Setup Gen2 Time Capsule with AT&T WiFi network/router

Hello. I have a 1TB TC (model A1302) that I previously used as a router with cable modem. We recently switched to AT&T DSL modem/router (2701HG-B, software 5.29.109.13) and want to know best way to setup TC? The AT&T router seems to have fair WiFi connection in house but has trouble with more than 4 wireless devices connected (Directv, 2 iPhones, 2 iPads, iMac, printer, etc). I definitely want to use my TC as Time Machine (TM) for iMac but wonder if it would be good (or able) to connect to the AT&T router. The router is in different room from iMac so if TC needs to be ethernet connected to AT&T router, then I guess I would need to setup WiFi TM for iMac. I also have an AirPort Express (model A1264) but don't currently have it connected to anything. Suggestions? Thanks!
Gregg

The TC cannot be configured to connect to the AT&T router using a wireless only connection if you want the Ethernet ports to be enabled on the TC.
Given your other information, I think the bottom line is this:
The TC needs to be connected to the AT&T router using an Ethernet cable. The cable can be any length that you choose, so that may provide some additonal options for the placement of the TC. Ideally, the TC would be located close to the area where most of the wireless devices will be used.
A line of sight relationship between the TC and wireless devices is perfect. That may not be possible, but it is the ideal. Each wall that the signal must pass through will absorb on average...15-20% of the signal. So, after 3-4 walls, you have virtually no signal left. Disconnects and poor performance are guaranteed with any wireless router in an installation such as this.
The iMac needs to use an Ethernet connection to the TC for the first Time Machine backup, since everything on the Mac will be copied over to the TC during this "master" backup.
After that, the iMac can connect to the TC using wireless since Time Machine will only backup any changes to your Mac after the first "master" backup. These "incremental" backups should only take a few minutes each time that Time Machine backups up.
You could use wireless for the first backup, but it will take a very long time.....4-5 times longer on average, using wireless than Ethernet.
To allow the first backup to proceed as quickly as possible, you might consider purchasing a long Ethernet cable to connect the iMac to the TC for the first backup.
Or, temporarily move the iMac close to the TC and connect using a shorter Ethernet cable. Once the first backup is done, you can move the iMac back to its original location and let it connect using wireless.
Since you have an AirPort Express, that device could be used as a repeater to provide more coverage for the TC wireless signal. The AirPort Express cannot "repeat" the AT&T wireless signal.
If you decide to use the TC to provide your wireless signal, the wireless on the AT&T may interfere with the TC wireless. So, it is would be a good idea to turn off the wireless on the AT&T device once you have the TC up and running.
You may need to consult the documentation on the AT&T router for this operation. Normally, the settings for AT&T routers can be accessed by entering the default IP address of the device into your browswer. That is usually 192.168.1.254 on AT&T products, but I cannot say for sure since I do not have this device on hand to check.
So, to summarize:
1) The TC needs to connect to the AT&T router using an Ethernet connection.
2) The TC can be located anywhere that the Ethernet cable allows.
3) The iMac needs to connect to the TC using Ethernet for the first backup if you want the first backup to occur as quickly as possible
4) The AirPort Express can be configured to "extend" the wireless signal....using wireless only...from the TC to provide additional coverage where it might be needed
5) The wireless on the AT&T router should be turned off

Similar Messages

How do I get a 1st generation time capsule to join a wifi network?

OK, I've searched the groups but no luck. Here's my situation;
I'd like to configure a 1st generation time capsule to join a wifi network ideally with a printer attached to the USB. My set up is an iMac running 10.9.3, Airport Utility 6.3.2 and a 1st Generation TC with the latest firmware (7.6.4). I'm trying to connect it to an ADSL Wifi Modem/Router. I know a cabled connection would give better performance but want a wifi only connection as the printer is in a different room.
I've disabled the network functions (bridge mode) but I can only see wireless options to Create a Wireless Network, Extend a Wireless Network or Off, not to Join. If I try to extend I get the option to add an SSID, security & passwords but it doesn't seem like parameters to join -the drop-down doesn't list available networks to join & manually entering the main wifi network and password doesn't work.
Is my desired config even possible?
Dave

