TC and Existing Wireless Network

I’m very new to the Mac world, since, after installing Vista for a couple of people in my family (and having to use it - ugh), I decided that path was no longer for me! So, when I needed to refresh my laptop, I recently got a 17” Macbook Pro and a Time Capsule for backup. It’s the TC that has me scratching my head. I can see the following topic throughout several threads, but am still confused. Basically, can I take the TC and make it an integrated access point and backup unit integrated into my existing hybrid (wired/wireless) network? I'm reading "NO" from the various postings, but want to be sure.....
My current network has a cable modem and wired Linksys security router located in the wiring closet, with multiple wired points throughout the house, along with two distributed Linksys dual-band N access points (actually two 610N routers with the DHCP services functionality disabled) connected via cabling to the security router and utilizing/broadcasting a common SSID (XYZ for discussion purposes) for the wireless network (using WPA2/AES). All the components are 1gig capable.
I’d like to replace one of the Linksys AP’s with the TC, but ran into issues. I can put the TC into bridge mode, but when I go to the wireless tab on the setup, the two options “create a wireless network” and “extend a wireless network” both seem to be problematic. If I “create….”, I’m creating a separate wireless network which (I think) is defeating my roaming capabilities. If I select “extend…”, the setup comes back and tells me that XYZ cannot be extended (since that's for Apple-based nets).
So, right now, I have the TC in bridge mode, with wireless turned off, and plugged via cable into a wired port on the network (the Linksys AP is sitting close by it). It seems to be very happy like that, and backing up wonderfully fine (as well as performing print services with no problem). And I’m happy with that, too. But can the TC also replace the Linksys while utilizing/broadcasting the existing network SSID (XYZ)? Again, don't think so, but wanted to be sure I'm not missing something?
Thanks for the clarification!

It sounds as if you have your network all connected by ethernet and several access points which broadcast the same network name (SSID).
If this is the case, you'll set the time capsule to bridge mode and set it to create a network.
Then set the network name, security method, and password. These must all be the same as your existing wireless network (for seamless wireless networking).
That should be about it..

Similar Messages

Time Capsule and Existing Wireless Network

I've previously used time machine to back up my G5 & Powerbook to separate external hard disks. I've just bought time capsule so that I could back up both computers to the same drive.
However, when powering on the Time Capsule device it is not visible on my existing network (called Wireless LAN) and instead it seems to have created a separate network called Apple Network b73829.
If I switch to this network I can see the Time Capsule device and it is also visible in Time Machine preferences but I cannot access the internet or any of my other wireless devices (Extreme Base Station etc.) which form the Wireless LAN network; I must switch back to this network if I want internet access.
What I don't want to do at this stage is replace my existing base station with the time capsule device; I just want to use it for backing up wirelessly.
I have reset the device several times now but it just will not join this existing network - what am I doing wrong?
Many thanks & regards,
Cliff
Brighton, UK

OK, so I have done this and it's made no difference. The new network Apple Network b73829 is still present alongside Wireless LAN.
I can only access Time Capsule if I switch to the new network, with the resulting loss of internet access from my Powerbook and, if I switch back to Wireless LAN I regain internet access but cannot see Time Capsule.
Although I just want to use Time Capsule to back up I have tried to connect it to my wireless LAN using the Join Existing Network on Airport Utility (even though I've been told I don't need to do this for Time Machine) but it has failed each time. After entering the password and wireless password information etc. and pressing update the Time Capsule device does re-start but there is ALWAYS an error message that says the device cannot be found and I should check that I am close to it (it's 3 feet away) or I should connect via Ethernet. If I connect via Ethernet it seems to disable the wireless functionality that I bought the device for.

