Once you set up a wireless network can you go back to just a wired network with no router? I ask this because, for whatever reason, I may want to revert to the set up before I set up the wireless network. For instance, say there's a huge download you want to do and you don't want to risk losing the connection. I want to know if I can move the modem from PC to PC and leave the router behind. Thank you.

If you find wireless downloads slow just hookup wired to the router for better performance. Sure you could do modem to pc but then you are exposed on the internet which I would not advise you to do so.

Thanks for the advice. I was attempting to avoid the hassle of having to move the modem AND the router. What if you have firewall and antivirus installed as well as Windows Updates? That should be enough protection, right?

I don't understand why you would need to move either the modem or the router. Usually you would move the pc to the modem router or run a long cable from the router to the pc. Software firewall and updates are a good start. I have not found them to be sufficent in blocking hackers.

That's the way I'm set up now; modem, no router. The modem always gets the same IP address. Is this bridge or router mode? I don't know. When I want to connect to the Internet, I've been moving the modem from PC to PC; I only have one ethernet cable...the one supplied with the modem and it's not long enough. My question is if I try wireless and I don't like it, can I go back to this configuration?

Sure you can go back but not sure why. Wouldn't it be easier to have them all connected to the internet? You don't need to concern yourself about whether the modem is in router or bridge mode. That is only an issue if you wanted to do web or game hosting. You can buy more and/or longer cables at any computer store.