Something.....a Mac or PC will need to have a 5.x version of AirPort Utility installed on the computer.
Perform a factory default reset on the Time Capsule by powering it off for a few minutes. Then, hold in the reset button first and keep holding for an additional 10-12 seconds while you simultaneously plug the power back into the Time Capsule. Release the reset button after the hold period and allow a full minute for the Time Capsule to restart to a slow, blinking amber light.
Open up AirPort Utility on the computer, select the Time Capsule and click Manual Setup
Click the Base Station tab below the row of icons to type in a device name and password that you want to use for the Time Capsule, set Time Zone, etc.
Click the Wireless tab next to the Base Station tab
Hold down the option or Alt key while you click on the Wireless Mode setting box
Select the Join a wireless network setting
Select the name of the wireless network
Enter the password for the wireless network
Verify the password
Click Update to save the settings
Note....everything here assumes that the router that provides the wireless network is using WPA2 Personal security, which is the default setting for the Time Capsule.

HT201945 How do I use my time capsule on an existing WIFI network?

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.

Installing Time capsule with U-Verse Wireless Network

Hi all,
I am not a techy, but I get by. I am going to install the Time Capsule and I realized that I don't think this will work with my existing U-Verse Fiber wireless network. After some thought, I believe I should just use this for wireless backup and peripheral operations rather than the internet as my current wifi also operates the televisions in the house.
I'm hoping to get some guidance from the community as to how to use this device without having to purchase more equipment or re-wiring my entire home. Can I just plug it in and use it for wireless backup or will it interfere with my internet service (which I am happy with)?
Any thoughts?

Welcome to the discussions!
You are correct to allow your existing setup handle internet connections.
The simplest setup would be to configure your Time Capsule to "Join" the wireless network created by the U-Verse router. Your computers will be able to backup via wireless assuming that you have a good connection.
If your U-Verse router provides ethernet ports for devices (it likely does), you would also have the option of connecting the Time Capsule to the U-Verse router with an ethernet cable. This would make sense if the Time Capsule will be located near the U-Verse router as ethernet is both faster and more reliable than wireless.
Not to get too technical here, but if you connect the TC this way, you will set Connection Sharing on the TC for "Off (Bridge Mode)".
If you connect the Time Capsule via ethernet, you would also have the option to setup the Time Capsule to "create" its own wireless network. So, you would have two wireless networks available...one created by the U-Verse router and the other created by the Time Capsule.
If you have computers capable of wireless connections at "n" speeds, they could connect to the Time Capsule and your other "g" devices would connect to the U-Verse. In fact, if you purchase a new dual band TC, it will be capable of creating two wireless networks on its own.
So, you have a number of options available. Just depends on how simple or complex you want things to be.

Time Capsule set up and wifi network OK but MacBook doesn't see capsule as airport device. Do I need to do a hard reset and start again?

I recently bought a Time Capsule and sucessfully set it up in accordance with the instruction book. The home network and guest network seem to work fine but my MacBook cannot find the Time Capsule wirelessley.
Initially I set up the time capsule connected to the MacBook with an ethernet cable. The Time Machine got 30GB way through a 60GB initial back up and then stopped for no obvious reason. Since then the capsule has not been visible to the MacBook. I have tried to reconfigure through Airport Utility but even after reperated rescans the capsule remains invisible.
Any help would be extremely welcome.

1. i would restore the express to factory defaut by holding the reset button on the unit with a paperclip while you are powering it on
2. if it restored, you should be able to see it in your wifi icon at top of screen as "airport express"
or you can see it in airport utility
3. then if you want to connect it wirelessly to your time capsule, you would choose "extend network" and put in relevant security and password....this would make the express a wireless access point, fed by your time capsule(main router)
if you chose to do it wired which is a better way if you have access to ethernet port at wall, you would choose "create a wireless network" and then under the "network" tab you would choose "Bridge Mode".....this would make the express a wired access point, fed by your time capsule(main router)

Time Capsule with existing Roadrunner wireless modem/router?

