Vista - Did update screw up internet connection?

I'm having trouble with my wireless internet connection similar to problems
I and others described in this newsgroup several months ago.

Sometimes the connection will drop out completely. Sometimes it will
downgrade itself to "local only."

This started happening sometime after the last update, a couple of Tuesdays
ago.

Now, it could be my router is going bad, though it's not that old. Or it
could be the result of a heavy storm that passed through here several nights
ago (seems like the problems started after that).

I'm just wondering if anyone else has noticed a CHANGE in their internet or
network behavior since the last update.

I hate to go spend money for another wireless router if this one is not at
fault.