Time capsule keeps dropping ethernet connection to BT Voyager every minute

I have just bought a 1TB TC to get the benefit of better wireless and the backup facility all in one. Previously I used a BT Voyager 2110 as ADSL modem and wireless router. I have set up the TC to connect from the WAN port to the LAN port on the BT router, put TC in bridge mode, and disabled wireless on the BT voyager. This means the BT Voyager does all the DCHP config and PPPoA, transmits this to the TC via ethernet and then TC broadcasts this on wireless. So far so good.
The TC works with this ok, but for whatever reason keeps losing the ethernet connection every minute or so. Literally almost flickering from amber light ('ethernet cable unplugged' for about 1-2 seconds) then back to green light sometimes several times a minute. This means I get no continuous or stable connection, e.g. for downloading/gaming online. The same happens if the BT router is in bridge mode and the TC configures the PPPoA itself - it has to 'renegotiate' every minute or so, which is very frustrating.
The ethernet cable is fine (I have tried two different cables), and each works with no problem if iMac is connected to TC (no internet though obviously), or if iMac is connected via LAN to the router for direct internet access - the network settings in system preferences shows no similar frequent loss of connection. The problem only seems to arise as between BT router and TC via ethernet. I have done resets of both the TC and the router, both are on the latest firmware updates as well so I am now at a loss. If anyone can help it would be really appreciated! Thanks.

Hi there, thanks for your quick reply.
Well I'm not actually trying to get the TC to do that function, merely to wirelessly broadcast what has been negotiated by the BT Router. I.e. the router is not a bridge letting the TC do the work, but rather the router has all the settings and then this is just fed down the ethernet, just like it would be to a computer.
Connection settings have always been 'connect using' ethernet, and 'connection sharing' is off (bridge mode).
The thing is that this config clearly does work as I can get internet access, but I can't work out why the ethernet connection is dropped so frequently (and at all) which means I have no stable connection.
I have tried changing the router to PPPoE, which still gives me internet access but does not resolve the problem of the ethernet connection being dropped.

Similar Messages

Time Capsule keeps dropping network connection

I recently got a Time Capsule to replace a dead external drive and my AirPort Express. I was able to set up the Time Capsule as a router with little trouble but using it as a Time Machine backup drive is driving me crazy. Each time I start a backup the Time Capsule eventually drops my network connection before it can finish. I have about 200GB on my internal drive. Could this be too much to transfer over Wi-Fi?
I never experienced a dropped network connection when I was using the AirPort Express and my second Mac (a G4 iMac) never looses the connection. Any ideas what could be going on here?

Very interesting. Been working this problem from every angle. Noticed two kickers.
1) Transmission would refresh to fast when opening and closing menu bar airport icon.
2) Transmission never fades when running iStumbler which is continuously interrogating Time Capsule.
MacPro software seems to be forgetting that it is hooked up and drops out. It is a software thing.
I am starting iStumbler for each session automatically now and am having no drop outs. It is keeping Time Capsules attention. It is not required for all computers in the house but certainly is for the MacPro from which I control everything.
Amazing. Can one of the FanBoys bring this to the attention of the right person at Apple? Also, I need work and have many stories of trouble shooting successes. Tell them to hire me. It would save you guys a lot of time.

Apple Time Capsule Keeps Dropping Internet

My Apple Time Capsule keeps dropping internet or having extremely slow internet. If I run a speed test I am getting 90+mbs. What occurs is if I try to load a page, there will be a very long delay and sometimes the page will eventually load, other times it won't. When I try to stream something from youtube, If I can get to the page of the video, it won't have an issue. When I hard wire to my modem, I don't have an issue at all. Only hardwired through the router or using wireless through the router does this occur. The light on the router never has turned amber and the link light on my modem is constantly flashing. The only thing that will occur is that the Apple Airport utility keeps connecting and disconnecting from my modem.
I've reset the router and modem. I've restored the router to factory settings and reset up my network, all to no success.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Thinking I'll replace the motorola with a Cisco DPC3010
You may find it is not much better..
I do think the problem is more on the Apple side..
If you are a tech.. let me suggest you make yourself up a 100 mbit (ie use only the two pairs) crossover cable..
If that does not work.. try reverse polarity..ie in the ethernet on one end swap + and - .. It is an issue that has cropped up before where ethernet is just wired wrongly.. and it doesn't fail completely but becomes unreliable.
BTW the hardware reliability of the new AC version apple routers.. is definitely on the bottom of the apple list.
I bought an AC TC and the first one had this WAN port issue from day one.. when I replaced it after a week (it died completely which was convenient).. the second one has been much better).
The modems I have heard that works well is the zoom or ubee..
Using another router doesn't need to be expensive.. you can still stick to the apple in bridge.. you only need a router that does routing..
And the TP-Link can be flashed to gargoyle.. a hugely superior firmware btw.. solid .. reliable and it will track usage and do a lot of stuff well beyond Apple's keen.