My ISP is Roadrunner extreme, and the modem is also a router with built-in n wireless. I don't have admin access to the router so cannot disable the wireless. I would like to get a Time Capsule for wirelessly backing up mine and my wife's Macbooks (plugging drives into laptops is a pain).
I'm concerned by the apparent assumption that a Time Capsule will also serve as your router, though. As I said, we already have wireless and are pretty much stuck with that. Can the Time Capsule wireless router function be disabled, or ignored, and have it still function for wireless backups?
Thanks in advance.

...and this discussion seems to indicate I could also skip the ethernet and just have the TC join my existing wireless network.
That's an option. There's an upside and downside to every type of configuration. The upside is that you can have the Time Capsule physically removed from the same area where the router resides. The downsides are that the configuration can be difficult and frustrating unless you know exactly what type of security the Roadrunner wireless is using.
In other words, you have to "tell" the Time Capsule exactly how to join the wireless network provided by the Roadrunner router. If the settings are not exactly correct, you'll get nothing but repeated error messages. You have to start all over to try the configuration again each time there is an error. Since you said that you don't have "admin" privileges for the Roadrunner device, you may not be able to access the device to "see" the exact settings that you need.
The ethernet ports are not enabled on the Time Capsule when it is configured to "join" a wireless network, so you will not have an option to backup using ethernet if want to do so. Ethernet can be 4-5 times faster that wireless and comes in really handy for the first backup when Time Machine makes a complete copy of your computer.
Followup question as this will drive what TC I buy: I already have a WD 2TB USB drive I've been using for backups. Can I get away with buying a smaller/cheaper TC and plugging in the extra drive? Are there reasons that's not as good as just getting the 2TB TC?
You can connect the WD drive to the USB port on the Time Capsule. The drives must be formatted in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) if you plan to use Time Machine to backup. The main problem with changing locations of drives (I'm assuming that that you had the WD attached directly to a computer) is that Time Machine will want to make a new complete backup of the computer if you connect the drive to the USB port on the Time Capsule.
In other words, Time Machines treats backups to an "external drive" connected directly to a computer differently than it does backups to a "network drive" connected to the USB port on the Time Capsule. You won't be able to "continue" backups where you left off. Time Machine will start all over again.

Can I use time capsule with a ASUS (RT-N16)router?

I will use a router with vpn. Can I use time capsule with it? And if yes, how do I connect them?

There is no vpn built into the native firmware of N16 so I presume you are going to use third party.
Just plug in the TC and bridge it.. ie go to Internet tab of airport utility and select connection sharing off.
wireless then you will need to figure out.. you can setup roaming on 2.4ghz by using identical wireless name = ssid and security but lock both to different channels.. pick out of 1, 6, 11
In a PC network make sure you use the TC with a new name.. no spaces no special characters.. same with wireless. TC also restrict wireless on 2.4ghz to only 20mhz.. if you have the N16 set to 40mhz you will have to be extra careful with channels.. 40mhz will use up two channels and only one remains.. so your household will have filled the 2.4ghz.
Someone suggested you can turn off 2.4ghz in the TC by not naming it.. When I try that it kicks up an error that it has to be named. So perhaps someone else has a suggestion of how to turn off 2.4ghz.
You can turn off 5ghz by unchecking it. Seems mighty strange that you cannot turn off 2.4ghz but you can turn off 5ghz.

How can I set up a time capsule to extend my wifi network from a non-apple Medialink MWN-WAPR300N?

I just purchased a new Medialink MWN-WAPR300N from Amazon to replace my old 2008 500 GB Time Capsule.
I was wondering if it would be possible to use my old Time Capsule to extend the network from the Medialink router to the rooms in the back of my house. Would this be possible? How about if I use the Time Capsule as the primary point, and use the Medialink router to extend the network?
Thanks!

