Time Capsule setup help needed - keeping my existing router

Hi,
I'm not especially technically gifted and am new to macs, so please be gentle.
I have an iMac and Macbook - both running the latest versions of Leopard (both up to date with all updated). I also have a wireless 'N' network via a Netgear Router/modem which is working fine.
After a bit of a data scare I have just bought a Time Capsule, but am having a heck of a time setting it up. The problem is I don't want it in the same room as my router and I don't want to replace my router (I live in an old house where the router has to be by the main phoneline in the kitchen).
I want the Time Capsule to sit in my home office next to my iMac and back that up with Time Machine (probably by ethernet cable to save my wireless bandwidth). I also want my macbook to back up wirelessly from wherever it is being used.
I have performed initial backups of both devices by ethernet, but now can't get the Time Capsule properly configured to join my existing wireless network. I don't want it to do anything fancy, just tag on to my existing network and be discoverable by the Macbook.
Is this possible? If so, how?
Message was edited by: maxf77

Yes, this seems to be true if you go to the "manual" set-up method. It failed for me too, several times, because of this. Finally, I even tried to set the TC to Create a network of the same specs of the network I wanted it to join. That failed, as expected, because it caused interference with the existing network on my old AirPort Extreme Base Station. My next try was to connect AirPort Utility to the TC (wirelessly from my MacBook) and retry using the easy set-up method. Lo and behold, it worked, and "Join Existing Network" now appears on its Manual Setup panel in AirPort Utility.
Looks like a little bug in AirPort Utility, having that pop-up menu sometimes missing that item.
So, long story short, my TC had this problem, and now it works.
I'd go through the setup from factory reset again to document it exactly, but the family is using it now, so the best I can do is describe it from memory. If the easy setup to Join Existing Network doesn't work for you, then re-do the setup to Create Network with the same specs as the one you want to join. Then when it comes up arguing with the other Base Station ("I am the master of this network." +"No, I am the master of this network!"+), go back to AirPort Utility and connect to the TC, going through the easy setup again, choosing Join instead. Then it might work.

Similar Messages

  • Time Capsule Setup Help Needed

    Hi there
    I have a new 27" iMac and I'm trying to connect Time Capsule to it for Time Machine Backups.However when I turn TC on I am bewildered by an array of confusing networking type questions by the TC setup wizzard
    All I want to do is back up my iMac wirelessly. I don't want to do anything else with my TC.
    I have a wireless Linksys router that I use for the internet and no other users need to share my TC.
    I don't want my TC to have anything to do with other users or my internet connection.
    How can I do this?
    Thanks.

    Paul McLaren wrote:
    Hi there
    I have a new 27" iMac and I'm trying to connect Time Capsule to it for Time Machine Backups.However when I turn TC on I am bewildered by an array of confusing networking type questions by the TC setup wizzard
    All I want to do is back up my iMac wirelessly. I don't want to do anything else with my TC.
    I have a wireless Linksys router that I use for the internet and no other users need to share my TC.
    I don't want my TC to have anything to do with other users or my internet connection.
    How can I do this?
    click here and follow the instructions to set up the TC.
    i would recommend that you connect your Mac and the TC by ethernet cable for the initial setup as well as to perform your initial backup (which can take quite a while). once that is done the ethernet cable can go as the next backups will be incremental.
    you may also want to browse through the Time Machine FAQ - just for the heck of it.
    post back if you need further information.
    good luck !

