MacBook Pro Doesn't Always Connect to WI-FI Router at Start-Up

Question

I have an internittant problem with my MacBook Pro (8,3 - 2011/Intel Core i7). It's configured with original Airport Extreme card. For the most part, the wireless system runs without a problem. I've always been able to connect to wireless networks at home or when traveling... encrypted or not... no matter. I'm running Lion 10.7.5 and stay current with all software and firmware updates.
A few months ago, I started having an odd problem. At start-up, instead of the wireless connect icon on the top right-hand side of the menu bar showing the full four wave-shaped, black bars as static and solid, indicating the computer is connected to the wireless network, the icon would instead appear to be searching for the network indefinitely -- sometimes showing the telltale exclamation point in its center indicating no connection.
I couldn't understand this given that I'd been using this router without any problem for months. The MBP had logged on to our WPA-encrypted network without any problem.
When I phoned AppleCare, the tech insisted that I was getting interference from other wireless networks in the area and that I should change the channel on the router to a channel well separated from the channels of the other networks nearby. I tried this, and it seemed to help at times, but at other times, not.
As part of this process, the AppleTech asked me to generate a system report from the About This Mac menu, and then click on the Network/Wi-Fi tab to identify the wireless networks in my immediate area and their channels.
Curiously, when this problem occurs again lately, and the MBP cannot connect to our wireless network, I've been generating a system report to see where the interference may be coming from. When I click the Network/Wi-Fi tab, I see our network -- let's call it "Fred" listed not just once... but twice. The real Fred network that actually works is listed under "Other Local Wi-Fi Networks". The second Fred network, to which my MBP is trying to connect, is listed under "Current Network Information".
The strange thing is that this second, unusuable network or ghost network (I'm not really sure what it is) has a BSSID of 00:00:00:00:00:00.
When this problem started happening months ago, the only way I knew to solve the problem was to keep restarting the computer until I finally booted into the right network (after logging into my usual user profile).
What I finally figured out (Doh!) is that when this problem does occur, I can simply click on the wireless icon, click Join Other Network, then Show Networks, see a selection window with the real Fred network, click on it and in a moment I'm connected to the real Fred wireless network and ready to go. It's an easy, simple workaround, but I'm concerned about why I'm seeing this "ghost" network of Fred with the BSSID of 00:00:00:00:00:00. Is this some indication of hacking or foul play or someone trying to tap into our network or computers? -- either locally or via the web?
Curiously, I notice this only occurs when I use my usual non-admin ID, which is the one I use to surf the net and send/receive emails for all the obvious reasons -- specifically, the extra layer of security. But when I occasionally log-on with my admin account, I never have this problem. Is it possible my non-admin account wireless settings have been corrupted or compromised in some way?
How do I solve this problem?

Answer 1

Try the basics first (some of which you have already tried):
Change your router channel number.  Most times this works & is all you have to do.
Disconnect & reconnect your modem.  unplug it for about 10 seconds.  Plug it back in.  Do the same for Apple’s routers.  Wait for everything to reboot.
System Preferences>Network
Click the Assist Me button.
In the next window that pops up, click the Diagnostic button & do the necessary.
Research Knowledge Base for network problems that pertain to the OS that is currently installed on your computer.   See these basic networking KB Articles:  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1401 AirPort troubleshooting guide
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2712 Using network locations in Mac OS X
Manually provided DNS server addresses are higher priority than DHCP's
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1714 Solutions for connecting to the Internet, setting up a small network, and troubleshooting
============================
What to do when you can't connect to the Internet
Also, run the Airport Utility app which is located inside the Utilities folder.
=====================
If using a  Linksys router, contact LinkSys Customer Support and/or post in their forums.
If using Apple's Airport, please re-post over in one of the AirPort Forums.