The Time Capsule would not be compatible with a Medialink product if you are thinking of trying to use the Time Capsule to extend the Medialink network using wireless only.
The same would be true if the Time Capsule were the primary router, and you tried to use the Medialink product to extend the Time Capsule network wirelessly.
If you can connect the two devices together using a permanent wired Ethernet connection, then you should be able to accomplish your goal.

How do I setup my time capsule with wireless internet?

I I have "Clear" so theres no place on the device to plug up an ethernet cord.. PLEASE HELP!!!! Would like to use the time capsule mainly as an external hard drive. PLEASE HELP!!!

For factory reset.. what model do you have??
The Factory Reset Gen1-4.
Unplug your TC. Hold in reset. and power the TC back on.. without releasing reset for about 10sec. When the status light flashes rapidly; release it.
Be Gentle! Feel the switch click on. It has a positive feel.. add no more pressure after that.
TC 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.
Factory reset Gen 5
Hold in reset for about 5sec until the status light flashes quickly.
If your AirPort Time Capsule still doesn’t respond, do a similar reset to the Gen1-4.
Unplug your AirPort Time Capsule .. hold in reset and power the TC back on.. without releasing the reset.. wait until status led flashes rapidly.
To join a wireless network and assuming you are using a Mac with v6 utility..
1. Full reset of the TC. as above.
2. Open the airport utility.. the Mac must have internet connection to the wireless router which is working.
Click on other wi-fi devices which is your reset TC.
3. The utility will choose the wrong item. You are not creating a network.. so click options.
4. Click add to existing network.
5. Make sure you then get the right network.. this is from my main router.
6. The utility will then use join. Fix the name to short, no spaces and pure alphanumeric .. for better networking.
7. The utility should complete the setup.. and you will probably need to fix a few things.. passwords or other errors fix them all up.
8. You can now click edit and go the wireless tab and see the details.
This will give you extremely slow speeds.. it is highly NOT recommended.

How to setup apple time capsule with FIOSinternet and VZ router?)

Hello,
I have Apple time capsule and the VZ Router MI424WR. I current set up:
1. VZ router - wireless off, the rest is standard
2. Time capsule: Wireless on in Bridge mode
Result: Internet works but the wireless network is very in-stable. Airtunes is nearly not usable.
I searched in the Internet and there was several comments that is is not a good combination. Therefore it is recommended to convert the VZ router in a modem mode and use only the Time capsule as the router. I tried this several times I do not get it to work. I followed this procedure (http://data.agaric.com/node/2160) but then I need the PPPoE Account number and password. But there do I get this? The Verizon support was not really helpful.
Please, is there a good and complete description to solve that issue?
Thanks in advance
Moebius

Go back to your first setup ...
Verizon router with wireless turned off
Apple Time Casule with wireless turned on
Method 1:
With the Time Capsule in "Bridge Mode", if I remember correctly, you should connect the WAN port to one of the open ports on the Verizon router (I believe bridge mode also turns off the DHCP server on the Time Capsule, if not, find that and turn if off as well).   Change the addressing mode for the Time Capsule to "static" and assign it an address on the LAN which is not in use (choose something you know is out of the way but on the LAN -- I suggest 192.168.1.180 to start -- you can change it once you get everything working).
If it doesn't work this way for you, move the cable from the WAN port on the Time Capsule to Port 1 and try again.
Method 2:
This results in a router behind a router setup, but unless you have devices connected directly to the Verizon router, it shouldn't be a problem.
With the Time Capsule disconnected from the Verizon router, turn on "Connection Sharing" (not bridge mode) and make sure DHCP is enabled on the Time Capsule. You need to change the address range being used by the Time Capsule (which I think defaults to 192.168.1.x to another network -- I suggest, 192.168.2.x with a netmask of 255.255.255.0 and give the router an address of 192.168.2.1 on the LAN side. Now, connection the WAN port to one of the Verizon router LAN ports. If you had anything connected to the Verizon LAN ports, move those over to the LAN ports on the Time Capsule and reboot them.
Method 3:
This is the least desirable of the scenarios because it relies on Verizon's crappy radio in their router (the Time Capsule has a much better radio and support 802.11n as well as b and g) whereas Verizon's only support b/g.    Go back to the configuration for Method 1, but also turn OFF wireless on the Time Capsule and turn on wireless on the Verizon router.   Try both bridge scenarios described -- using the WAN port first and if that didn't work, then moving the connection to port 1.
There is no scenario where you can place the Verizon router behind the Time Capsule -- since I believe Verizon is using all MoCA connections for the WAN side of their connection (you'd have to get Verizon to convert you to ethernet WAN and then they would not support you most likely for any STB issues with your FiOS if the Time Capsule was between the ONT and their router ... so don't even bother wasting time there ... more headaches than it would be worth.
If you're still not sure exactly what each configuration screen on the time capsule should say, post some screen snaps (or the configuration settings/choices which you are unsure about and someone will likely know the answer here).

