Time capsule produces a signal, but won't connect or backup

I have looked at some of the other discussions here; some are similar, but I can't find an answer.
I have a TC, Macbook Pro and an iPhone 4, all between 6-10 months old. My problems started when I turned on all my stuff after being away for 4 weeks over the summer.
My Macbook pro's AirPort recognises the TC - I have a 'full signal' reading at the top of the page. However, when I try and connect to the internet, I'm told it can't connect to the server. If I just keep trying, re-entering addresses (from the scroll-down bar, so always exactly the same), it eventually connects and I have a great connection, which I can use to watch movies/download stuff no problem. Why is it so **** illogical? Why does it connect on the 20th attempt, and not on the first? This happens however long the computer has been on, and regardless of when I last connected to the internet.
The biggest problem is that I have a Vodafone 'Sure Signal' signal booster attached to the TC. Without it, I get no phone signal. The Sure Signal does not recognise the signal from the TC at all. I have done factory resets on both - individually and together, and nothing has changed. I have turned the Sure Signal off, but the TC still doesn't work properly.
My iPhone won't connect either. It too shows a 'full signal', but when I try and connect it says connected/not connected alternately about every 1 second.
The TC is connected to the internet via a cable from my landlord's router, next door. They have perfect signal. They also have a signal booster in their house, which used to interfere with my TC (when it worked). I changed the channel on my TC, and now, when it connects, there is no interference.
Please can someone enlighten me - I have worked though every thing I can, and I can't go any further because I can't see any logic to the problem.
** Since these problems have started, the TC has not backed anything up - I can't get it to back up, whatever I've tried.
** Each time I have re-made my network, when I open Airport Utility, it says 'no wireless devices recognised', and I have to re-start the TC in order to be able to do anything to it.

Try changing the Firewall setting:
mDNSResponder - Allow incoming connections
Background:
My Time Capsule was working perfectly in Leopard.
When I upgraded to Slow Leopard, Airport Utility was no longer able to see the Time Capsule - although my Mac (MBP) was still able to connect to the wireless network and out onto the Internet.
The next day or so I upgraded to Lion (Snow Leopard was only installed to get App store) - the situation remained the same.
From another Mac (MB - still running Leopard) Airport Utility was still able to connect to Time Capsule.
I edited the firewall settings on my Lion MBP:
The mDNSResponder was set to "Block incoming connections".
I changed this to "Allow incoming connections".
Airport Utility was then was then able to see the Time Capsule (I can't recall now if I needed a reboot after changing this).
HTH.

Similar Messages

Resetting Time Capsule - network is OK, but no longer connects to internet

I've set up my TC in the past and it's worked fine, but periodic printer or router updates have caused problems and I think I need to completely reset it.
My setup is an ISP-suppled Orange Livebox Mini router connecting to the internet, an iMac plugged in by ethernet (connects to internet OK) and my TC connected to this router by ethernet. My MacBook Pro then connects wirelessly to the TC network. This setup means I don't need to have two wireless networks, I can disable the Livebox router's wireless network and use only the Time Capsule wireless. However, that's not working. I can create a wireless network with my MacBook Pro but the TC is unable to get an internet connection despite being connected by ethernet to the router. I think I need a total reset but even when I do a manual reset by sticking a pin in the tiny button on the back of the TC, when Airport Utility finds the TC to recreate a wireless network, I find the old settings. I feel this is, or should be, simple stuff as I managed to set it up before, but this time it's just not happening. For a long time I thought this was just a problem with wireless settings on my Lexmark printer and waited for the Apple/Lexmark updates to come through, but now I think my TC settings need to be flushed out. One thing that looks odd to me is the IP address on the TC. It's 169.xxx.xxx.xxx, I thought it should be nearer the range specified by the Livebox router, something more like 192.168.x.x
thanks.

