[Silound]

Biggest question: is this router a modem/router combo or is it an independent router connected via an ethernet cable to the modem?

If it is independent, then connect your computer to the modem directly, do a power cycle, and see if you still have packet loss directly through the modem. Some packet loss ( <5% ) is acceptable in any internet connection, but if you experience that loss directly though the modem, then your router is probably not to blame.

If it's a combo device, I would just go ahead and replace it anyway.