Adding a Time Capsule to an existing AEBS

Hi, thanks in advance for any advice. I've been reading Apple's "Designing Networks" doc and digging around the forums for days and haven't been able to find all the pieces that add up to a solution for my situation.
I have an existing wireless network using an AEBS (802.11g). My DSL modem and HP LaserJet via Ethernet are both connected.
I just bought a Time Capsule for backup, and I'm trying to add it to this existing network. I would have simply replaced the old AEBS entirely but suddenly I can no longer use the phone jack near the printer. So one of the wireless units has to be in one room, with the DSL modem, and the other wireless unit will end up with the HP printer connected.
I've tried adding the TC to the existing network (not WDS), keeping the AEBS as the main base station connected to the DSL modem; the TC shows up on the network. However, I have been unable to "find" the printer that's connected to the TC LAN ethernet port.
--Should I start from scratch and create a WDS network--is that only way to get the HP printer to show up? (I found one other post about HP ethernet printing in the Graphite/Snow forum; but their solution didn't work for some reason)
--Since I'm using a TC and an older AEBS, should the TC be set as the main base station or doesn't it matter?
--Does the DSL modem have to be connected to the main base station or can it be connected to a remote or relay device (and thus allow my laptop and desktop to connect)?
I hope that's all clear enough, and thanks very much for any advice!

Hello drm1029. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
I've tried adding the TC to the existing network (not WDS), keeping the AEBS as the main base station connected to the DSL modem; the TC shows up on the network. However, I have been unable to "find" the printer that's connected to the TC LAN ethernet port.
I believe that the AirPorts only support sharing a printer connected to its USB port when the AirPort is configured to "join an existing wireless network" as a wireless client. I don't think printers connected to it LAN port will work this way.
--Should I start from scratch and create a WDS network--is that only way to get the HP printer to show up?
Yes, and again, that would be based on my statement above for the reason.
--Since I'm using a TC and an older AEBS, should the TC be set as the main base station or doesn't it matter?
It really won't matter as the WDS can only operate in the 802.11g radio mode when using "mixed mode" base stations.
--Does the DSL modem have to be connected to the main base station or can it be connected to a remote or relay device (and thus allow my laptop and desktop to connect)?
It must be connected to the main base station in the WDS. When properly configured devices will be able to gain Internet access from any of the base stations in the WDS.

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How do I use my Time Capsule on an existing WIFI network?

Use an Ethernet cable to connect from one of the LAN <--> ports on your existing wireless router to the WAN "O" port on the Time Capsule and then use the setup "wizard" on your Mac to configure the Time Capsule.
It will suggest that you set up the Time Capsule to create a new wireless network. If you don't want or need another wireless network, you can turn off the wireless function of the Time Capsule and use it as wired hard drive only.
Leave the Ethernet cable connected at all times. If you need to locate the Time Capsule in a different area, you can put it anywhere that the Ethernet cable will reach up to about 330 feet or 100 meters.
The only exception to using an Ethernet cable would be if your existing wireless network is provided by another Apple router. Then.....you would have the option to have the Time Capsule connect using wireless and extend the network, although using a wired connection would still be the better way to go in terms of performance.

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One option would be to connect the Time Capsule (TC) to the ISP-provided wireless router by Ethernet. You can then configure the for a roaming network. Then, depending on what your goal is for the AirPort Express, you can either: 1) Add it to roaming network, 2) Configure the TC & the Express for an "extended" network, or 3) Configure the Express to "join" the roaming network for AirPlay.

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Temporarily connecting your AirPort Express to one of the Time Capsule's Etherent LAN <-> ports...as LaPastenagure suggests....is always a good way to setup and configure other network devices.
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Thanks!

You need to start over.. the MAC addresses are different.. if you try it will fail.. even with the same names and same IP addresses because it is not the same box.. it is much better to start over.
And even use a wholly different naming structure.. short.. 2-20 characters no spaces.. and pure alphanumerics.
It doesn't take long really to redo it.