Time Capsule Keeps Dropping Connection

Hi, I've had trouble keeping connectivity with the Time Capsule. This is relatively recent. Everything was fine for over a year. Now it will drop connection in the middle of an internet search and look for available connections. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Have you reset the TC to factory and redone the setup? This is a major fix for a lot of issues. Simple fact is the TC needs a boot in the pants every now and then.
I have unplug the power cord & plug it back in.
That is not a factory reset..
This is a factory reset.
Factory reset universal
Power off the TC.. ie pull the power cord or power off at the wall.. wait 10sec.. hold in the reset button.. be gentle.. power on again still holding in reset.. and keep holding it in for another 10sec. You may need some help as it is hard to both hold in reset and apply power. It will show success by rapidly blinking the front led. Release the reset.. and wait a couple of min for the TC to reset and come back with factory settings. If the front LED doesn’t blink rapidly you missed it and simply try again. The reset is fairly fragile in these.. press it so you feel it just click and no more.. I have seen people bend the lever or even break it. I use a toothpick as tool.
N.B. None of your files on the hard disk of the TC are deleted.. this simply clears out the router settings of the TC.
How is the TC setup in the network?
not sure what you mean by this, followed the prompts when i set it up.
Open the airport utility when the TC is working.. click on the TC and take a screenshot of the summary info.
Then click edit and go to the network tab.. take a screenshot of that to and post it.
What is the link speed between the computer and the TC??
Please run the wireless diagnostics and then the utility which is part of the diagnostics and tell us or post that as well.
About Wireless Diagnostics - Apple Support

MacBook Air + Time Capsule frequently dropping internet connection

I too have been having frequently dropped wireless connections between my MacBook Air (MBA) and my Time Capsule(TC). My TC is connected to a cable modem and I also have an Airport Extreme Base Station (AEBS) at a different part of my house which is used to extend my network connecting via ethernet to a PC running VISTA, and wirelessly to a printer and an older MacBook. I also connect wirelessly to my home network with two iPhones, a Squeezebox 3 with a server running on the PC. I have an Apple TV and a Squeezebox 2 connected to my TC via ethernet.
When my connection drops I will either see a Time Capsule disconnect message or if I am surfing the web, the browser just hangs. The wireless ICON strength is still pegged a the max level. None of my other devices (wireless or ethernet) connected to the TC or the other AEBS seem to drop their internet connections. I can re-establish the connection on my MBA by either turning off my MBA's Airport wireless and then turning it back on or by running the network diagnostics. The latter method usually shows green lights for all but the "Internet" and the "Server" which will have yellow lights. Usually when I select my wireless network and press continue, it will prompt for my WPA2 password which I have to reenter even though I always check the box for it to remember the password in the keychain.
After reading the various discussions on disconnect problems and trying the various "solutions" I was still having the disconnect problem.
Last night, I decided to turn off my Time Capsule and was then able to maintain an internet connection for considerably longer than before. Perhaps it was one of the other "solutions" that caused that. After turning my TC back on, the disconnect problem reoccurred within about 5 minutes.
Next, I did my too frequent Time Capsule remedy which was to disconnect the power and then reconnect the power. (Seems like some of these devices (APPLE TV included) could use power switches.) I then deleted the .sparsebundle backup file on the Time Capsule. I was then able to restart Time Capsule backup and things have been running uninterrupted for over 12 hours...still backing up (20GB in 12 hours? Doesn't seem very fast!). I can report back later if this actually "fixes" my disconnect problems in the future. I am dubious that it will.
I have several questions about the MBA and the TC/Time Machine backup operation.
1.) I often forget about the TC when I close the lid on my MBA and haul it off to work. At work (connecting via ethernet), I will eventually get a TC disconnect error. But I am wondering if there are points in the backup process where a random disconnect will cause some sort of TC corruption. What is the recommended way of handling this? Should I always stop the Time Machine backup before turning off my MBA? (A nuisance if so!)
2.) What is happening when the TC backup operation stops functioning and hangs up the MBA's internet connection? (I see lots of messages logged in the system log when this happens; but, of course, I don't have much of a clue of which ones are normal and which are not normal. I could send a copy of the logs when it happens next (I am assuming it will).
Also one other anecdote. A few months back, I had taken another AEBS to my work to use during a training conference. My MBA kept dropping its connection while the other PC laptops in the room maintained their connections...(very embarrassing!). Maybe one of the other "solutions" would have fixed the problem or maybe if I had just turned off my Time Machine backup it would not have disconnected. I will repeat that exercise when I get a chance now that I have some things to try.
It seems pretty clear to me from my own experiences and the discussion reports of others that the disconnect problem lies in the MBA's wireless internet connection software or the configuration of it. It seems like it is having difficulty recovering from various wireless connection "mishaps".

