Just ignore the dots, that is a rather useless security feature of the router to try to prevent someone looking over your shoulder and seeing what password you are entering. Your current password is probably "password1", since the Actiontec router requires the original password ("password") to be changed the first time you log in, and your installer almost certainly did log into the router - password1 is what a lot of installers change it to.
If you cannot figure out the password, then you wil need to reset the router back to factory defaults by pressing the reset button on the back of the router. Depending on how much configuration work the installer did, resetting can cause you a lot of work, or pretty much none.
When you get into the configuration screens, one of the first things I suggest you do is to change the login name and password to something you can easily remember.
As to the wireless issue, there are lots of posts here about that, I suggest you either use the Search funtion or just browse through the threads to see what kind of things can affect signal strength and dropouts.
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Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
IMG 1.6.0, Build 06.89
Keller, TX
It sounds like a Public vs. Private network issue which is defined in Vista after the connection is made the first time. Try deleting the profile for the router w/in Network Connections (I think). Then attempt to connect again via wireless and a new profile will be created. Select the Private network connection vs. the Public.
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