Weird WiFi problem: home network duplicates itself

Factual Questions
1

I just set up a home wifi network, after buying my first laptop, and it has a weird problem.

Assume that the network I created is called “TildrumT”, and it’s security-protected. When I go to connect to the Internet from the laptop, the computer on its own creates a new network called “TildrumT2”, and connects to that. But “TildrumT2” is unprotected. And when I turn on security protection for “TildrumT2”, the laptop creates “TildrumT2 3” (unprotected) and connects to that.

This happens with all different security settings. Basically, the laptop will not let me create a secure network.

FWIW, the laptop is a Dell Studio with a 1520-N card, and a basic Belkin b/g router.

2

What happens when you create a network, do you get online? You need to create the network on the router, then allow the laptop to connect to it. You don’t use the laptop to create the network - use the router.

It sounds like there is a confusion between infrastructure mode (which means a laptop connects to a permanently sited router) and ad-hoc mode (where a laptop sets up a temporary connection to another laptop).

3

What is your Belkin model number? Perhaps it is dual channel-N and is creating a second network for the second 5ghz channel.

4

Where are you seeing these phantom networks? In the network box on Windows?
Do you have Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) running?
Do you have any other ‘special’ networking software running? Like a VPN Client or some such?

5

Thanks for pointing this out. I had neglected to set security on the router as well. I’m hoping that this will do the trick.

Thanks to everyone for checking in.