Airport express vs. time capsule vs. router

What is best to do?
My airport express is now connected to my router (speedtouch) and works very well.
Do I connect my newly bought time capsule to my router or keep this one wireless? Because with the airport express I can make use of airplay, which I have not connected yet, but would like to do.
I bought time capsule for wireless backup of several devices. This cannot be used a the moment, because I have to make a backup of my MacBookPro first before I update the software so that I can use the wireles backup application with my other devices.
I do not know how to start.
What is the effect on apple tv, none?
How do I get the most benefit from both airport express as well as time capsule.

We always recommend the initial backup by ethernet.. due to the time it takes and the lower reliability of wireless.
You can either do this with the TC disconnected from the network.. and just plugged straight into the computer.. or swap the Express for the TC. I presume you are running the speedtouch in router mode so bridge the TC.. and plug the computer by ethernet directly into a LAN port of the TC.
The above can be a permanent setup.. just tick the wireless can be extended in the TC.. and run the express in wireless bridge.. or you can also wire the express to the TC if you do not need the extra range.
Remember the TC is faster using gigabit and designed for main router role (even if you pass that to the express). The express still only uses 10/100 ethernet.. and is designed to supplement the wireless setup.
But there is nothing wrong with leaving the express as it is now only allow extend and then setup the TC to extend wireless from the express as that will also work well if the required connections are nearby and you can use ethernet to the TC.
I do not know how to start.
Have a go.. it is not like you are going to mess up. and cause something serious.
IMO.. have a try .. do not think there is one ideal. Switch and swap.. the best is what works well for you.
What is the effect on apple tv, none?
It has no affect on the ATV.
How do I get the most benefit from both airport express as well as time capsule.
Use ethernet whereever possible.
Avoid double hop wireless.. ie any use of extend by wireless and then another wireless hop introduces severe speed lags. Wireless cannot handle Tx and Rx at the same time.. it is half-duplex by nature. Also it is shared bandwidth.. Ethernet is superior in both areas.. every device has full bandwidth and full duplex.

Similar Messages

  • Conflicts with Airport Express and Time Capsule

    I am using Airport Express and Time Capsule at the same time. Connection to the web is via a router. Very often I do have conflicts. How shall I connect the gadgets? At the moment I connect the router to Airport Express (network cable).
    Time machine back up doesn't work properly.
    Is there anybody able to help me?
    Regards

    What broadband type do you have?
    It can be impossible to plug a TC into the existing connection because the virgin media router has special setup or logins which are not revealed to end users.
    If it is a fibre connection for instance the TC may simply not work. They have issues with many fibre ISP putting the gateway address outside the subnet of the main public IP.. (don't worry if it is too technical .. it amounts to .. it don't work! )
    You may need to wait until Sat.
    Get in a big supply of home videos or something and try and starve off your addiction.

  • Printing completely broken on both airport express and time capsule

    Printing seems to be broken on both my old time capsul, generation one, and a new airport express.  Here's what happens.
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    2.  Reconnect printer to the Airport or timecapsule.  Delete all the printers.  Power cycle everything.  Add printer.  Print and it keeps trying to connect to the printer forever.
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    If you want to run a N speeds, run a cable from Time Capsule to Airport Express, set Time Capsule as your primary router, and turn off DHCP on Airport Express. This will create two networks, your Express will have one SSID, and the Time Capsule another SSID. One G network and one N network. Don't include the express in your network, keep it separate from Time Capsule to avoid it from coming down to G speeds. Make sense?