Oh joy and happiness, I solved it myself, and I owe it to the community to give some details for the benefit of anyone with the same problem searching on terms like Orange Livebox Mini.
I solved it by racking my brains till inspiration came - that it was a very very well hidden setting on the router itself that was the problem, nothing to do with Time Capsule. I had called Orange to fix this before, but had forgotten that this little setting needs changing from its default every time you reset the router.
When you have to reset your Orange Livebox router, they more than likely won't ask about your entire setup, they will get one of your computers working by connecting it by ethernet to the primary ethernet port, numbered '1' on the back and with a red stripe next to it. But there are two, number 2 has a yellow coloured stripe and if your main computer, in my case the (desktop) iMac right next to the router goes into ethernet port 1, you will want to connect your Time Capsule into the second, yellow ethernet port. However, that port is not set to work automatically for anything to connect to, it's set up for digital tv. You need to go into your Orange admin page for the router, found by going to 192.168.1.1 on your browser and logging in (remember 'admin' is the magic and default password to get you in. If you have to do a manual reset because you changed and forgot your password, the magic word gets you back in). Once logged in, select 'services' in the menu on the left, then 'digital tv' and then select the 'disable' button. I know, you'd never have found it and never have guessed that's what you need to do to open up the second ethernet, but you now have two ethernet ports into the router and your TC goes into the second work.
Also wanted to say that my TC has actually been flawless in its performance. Not always easy for simpletons like me to set up, but the hardware has always worked. Printer updates and, I think, Apple OS updates remain a problem as they can throw the printer off, but I must remember to keep my nerve - TC is basically right on, it's just the various different ways to get at it - Network Diagnostics, Airport Utility that confuse me.

Just moved and Time Capsule shows green light but does not connect to internet?

Help! I just moved and am trying to set up my wifi network unsuccessfully. I know the Internet is working as I can get online if I plug the computer directly into the modem via Ethernet cable. I've tried disconnecting and powering down everything, reconnecting modem and Time Capsule, then turning on modem, Time Capsule, then computer, with several minutes in between. Now I have a green light on the Time Capsule but in AirPort Utility it shows and amber light for Internet and says the connection is "Disconnected".
All my software is up to date. What do you think???

Modem.. what modem.. what kind of internet??
Open the utility and check the TC wan address??
If it is cable modem it can take 15min or more for the IP to reset.
Is the cable modem also a router??

Airport card recieves signal but won't connect to internet.

I have a PowerBook G4 with OS X 10.4 (it came with an airport card) and in the next room over I'm using a PC with a D-link (Dl-524) 2.4GHZ router. The problem is that my laptop tells me it's connected to the group, and it says the signal is strong, but when I try to open Safari, Safari tells me I'm, "Not connected to the internet." Therefore, I think the problem lies not with the third party router, which is sending out the signal just fine, but with my laptop, or wireless card. Is there some setting I can change? This problem has existed for months, and I have to reset the router a couple of times a day.
This is what I do EVERY TIME:
*Reset the router - laptop still has the signal, now with the defalt groupname 'dlink'. Signal is still strong, but Safari tells me I'm not connected to the internet.
*Make a new group name for the router and click 'apply' (using the PC in the next room)- suddenly my laptop has internet.
It's bizarre. I don't understsand. Please help me.
PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4) D-link router connected to PC via Netgear router

Hello everyone. I'm wondering if there is any new information to be reported on this thread because I'm having the same problem as adrixray.
I have a MacBookPro that I'm trying to connect to my new Airport Extreme. I upgraded to the Extreme from an old Linksys wireless B router that has been running perfectly fine on my Comcast modem(s) for 3 years. I upgraded so that I could use the Extreme on my AppleTV but so far I've had no luck getting it to work.
I've tried power cycling about a dozen times, had Comcast reset the modem, even talked to Apple tech support for about an hour and a half on the phone-- no luck. Tech support tells me it might be an issue with Comcast but, as I say, I'm able to successfully connect directly to the modem with an ethernet cable and am able to connect wirelessly with my Linksys connected. I've tried to connect with multiple devices and all of them can connect to the wireless network successfully but can't connect to the internet even though the light on the Airport Extreme is green.
I've searched multiple forums and found that many, many people have experienced this same problem and so far I haven't seen any solutions posted. Could it be a defective batch of routers?
adrixray: I would love to hear if you were ever able to resolve your issue.
Many thanks to all for your advice/help.

MacBook WIFI issue. States full signal but won't connect!

Hey all,
I'm at the end of my tether here! I brought my MacBook back in Feb and loved it, was so pleased with it. A couple of months later the screen broke, so it was taken back to Comet who sent it away and repaired it, turns out the screen was faulty and there was also a "defective logic board". Got it back after 3 weeks and all was fine, until now!
When i purchased the MacBook i needed to buy a new router so i got an N router which has always worked perfectly, over the last week or 2 i found the connection kept dropping out, this happened before and it was VirginMedias problem which they fixed. I checked with them and there's no fault, checked the router and there's no fault and no settings changed, i then decided to try a neighbours WIFI, again, the MacBook connected and stated full signal but when i opened Safari it says i wasn't connected. The problem got worse and worse and i'm now at the point where i cannot connect to any network through WIFI at all, the only way i can get internet is if i use my Vodafone WIFI Dongle...which isn't the cheapest or easiest way of connecting to the net! I also have an iPhone 4 and a iPod Touch and they both still connect to the WIFI without any problems.
If anyone can help i would appreciate it so much! If i take the MacBook back to Comet they'll only want to send it away again and i'm not happy to do that, 1) Because i'll be without it for at least 3 weeks and i need it for work and 2) Since i got it back from the last repair i've discovered it wasn't put back together very well and the screws have been falling out of the base ever since.