I have a mid-2010 iMac and just purchased a 2TB TC, can't join existing wireless network with AC standard so attached to iMac via ethernet with TC wifi turned off. How do i access TC now? not showing up in disk utility or on desktop. working fine with TM

I have a mid-2010 iMac and just purchased a 2TB TC, I just found out that it can't join existing wireless network with new AC standard so attached to iMac via ethernet with TC's wifi turned off. How do i access TC now? not showing up in disk utility or on desktop. It is working fine with TM. My cheeper seagate drives etc kept crashing, so i didnt trust cheeper back up options anymore. Connected those drives to TM via firewire and could see the drives and access them.
Also, I didn't want to bridge TC with my new fios router that I paid 100 dollars for, to get N speed and also paying 10 dollars more a month for fast speed. I heard that bridging slows down everything and then there can be port issues with mail etc. I connect to the internet via airport only and it is pretty fast. Getting over 50mbs downloads and over 30mbs uploads. Plus everything in my home it connected to my fios router, airport express for music streaming, two apple tvs, vuezone camer system. I really didn't want to monkey around too much with my system. But are there other options to connect the new TC. Can't find info anywhere for this and called apple who gave me the info above. after hanging up, i see that i cant access my TC and I am wondering if i would have to reset it to turn wifi on again to make changes to the drive, turn off blinking light or repair it in disk utility if it should become corrupted.
For other with similar issues i did solve some other problems: when i connected it to my ethernet port on my iMac wifi stopped working. Found that I had to turn off the ethernet in the system>network screen, but then TM didn't see the TC so i restarted after changes and then it saw it.
Now a rant. I can't believe in this wireless age that Apple would make a product that cant join a wireless net work. The apple rep said i could return it and look for the previous TC that would join an existing wireless network. Are we going backwards?
Thanks!
lennydas

Ok... it is getting a bit clearer but there are still some questions.
I connect to the internet via airport only and it is pretty fast.
I was assuming airport in this statement in your first post meant the TC or the Express.. but I now realise we are still in the mass confusion stage where apple calls everything wireless an airport. So what you mean is the airport internal card of the computer??
Also, I didn't want to bridge TC with my new fios router that I paid 100 dollars for, to get N speed and also paying 10 dollars more a month for fast speed. I heard that bridging slows down everything and then there can be port issues with mail etc.
I think this is mistaken.
Putting the TC in bridge mode plugged into your FIOS will not slow the network.. nor will it cause mail or port issues.. in bridge the TC is just a fancy WAP and switch plus the network hard drive.
If the computer is close it will be faster than the FIOS.
You can run both wireless networks with different names.. so it is clear which is which. But you can also setup roaming so the computers themselves pick which is the best wireless.
I tried extending the wireless net work and tried joining wireless network, but the TC kept crashing and I had to keep resetting the TC. the Apple support person said these, extend wireless network and joint wireless network, are no longer a connection option with the new TC because of the new AC protocol.
Thanks again!
You cannot extend to a non-apple wireless router.
You cannot use join a wireless network because when you do the ethernet ports will be cut off.
But that has not changed.. I don't think Apple support is correct.. there has been no change with the AC model.. it is simply a fact that apple routers do not work in join wireless mode other than as a dumb client. The same applies to AC as to the earlier version.. but I have asked another person to check this.
Join in the express is the only apple router that still allows an ethernet connection.
For now you best use of the TC is bridged to the FIOS. Wireless you can sort out between several options.

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 as External HD and backup in an existing wireless network

I have had some difficulty having the issue solved. I have also had an an appointment at the Apple Genius Bar to solve the issue but was unsuccessful.
I am trying to see if I can use the Time Capsule in an existing wireless network as an external hard drive and backup.
I am unable to use Time Capsule as a wireless networking device because our wireless network at home is already configured for Vonage (Voice Over IP) and our DSL is with Verizon. We had to have a specialist come to our home to set up that network and I hope to not interfere with it unless I know what I am doing.
Is the Time Capsule a device you can use to store and retrieve data? My Macbook's HD is nearly full and I want to clear up some space but would like to have easy access to the data. Is it possible to use it as a backup as I would simultaneously use it as an external HD?
I was told to put the Time Capsule in "bridge" mode to solve my networking issues. Could I use the Time Capsule in bridge mode wirelessly as an external HD to store and retrieve data and backup data without interfering with my wireless internet network? Is this only possible with ethernet?