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Hi,
As a recently converted Windows user, I now have a Macbook Pro & iMAC all running OS X 10.5.3. Also as a hardened computer user, I fully understand the need to do regular backups, so the thought of using Time Machine with a Time Capsule, with the added benefit of upgrading my Wireless G network to N, this certainly looks like a great idea.
However, my ISP won't let me connect to them with a router other than their own. So my question is, are there any conflicts with adding the Time Capsule to my network, and using it like my current Netgear Access Point and linking it to my switch, so that I can use the wireless features, but not the built in router functionality.
Or, is there a viable alternative, that will allow me to backup both my Laptop & Desktop using Time Machine.
I also have to be able to link my Wii, psp & a PC laptop to the wireless access point, so this has to be part of the equation.
Regards
Lee Scrivens

Hi leescrivens,
There's a very easy solution to your dilemma. The Time Capsule is capable of being run in bridge mode, which effectively turns off the router capabilities of the TC and lets it act as a wireless access point. All you need to do is to go into your AirPort Utility, select Manual Setup, and under Internet select Off (Bridge Mode) for Internet Connection. Then you simply attach the Time Capsule to one of your router's LAN ports and you should be set. Furthermore, you can also choose to set your Time Capsule to broadcast 802.11n only (5 GHz) or 802.11n only (2.4 GHz) (whichever one suits your needs) and have an N-only access point. Just be sure to give your TC an unique SSID.

New AirPort Extreme time capsule to replace current AEBS

Is there a simple way to do this. I want to replace an old AEBS with a new AirPort Extreme time capsule. Do I have to create a new network? I'm not really extending the network, I'm just replacing the base station. If I use the exact name of my old wireless network and the exact password, will all devices abe ble to automatically connect to the new base station? Should I expect any trouble connecting to the pre-existing modem that the other base station was connected to? I'm hoping to avoid calls to the ISP and/or Apple and many hours of lost Internet time. Thanks

Hello there, Michael.
The following Knowledge Base article covers the basics for setting up the Time Capsule:
Setting up Time Capsule for the first time
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1178
Additionally the Setup Guide has some great additional information if you want:
AirPortTime Capsule Setup Guide
http://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1645/en_US/airport_time_capsule_802 11ac_setup.pdfmanuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1645/en_US/airport_time_capsule_80211ac_s etup.pdf
Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities.
Cheers,
Pedro.

How do I connect my Time Capsule to an Existing Network?

I've seen a few similar discussion threads and seem to suggest I can't do this without an Apple Router, but I just want to clarify:
I have a 3TB Time Capsule, I want to connect it to my existing Wireless Network so that I can set it up with Time Machine.
I have connected it to my current router (which is AT&T, not Apple) via an ethernet cable that's plugged in to a LAN port on the router, and the WAN port on the TC (I also tried this in a LAN port on TC but it didn't seem to make a difference).
I was able to find my TC on Airport Utlility, but when I try to select the Join Existing Network option it just keeps bringing me back to the Create New Network screen.
How do I fix this? Does it really need to be an Apple router? Am I just plugging the ethernet into the wrong port? Or should I just continue in the Create New Network screen and enter the same name and password as my existing network, or would that create a duplicate network?
Honestly I don't really care about extending the network or not, I just want to be able to wirelessly access the Time Capsule to use it with Time Machine.

unless i'm missing something, i think you got mixed up, this is easy google for walk throughs
i'm assuming this is the new 3tb tc AC or 'tower' shape, if so, its wifi will run circles around your at&t device
unplug the at&t box for a minute and plug it back in
factory reset your tc - unplug it, hold down reset and keep holding while you plug it back in - only release reset when amber light flashes in 10-20s
connect the tc to your at&t box via eth in the wan port, wait 1 minute, open airport utility look in 'other wifi devices' to setup the tc
create a new wifi network (give it a different name than your at&t one) and put the tc in bridge mode (it may do this automatically for you, but you should double check) under the 'network' tab
login to your at&t router and disable wifi on it
add new clients to the new wifi network, and point your Macs to the time machine for backups

How to connect a Time Capsule to an existing Airport Extreme?

