Well, I think I finally got my issue fixed for good! I hope anyway...
After I moved EQ to a PC connected directly to my router via cable, I was still unable to connect. I then had to assume it was a network issue. I plugged the ethernet cable directly into the modem, and BAM, eqemu started working... The only reason I didn't test that in the first place was because my main PC is wireless and isn't near my modem. Anyway, once I deduced that the issue was with the router, I did searching directly for Linksys issues, and the first thread I found was able to fix my issue.
From
this thread, I found the following quote from Angelox:
"another thing, are you using a Linksys router? did you clear all the fields in the ports you were redirecting? Linksys gets buggy and does strange things , I've had to reset my router completely in order to get it to work properly - it looks like your are not connecting at all to the log in server?
Also, sometimes ISPS block all your ports and just let you use browser ports."
I cleared all of the ports, but that didn't work. I wound up finally having to use the small reset button on the back to set it back to factory defaults.
So, thanks once again Angelox, you indirectly resolved my issue!
I will post more if I have any further troubles, but lets just hope that doesn't happen...