Router problems?

[bodgit]

I,ve had my laptop for two years and untill recently had no problems with it. About two weeks ago I had a text from o2 saying
"there was a line fault that may affect broadband in your area and they were fixing it"
I had noticed it before then as connection kept dropping out. Now my laptop either connects first time ot takes several attempts to connect. It can be working fine then suddenly drop offline. The signal strength is 2-4 bars out of 5 and Im wondering is my router on the way out or is it stll o2 line causing the problem.
Thinking of going to Bt broadband now as it is getting on my nerves dropping out all the time. Anyone got Bt and is it as good as the tv adverts claim?