I have an Airport Extreme connected to my broadband internet modem. This Airport Extreme is also connected to my audio system to be used by iTunes.
Recently I brougth my Time Capsule from another location to be included in the Airport Extreme network. I want to continue using Time Machine on the Time Capsule, and iTunes on the Airport Extreme.
I could get this to work, by connecting the Time Capsule to my modem, and setting it up to extend an existing network (the Airport Extreme network). Airport Extreme and Time Capsule are situated next to each other. However, performance of Time Machine was horrible, far too slow. If I connect my MacBook to the Time Capsule by an ethernet cable, it does not work.
When I set up the Time Capsule to create another wireless network, performance of Time Machine is okay. I cannot use iTunes on the Airport Extreme in that case. I have to switch networks for that.
I'm sure it should be possible to have both an Airport Extreme and a Time Capsule in one network, use iTunes on the Extreme, and Time Machine on the Time Capsule. But I do not know how it should be arranged.
Can anyone solve this problem?
Greetings from Holland, Koen

+What surprises me is that with setting 1 (TC joining AX) the Time Capsule has an option to extend the range of the network being joined.+
Yes, but it will only "extend" if you have a newer version of the AirPort Express, the 802.11"n" version. If you have an older "b/g" version of the AirPort Express, you can set the Time Capsule to "extend", but it won't and you'll have problems.
+With setting 2 (AX joining TC) the Airport Express does not seem to have this option.+
This probably confirms that you have an older "b/g" version of the AirPort Express. It does not have the "extend" feature.
+Could it be this option (which I did not switch off in my earlier experiments) which gave me such terribly bad transfer rates to my Time Capsule harddisk?+
That's probably the reason since the older version of the AirPort Express cannot be configured to "extend".

Can I activate the ethernet ports (routing) of Time Capsule "joining" an existing non-Apple wireless network ?

Hello,
I have a DSL modem that is also a WIFI router as my main WIFI network from room A. In room B, I have a TC wirelessly joining the existing WIFI network (not creating a new one). That works fine, I have one SSID, and I can wirelessly access the TC disks and backup my Mac on my TC.
Now, I would like to connect a wired device (with on WIFI) to the ethernet port of my TC. Unfortunately, the ethernet ports of the TC don't seem to be "activated" as they do not have internet on them.
More precisely, I'd like to connect a GE Cordless Skype Phone Model# 31591 (http://www.gephones.com/products/skype/dect-6-0-expandable-digital-cordless-phon e-with-skypetm.html) that connects to a router via Ethernet. I'm aware that I could simply connect it to the DLS router, but that's not what I want... Is there any way to activate the ethernet ports of the TC while in "join" mode ? Or do I really have to buy a Airport Express to create my main network and then extend it ?!?

Thanks, the reason why I asked again, is because you told me to start another thread with the specifics of the device I want to connect, so I did
Not a big deal, and it is easy to become confused.....but to be clear about this
Your question.....
is there a way I can connect my Bluray player to the TC ?
My Answer.....
Please start a new post for that. Tell us the make and model number of the player and whether you plan to connect using wireless or Ethernet.
so I tried to creat the main WIFI network with a first-generation Airport Express M9470LL/A (802.11b/g, no "draft N" or "n" support) and the TC wouldn't extend it either, is it too old/not supported
Unfortunately, the "extend" setup will only work with "n" devices. The older Express does not have a setting to "Allow this network to be extended", so the Time Capsule cannot pick up the signal.
I'm not sure what else to suggest other than what I already have. I'm assuming that you do not want to buy another new Airport Express.

How to add Airport Time Capsule to an existing AT&T U-Verse Network?

Hello, and please bear with me as I am not very tech savvy I just purchased a 2TB Airport Time Capsule (5th Gen) because I'd like to backup my Macbook Pro wirelessly. I've tried customer service with my ISP without luck, AT&T U-Verse. I currently connect through a 3801HGV 2wire dsl modem/router and think I'm stuck using it since numerous other devices are hooked up through it and I'd rather not re-setup them up.
I'm having issues connecting the TC to my existing network. When I use the Airport Utility (tried both while TC is hardwired to my computer, and to the router/modem) it doesn't detect my 2wire network, another network I assume is my neighbor's.
From reading through other posts with similar issues it sounds like I can't use the Airport TC to extend my existing network, say if the U-Verse router was upstairs, Airport TC was downstairs is that correct? Do I have to hardwire the TC to the router/modem? I've found some screen captures of the Airport Utility but I cannot find them. I noticed that they were pre-Maverick screenshots so perhaps the menus have changed?