  • Best way to extend wireless via airport express and time capsule

    best way to extend wireless via airport express and time capsule
    i live in a two storey house where i use my airport express to create a wireless network in the main floor, and time capsule to extend it in the upper floor, where my room is. i have like 16 mbps in the main floor, and 2-3 mbps in the upper floor after having speediest.
    i used time capsule in the upper floor because i use wireless backup daily and don't want to put internet down while i im doin it and consequently my parent can have internet access in the main floor, am i right? or do i have make just the opposite in order to have a good internet speed?
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    What you have would appear to be working but I can comment how I would redefine your setup.  Note that both Airport Express and Time Capsule can function as wireless base stations so you do have wireless everywhere and at all times — using the Time Capsules for backups doesn’t mean your parents won’t have internet access regardless of the where the base stations are located.
    You appear to have devices to connect to your network that use the 2.4 GHz band with 802.11g such as the iPhone 3G and perhaps the 5 GHz band with 802.11n such as likely the Macbook Pro if it’s a recent model.  The iPhone 4 can use 5 GHz and 802.11n.  Can’t comment on the Sony and Samsung but you can check their specs.
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    You also didn’t mention if the Airport Express is used to support a printer and/or AirPlay (using iTunes to play on remote speakers via the Airport Express connection) but that might also be a factor in the best location to place the Airport Express.  Although the printer could be switched between the Time Capsule and the Airport Express if needed, only the Airport Express will support your remote speakers.
    Recommend you use the Time Capsule as the Base station.  When using Airport Utility to define the network, after you name your network, etc., select the Wireless tab, check the box “Allow this network to be extended” and set the Radio Mode to "802.11n (802.11b/g compatible)”.
    Using the Airport Utility, click on the Airport Express; after you define the device and network name, select the Wireless tab, define the Wireless Mode as “Extend a Wireless Network” and check the box “Allow wireless clients”. 
    Hope that helps.

  • Airport express / extreme / Time Capsule Range

    Airport express / extreme / Time Capsule Range
    Can anyone please tell me what is the approximate range of Apple Airport Products.
    While doing sell in Apple store customer always ask us this question and we don't had any answer for it.
    So please if anyone has the answer do reply on this.
    - - - Akshay k. (ACMT)

    The range is about 50 meters or 150 feet.....but this assumes that the AirPort is being used in a very large open space like a aircraft hangar.....with no obstructions in the signal path.
    Chances are, your home is laid out a bit differently, so without knowing a number of variable factors like.....
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    2) The actual construction type of the walls, ceilings, etc
    3) Heavy furniture, large mirrors, etc. in the signal path
    4 ) Other wireless networks around your home
    5) Other wireless devices like cordless phones, BlueTooth devices, etc.
    It would be impossible to tell you what the actual range might be in your home.
    In general, assuming normal modern home construction, you would not want the wireless signal to pass through more than 2 or 3 walls....since each wall will absorb on average about 15-25% of the wireless signal. A ceiling will absorb even more because of its thickness.

  • Airport express and time capsule config?

    I have an airport express for Wi-Fi internet and printing. I have purchased a time capsule as a back -up drive to work with time machine. Should I
    set it up seperately from the airport express or
    replace airport express with time capsule ?
    What's the best config and can I retqin existing netwrok ID and password?
    Thanks for pointing me in right direction.

    Hi Yoreilly:
    i'm not sure just what setup is right for you.  and i'm sure the newer Airport Express is way improved over mine (got mine few yrs ago).  but my Airport express works as extension from your Time Cap Wi-Fi.  Airport does not put out wireless Wi-Fi signal on it's own. 
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    2>  otherwise, your airport express needs to connect to your Time Cap, to answer you #2. 
    3>  usually the application helps where you have dead spots in your house, or your location of Time Cap can't reach places in your house where U need Wi-Fi signal, or where you can't thread an ethernet cable out to your printer or device.
    not sure how you are setup with your wireless printer now.  but if your setup allows you to print by only using the Airport Exp, sure you can use the TimeCap separately as it's own Back-up drive.  the thing is it has Wi-fi capability that you wouldn't be using with that setup.
    hope this helps, & didn't confuse,
    m

  • Airport Express w/Time Capsule drops connection

    I just integrated my new Time Capsule into our all-Mac network here a couple of days ago and its been fine for the most part but I've noticed that the existing airport express flashes amber for a few seconds every so often (usually once per hour or so) and disconnects everyone sharing files and connections. I have Leopard Server 10.5.2 running as well and this didn't seem to be happening before introducing Server to the mix (it was connected about 48 hours AFTER the time capsule) but the problem seems to lie with the Airport Express. Things are connected as follows:
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    Airport Extreme --> 2 ethernet connections to Macs, 1 ethernet connection to Time Capsule
    Time Capsule --> 1 ethernet connection to Mac Mini running Leopard Server
    I have bridge mode set up and a couple of portables connected to it as well as an Apple TV, all of these seem to be connecting and staying connected just fine - it's the two Mac's connected directly to the Airport Extreme that get hit - the light on the unit (AE) flashes amber for maybe 2-3 seconds and I lose connection to any other macs I was connected to - I can easily re-connect with no problems at all but its obviously kind of a pain when you're working on files from the server, etc. and everything more or less locks up while OS X loses these connections.
    Does anyone have any insight into why this might be happening? I've never had any trouble with this prior to Time Capsule/Leopard Server, both of which I allowed to more or less set their own settings on the Airport Extreme figuring that it isn't too complex a set up or anything, it's not like we're a full on 20 client office here or something, just 5 total macs, no pc's, etc.
    any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