How to setup wireless time capsule with 3rd party external HDD and router?

Topic says it all really...
I've got a linksys router and an iomega external hard drive.
I want to have wireless time capsule setup but i don't really wanna shell out for an apple time capsule when I have a perfectly working router and hard drive...
Can it be done? would I be better off buying an airport express/extreme?
cheers

Welcome, jackbyo!
I've got a linksys router
Good product
iomega external hard drive.
1) The drive must be formatted in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) to work with Time Machine.
2) The drive will need to be connected directly to your Mac via USB or FireWire connection.
Can it be done?
As above
would I be better off buying an airport express/extreme
The AirPort Express will not support a hard drive.
Time Machine backups to a drive at the USB port of the AirPort Extreme are not supported by Apple due to corruption issues.

How to setup AirPort Time Capsule with static IP?

Untill few days ago I have been using Airport Extreme as router for my network. It was cabled to the modem from my internet-provider.
I had 2 printers, 1 iMac, 1 MB-Pro, several SONOS-devices, iPhone, Loewe-TV and iPad setup for it.
AND IT HAS BEEN WORKING GREAT FOR MORE THAN 4 years
Then I bought my new Time Capsule:
It is connected in the same way as the Extreme but now via a static IPadress.
The Airport-Utility says that I am using these set-ups:
Internet - connection "DHCP"
Network - "DCHP+NAT"
The STATUS is:
"DOBB. NAT"-message at the Airport-utility.
Internet-connection is VERY-good and with high-speed.
I am NOT able to get connection to the TV - it shows 100% connection but will NOT allow me to connect to it (password IS correct:-)
It is only possible to get connected to the one SONOS Play:5 which is connected to the Internet - all the other devices can only be connected when I change the network-setting in AirportUtility from "DCHP+NAT" to "OFF (bridge)".
I have been told that when I am using a static IP-adress for my Airport then "DCHP+NAT" is the right setting in order to make the Airport set-up dynamic-adresses for the wireless connected devices.
I am not very-clever in this - but an old man who wants to get the right advice from a clever-person in order to find a solution.
ANYONE inhere who wants to help me?
THANK YOU in advance,

Sailalong wrote:
Untill few days ago I have been using Airport Extreme as router for my network. It was cabled to the modem from my internet-provider.
I had 2 printers, 1 iMac, 1 MB-Pro, several SONOS-devices, iPhone, Loewe-TV and iPad setup for it.
AND IT HAS BEEN WORKING GREAT FOR MORE THAN 4 years
Then I bought my new Time Capsule:
It is connected in the same way as the Extreme but now via a static IPadress.
The Airport-Utility says that I am using these set-ups:
Internet - connection "DHCP"
Network - "DCHP+NAT"
I am unclear as to what has a static IP address. And why did you change the setup.. Would it not have worked in exactly the same way as the Extreme?
Is the static address in the WAN setup or the LAN side setup?
Lan side it should be fine.. WAN side is not fine. There are strict rules to apply to using static IP on WAN.
If you can fill that in, it will help me understand the rest.
Also have you updated the firmware in the TC yet? As soon as you have a WAN connection please do a firmware update as there are major issues with SONOS.. which requires Spanning Tree Protocol to work. Apple bungled that one in the first firmware of the TC.. so you must have 7.7.2 and I am not sure it is fully repaired even in that.
I hope you did not reset your AE yet.. sometimes it is better to stick with what works and use the TC in bridge to it.