  • Help! Time Capsule Setup Help: Airport Utility Not Finding Wireless Device

    Hi folks, I'm hoping some of you more experience Mac techies can help me out. I just bought a (refurbished previous generation) Time Capsule, and I'm trying to set it up for the first time. I don't really have a complicated network configuration-- I'm just going to plug my cable modem into the Time Capsule and use it as the wireless router. The problem is, my Mac's Airport Utility isn't recognizing the Time Capsule after I plug the cable modem into it. The Airport Utility on my MacBook Pro is the latest version (5.5.2) or at least recent enough that it should be compatible with the Time Capsule. Since I can't get the Airport Utility to discover the Time Capsule, I don't know if it's the laptop or the Time Capsule.
    Prior to trying to set up the Time Capsule, I was using a very old generation Airport Base Station. I decided to replace it with the Time Capsule because I wasn't getting the connection speeds I wanted, and the old Airport Base Station only offered WEP security. When I tried to configure the old Airport using the Airport Utility, I couldn't get my laptop to discover the router as well. But I just figured it was a problem with the old Airport.
    As far as I can tell, the Airport card in my laptop can find wireless network connections just fine. It can see my old Airport Base Station as well as all the other routers in my range. It just can't use the Airport Utility to configure the Airport routers themselves.
    I'm a little bit befuddled because it seems like setup should be a no-brainer. Either I've completely overlooked something really simple or something else is really wrong. I've set up a case to get help from Apple techs, but I'd appreciate any insight if anyone has some solutions to share.
    Thanks!
    Bryan

    Welcome to the discussions, Bryan!
    I suggest that you "hard reset" the Time Capsule (TC) by holding in the reset button on the TC until until you see the amber light begin to flash more quickly and keep holding another 4-5 seconds when this occurs before you release the reset button.
    Give the TC about 30 seconds to stabilize. If you are using wireless to configure the TC, open AirPort Utility and see if it now appears. If not, click the fan shaped Airport icon at the top of your Mac's screen and look for for a wireless network with a name like Apple Network xxxxxx to join. That's the default network that the TC broadcasts so that you can configure it using wireless. Try AirPort Utility again.
    If you have a spare ethernet cable handy, temporarily connect it from your Mac to one of the LAN <-> ports on the TC and open AirPort Utility. Once you have the TC configured, you can disconnect the temporary ethernet cable.
    See if one of the methods above will get you going. Post back if you need more assistance.

  • 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.)

  • Can I use the Airport Time Capsule Wirelessly without being connected to my router/mac by ethernet?

    Hey
    I've recently bought a 3TB Airport Time Capsule, with the sole intention of being able to perform wireless backups.
    Is it possible to perform these wireless backups without being connected by ethernet to my modem/existing router?  I don't want to use the time capsule as a replacement for my existing router (at this stage) - just for wireless backups of my Macs.
    If this is not possible, or practicable, are there other alternatives that I should explore? (non-cloud)
    Thanks in advance
    Steven
    PS
    Boring background:
    I'm in a rental property with a woefully inadequate number of plugs in practical places. In addition there is only one phone socket. The result being insufficient safe space to have the existing router, and the Airport TC along with the existing electrical items.

    Unfortunately, Apple designed the Time Capsule to connect to a modem or modem/router using an Ethernet connection.
    If you do this, you do have the option of turning off the wireless on the Time Capsule and using your existing wireless for backups. Backups will be automatic this way, in the background. The Time Capsule could be located anywhere an Ethernet cable will reach.....up to 300+ feet or about 100 meters.
    The other option.....not recommended and not convenient at all.....is to set up the Time Capsule......without an Ethernet connection and then have the Time Capsule provide a wireless network that would not have Internet access.
    So, when you wanted to back up, you would have to manually "switch" to the Time Capsule network for that process, then once the backup was done, manually "switch" back again to your normal wireless network for normal operations.  A real mess, not to mention the possibility of wireless interference between the networks that may create other issues.

  • I keep on getting this error when i try to copy files to my 2T Time Capsule, Please help im running out of space on my MacBook Pro.... The operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -50)

    I keep on getting this error when i try to copy files to my 2T Time Capsule, Please help im running out of space on my MacBook Pro....
    The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -50)

    I would get an external drive today and copy all your stuff off the TC.. forget trying to load more onto it. There is a good chance after 3years (A 2TB should be only about 2years tops), the disk or the TC itself is on the way out. Do it immediately. If TM is also failing to backup you need to recognise symtoms of impending doom.
    Unfortunately the error messages are archane and it is hard to discover their meaning.
    You also cannot verify a network drive.. you can verify the TM sparsebundle though so do that.
    A5. http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
    Reboot the whole network from off.. certainly if you run later OS it can simply lose the drive..
    If you still fail to be able to copy to the TC.. then get that external and copy off it. Tell us if you can do that.