    I'm running into exactly the same problem. Configuration is the same as Jackoschild's. I get about an hour of good connection, then signal drops off and I get a rapid set of connects then disconnects. Very frustrating. I'm considering turning off the Airport on the Time Capsule and going with my 54g wireless built-in to the FIOS router it is attached to. Total of two iMacs running 10.5.2 (one 20" G5, one 24" iMac) and four PCs (Windows XP SP2) demonstrating the problem. I NEVER had a drop issue with the FIOS ActionTek wireless.
    Any solutions?

  • Cannot connect Airport Express to Time Capsule?

    I had an existing wireless network with an Airport Extreme base that was extended with a first generation Airport Express. I replaced the Airport Extreme with Time Capsule because I needed the backup drive. Now I can't get the Express to integrate. When I try to bring it online, it brings everything down. I've reset it back to its defaults and am installing as if its new. The problem is that it brings everything else down. The two are connected via ethernet. For now I've had to take the Express offline until I can find a solution. Any advice?

    Welcome to the discussions!
    I don't have a solid answer yet to your issue, but would offer a few comments that might help sort things out.
    I'm confused by your statement that you are able to extend the 2.4 GHz network, because the dual band TC does not allow the guest network to be extended. Check AirPort Utility - Manual Setup. Click the Wireless tab. I don't have a dual band TC, but I believe if you click the Options button, you will see more info about extending.
    While there is a check box next to "Allow this network to be extended" for the main network, there is not a check box for the "Guest" network. It's not there, or least it's not there in the guide that I'm looking at.
    I suspect that your computer was picking up the 2.4 GHz network from the TC, not from your Extreme. To verify this, open AirPort Utility again and click on Manual Setup for the TC. On the summary page, note the MAC address for wireless on the TC. Now, do the same thing for the Extreme.
    Use your computer now to check things. Hold down the option key and click on the Airport icon at the top of the screen. The MAC address of the device that you are connected to will be displayed.
    Have you tried to move the Extreme to a more remote location? You note that you have the two devices, TC and Extreme very close together. As a test, position the Extreme approximately half way between the TC and the area that you want to extend to and see if you can connect with your computer. Check to see if your computer is connecting to the Extreme or the TC by holding down the option key as above.
    You have probably already done this, but check on the setup for the Extreme using AirPort Utility - Manual Setup - Wireless tab. There is a check box either on the Wireless page or the Options page to "Allow wireless clients". This must be checked for wireless clients to be able to connect to the the Extreme.
    Post back with your findings and we'll try to figure this out.

  • How do I use my airport express or time capsule to increase the signal strength of my comcast router

    How do I use my airport express and/ or time capsule to increase the range of my newly installed comcast modem/router.

    Neophite50 wrote:
    Thanks.
    A question. Do I plug the TC into the Comcast modeum Router or the iMac?
    Both is good.. but at least one of your routers.. TC or express must be plugged into the router.. the imac can get internet connection by wireless.

  • How shall i do it ? Complex question about how to use the airport express or time capsule ?

    Hello All,
    Right now i have an access point:
    1/ A mercury router (cheap and old)
    2/ Airport Express
    Do you advice me to use it to replace my cheap old router (mercury) or to pair it with this main old router ? (however i tried to without any success)
    3/ Time Capsule
    Can i use it to relay the signal from the Airport Express to extend the range  of the wifi?
    Can i use it to stream music to my B/W M1 speakers directly ? (I will connect by USB the BW M1 to the time capsule) and would like to be able to play music this way. Is this in anyway possible ?
    Many thanks for your reply !