@Joop
TC can handle TM and other backups at the same time.
The TC is much slower (and more expensive) than a "normal" external drive, because everything has to go via WiFi. Especially when you are going to place Libraries on it.
So I suggest that you acquire an exeternal backup disk.
Second:
if you want to place Libraries on the same disk as your backups/TM: when that disk goes down you do not have any backup for your Libraries (even when you partition the disk to separate between backup and libraries). Think about that. Imagine how you feel when you loose your photo library....
Third:
So all in all, I suggest to have two SEPARATE external disks.

Connect to Existing Wireless Network Using AE and 2WIRE Home Portal

I would like to use my airport express to connect to an existing wireless network set up in my place, I got a pc wireless network connected with a 2Wire Homeportal 1000HW.
I've tried with the Assitant in both options, just joining the network to play music or joining the network to extend the range and nothing works, always the AE disappears.
Can I do that with my home portal or I need a different one?
If I need a new one what should I buy, my provider is SBC (DSL)
HP Pavilion zv6000 Windows XP

I am on a Mac and can do this with my 2Wire 1000SW. Not sure what the difference is, but I imagine it's just speed (mine is 802.11b). The reference to another posting on the 2Wire says that you must disable WEP. I have all my security still in place. When I run the setup utility and ask it to join my existing network (2Wire Network), it asks for my WEP and runs from there.
Were you able to get this to work?

We bought a time capsule then the wifi has a problem since it does not identify the existing wireless network and it says that its need to have an update firmware. The existing firmware is 7.3.1, does it have an newest update firmware existing now?

We bought a time capsule, 1TB, then the wifi has a problem since it does not identify the existing wireless network and it says that its need to have an update firmware. The existing firmware is 7.3.1, does it have an newest update firmware existing now? Does APPLE do not provide latest firmware for this item?

How old is that Time Capsule? The fact that it still have firmware 7.3.1 suggests that it's not the latest model. The latest firmware available for my two-year-old model is version 7.5.2. Apple does provide firmware updates. You just have to let the Time Capsule download and install them. Use AirPort Utility to do that.
Regarding your Wi-Fi problem, please explain what you mean by "it does not identify the existing wireless network".
By the way, you've been misled by poor field labeling on this forum into typing a large part of your message into the field intended for the subject. In the future just type a short summary of your post into that field and type the whole message into the field below that.

Can I use a airport express to get internet connection to a Mac Mini that doesn't have wireless by adding it to my existing wireless network?

I bought a first gen Mac Mini for our daughter and it doesn't have internal airport adapter and was wondering if I got a airport express can I plug it in my daughters room and use it as a local router and just use the eithernet connect from it. Or would a airport extreme work better for this job. I have a wireless cable modem that we connect to. I also have a second question I have a iMac G4 that picks up the wireless signal but will not connect to it does it have to be a Apple airport for it to work or should it be able to connect to any broadcasted signal. Thanks for the help.

I'm not sure I quite understand. Do you wish to use the AEX to provide a wireless connection for a device that has an Ethernet port but no wireless capability of its own? You wish to use it in place of a wireless card that isn't internally installed? If so, the answer is, "Yes." It will work as a wireless access point. But you must have an extant wireless network because the AEX won't have an Internet connection when used in this way.
If you have an existing wireless network with a wireless router connected to your cable/DSL model or your modem is a wireless router as well, then the AEX may connect to it in bridge mode. Note that AEXs don't always play nice with non-Apple routers. Some work; others don't.

