've had my macbook for a good month or two without any problems. I have a refurbished macbook white (got it for around 850$) and so far I've been happy as a clam. It has a 2.1Ghz intel core 2 duo processor and I am currently running 10.6.

My router is Linksys (v2.02.2) and I am on a WEB 1828-bit encryption 26 hex digits

So now would be the first problem and I'm kinda scared because I'm not sure if it's the hardware's fault, program, w/e.

For awhile my internet was great, I got iterally full connection around the whole house. But then suddenly when I was downloading a movie (no not pirating, it was a free documentary) it suddendly crapped out and then disconnected. (I have downloaded quite larger files before with no problem... this is the first time I've had this problem. When ever I try connecting to the internet it gives me the "connection timeout"
IMAGE --> http://bb.xieke.com/files/screen-capture.png

So I do everything I can but no avail so I look around online with pretty much no help. So I'm kinda worried now because I'm not sure if this is temporary or what. I really don't have a whole lot of money to dish out on repairs and I literally just bought this thing about 2 months ago so I will be really mad if the airport died or something (which I don't think it has because I get 1 or 2 bars every now and then... won't connect to internet though)


PLEASE help guys! I'm really getting worried for my new mac!

 

[Tohsaka]

I used to get that at my school- What version of Leo are you on? Also, did you apply the Airport Extreme upgrade- I hear that was originally causing problems in consumer setups.

 

[Xaixis]

Um.. I'm on 10.5.6, and I am up to date according to my network manager so if it was a recommended install by the software update (when I click the apple logo) then yes I did. But the last time I did a major upgrade it would have been about 2-3 weeks ago and which has been working perfectly until a few hours ago. Would there be a way to disable that?

Does that help? Also I have a bunch of info in the second spoiler about my linksys and stuff

 

[Tohsaka]

What router type are you using? Brand, and version (ex. Linksys WRT54G v.5)

 

[Xaixis]

Linksys WRT54G Firmware Version: v2.02.2

(top of my menu looks like this)

But why would it suddenly stop working? Seriously it was working one minute then off then next (and still off). I am literally the only wireless device in the house and no one even logged into the router menu or messed with any plugs. Also what's weird is that I can connect (like it says I'm connected to the router, even though not at full power like it used to be even though I'm right in front of the router) but i still can't access the internet from it


EDIT
I feel like f***king idiot. I tried power cycling and it worked a charm. I think when I did it before I didn't give it enough time to reset or something. Thanks for looking at this though Cocoa ^.^, I appreciate you trying to help.

 

[Tohsaka]

You must have a newer version of the router
My max firmware is Firmware Version: v1.02.5

 

[Xaixis]

Ya, what happened was, our house's electricity flickered 3 times really fast or something (it was snowing quite heavily) so it basically reset and then turned on the modem and the router on and off which then was not able to output a strong wireless.