Folks, I was having a very similar problem for the last 6 months. My connection was fine until June 2008, after which my Macbook and my Time Capsule would constantly conflict. If I rebooted or reset the TC, or the MB, things would be fine for a few minutes or sometimes a few hours and the problem would recur soon thereafter. About a month ago, I had to do a clean reinstall and the problem vanished for about 5 days, after which it reappeared. My MB never had a problem at work, or at someone else's home or with other routers, only with TC. Apple sent me a new TC, then they replaced my Airport card but the situation did not change ... UNTIL ABOUT AN HOUR AGO.
An hour ago, I called Apple for the nth time in the last 6 months, and the rep heard me out (just like the previous n-1 reps). He then asked me to to System Preferences --> Accounts --> Login Items and asked if Real Player Downloader showed up in my list. Indeed it did. He asked me to remove it, and told me that Apple had just figured out that the Real Player downloader was recently found to be causing a drop in the connection between Macbooks and the TC (as well Airport Express).
The problem I've been having baffled everyone. All the previous reps, the guys at the Genius Bars, nobody had a clue. Joe (the rep I spoke with this morning) seemed very confident that the removal of the Real Player Downloader from the list of login items would resolve the problem. So far, so good. My connection seems solid (its only been an hour, but earlier it would drop after 5 minutes of use).
I hope my problem that (literally!) used up hundreds of hours of my time has been finally resolved. I hope this solution will work for at least some of you as well. What gives me hope is that this solution is logically consistent with the history of my problems. I probably first downloaded Real Player in June 2008. And when I did a clean install, I remember downloading Real Player a few days after the reinstall. So I'm pretty hopeful that my issue has been finally resolved.
Shame on Real Player for putting out a defective piece of software. And thank you Joe!

Time capsule keeps losing internet connection

I seem to keep losing the internet connection, and this seems to be when Time Capsule is doing backups. It is fine most of the time, it seems to have an IP address, but I can't connect to the internet. This seems to happen when it is doing backups. Have I got the time capsule set up correctly? I am using it with BT Home Hub which is also a wireless router, and I have set up Time Capsule to join the same wireless network. Most of the time it works fine. It also works fine when connected via ethernet, so I don't think there is anything wrong with the Time Capsule, maybe just the way it's set up. Or does it always behave like that? Can anyone offer any suggestions?

I have Snow Leopard 10.6.3, I don't have 10.6.4 yet though am just about to install it, so it can't just be related to 10.6.4.
This morning when I booted up, I had lost my desktop background picture, the clock was wrong and my keychains seemed to be messed up. Nothing else seemed to be wrong, but I restored a backup anyway, and repaired the keychains. I don't know whether this had anything to do with Time Capsule or not, but I have my suspicions. At the moment I have connected the Mac to the Time Capsule by ethernet, and that seems to be OK, but I'd like to be able to put the Time Capsule in another room, to extend the range of the wireless network. I did wonder if there could be interference between Time Capsule and the Home Hub, as they are quite close to each other.
I do not seem to have any problems when using my Macbook Pro.

Use TIme Capsule as an ethernet connection Only

I have had a problem that seems to occur often in this forum. I had TC working with time machine. Away for a few weeks and now every time it tries to back up after hours some times 24 or so having backed up 3.5gb of 195gb I get the backup failed message. I have reset the TC and deleted the old file. Live in a condo and have networking supplied so I have set my time capsule to extend the network. I am not running any antivirus software.
I think the solution maybe to just use an ethernet connection. Presently I have the time capsule connect to the net and an ethernet connection from my imac to TC. The TC wireless mode is set to join a wireless net work.
I would like to just use the ethernet connection is that possible. I do not want to turn the TC off as if I can get it all working again I would like to use the TC to back up a macbook as well.
Can anyone help please.
Mitch

Sure.. but it is still a network drive and must use wireless or ethernet.. the best way is plugged into the main router in bridge mode.. but you can use it in secondary network.. although the setup is more complicated.
It is also less good than a simple external drive.. which is cheaper, faster and more reliable. Consider if the TC doesn't suit your needs get rid of it and opt for simple external drive.

