I doubt your internet service is 54mbps so I don't see any use in worrying about it. BUt maybe I'm wrong. Also, when you say you turned off your modem and your router did you hit a button on them. I find the best way to turn off the modem and router is to unplug them for 30+ seconds.
If for some reason you lose connection on both computers all of a sudden you may need to unplug modem and router for 30 seconds and let them reset. THen right click on your wireless icon and choose repair.

And here is a tutorial on securing wireless networks you don't want any body snooping around in all that info floating around in the air.
http://antionline.com/showthread.php...reless+network