    ok, i might be wrong but here goes:
    you should attach your modem to your time capsule: your time capsule will act as not only your time machine but also your main wireless transmitter.
    you set it up using "Airport Utility" which is inside the "utilites" folder, which is inside your applications folder.
    this connects your mac wirelessly to the internet.
    to stream music to your speakers you then set up the airport plug to (a) join the existing network (which you set up on the time capsule) and then (b) set it up to stream music to your speakers. again, this is done using "airport utility". do it AFTER you have set up the time capsule.
    you will then be able to use itunes to stream music to your speakers. from itunes on your computer you will be able to chose from the bottom right hand side of the window whether you play the music on your computer or wirelessly into your B+W speakers...
    some notes:
    1. you won't be able to connect the airport plug by USB to your speakers as the airport plug doesn't have a USB output. It has only analogue and optical.
    2. although your time capsule has USB you cannot stream music into it or through it. there's some basic guidance here:
    http://www.apple.com/wifi/
    3. you may find that the sound quality [if you are playing apple lossless files or wav files) isn't as good as if the speakers were connected directly to your mac via USB.  this should be especially noticable because your speakers are so good!
    if the music you play is only mp3 or the stuff purchased from itunes then it shouldn't make too much of a difference.
    4. keep an eye out on the B+W website: there may come a time when you won't even have to use the airport plug, and you will be able to stream music straight to the speakers. i know that B+W have just done that with the new Zepellin speaker that they make.
    hope this helps...

  • OLD Airport Express + NEW Time Capsule (dual) = nightmare

    ok i have been trying all day to get my (very very very old, like 5 years old) AE working again, but simply cannot. feel like a total meathead, and have perhaps confused the issue with trying to install a time capsule at the same time?
    i have a big-ish room (30 sq m) but no walls and def no issues with signal strength. in fact the AE and the TC are right next to each other and my MBP is about 5 meters away.
    anyway here's what happened, any help greatly appreciated!
    i have just moved flat and had to call the ISP because the wifi modem/router was playing up. turns out there's so many wireless signals in the building they're all vying for the same channel. so he manually changed the modem/router channel (to what i don't know) so as to be no conflict. so far so good, the wifi internet works again. phew.
    buuuuut, now my AE won't connect to the network like it did in the prev flat same network name, same physical setup, but no love. all i get is a steady blinking orange light. always. in fact Airport Utility will only recognise the AE directly after a factory reset, and whenever it tries to then write the new settings and restart, i get the spinning wheel of death till eventually Airport Utility just wigs out saying the AE can't connect to the network.AE is running firmware 6.3 (the highest it will take) at this stage.
    so i think maybe i'll just try to set up the Time Capsule, make that the main network node (not the wifi modem/router) and then connect the AE to that. And it worked! Well for about 1 nanosecond where i heard my itunes coming from the speakers. but then..... nothing. iTunes would not connect again and actually gave the error you get when someone else is using the speakers, but i can assure you no one else was. its only me in the house.
    so anyway then i read that if i drop the AE firmware down to 6.1.1 i might get some love. tried that and.... nothing. now it won't connect to the TC nor the modem/router. so i push the firmware up again to 6.3 and now it won't connect to the TC - ***?!?! and still the AE only appears in the Airport Utility directly after a factory reset...
    aaaaaaarrrrrrrgggggghhhhh, i am going banannas! i am desperate for help because i work from home and need my music from decent speakers! these little MBP tinny speaker things are just horrible...
    If only the TC had an audio out i could just throw the AE away! have heard something about WDS or something? or could i even use an ethernet cable to wire the TC and AE together? or is it just time to buy a new AE? even though all i really need is to wirelessly get my music to my speakers and it seems a bit like overkill for that perhaps?
    any and all help greatly appreciated, as i'm going to be bald very soon at this rate i'm so stressed and depressed
    Z

    Hello zoltancsaki. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
    Is your goal with the 802.11b/g AirPort Express Base Station (AX) just to use it for streaming? How about the TC? Will it only be used for Time Machine backups? Do you prefer to leave the ISP's wireless router as you main Internet router? What is the make/model of this router? Finally, I assume that you will want to employ encryption for your wireless network ... would that be with the WEP, WPA, or WPA2 standard?

