Time Capsule: Connectivity loss when starting backups
Ever since getting my Time Capsule, I've noticed sporadic dropouts on my VOIP line and when video-conferencing. There are periods of a few seconds when others cannot hear me, or conversely I cannot hear them. With video conferencing, the connection will stutter - then finally cut out completely. I also see occasional "burps" with my internet connectivity, where sites do not respond briefly, then with a reload be fine. I had just written it off as standard network jitter or other problems, but it's gotten annoying enough to investigate.
I finally figured it out - whenever a Time Machine backup begins, my connectivity to the internet drops for a few seconds. I'm not sure if this is just when the drive is spinning up, or something to do with actually commencing a backup. With three Macs in the house all backing up, this happens with some regularity and it's pretty annoying.
Is anyone else seeing this? I use the Time Capsule as my central router, and it's running an N-only network. My MacBook Pro connects to it via (N), my wife's MacBook is on (G) connected through another Airport Extreme, and the Mac Mini is on gigabit ethernet. I'd be glad to provide any further detail.
This continues to be crippling. In fact, with multiple computers on the network, I can count on my connection being interrupted about every 10-15 minutes. VOIP calls die, video conferencing dies, online games become useless. All because the Time Capsule is a flawed product that cannot walk and chew gum at the same time.
Given Apple's extremely lackluster history of updates, support, and communication, I don't expect this will ever be fixed. And I don't expect I will ever buy another Apple networking product (after having three Airport Base Stations, an Airport Express, and now a Time Capsule).
Similar Messages
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i am setting u a new time capsule. i already have a wifi setup in my office. now i want to use this time capsule just as a wireless backup machine. do i still need to attached a DSL cable, or it can connect to my existing wifi and start working ?
You probably can, but this type of configuration is not recommended or supported by Apple.
Two cautions if you want to try this:
1) The Time Capsule has to be configured to "Join" your existing wireless network in this type of setup...and to do that, you must know the exact type of wireless security that your network is using.
2) Backups are likely going to take twice as long. The wireless signal must travel from your computer to the wireless router and then from the wireless router back to the Time Capsule. Two "hops"......even if the computer is located close to the Time Capsule.
If you want to try this, we can tell you how....but with no guarantees on your results....since this is not officially supported. -
Time Capsule Connection Help Needed (Flashing Amber)
Guys,
I've been trying to troubleshoot my Time Capsule connection for a week now and I have had zero luck.
I have a Imac with OSX 10.6.8 that uses AirPort v 5.6.1. I have a Cat-5 (ethernet cable) plugged from my Time Capsule port (looks like this <-->) into an available port in my cable mode/router. My Imac is also plugged into this router. The two cat-5 (ethernet) cables are side by side.
So....
Every time I plug in the Time Capsule I get the following prompt via AirPort.
AirPort Utility found a Time Capsule 802.11n (4th Generation) that is
reporting problems.
Time Capsule's Name : My Capsule
IP Address: 10.0.1.1
Versino: 7.6.1
AirPort ID: 12:88:93:CC:FF:72
If this is not the AirPort wireless devise you want to setup you can select another from the list on the left. If you don't see it make sure.... Blah blah blah....
To make a long story tollerable I do see my Time Capsule on the left at the top. Its the only one and its selected by default. So I do the next logical thing right? I click "Continue" and AirPort reads the Time Capsule's configuration.... and then...... I get the error
An error occurred while reading the configuration.
Make sure your Apple Wi-Fi base station is plugged
in and in range of your computer or connected via
Ethernet and try again. (-6753)
Can anyone help me understand why I can grab the Time Capsule's IP Address but AirPort can not read the hardware's (Time Capsule) config?
I'm at a loss.
Could my ethernet cable be the issue?Hackintosh,
Thanks man... Yes, I plugged it into the circle symbol with no joy. I also went to Wal Mart and baught a new seven foot cat-5 for $10. Again I still have the flashing amber light.
After plugging in the ethernet cable into the circle icon port AirPort returns the following prompt.
I reset the TC (ball point pen to the reset hole untill fast blinking amber light occurs) and entered the needed params and it returns this error.
An error occured close the configuation window and try again.
It must be a config parameter that I'm setting incorrectly. There's a bunch so who knows what I'm doing wrong.
I just need the to talk to my Imac so i can get a backup executed. A wireless connection will take too long.
