Thanks, le nubian.

Before you get a new router, smonster, have other wireless devices been able to connect speedily?

No - amyth's laptop was slow connecting, although she doesn't remember having problems as drastic as I have with mine. My computer is slow, but it's also old and increasingly brick-like. I don't have any other wireless devices currently on the network.

I've also wondered if it could be a problem with the actual cable connection, since I have issues with my cable tv as well. I need to talk to my friends in the neighborhood and see if they have the same issues.

For those of you with jailbroken phones, what program do you recommend after the break?

I liked xGPS a lot (mostly just for downloading google maps offline) and some of the SMS Quick Reply stuff. Backgrounder is AWESOME if you want to listen to Pandora while doing other things or leave Skype open to receive a Skype call (a nice perk when I was in Canada operating on wifi only). But the thing I actually miss most since I upgraded my iPhone software and lost my jailbreak is the SBSettings panel that comes by default on jailbroken phones - being able to swipe across the top and easily toggle 3G or WiFi on or off is incredibly convenient.

Sorry, wasn't clear. I don't mean stuff you added, I mean the program to access the phone, like Customize. Are you saying that if you upgrade your software, the jailbreak goes away?

Moon water: [link]

Oh. I went the Cydia route. I don't know what Customize is, but if that's the standard Cydia app/store, then that's what I used. It was nice, almost as easy to use as the iTunes app store, though there are a LOT of graphical themes in it which sometimes makes it hard to find real applications.

When you install the jailbreak (I used yellowsn0w to do it), it gives you the option of installing Cydia, Icy, or both. I think they're competitors that do basically the same thing. Cydia is a bit more established than Icy, I gather.

Does that answer the question?

ETA: After some googling, it looks like Customize is a specific program that you use to change the look of the phone: it lets you modify icons and change message stringsand such. I never played with that, being fairly happy with the iPhone interface as is. So... basically, I still don't know if I've answered any questions. Sorry.

When you install the jailbreak (I used yellowsn0w to do it), it gives you the option of installing Cydia, Icy, or both. I think they're competitors that do basically the same thing. Cydia is a bit more established than Icy, I gather.

the guy at the AT&T store did the jailbreak (long story), but then I upgraded the iPhone software before I did anything with the phone and the software disappeared, and I couldn't remember the name.

I think that I said Customize because of some website I'd read, I don't really care so much about the look of the iPhone, I just want a different notification sound so that I'm not one of five people pulling out their iPhone when the doodooDOO sound happens. I'll know it's not me :)

You can't change that sound without jailbreaking? I didn't know that!

I use the clown-car horn for my notification sound.

So anyway, if you want to jailbreak the phone, use yellowsn0w (Google should give it to you). The instructions are very clear. You'll install Cydia when you do that, and you can download Customize using the Cydia app on your phone.

You can't change that sound without jailbreaking? I didn't know that!

You can't do custom notification tones like you can do custom ringtones, you can only use the default sounds set. The doodooDOO is the only one I kind of like and everyone has it.