Speaking of VPNs....

My work VPN does not work with my home wireless network, but it does work with (every) other wireless networks...

HOWEVER, if I use my wireless bridge as an access point client and connect my laptop to it, the VPN does work -- using my same home wireless network. Which means the problem isn't the wireless network, router or firewall.

It's just weird, and I've never been able to figure it out, and I'm fairly advanced at this stuff.

Netgear and Linksys are both good. You might also check Outpost.com (or your local Fry's) to see what they have on-sale. The more obscure brands (Airlink+/TrendNet/etc and Fry's house brand "Great Quality") are sometimes WAY cheaper.

Is it correct to say that you're making two NAT traversals when it doesn't work and one NAT traversal when it does work? That could be related. Anyway, I think troubleshooting this problem could be interesting, but I don't really understand the topology. Could you tell us what equipment type and manufacturer you're using? Please correct this diagram:

A-B-C-D-E

A: Cisco VPN client
B: Netgear wireless bridge
C: Linksys wireless router
D: 2Wire DSL Modem
E: SBC

A = Cisco VPN Client
B = Airlink Wireless Access point, configured as a client
C = Motorola Wireles Surfboard Gateway (combination cable modem, firewall router & wireless router)
D = Comcast Cable

I also have a second wireless network (the Motorola runs WPA2, I need a WEP one for an old TIVO) which is a Linksys router connected wired via a Netgear switch wired to the Motorola Gateway. I also tried using this router as an experiement, and it behaved the same as directly going through the Motorola.

If I use the wired network port of either router, the VPN works.

The whole thing is a puzzle to me. I've tried ever router setting I could think of. I've even disabled the firewall as a test. But, since the wired works through the firewall, that made little sense.

Four questions:
What error message do you get from the CVPN client?
True or False: VPN doesn't work if wirelessly connected to EITHER Linksys or Motorola, but works (if wired) to either box.
On the Motorola, what class C network are you vended if you connect wirelessly?
On the Motorola, what class C network are you vended if you connect directly?

1). No error message. It connects "successfully", but, once connected I have no access to the work network (e-mail, shared drives, intranet, internet). I do get an IP address. The only meaningful operation I can do is disconnect.

2) True. The above symptom does not happen if I am wired (or, if I use another wireless network outside my house, like T-Mobile or Google Wi-Fi).

3). 192.168.0.x, 255.255.255.0. (The Linksys router uses 192.168.1.x).
4) Same.

Interesting. So when you're VPN connected via wireless, have you tried to traceroute to, say, the work mail server? Can you ping destinations along the way to the mail server? This could provide some problem isolation.

I can't ping, but I haven't tried tracerouting.