Connecting a wrt54g to an existing wireless network

Hi,
I'm wondering if it's possible to create a second wireless network by connecting a wrt54g to our existing wireless network?
Our main router is upstairs, connection in the downstairs office is terrible, plus it's being used by a team that would like their own network anyways. Can I plug the wrt54g into the main router, assign it a static external IP and create a second wireless network?
thanks

great thread toomanydoughnuts, thanks! all the hours I spend googling for an answer are such a waste when I can post a specific question and a human being answers me back :-)
I see that what I was trying to do is possible but before I start let me ask your opinion.
My initial goal for a seperate network was to give Router 2 a static external IP and connect our server to router 2 so external users would always be able to access it at the same address in case Router 1 ever had an IP change (I don't have constant access to router 1 and am not supposed to be fiddling with it!)
The secondary goal was to improve the wireless signal for those of us downstairs and I figure having Router 2 down there would provide a nice strong signal.
I have realized now that dyndns can solve my issue with Router 1's IP changing (even if it's once a month it's an issue for remote users accessing our server). Dyndns will re-point our host name to the new IP if it ever changes.
But I still have the issue of a very weak signal in the downstairs office.
Because I'm seeking the simplest, easiest to manage solution as I'm far from a network guru, do you think a better option may be to get a repeater or something like that for our downstairs office to just boost the signal from Router 1? If so, any recommendations?
thanks in advance for your time
Oh, and if I did go the route of setting up Router 2, could I give Router 2 a static external IP address?
Message Edited by tiphanai on 10-06-2009 07:13 AM

How do I use a 2nd Airport Extreme plugged into an Ethernet Wall Plug to join an existing wireless network to give me a better signal upstairs?

I have a 5th generation Airport Extreme giving me a great wireless signal on the 1st floor of my house. However the signal upstairs is weak. So I purchased another 5th generation Airport Extreme that I would like to plug into an ethernet wall plug upstairs. I would then like to have the upstairs Airport Extreme join the same network thus giving me a good wirelss signal upstairs. I have a MacBook Pro running OS 10.7.4. Can somebody give me step-by-step directions to set up the upstairs Airport Extreme?

I assume that the new AirPort Extreme is still in its original factory default settings.
Before you connect the AirPort Extreme, please connect a laptop to the Ethernet cable that will be used for the connection and turn off the wireless on the laptop. Make sure that you can can connect to the Internet before you begin to configure the AirPort Extreme.
Disconnect the Ethernet cable from the laptop and connect it to the WAN "O" port on the upstairs AirPort Extreme and power it up.
Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility 6.1
Look in the upper left hand corner of the screen for a tab or box that reads "Other AirPort Base Stations (1)"
Click on that box,then click on the name AirPort Extreme xxxxxx
Wait a moment while AirPort Utility analyzes the network and then displays a message that the AirPort Extreme will be configured to extend your existing wireless network.
Enter a Base Station (device) name for the AirPort Extreme (and a device password if prompted), then click Next.
Wait another minute or two until AirPort Utility notifies you that the AirPort Extreme has been Set Up.
That's it.

Can't joint existing wireless network

I have an AX used only for iTunes. It's set up wirelessly. It recently stopped working and I can't get the AX to re-connect to the existing wireless network. No matter what I try, all I get is a blinking amber light on the AX.
I have a Netgear wireless router, an iMac wired to the wireless router, and a PowerBook G4 that's wireless. I've only used the PowerBook to send iTunes to the AX.
I've hard-reset the AX and have tried both utilities (Airport Setup Assistant and Airport Admin Utility) reconnect to the wireless network. The set-up process goes fine but after the last step (Update), the AX reboots but never shows up in iTunes.
Another thing I've noticed, but don't know its relevance to the current problem: when I reset the AX with (because I've tried resetting without) the ethernet line connected, the reset results in a solid green light (yay). But when I unplug the ethernet line, it goes back to blinking amber.
Help! I need my music.

Give this a whirl. Reset your AX so that it's in a factory default state. Go to your Airport icon on your Mac and connect to the AX rather than your own network, and set up the AX there. Leave it for the time being as being a separate network. Then go into the Airport utility and you'll see the AX. Can't remember which tab it's under, but there is an option there to have the AX join a wireless network as a client. Tell it to do that and save your settings, and it should be fine. My experience of setting up an AX via ethernet is that it promptly forgets everything after you disconnect it.

