Modem / Router Issue

[Deffeh]

This is just a small problem; probably manifesting itself as a big problem because i'm a ****ing idiot.


I have an NTL home 150 modem, connected to a wireless router, currently serving 2 laptops via ethernet cables.


The ethernet socket on the modem which connects to the router is wonky as ****. It needs to be in at a certain angle and keeps disconnecting me from the net / being really slow and not working at full capacity.

So, i went on eBay and i've bought a NTL home 200 modem to replace it. But;

a/ Will this work, if i simply replace the modem, put the ethernet cable, power cable, and signal cable? I did it earlier and it didnt seem to work.

b/ Do i have to change any of the settings on the laptops / on the router itself? If so, how?


Also, bonus question :

c/ Why is wireless so shit? We only use wires in this house because wireless never seems to work - not even it works terribly, but 5 metres away with a bluetooth dongle installed i cant get it to recognise the wireless router - how do i go about doing this?