Two networks from one router, randomly?

So I'm at my parents house and an interesting thing happens to us (my mom, dad, and me) randomly, on three separate computers, at the same time. Sometimes (randomly it seems) while we are dickin' around on the internet, we'll notice that on our respective computers our wireless cards have picked up a new network and is trying to identify it. The network will be the same one that we are presently connected to (which is on a Netgear WGT624 v3) and it will happen to us all at the same time, which to me indicates it is an issue with the router. We are on an Asus g50v a2, a sony vaio, and a compaq. The second network always says 'unidentified network (ZenSimple)' (zensimple is our network name). What do you guys think? We can't really figure it out so any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

Is the 624 108 Mbps , and if so does it broadcast second channel to get 10 108 Mbps speed , that would be why it has the same SSID name , it is your router broadcasting .
Or maybe not and someone set up that network hoping you'll go on it and they can grab passwords and other info ?

 

Even though the Network SSID's are similar, if you've indicated the correct spelling and format for each, then you're picking up a completely different neighboring network with a similar name, but spelled differently to avoid confusion with yours. It's likely in close enough proximity that your systems are picking it up.

You can't have 2 separate network SSID's on a G or Single Band N Router - only Dual-Band N routers have that capability.

Zensimple is based on the name of a pretty popular book, so it's not a stretch to think someone else has the same SSID. Many people commonly wind up not changing the default SSID, and wondering why they keep connecting to a network with the same SSID and having problems. Never assume you're the only one with your SSID, especially if it's based on a something commercial. Choose a unique SSID that only you would recognize - I use my business name as an example.

If you want to be positive, change your Network SSID to a more unique name, and then modify one system to see it. You'll know the other one is a neighboring network when it shows up again.

 

You may want to make sure that your own network is locked down well, and that no one on your network is connecting to someone else's network. While it isn't such a major concern on a home network, it's still rather risky to introduce someone else's network problems into your own environment.

Just food for thought

 

Sorry about the delaynon response and Thank you all for the prompt feedback! It very well could be a neighboring network. I don't think that problem has been run into before there but it isn't out of the question. I don't live there so I haven't had a chance to go back and check up on this. What is strange though is that we weren't just picking up two networks, the pc's wre connected to both networks. As far as I know a pc can only connect to one network at a time unless two network cards are present, which is not the case. Any ideas?