Can't connect AE to existing wireless network

I can't get my AE to connect to my existing wireless network. I saw the other thread on this and followed those steps, but it didn't work. Here's what I did:
1. Connected the AE to my D-Link DIR-655 wireless router via ethernet cable.
2. Opened Airport Utility and established a connection to the AE.
3. Renamed the AE and entered a password.
4. In the "wireless" tab, I selected "join existing network", chose my wireless network, selected the security type (WPA Personal) and entered the password.
5. In the "music" tab, I named the speakers and entered a password.
So far so good. I clicked "update" and the AE restarted. After a while I received an error message informing me that the base station could no longer be detected. According to the directions posted in the other thread, this is actually supposed to be a sign that the AE is now in client mode and all is well.
I unplugged the ethernet cable from the AE and router and then went to the other room. I plugged the AE into the speakers and then plugged the AE into the wall.
However, instead of a green light all I have is a flashing amber light, even after several minutes. No connection.
I reset the AE and repeated the steps above, to no avail. Still a flashing amber light.
Any ideas?

I'm having a similar issue. My AE is connected directly to a Netgear WGR614v4 router, and I run through all the steps you mentioned. When I choose to update the settings to the AE, I get the same "error" you mentioned about the AE not being found, and I also took that as a sign that I'm in client mode. I moved the AE to the other room, connected my mini cable to the stereo, then plugged the AE back into the wall. The AE runs through its setup and eventually gets a solid green light, so I'm thinking all is well.
The problem is that I then log back into the AirPort Utility on my laptop and the AE is not shown in the top left like it should be. After doing a bit of reading, I've figured out that I can manually find it by going to File>Configure Other and entering the AE's IP address and password. Then I get a window showing the details of the AE, its name, network, encryption, etc. However, if I close this window, it still doesn't show up in the main AirPort Utility screen and I'm not sure how to configure it for AirTunes.
Hoping that's just a bug with the AirPort Utility software, I open up iTunes to see if I can locate it there. I know I should see a pulldown menu at the bottom of iTunes that gives me an option for AE as my audio output method, but the menu is not there. Now I'm completely stuck.
At this point I decide to start from scratch, so I do a Factory Default reset by pressing down the reset button on the AE as I plug it into the wall. Now it is supposedly reset, so I plug it back into my router, then it runs through a setup sequence and lights up solid green before I've even done anything. It shows up in AirPort Utility with a default base station ID, but my computer won't connect to it at all. I'm hoping I can try to reset it again this evening and at least get back to the normal setup screen, but I'm really not sure what I could do differently at this point.
This is frustrating and I'm on the verge of giving up, but I REALLY want this to work out.

Can't connect to existing wireless network

I have a Qwest wireless modem (model 2701hg-d) and am trying to set up the Airport Express (AX) to use already existing wireless network wirelessly (ie without the ethernet cable). Is this possible? Do I need a wireless router instead?
In order to set it up I have the AX plugged into the modem via an ethernet cable. I have reset the AX and then run the Admin Utility. Once it recognizes the AX I then go to the Airport tab and select 'Join an Existing wireless Network (wireless client)' and then enter in the Network Name exactly as it is spelled in my modem configuration. I check the 'Internet' tab and it says connect using: Wireless Network and the 'Network' tab is grayed out. Then I hit update and the admin utility no longer lists the AX and the AX light is blinking amber. Not sure what is going on. I am using v6.3 of the firmware. I have read the posts extensively and am wondering if my modem is not capable of handling this?