FYI: The cat-5 is brand new and is 100% functional (green light on the TC and router.) -
How can I close my Time Machine Sparsebundle so Time Capsule can do a scheduled backup?
"Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to "Your Time Capsule". The backup disk image “/Volumes/Steven Weinberg's Time Caps-1/Steven Weinberg’s MacBook Pro (4).sparsebundle” is already in use."
I have both a Time Capsule and a 2Tb external drive using Time Machine to back up my laptop.
Is it as simple as when the Time Capsule goes to do a backup and finds that the other drive is in the midst of using Time Machine to do its backup that I get this notice on my desktop?
It's 10:30 AM now. The last Time Capsule backup was almost 12 hours ago.
There have already been 6 Time Machine backups today on the 2nd drive.
Sounds like the Time Capsule really is being blocked from doing its job.
THe 1 Tb Time Capsule backs up to a .sparsebundle document which fills the Time Capsule at 985 Gb. You can't open and peek inside the .sparsebundle backup file.
The other drive backs up to a .backupdb folder within which are subfolders for each backup which appears to be a complete recreation of thebacked-up 500 Gb hard drive on my MacBook Pro laptop. And even though there are 37 separate folders with backups going back to Sept 2013 when I installed the second backup drive, it's only used about 500 Gb of its 2 Tb capacity.
1. How can I solve my primary problem of freeing up the .sparsebundle file for the Time Capsule?
2. Since both drives are using Time Machine to do the backup, why are they producing such diffrent backup file structures?
SteveDavid Bean wrote:
So copying from a one-week-old TM volume was failing
Have you run Repair Disk on it?
I now realize that the folder in which the problem file(s) are stored on the backup,.DocumentRevisions-V100, is the folder in which OS X stores its versioning data for all users. I am now trying to work out whether I can safely delete these files from the backup
That does get damaged on occasion. I haven't seen it in quite a while, so it's pretty rare.
You can delete it from the backups, via the TM interface, but you must be able to show invisible items).
First, open the Terminal app (in your Applications/Utilities folder). Be very careful with this app. It's a direct link into UNIX, the underpinnings of OSX, but without the protections of OSX.
In Terminal, the prompt looks like this: <Computer Name>:~ <your name>$
(where <your name> is your short user name). It's followed by a non-blinking block cursor.
Copy, do not type, the following after the prompt:
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles 1
and press Return.
You should just see the prompt again.
Then see Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #12 to delete all the backups of it.
and from the live system filestore so they don't get copied out to a backup again.
Yes. You will, of course, lose all previous versions, but since the file is corrupted, you may have lost some, most, or all of them already.
When done, run the same command to hide the invisible items, but replace the "1" with a zero. -
180 GB of my 639-GB Macintosh hard drive is used. 320 GB of my 498-GB Tie Capsule is used. Only one backup ("now") exists for the Time Capsule, which can no longer backup because of "insufficient space". How come? What is wrong?"
Thank you William for your most helpful response. I shall deal first with your three comments:
Not being tech savvy, I would not have been able to make that call myself but it sure makes sense.
I have updated my profiles as you suggest. Excellent tip.
This guidance is good. Being new to Apple Support Communities, I did not find the field a labeling and guidance to be clear, a point you make. Now I know, I shall do as you say and will use the small slim box as a header to the full message/question, which will place in the larger box below.
Secondly, I come to your question: Did anything change on your Mac recently, such as replacing the disk or main logic board?
The answer is “yes”. Two events have happened both of which concerned the Time Capsule:
The telephone company, with which I have access to the Internet and I have my email account, installed a new modum. After the technician left I had to try and get the Time Capsule and WiFi working again which ended with my having to call Apple for technical assistance. The Apple technician walked me through a number of procedural steps which effectively re-set up the Time Capsule.
Access to the Internet failed and the telephone company reset the modum. I had to call Apple again. This time the technician did not reset the Time Capsule but walked me through a number of steps tha included renaming the “site” (not the Time Capsule).
Another piece of information that may be relevant is that the MacBook Pro uses the Time Capsule for backup. Everything appears to be in order. When I enter the Time Capsule for this laptop I have backups going back for a long time.
Also, I do a weekly backup of the two computers onto another external hard drive using the Time Machine software. So I have another backup of both computers. -
My MBP doesn't remember my Time Capsule wireless network when waking from sleep
My MBP (OS 10.5.8) doesn't remember my Time Capsule wireless network when waking from sleep. Thus, every time my MBP wakes from sleep, I need to select the Airport icon in the upper menu bar, select "Join other network", enter SSID and password. This is very cumbersome. And, I never had this problem when I was using the ISP's provided wireless router/gateway/DSL modem. Adding the Time Capsule and using it to generate the wireless network has introduced this problem.