Since you cannot connect, even at at another location, I'd agree that it seems to be a hardware problem, rather than ISP or software settings.
If purchased new or refurb direct from Apple, your MacBook came with a 1-year warranty, so you should be well within the initial warranty period.
If you're not happy with the service you're getting from Comet, escalate! Ask for the manager, and keep going up the chain until you get some satisfaction.
Finally, if Comet can't meet your needs, try another Apple authorized repair center or an Apple Store.

My macbook pro can see the network, gets full signal, but won't connect. When I run diagnostics, it automatically connects, but only if I run the diagnostics. Why won't it connect by itself?

Macbook Pro won't auto connect to wifi, but when I start diagnostics, then it will connect. It seems it requires diagnostics in order to get connected to wifi.
any ideas

SOLUTION!
I've been suffering from this problem for a few months. I tried everything suggested by everyone, and then, today, I had a mad idea.
I used to work in a room in the house that's about 12 metres away from the router. It's on the next storey up and horizontally about 8 metres away. The problem started when I began to work in the same room as the router.
Today I became so frustrated that for some reason I walked into a room about 8 metres away on the same level - Guess what? I connected with no problem at all. Feeling full of joy I walked back to the room where the router is located - Dropped internet connection within a few minutes! Walked back to the the room that's 8 metres away and, hey presto! I have a connection. I now realise that the problem was that I moved too close to the router.
I can think of no logical explanation for my experience, but empirically it seems to work. Does anyone have the faintest idea of why this should be the case? In the absence of an answer I think I may have to start believing in fairies at the bottom of the garden - I'm just off to set a meal for them.
By the way, I don't know if it has any significance, but the router is a BT Infinity router that has replaced the incredibly unreliable Virgin Media cable connection

I am connected to time capsule via wi-fi but air port says not connected and disk utility does not see it

I am connected to time capsule via wi-fi but air port says not connected and disk utility does not see it. I had it connected via ethernet and it still did not see it. Then i disconncectd it from ethernet and did the Wi-fi connection and am able to post this message but air port still does not see it.

Disk Utility will not "see" the Time Capsule, so no need to waste any more time on that issue.
but air port still does not see it.
Not sure what you mean by "air port" here.

Can I connect an external hard disk to time capsule? I tried but it doesn't show up. What would be the reason??

Can I connect an external hard disk to time capsule? I tried but it doesn't show up. What would be the reason??

The USB drive must be formatted for Mac in Mac OS Extended (Journaled), or if you want to use both Mac and Windows files, the drive can be formatted in FAT32.
A number of drives are formatted for Windows only in a format called NTFS. This willl not work on the Time Capsule.
In addition, the USB port on the Time Capsule is under powered. You almost always have to use a powered USB hub when you connect a drive to the Time Capsule...even if the drive has its own power supply.

The HD was recently changed on my MacBook Pro and I lost my iTunes library (Time Capsule also died!) but have all my songs on my iPhone. How can I copy them to my laptop?

The HD was recently changed on my MacBook Pro and I lost my iTunes library (Time Capsule died also!) but all my songs are still on my iPhone4. How can I copy them back to my laptop? Tks

Your i-device was not designed for unique storage of your media. It is not a backup device and media transfer was planned with you maintaining a master copy of your media on a computer which is itself properly backed up against loss. Syncing is one way, computer to device, updating the device content to the content on the computer, not updating or restoring content on a computer. The exception is iTunes Store purchases which can be transferred to a computer.
iTunes Store: Transferring purchases from your iOS device or iPod to a computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1848 - only purchases from iTunes Store
For transferring other items from an i-device to a computer you will have to use third party commercial software. See this document by turingtest2: Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3991

The light on my time capsule keeps blinking yellow. ! mark in toolbar time capsule and it says it was unable to finish backup because back up disk couldn't be found but it also says last back up was successful.

The light on my time capsule keeps blinking yellow. ! mark in toolbar time capsule and it says it was unable to finish backup because back up disk couldn't be found but it also says last back up was successful.