Hi
Not exactly certain if your situation is like mine, but you could check out this previous post:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=917767&tstart=0
If you are trying to achieve wireless bridging then I don’t think APX will work with that particular router.
HTH

Setting up Time Capsule for backup only on existing wireless network

I have a wireless network already set up with a NetGear wireless router. Cable plugs into router, router connected via ethernet cable to my Power Mac G5 desktop, plus 2 PC laptops in the house also connect wirelessly to the home network via this router.
I want to set up Time Capsule as an external hard drive to back up all three computers -- I don't necessarily need to use it as a wireless router although i'm not opposed to that if it's easier to do it that way.
When i try to set it up using AirPort utility, i get the amber flashing light. Airport utility is able to discover the device, and then always asks if it's OK to switch networks. I've tried both "switch" and "don't switch"; either way when i try to set it up, AirPort utility stalls out on "Reading Time Capsule Configuration"; eventually giving me the error msg: "Base Station Error: AirPort Utility was unable to find your Apple wireless device."
All i want to do is mount it as an external hard drive so i can use Time Machine for backup, and be able to use it to also back up the PC laptops wirelessly. I need help in the following three areas:
1. How should I be physically connecting my devices if i want to do this? Which cables go in which ports? There is only one ethernet port on the back of my G5. The G5 can connect to the router either wirelessly OR via ethernet cable. I've tried G5-->Time Capsule-->Router, G5-->Router-->Time Capsule, Router-->G5 PLUS Router-->Time Capsule, and I've tried every variation on the regular ethernet and WAN ports. What's the right way to do this.
2. If i'm not setting up the TC as a Wireless Router, is AirPort utility even the right tool for setting it up? it seems to be confused by the two wireless networks and won't let me get past that point. Am I supposed to click "Switch" when it asks me to switch networks? Is there a way to just mount it as an external drive and bypass the AirPort utility setup entirely?
3. Once i get it set up so it's visible as an external drive and usable for Time Machine backup, how do i then make it available to the other PCs on the network so they can back up to it also?
Thanks for your help.

sarah,
You already have an existing wireless network.
You do not need to plug the Time Capsule into anything except power.
Set the Time Capsule to "Join an existing wireless network"...
That is all you need to do.
Then all the computers should see the Time Capsule.
If you can't see "Join an existing wireless network" in the choices, hold down on the option key and then click on the choices.
Give that a try.

I am unable to join my existing wireless network with new AirPort Express

I am unable to join my existing wireless network with new AirPort Express.
I am using a DLink DI-524 Router, Windows 7 (64), and the AirPort Express.
AirPort Utility will not recognize the AEX wirelessly, it will only recognize it when it is connected by Ethernet. I can then configure the AEX and verify that the settings stick once disconnected and then reconnected. However, even after that, it will not recognize the AEX once disconnected from the Ethernet cable.
I followed the suggestions of several other threads on these forums. But I am unable to get the AEX to work.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the discussion area!
It's almost always a security setting that causes problems when the Airport Express (AX) tries to join a third party wireless network. The AX usually does not "join" correctly and that's why you can't see it on your wireless network using AirPort Utility.
Using an ethernet cable is still the more reliable way to configure and adjust the AX, but if you are want to try to configure it using wireless, you must return the AX back to factory defaults as follows:
Power down the AX
Hold in the reset button +and keep holding it in+ as you plug the AX back in to power
Release the reset button after 10 seconds
When it is set to factory defaults, the AX broadcasts a wireless signal with a network name like "apple network xxxxxx" where the "x's" are either letters or numbers. You must look for this network by clicking on the fan shaped Airport icon at the top of the screen. If you don't see this network, then click Join Other Network to search that way. Unless you connect to this network, you will not be able to configure the AX using wireless.
Do you know the exact security type that your D-Link router is using? That is the key element in the process.
Open AirPort utility, click Manual Setup
Click the Base Station tab to establish a name for the AX, device password and adjust time zone settings
Click the Wireless tab
Wireless Mode....Join a wireless network
Wireless Network Name...must exactly match your D-Link wireless network name
Enable ethernet clients if you want the port to be active (your D-Link must be compatible with ProxySTA for this to work)
Wireless Security...exact setting of the D-Link network. WEP security causes a lot of issues. Try to use WPA/WPA2 Personal, which is far more secure.
Wireless Password...must match the D-Link network
Click the Music icon to enable AirTunes
Click Update to save settings
Any luck?

TC and Existing Wireless Network

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