Airport Utility
If I need the password to my router (not the network) to use in airport utility do I need to preform a soft reset if I cannot remember it?
Yes, you will need to perform a Soft Reset to establish a new base station password.......unless......you are still using the Mac that you used to originally set up the AirPort router......in which case you might be able to retrieve the base station or device password from KeyChain Access on your Mac.
Post back if you need more info about KeyChain Access.