Hi jon88906,
If you are seeing a flashing amber light on your Time Capsule, you may find the following articles helpful:
AirPort base stations: About AirPort base station status lights (LED)
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4600
Wi-Fi base station: Understanding and resolving a blinking amber status light
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1589
If you are still seeing an alert message about Time Machine being unable to find your backup disk, then this article may be useful as well:
OS X Mavericks: If Time Machine can’t find your backup disk
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14170
Regards,
- Brenden

I dragged and dropped files to my time capsule from my laptop but now I cannot find them anywhere on there... Please help

I dragged and dropped files to my time capsule from my laptop but now I cannot find them anywhere on the time capsule... Please help I no longer have that laptop. All it is showing is time machine backups.

Open Macintosh HD and look for your Time Capsule icon under the SHARED heading on the left side of the window.
Click on the Time Capsule icon and folder will appear to the right representing your drive
Double click the folder to reveal the contents
You should see a xxxxxx.sparsebundle file for each computer that is backing up and the files that you dropped onto the Time Capsule from the other computer. Leave these files alone.
If you do not see the other files, unfortunately, they are not there.

My Time Capsule is not allowing other wifi device to connect. Even my PC which is plugged to the Time capsule. How to let all device connect and my PC too?

My Time Capsule is not allowing other device to connect. My Mac Air did the setup and connection and it is. Now Iphone and Ipad are seeing the network but are unable to connect. Same with my desktop PC connected to the time capsule and not able to reach the net. How to fix this?

My Time Capsule is not allowing other device to connect. My Mac Air did the setup and connection and it is. Now Iphone and Ipad are seeing the network but are unable to connect. Same with my desktop PC connected to the time capsule and not able to reach the net. How to fix this?

After formatting my HD and eventually restore my system from a backup on Time Capsule, will I still have access to my old backups as normally used to do via Time Machine?

I have a Time Capsule (4th Gen) and my backups on it, I need to completely erase my hard drive. My question is: after formatting my MacBook HD and eventually restore my system (OS X 10.6.8) from a backup on Time Capsule, will I still have access to my old* backups as normally used to do via Time Machine?
*(-and to the newer backups- if I had not restored my system from the last backup).
THANKS

That's a good question. Technically, Time Machine should make a new backup but not erase any old backups. But if there isn't sufficient space on the backup drive, then I'm not sure if Time Machine will simply warn you or just go ahead and remove old backups to make room for the new ones.
In any case, the new backup should have a different backup folder on the backup drive. That's my understanding. You can learn more at pondini.org.

Just did firm ware update on time capsule an now my airport express not connected do to air port utilities doesn't support base station ??

just did firm ware update on time capsule an now my airport express not connected do to air port utilities doesn't support base station ?

mickair wrote:
I have been experiencing some networking problems
Welcome to Apple's discussion groups.
I have the latest Time Capsule ("TC"), an old Airport Extreme Base Station ("AEBS") bought in 2007 and 2 Airport Expresses, one bought in 3 months ago ("AE-Alpha") and the other bought back in 2007 ("AE-Beta"). All of them have been updated with the latest firmware.
Based on those dates, the AirPort Extreme is probably flat (as opposed to dome-shaped), making it 802.11n-capable. The Newer AirPort Express is probably an 802.11n-capable model A1264, while the older one is probably a model A1084 or A1088.
I use {the TC's} DHCP function ... to avoid unauthorized use.
This a discussion for another thread, but that's not what DHCP is for.
The wireless setting for it is to participate as WDS Main, but after reading various posts, it seems WDS is a bad idea
With that older AirPort Express you're stuck with WDS unless you decide to replace it with a newer model.
The AEBS is currently setup as being a WDS Relay at the moment
Why a relay? That's only needed if there's another base station "beyond" it that is configured to depend on it.
Since the AEBS is connected to the TC via Ethernet, you should probably configure it as a "roaming network":
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2273124
{The AE-Alpha} connects fine as WDS remote at the moment
I don't have any experience with mixed WDS and non-WDS networks, but since it's 802.11n-capable, you may be able to configure it to "extend" the network of the TC rather than as WDS. Look for a setting on the TC to "Allow this network to be extended".
Physical location:
AEBS in one end, TC and AE-Alpha in the middle while AE-Beta on the other end.
A device such as "AE-Beta" that's supposed to extend a network shouldn't be "at the end" but should be half way between the central base station and the clients that need an extended network.

Can you use Time Capsule as a print server for printers connected via Ethernet or wirelessly?

Can you use Time Capsule as a print server for printers connected via Ethernet or wirelessly?
I know that it works marvelous for printers connected via USB, but I'd like to know if you can use it as a more general print server.

No, you can't, but what do you expect to gain by doing so?
The main advantage of the print server is to provide multi-user network access to a printer that typically only supports a single connection. Since, by definition, your printer already has a network connection and can be used by multiple users.

Time capsule produces a signal, but won't connect or backup

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