How to connect to Time Capsule over internet when TC is not router?

Question

Hi
I purchase my TC 2 days ago in order to both back up my files and to be able to access files stored in TC over the internet.
After some time (and frustration!) I found that TC cannot be used as a router with sky broadband. This is confirmed by Sky technical help line and via this forum
http://store.apple.com/uk/question/answers/product/MD032B/A/can-i-use-time-capsu le-with-sky-mrouter/QCXY9XJPFFYHPHTKK
So I connected my TC to my router via an ethernet cable. I can back up using my mac book air running the latest mountain lion. My problem is that I cannot tick the "share disk over wan" option in Airport Utility which I think I need to do before I can access files over the internet. This option just doesn't appear and reading other forums, I think it is because my TC is not the router.
Is there some work around or configuration that will allow me to get that option to tick or to able to access my files on the TC over the net?
Ultimately, I would like to access my TC files using my ipad.
I am not much of a techie
Thanks!

Answer 1

The TC should be in bridge mode.. in bridge there is no WAN port.. so you cannot tick to share files over WAN because there isn't one.
But you can still share files.. there is nothing in the documentation for BTMM and iCloud that says the TC has to be the main router.. although doubtless it will make it easier.
How exactly are you trying to access the files now??
If you are not using BTMM and iCloud please describe what you have done.
It is no problem if you have a fixed ie static public IP to access the TC even without BTMM.
There is plenty of descriptions of the method around the net.. just google it.
Here is one I have used.
http://gigaom.com/2009/05/14/access-your-time-capsule-over-the-internet/
The TC is indeed bridged in this case.
You simply forward port 548 from the sky router to the TC.
Ultimately, I would like to access my TC files using my ipad.
This is where life starts to get hard.. to access the files you need AFP files protocol which ipad does not use.You cannot use ipad to get files at all from the TC without a file browser.. the vast majority of which use SMB protocol which will not work over the internet in most cases. ( it is too big a security risk).
There is only one file browser I know of for iPad that is AFP based. file connect.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/files-connect/id404324302?mt=8
But I am not sure if it will work over BTMM.. to get files remotely.
Nevertheless if you have a connection remotely to the TC by direct means you may be able to access files.
I have done it with a MBP sharing files on a bridged TC, to a person on the other side of the world. No issues and as long as you have a static public IP it is easy.
If you don't then see if it is cheap to buy one.. some ISP will offer static IP for a single charge of $20 or something.
Some want $10 a month.. that is too much.
Or use DynDNS in the sky router. That is the way we get around dynamic IP most people use.
Just look up your sky router manual for dynamic DNS servers it supports.
I am iPadless.. and probably willl remain so for the foreseeable future.. so I cannot test it for you. IMHO internet security does become an issue with this sort of thing. There are other means to be considered.. namely vpn.. which I know the iPad and Macs support but the TC has not got vpn endpoints available.