Intermittant Connection Fault

Hello ....  I'm very new to all this and not even sure if I'm on the correct support forum - so please feel free to redirect me if not!  I've owned a Dell Inspiron 560 desktop with Windows 7 (wired connection using Orange broadband)) since Christmas, and from within a few days of starting to operate it I began getting intermittant internet disconnection, which has continued on and off ever since.  The only way I can get connection back is to follow the Windows troubleshooter tips and unplug the router for 10 seconds.  This has always worked up to now but it's obviously a fault which needs correcting.  My thinking is that it's some sort of communication problem between PC & router but I don't know enough to know what it might be.  I've spent literally hours on the phone to Dell - first with the hardward dept, then with the software dept and despite all they've done the fault still remains.  So I would really appreciate any help or suggestions as to why this might be happening and how I can put it right.  Also, another small question .... when I checked out 'Internet Connection Status' on the Dell Support Centre on my PC is says that my current connection status is 'not connected' .... but I am ... can anyone explain?  Please make any answers very non-tekkie as I'm *very* technically challenged  :(  ....  thank you!!