Do I have to hardwire the TC to the router/modem?
Yes.
Connect an Ethernet cable from a LAN <-> port on the Uverse gateway to the WAN "O" port on the Time Capsule.
Power up the TIme Capsule (TC) and let it run few minutes, then hold in the reset button on the back of the device for 10 seconds and release. Allow a full minute for the TC to restart, at which time it will be slowly blinking amber.
Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
Click on the Other Wi-Fi Devices tab at the upper left corner of the screen
Click on the Time Capsule now and AirPort Setup will open up automatically and take a minute to analze the network.
Click on Other Options at the lower left of the window
Click the button next to Create a new network
Enter a name for the network and a name for the TC and a password and click Next
Skip the step about cycling power on the modem
Wait while AirPort Setup sets up the TC, then click Done
Now click on the TC icon in AirPort Utility
Click Edit in the small window that appears
Click the Network tab at the top of the next window
Change the setting for Router Mode to Off (Bridge Mode)
Click Update at the lower right of the screen, then click Continue and wait for the TC to restart again
You should now have a green light on the TC
You can use either the Uverse wireless network or the TC wireless. If you want the best wireless performance, use the TC network.

I want to set up my time capsule using my existing router.

The set up guide gives me instructions to open AirPort Utility, select Time Capsule and click continue. When I do it tells me that this requires switching networks, which is exactly what I don't think I want to do. Where am I going wrong?

plug the ethernet cable into your existing router, the other end into the WAN port on the TC. Set your router to be the DHCP server on the network.
Go to TC settings and manually configure it into BRIDGE mode. Make sure the DHCP server is turned off and it should work fine. I have a Netgear router as my ADSL router, this is connected to the internal house GB LAN. The TC is in my home office and as plugged into one of the GB ports in the office which then goes back to the office GB switch and the back to the main house GB switch and on to the Netgear router. My TC is then configured as described. I also have 4 Airport express base stations configured in the same way and all hardwired to the GB backbone. All of the Airports including the Netgear are set to the same network ID and this gives me single wireless roaming around the whole house for macbook, iPhone etc. As an aside my Xbox also works wirelessly on the same wireless network when I move it from den as does my Wii. The rest of the time it is hard wired.
Hope this helps.

Can I connect the time capsule to my existing iMac wirelessly?

I've just bought the airport time capsule. can I connect to my my existing wifi netwiork without an ehternet cable?

You can but it works really poorly and it is not supported by apple.
Plug the TC by ethernet into your main router and you can turn off the wireless if you like.
The exception is if your existing network is running apple router/s then you can use the TC as extend.

Hi I am hoping to add my 2 TB time capsule to my existing wireless network using cisco dpq 3925 modem. I have two mbp one running Yosemite and the other os 10.7.5

I have a time capsule 2TB model 1409. I would like to connect it to my existing wireless network (using a cisco DPQ 3925 modem). I have two mac book pro one running Yosemite and the other OS 10.7.5. The best I can do is to connect the TC to the Modem via ethernet. Have one of my MBP connect to the time capsule using a ethernet cable and have the TB set to bridge mode. In this configuration, both mbp and the iPad can detect the TC but when I try to connect it to the wireless network, using the same network name and password, the light flashes amber and I cannot detect the time capsule again.

Correct..
The best I can do is to connect the TC to the Modem via ethernet.
The TC does not connect to non-apple routers by wireless.. well. It is possible but so poor a method that Apple seem to have eliminated it in the setup wizard.. I would take that as a good thing..
If you cannot use ethernet you have two choices..
Use another apple router that is plugged into the Cable modem.. eg a second hand Extreme Gen5 or the latest Express.. the Extreme is both cheaper and better.
Or you can use a set of EOP (homeplug) adapters.. but they cannot be guaranteed to work so you should buy from a place that allows returns.

Time capsule connect to existing wireless network

Hi I was wondering if you need to connect time capsule via ethernet to your adsl modem. Can I get the time capsule to join an existing network?
This is because I want to put the time capsule in a different place than my adsl modem.
cheers

It is far superior to use ethernet and plug directly into the adsl modem.
You can join to wireless network.. the option is not available directly in v6 airport utility but is probably part of the setup wizard. I personally just use v5 utility where it is an option.. but you do need to hold the option key to select it.
BUT when you join a wireless network.. the TC loses its ethernet.. and wireless AP modes.. it is a dumb client on the existing wireless network.. the further away it is from the modem the slower it will go.. and double hop wireless will make it extra slow. Overall it is a bad setup.

Adding a Time Capsule to an existing AEBS

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