It appears that this problem has to do with the hidden SSID. I don't need the lecture on how hidden SSID provides no serious security benefit. That's why I have the WPA2 encryption. I'm interested in a solution that will allow the Time Capsule to generate the wireless network, maintain a hidden SSID, continue to use WPA2 encryption, but have my MBP recognzie and autoconnect to this network.
Solutions I've alread tried:
1. Open Network Preferences
2. Select Airport from left hand column (and ensure Airport is at top of that list)
3. Select Advanced
4. Delete all Preferred Networks.
5. Apply settings.
6. Restart computer
7. Return to Network Preferences and from Advanced page, manually add my network with hidden SSID and WPA2 password
This solution works fine as long as I don't take my computer elsewhere and connect to another network. As soon as my preferred networks list gets another network, my MBP stops finding my TC network. Since I take my laptop to a lot of places (it's a laptop, after all...) this is a problem.
As I say, prior to adding the TC on my network (and using it to generate the wireless network), my MBP had no problem keeping 50+ preferred network names/passwords in the Preferred Network list, but always automatically finding/connecting to my home network without the need to "Join other network." Thus, I assume the problem lies with the Time Capsule.
Any ideas?LaPastenague, thanks for weighing in. Didn't know that the hidden SSID capability was not IEEE standardized, and thus different devices will handle hidden SSID differently. With my admittedly limited knowledge of how SSID/hidden SSID works, I'm still a little confused as to why my MBP would remember the generic router/gateway's hidden network, but struggle with the TC's hidden network.
To my knowledge, when an SSID is broadcast by a base station (Airport, wireless gateway, etc.), a connecting device (like a laptop, iPad, etc.) detects this broadcast--this would be a passive reception of this SSID signal.
When an SSID is hidden, the base station does not broadcast its identification. Rather, a connecting device must transmit the name, and when the base station recognizes the broadcast, the connection is made. That's what you do when you select "Join another network" and manually enter the SSID.
The idea with OS X's Network Preferences is that these steps, whether for hidden networks or broadcast SSIDs, become automated.
Where is the potential for a different chipset between the TC and the previously used wireless router/gateway to alter this functionality? Shouldn't the selection of an SSID by the MBP to broadcast to seek for a base station be a function solely on the MBP? And once broadcast by the MBP, the TC should detect and reply?
Basically, the MBP can connect to the hidden TC manually just fine. The MBP can connect to the old setup automatically just fine. The MBP cannot connect to the TC automatically. Aren't these automatic connection functions solely on the MBP?
I'll try un-hiding the network and re-verifying that the problem is exclusively with the hidden network.
Z -
HT1178 Time Capsule used as External Hardrive Backup
If I want to use a Time Capsule as an external hardrive backup for my MacBook Pro, how do I do it?
What cords do I need and can I get it to back up wirelessly? I don't want my own wireless from it,
because we already have it in the house - I just want my own storage unit and I have one, but no
cords to go with it. Need to get cords - which ones?This is out of my area of expertise, but I believe you can set the Time Capsule up so it doesn't generate a network, but is on the existing network.
Then you can back up to it wirelessly.
You should still do the first backup via an Ethernet cable if at all possible, as it will be 2-3 times faster than WIFI, but then backups can be done without having to connect the cable. -
Time Capsule WiFi disconnects when a Fujitsu Siemen Laptop with b/g network
Time Capsule WiFi disconnects when a Windows Vista based Laptop with "b/g" network connects. When i use Macbook with "n" Network.
Surprising that TC and MacBook both from Apple can't stay connected when Fujitsu Siemens Laptop joins through WiFi.
I use a DSL Modem (Speed 1 Mbps) connected thru ethernet to Time Capsule on Bridge Mode.Yes, n is better, but if you have it running on b/g/n (since you have to with your b/g only notebooks) the n is inactive. Kind of a waste. Others have resorted to adding another wireless router which one set to b/g/n and the other n-only.
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Can I use Time Capsule only as a WiFi backup disk w/out having to configure it as my main router?
I already have an Airport Extreme that works great. Can I use Time Capsule ONLY as a WiFi backup disk w/out having to configure it as my main router with my Internet modem?
