Beating a dead horse: Access Time Capsule files w/ an internet browser $

Question

I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but I have spent 2 days and countless hours looking up how to access my TC using an internet browser. I've read about port fwding and dynamic vs. static IPs. I cannot figure this out. If someone could help me and actually get it to work, I would be willing to pay them a reward for there services thru paypal. I don't want to sign up for Mobile Me or pay for any monthly subscriptions. I just wanna be able to access my TC and it's files where ever I am using an internet browser. Here's what I've got:
MacBook 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Mac OS 10.6.4
Verizon Fios router model MI424WR-GEN2 w/ a dynamic IP
My TC is connected by ethernet to the Verizon router which enables me to use the WiFi on the TC
Do I have to sign into my Verizon router and change setting?
I'm pretty network illiterate so a good step-by-step would be great.
Thank so much to whoever can help me.

Answer 1

After all the setting have been put in, I'm getting an error that won't let me update the TC. It wants me to correct 2 problems. "The DHCP range you have entered conflicts with the WAN IP address of your Airport wireless device. What's that?
This error message is due to the fact that the TC is performing as a router (its default) and not as a bridge (as it should be) because it is downstream of your Verizon-provided router.
I apologize as I just realized when I first responded to you, that I had assumed that the TC was the only router in your network configuration. As such I had provided you with instructions based on that assumption.
As such, at least two things need to change in the instructions that I provided: 1) The Verizon-supplied router is your main Internet router and it is the one that needs to be configured for Port Mapping/Forwarding, not the TC, and 2) The TC should be reconfigured as a bridge. (ref: AirPort Utility > Select the TC > Manual Setup > Internet > Internet Connection > Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)).
So I used the "with Time Capsule password", was that right?
Yes, that would be correct.
Here are the "adjusted" instructions:
AirPort Utility > Select the TC
o Note the value of the IP Address. This is the IP address of the TC that was assigned by the Verizon-supplied router. We are going to want to change this to a static IP address. For now, just note what IP address range it is in, i.e., 10.n.n.n or 192.168.n.n, etc.
Manual Setup > Internet > Internet Connection
o Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)
Manual Setup > Internet > TCP/IP
o Configure IPv4 = Manually
o IP Address = select an IP address just outside of the range provided by your Verizon router. For example, if the router is supplying IP addresses in the range of 192.168.0.2 - 192.168.0.50, enter 192.168.0.51 here.
o Subnet Mask = 255.255.255.0
o Router Address = This would be the LAN-side IP address of your Verizon router. Most likely it is 192.168.0.1
o DNS Servers = you would need to get these from your ISP, or just use the OpenDNS servers
o Domain Name = you can leave this blank
Manual Setup > Disks > Files Sharing tab
o Enable file sharing (checked)
o Secure Shared Disks = With Time Capsule password
o AirPort Disks Guest Access = Not allowed
o Share disks over Ethernet WAN port (checked)
Manual Setup > AirPort > Base Station
o Enter a Base Station Password and verify it in the Verify Password box.
o When you have made all the changes, click Update.
Port Mapping instructions would be specific for your Verizon router. If you don't already, you may need to download a copy of the User Guide for this router in order to configure Port Mapping properly. The key is that the IP address for the port mapping would now be the private static IP address that you assigned to the TC. The Public & Private ports would be the same.