Newbie willing & ready to learn - with a question

[drewmerc]

1 you can never talk to much
2 you never said what your stock modem model is
3 i'll give you whatever guidance i can (but to be honest i dont like giving straight answers, pointers are more of my thing)

answers to your questions
1 sounds fine
2 soldering dont worry about it (it is not hard at all and not needed much if at all, depends on your modem but then theres normally a way around it)
3 maybe depends on the stock modem
4 ruin your stock, i doubt it (tho never say never)