  • I am having problems configuring airport express with time capsule

    Hi,
    I am having problems setting up airport express (old version) with time capsule. It was working perfectly fine with my old router, Airport Extreme (b/g).
    I have tried to reset the Airport Express, and now I am having problems finding it in my personal networks. Not too sure what exactly is going on, other than it was working less than a day ago, and now I can't even locate it on the network to configure.
    Anyone have any suggestions? I have already tried a hard reset, and no luck so far.

    There are 3 types of resets.
    1. Soft
    2. Hard
    3. Factory
    Try a factory reset.
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=108044
       Joseph Kriz

  • Airport Express with Time Capsule - Nowhere near 802.11n speeds!

    I currently have a Time Capsule set up in bridge mode, giving me a wired+wireless network off my Belkin modem. I just bought an Airport Express to serve as a wireless bridge (to connect my wired PC to the network) but transferring files across the APE-TC connection goes at a woefully slow 3-4MB/s! (When I connect my 802.11n laptop to the TC directly via wireless, it was 3-4x faster.)
    This problem happens whether the TC is set to either create a second discrete 5GHz network or not. I noticed that if I run this separate 5GHz network, and I connect the APE to the 2.4GHz one manually, the transfer speed slows to 1-2MB/s.
    How do I get it to go faster? The APE and TC are only about 5m apart (+ 1 wall).

    Welcome to the discussions!
    +What to do?+
    The iPhone does tend to remember the router that it is originally connected to.
    If you plan to use the iPhone most of the time when you are in proximity of the AirPort Express, I suggest that you delete the current WiFi connection on the iPhone, restart the device, locate it near the AirPort Express, and set up a new connection to your network.
    Works for me. May or may not work for you.

  • Airport Express and Time Capsule connection issues

    I have the following setup:
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    - Time Capsule setup to 'join existing network' which is the same name - obvioulsy! - as the other two.
    Everything worked OK until fairly recently. My MBP which usually is connected to the AE n/w accessed the TC via Time Machine OK, and my iMac backed up via TM to the TC OK as well.  Now, however, the TC (which is situated in range of both the AE and the main router) seems to connect sometimes to the (weaker) AE and sometimes to the (almost adjacent) main router.
    If it connects to the main router network, my iMac backups are OK, but if it connects to the AE network, then TM just fails with the usual 'backup disk cannot be found' even though it is clearly visible in Finder.
    Is there anyway of locking the TC into a particular network?

    OK, thanks for the information.
    Temporarily, disconnect the Ethernet cable from the AirPort Extreme to the Time Capsule's WAN port.
    Close AirPort Utility 6.1 on the Mac if it is open
    Start over by holding in the reset button on the back of the Time Capsule for 9-10 seconds, then allow 60 seconds for it to restart to a slow, blinking amber light
    Connect the Ethernet cable from the AirPort Extreme to the WAN port on the Time Capsule
    Click the AirPort icon at the top of the Mac's screen and wait a minute for the heading of New Apple Base Station to appear. Under that,  click on the Time Capsule.
    AirPort Utility will open automatically and take a minute to analyze the connection. After a minute, it will display a message that the network will be configured to "Extend".
    Enter a name for the Time Capsule and click Next
    AirPort Utility will take another minute to configure everything.  When you see the message of Setup Complete, click Done.
    You should now be able to connect to the Time Capsule wireless signal.

  • Airport Express with Time Capsule - Stronger Signal, No Increase in Speed

    I just added an Airport Express to extend my network from a Time Capsule. Pretty sure I set it up right (extend the network selected in Airport Express, allow the network to be extended in Time Capsule). I get the green light and do get a stronger signal in the far reaches of my house where before I added the Airport Express there was almost no signal. The Time Capsule is in bridge mode connected to a Verizon FIOS router doing the DHCP, NAT, etc. The problem is, there is still less than 1Mbps with the Airport Express, even though the signal strength is 80+%. I have moved it around to different locations without much effect. I would think that with the green light, a stronger signal, and the fact that I can connect (although at low speed), I have it working, but the throughput is terrible. Does extending the network (non-WDS) with the Airport Express cause a significant slowdown? Is there any way to boost the signal from the Time Capsule (power, external antenna, etc.)? Moving it is not an viable option. Thanks in advance.

    Having a strong signal does not necessarily equate to a usable signal. It may be that there is significant wireless interference and the data packets are being affected and reducing the bandwidth.

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