Airport Time Capsule keeps dropping out

I have just got an Airport Time Capsule to store my photos on from my mac book pro. TC is in bridge mode to my existing router and green light is on. Mac cant find the device. If I disconnect and then reconnect power to TC the mac finds it again for about 2 minutes and then it drops out again. Help!

They do seem to have some wan connection bugs.. It is not just your virgin media modem.. lots of cable modems are bad.. lots of fibre modems are bad.. some work and some not.
You can try and fix it.. sometimes using a crossover cable or a switch between the modem and the TC will fix it.. but IMHO the TC is expensive and this is not the kind of testing you should be doing as end user.. take it back and get your money back.

Time capsule and an ethernet connection.

I am connected to time capsule with a wireless network for my mac book and I am using a ethernet connection for my Imac so the backups are faster.(is this true) how do I know or how do I force the Imac to use the wired connection (ethernet) and not the wireless one? I still want to print over the wireless network printer with both computers and I want to have a wireless connection all the time with my mac book.

+how do I know or how do I force the Imac to use the wired connection (ethernet) and not the wireless one? I still want to print over the wireless network printer with both computers and I want to have a wireless connection all the time with my mac book.+
On your iMac, open System Preferences and click on Network
Click the small "gear" icon at the bottom of the connection area
Select "set connection order"
Make sure "Ethernet is at the top of the connection order list.
This way, if your iMac "sees" an ethernet connection, it will automatically switch to the ethernet connection even though Airport may still be "on".
On your MacBook, you would do the same thing as above, except you would move the "Airport" connection to the top of the connection list since you want wireless to have priority over ethernet with that computer.

Time Capsule - wireless vs ethernet connection?

Here's my problem-
I purchased a 500 GB Time Capsule in Sept 08 (still in warranty) with intention of backing up my computers wirelessly.
I set it up to back up my iMac 20" and my new MacBook Pro. The iMac was originally hooked up by ethernet, so it worked flawlessly.
The MacBook Pro was set up to work via the wireless network that I created (which works perfectly for the internet , printing, etc) but would never back up the MacBook Pro wirelessly. I hooked up the MB Pro via ethernet and it backed up.
I have been trying to resolve this MB Pro problem for months.
I then decided to try and trouble shoot which device might be having a problem (MB Pro or Time Capsule), I did all the stuff recommended on the Time Capsule (erase the original backup, reset, etc). On the MB Pro I deleted the plist, reselected the Time Capsule for backups. Nothing helped.
I then disconnected the ethernet from the iMac, but left on the wireless functionality - and then it couldn't back up either. It would never get beyond the "preparing" stage in the Time Machine System Prefs window.
I restarted the iMac, reconnected the ethernet - and the backup process worked just fine.
I am working with Apple to work thru the problem, and I mentioned that I was going to the discussion forum to see if anyone else found this problem - and more importantly - has anyone found a solution???
Thanks for any help.

yes I experienced the issue (wireless) even though TM shows say a TC as a possible backup it would fail when selected. My work around is to use afp to mount the drive then use TM.

Time Capsule not Broadcasting Properly/Connection Timeout

Help!! Please!! My time capsule's wireless networking capability seems to have gone kaput. I can no longer connect any of my devices to the wireless network. The time capsule wireless network appears in the list of available networks, but none of my devices are able to connect to the network there is a connection timeout each time I attempt to connect. I've tried a hard rest and have reconfigured the time capsule from scratch. Does anyone have any idea what is going on?
Thanks.

If you connect your Mac to the Time Capsule using an ethernet connection, are you able to open AirPort Utility - Manual Setup?
If yes, click the Wireless tab below the row of icons
Change the Channel setting (it may be on Automatic now) to another setting and jot down the Channel number(s) you are using. Start at the high end of the channels. Try some different settings to see if you can find some clear airspace.
It may be that you have a neighbor who may have installed a wireless security system and/or cameras.
Any cordless phones there? Try turning them all off for a period as a test and then restarting your network to see if that makes any difference in your connection ability.
Assuming that the wireless on the Time Capsule is working properly (it will likely work perfectly if you take it to the Apple store), some kind of interference is likely causing your problems.
Some time ago, I had issues on my wireless with intermittent slowdowns and stalls. I could not figure out what the problem was until by accident, I noticed my neighbor...across the street....coming out of his house talking on his cordless phone when my wireless crashed. Nothing would work on the wireless.
It took some coaxing, but I was able to convince him to leave his phone(s) in the house and not use them outside. No problems since.