Can I use Time Capsule ONLY as a WiFi backup disk w/out having to configure it as my main router with my Internet modem?
Yes, you have two options here, each with advantages and disadvantages.
Option 1...connect the Time Capsule to your AirPort Extreme using an Ethernet cable connection. Turn off the wireless on the Time Capsule since your AirPort Extreme is already providing wireless.
Advantages...easy to configure, you can backup either over wireless or plug directly into one of the Ethernet ports to backup large files 3-5 times faster than wireless.
Disadvantages...none, except it requires a wired Ethernet connection to the AirPort Extreme.
Option 2....configure the Time Capsule as a wireless only hard drive.
Advantage.....you can locate the Time Capsule anywhere you want as long as it can receive a good wireless signal from the AirPort Extreme.
Disadvantages....harder to configure, backups will occur only over wireless. -
is there a capability to save/export the new airport 2TB time capsule settings file when using the iphone/ipad airport utility. set-up wasn't a problem but the "file" button does not exist on the latest airport utility app v6.3 to save the configuration file.
the "file" button does not exist on the latest airport utility app v6.3 to save the configuration file.
Sounds like you are a bit confused with version numbers.
Latest AirPort Utility version for the iPhone / iPad is 1.3.3. There is no option or capability to export/import settings on the iOS version(s) of AirPort Utility.....although you could take a series of screen shots and save them for future reference.
AirPort Utility 6.3.x is found on a Mac.....not on iPhone / iPad. Export and Import options are found under the File menu in 6.3.x. -
I have a Airport network at home with a Time capsule connected via ethernet cable to modem. Also the network is extended wirelessley with an Airport Extreme. I now wish to add a second Airport extreme but am considering a hard wire connection with 100 ft of cat 6 cable from the Time capsule to the second Airport extreme. Can my network operate properly to extend the network with both a wireless and wired extend functionallity?
I now wish to add a second Airport extreme but am considering a hard wire connection with 100 ft of cat 6 cable from the Time capsule to the second Airport extreme.
Excellent plan.
Can my network operate properly to extend the network with both a wireless and wired extend functionallity?
Yes, but don't get confused about the second AirPort Extreme, as it would not be configured to "extend" a wireless network.....it would be configured to "create a wireless network" using the same wireless network name, security settings and password as the Time Capsule network. Configure the second Extreme in Bridge Mode.
This Apple support document will show you how to hookup and configure the second AirPort Extreme:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4260 -
Help !
The last few days my time capsule reports an error The backup disk image “/Volumes/Data-1/MacBook Pro.sparsebundle” is already in use.
To make things worse I seem to be loosing my screen so need to make a back up ASAPMake sure that no other Macs are backing up at the time.
Pull the power cord from the back of the Time Capsule
Count to ten
Plug the power cord back into the back of the Time Capsule
This will fix the issue about 98% of the time. If you are in the unlucky 2% category, please post back for more assistance -
My Time Machine / Time capsule gets the error: The backup disk image could not be mounted
My time machine / time capsule gets the error: The backup disk image could not be mounted.
Reboot the TC.
If you normally have multiple computers backing up, under Lion there seems to be some issues.. you need to force other users off the system. You can do that through the Airport utility, manual setup, disks, disconnect all users. Note carefully if you use Lion you probably need to download the real airport utility.. 5.6 to accomplish anything useful. -
3 ?'s:
1 Message today warning lack of memory when using Word (files in Documents) something about "idisc not working"
2. Message week ago "Files not being backed up to Time Capsule";
3. When using Mac Mail I'm prompted for password but none work
Thanks - JThanks Allan for your quick response to my amateur questions.
Allan: I'm running version Mac OS X Version 10.6.8 PS Processor is 2.4 GHz Intel core 15
Memory 4 gb 1067 MHz DDr3 TN And @ 1983-2011 Apple Inc.
I just "Updated Software" as prompted.
Thanks for helping me! - John Garrett
PS.
Hardware Overview:
Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro6,2
Processor Name: Intel Core i5
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Processor Interconnect Speed: 4.8 GT/s
Boot ROM Version: MBP61.0057.B0C
SMC Version (system): 1.58f17
Serial Number (system): W8*****AGU
Hardware UUID: *****
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled
<Edited By Host> -
Do i need to set up the time capsule airport before i start backing up using time machine with my time capsule?
Some setup is generally required.. because the TC is a network device.. not a plug in via usb.. therefore it has to exist somewhere in your network.
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