I need to setup our time capsule with an arris cable router

We have an existing 1st Gen Time Capsule but have moved. We went from Verizon Fios to CableVision Optimum Online.
The cable modem is an Arris TM822G plugged into the the WAN port of the TC. I can connect to the cable modem via ethernet and that works.
The time capsule flashes yellow and can't get an IP address but, my MacBook Pro sees the SSID
We use this for Time Machine backups and don't want to lose what we have.
Any ideas? Couldn't find any from CableVision.

Do a factory reset of the TC.. this seems to be necessary to get it going again in a new setup, especially with cable.
Also your TC is probably in bridge mode.. the reset will put it back to router mode.
Does the cable modem have a battery backup or phone service? Sorry I don't know the exact model.. anyway you need to shut down the modem.. if it is battery backup, drop out the battery or unscrew the coax cable. It can sometimes take 15min or more for the system to reset. when you plug in another device it will take the public IP. So the first device that connects captures the IP.. that has been your computer.. now you have to get the TC to take it over.
A reset of the TC btw will not harm data on the disk.
Reset methods here.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3728
After full 15min.. (you can try one minute to start).. power up the modem.. wait 2min and then power up the TC.

How to re-initialise an Apple time capsule to a different WiFi network

Upgraded the Netcom WiFi hub to a Netgear Wfi hub and the nether won’t recognise the time capsule to perform backups as and when prompted.

Lapastenaque
I have been on the chat line with Apple Tech.
I have realised that the only way the Time Capsule was made to work the initial setup, was the the Netcomm wifi hub had 1 ethernet jack.
An ethernet cable was connected from the wifi hub to the net port of the Time Capsule.
With the Netgear mobile wifi broadband modem hub, no ethernet outlet is provided for this model.
It then remained to simply connect a hard wired ethernet cable from the MBP to the Time Capsule ethernet port.
This then re-established the wifi network, “without the wifi” but a hard connected ethernet cable.
The Apple time capsule cannot be utilised to engage wifi direct to the internet via a third party mobile wifi hub.
It defies common sense to call it a wifi hub that cannot connect via the 802.11 mode to the internet.
It is a deliberate by negative inbuilt design flaw that Apple are of no mind to remedy.
For now the Time Machine backups are taking place on regulated times set by the software.
I thank you for your endeavour to lend assistance to the resolution of this query I had about the Time Capsule and use of Time Machine protocol.
Tanks, Oscarwingt

Using Time Capsule to create a wifi network from a Powerline Adaptor

OK, before I ask my question, I just have to 'paint the picture'.
I live in a work residential complex, with wifi provided. However this wifi is awfully weak, to the point that I can only sit in one spot to receive it, and then it still drops out. I tried using an airport express to extend the signal, but the wifi router won't allow it.
Through the company that provide the service, I am know using a powerline adaptor ( you know the sort; one ethernet cable from router to adaptor, and another from adaptor in room to laptop) and I get broadband.
I'd like to find some way of getting wifi from that, to my mbp, iphone and appletv all on the same network.
Ok, the crux, I want to buy a Time Capsule, if I do so, by plugging the ethernet cable from powerline into it, will I be able to create a wifi network that 1. Allows devices to connect to it, and 2. Access the Broadband service.
Hope that's clear ;-)

I want to buy a Time Capsule, if I do so, by plugging the ethernet cable from powerline into it, will I be able to create a wifi network that 1. Allows devices to connect to it, and 2. Access the Broadband service.
Yes and yes.

Setup Gen2 Time Capsule with AT&T WiFi network/router

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