HT1175 I am trying to setup my Time capsule via a ethernet cable as a back up for a new iMac. The on button on the time capsule set up window keeps failing to stay on. Any ideas what to do?

I am trying to setup my Time capsule via a ethernet cable as a back up for a new iMac. The on button on the time capsule set up window keeps failing to stay on. Any ideas what to do?

A PC can have more issues connecting than a Mac.
But it really should not matter.. so just try it in situ.. press and hold the reset.. once it starts up, it will return to default IP, 10.0.1.1 the PC should then be able to find it via the airport utility.
If not drag it over to the Mac and plug in there by ethernet.. or since it is a laptop, really should not be that difficult to drag the Laptop and plug it into the TC.
Important thing is to get access to the TC.
The Mac if it is running lion, then you MUST download and install 5.6 airport utility to do anything useful.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482

Using time capsule to share internet connection with a pc via ethernet

Hi,
I've recently acquired a time capsule and was wondering if i could use it to share a wireless internet connection via ethernet to my non-wireless (windows 7) pc?
My current situation is that i have a wireless modem/router that shares my internet connection wirelessly with my mac mini.
I have a pc without a wireless card that i want to connect to the wireless network so i was wondering if it was possible to attach the pc and the time capsule with an ethernet cable, then connect the time capsule to the wireless network and share the internet connection with the pc.
Can anyone tell me if this is possible, and if so how?
Thanks

Welcome to the discussion area!
IF...your wireless network is now being created by another Apple "n" router like an AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express or Time Capsule, it would be possible to do what you want to do.
But the Time Capsule would not be compatible for what you want if your wireless is created by another manufacturer's router. The Time Capsule could "join" this wireless network so that backups would occur over wireless. However, when the Time Capsule is configured this way, the ethernet ports on the device are not active, so this would not help with the ethernet connection that your computer needs.
A new AirPort Express 802.11n would do what you want. It has the capability of joining virtually any wireless network and the ethernet port can be enabled using the ProxySTA feature, so it would work for your purpose.

External drive conntected to Time Capsule keeps losing connection

I've been having this problem since I bought my TC over one year ago. Other than this everything works fine (aside from the occasional need for a restart).
I have an external 500GB drive attached to my 500GB TC via usb. I use the TC strictly for backups and the other drive to host my media files. When I want to use those files I switch on the drive. Only about half of the time does that work. When it does work everything is fine. I see the drive in the finder as expected.
When it doesn't work, I can see the drive name in the finder. But if I click to go into the folder, I get an error saying that the connection cannot be found.
It shows up in the Airport Utility as normal.
Powering the drive off and on does not help.
Relaunching the finder doesn't help either.
The only way I can connect to the drive again is to either logoff and log back into my mac, or restart the TC.
It seems that my computer is remembering some kind of network disk mounting settings that don't get refreshed when I turn on the drive, but then do get refreshed when I logoff and back in. Does anyone know how I could force that refresh to happen? Has anyone had this problem before?
Any suggestions would be much appreciated
PS all my software and firmware are the latest.
Thanks.

OS X fan
This helped meRe: Time Capsule keeps losing connection in Finder
Dec 17, 2013 4:08 AM (in response to whootang12)
Left click on the Finder icon from the Dock and click "Connect to server...", go to recent server and click on your Airport Time Capsule.
THANK YOU!!!!
This solved it for me!

HT4259 Direct Connect Two Time Capsules together with Ethernet.

I have TWO Time Capsules ( One upstairs providing Time Machine backup to IMAC #1 ) and (One downstairs providing Time Machine Backup to IMAC#2)
I would like to extend the wireless network portion of this to reach the whiole house with ONE wireless network. I know I can EXTEND the network, but my question is can Connect the two time capsules together via Ethernet cable ( my house is pre wired). This will essentially ensure that the two devices have a solid connection instead of relying on WIRELESS.
Any reasons to NOT do this?
Time Machine will be used differently on the two devices.
Thanks
Ron

Hello!
I have the same problem, i am trying to do this
Timecapsule nr 1, ISP uplink to WAN.
from this one i have LAN to the other timecapsule to WAN.
On the first timecapsule i have DHCP/NAT enable.
On the second i have, Bridge mode.
But when i am connected with eth to the second one i wont recive dhcp addresses or anything... like it wont passtrough.
Any ideas?

Time capsule keeps dropping ethernet connection to BT Voyager every minute

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