Time machine ethernet backup to time capsule works, wifi does not

Hi all.
I recently updated my old time capsule to one of the new tall ones ME182X/A with a 3GB drive.  I transferred over the backup file of my Macbook Pro according to the Apple instructions (Time Machine: How to transfer backups from the current backup drive to a new backup drive) and whilst connected via an ethernet cable, time machine works fine with the new time capsule.
However, when I disconnect the ethernet cable and connect to the time capsule over wifi, time machine hangs on "preparing backup".  I do not get to "xxMB of xxMB" or any error messages.  I've tried the following:
reconnecting via ethernet after restarting my Macbook Pro (running 10.9.5) allows time machine to start and complete the backup.
I've tried deleting the ".inprogress" file, as per some websites, but this doesn't solve the problem
turning off spotlight, doesn't help
I have no anti-virus software running
restarting the computer, resetting SMC, restarting the time capsule - no help.
The wifi side of the TC is working perfectly otherwise.  I can "see" it with Airport Utility, and mount the drive and explore it without any problems.
Any suggestions?
Thanks again,
John

Here are the steps I would use.. do not connect by ethernet at all whilst you do them.
Factory reset the TC.
The Factory Reset universal
Unplug your TC/AE. Hold in reset. and power the TC/AE back on..  all without releasing reset and keep holding in for about 10sec. The time is not important.. it is the front LED rapid flashing that indicates you are in factory mode.
Release reset.
If it doesn’t flash rapidly you have released reset at some point and try again.
Be Gentle! Feel the switch click on. It has a positive feel..  add no more pressure after that.
TC/AE will reboot after a couple of minutes with default factory settings and will wipe out previous configurations.
No files are deleted on the hard disk.. No reset of the TC deletes files.. to do that you use erase from the airport utility.
Redo the setup with different names. Short, no spaces and pure alphanumeric. eg TCgen5 as base station name. TCwifi for wireless name.
Make sure the password for disk and wireless etc.. are 8-20 characters pure alphanumeric mix of case and numbers.
Reset TM then to the new drive location.
See A4 pondini for a full reset.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
Strongly recommend you also verify the backup and install the Widget.. A5 and A1. The log you get from the widget is a big help to see what is going wrong.
Ensure the ipv6 is set to link-local only in wireless.
I would do the whole lot but you can test at each step if you want.. I just had it happen to me.. first time in 12months and regular posting in this area. Doing the above got me going again.. although it takes a bit of patience to work through the lot.

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