  • 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

  • How do I use Time Capsule for backup only over an existing network (or ethernet)

    Ok, first, I have been using Mac now for about 2 years and every little thing I do is much harder than advertised. I have yet to experience the mythical ease of Apple products.
    With that said, I was talked into buying this 2TB Time Capsule. Which right now seems to serve nicely as a very expensive paper weight.
    Here's what I am trying to do. I was told I could use this as a wireless backup. I have a cable modem and router in my house. I do not want to insert Time Capsule as the router. I would like to either hook it up to the existing network or have it just wireless. Whatever works best for backup use.
    I set the time capsule up to connect to an existing network. Which it did. Green light is on.
    When I select it as a backup drive in Time Machine, it works. However it does not back up. It will say Waiting to Backup and do nothing. If I select Back Up Now on Time Machine, it says it cannot find the disk.
    Is it possibly because I had used another backup disk prior and kept it? When I set the Time Capsule I selected to use both.
    I am at a loss. I am not a techie. And there are more options of use than the instructions cover.

    The problem is your method of connection I suspect.
    The TC was always designed to plug into the main router. It does not have to be in the same room but it has to be ethernet connected.
    Please post a few screenshots of the setup.. that makes it so much easier for me to work through it with you.
    Posting screenshots here is easy.. press the little camera and select the shot from finder.
    What I need is the summary page from your airport utility.. ie this one.
    Then click on edit button which I have highlighted and show me the tabs for Internet, Network and wireless. eg this is the internet. (show me the whole thing.. I have cut it off to keep it small).
    We can then work through the issues.

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

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

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

  • Time capsule usage help?

    I find a multitude of info and help regarding time capsule setup.
    I must be searching incorrectly but I am now trying to use the time machine to restore a couple of files.
    Where do I find restore help?
    PS I have the fles on my camera chip, but I'm now concerned that after being diligent with religous use of the time capsule, that I can't really use the data saved for a restore which after all is why I do this in the first place. I must really be dense. An

    Finding files depends on how and where you saved them.. generally you cannot find a single photo in iphoto for example.. it is a single database.. and can only be found by restoring the whole database.. so don't abuse yourself.. it can be difficult if you don't remember a raw file name to find it.
    the best resource in all the world is Pondini's great KB of all TM information.
    Look at Q14-17 which covers restore.. in its myrid forms.
    http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
    There is specifics about iphoto here.
    http://pondini.org/TM/15p1.html

  • TS1253 I have a printer epson TX210, but it doesn't work with my time-capsule. What need to do?

    I have a printer epson TX210, but it doesn't work with my time-capsule. What need to do?

    What have you tried?
    You are going to get nowhere quick with the 6.1 utility in Mountain Lion if this is the only OS you have available.
    Look up how to install 5.6 utility under ML. At least then you can see printers. That is assuming you are trying to use USB.
    Has this worked ever on Mountain Lion? Did you download the drivers for that printer for ML?
    Plug it into a computer directly.. does it work? If it doesn't work locally it sure will not work via the network.

  • There was a problem connecting to the server "Time Capsule".  The share does not exist on the server. Please check the share name, and then try again.

    The following error pop's up as an [OK] dialogue box after logging in the iMac,
    There was a problem connecting to the server "Time Capsule".
    The share does not exist on the server. Please check the share name, and then try again."
    As it happens, a connection to the Time Capsule is established usually, anyway. On occasion it doesn't.
    I have a Volume, Data, on the capsule, which similarly, usually mounts, but occassionally doesn't, with access permissions denied.
    Any suggestions on how begin to work out how to achieve networking seamlesness?

    First, restart the Time Capsule by disconnecting the power adapter and reconnecting it. If other devices on the network can see it, you can skip this step.
    From the menu bar, select
     ▹ System Preferences ▹ Network
    Click the lock icon in the lower left corner of the window and authenticate to unlock the settings, if necessary. Click the Advanced button, then select the TCP/IP tab in the sheet that drops down. Click Renew DHCP lease.
    Try again to back up.
    If you still can't, open the Time Machine preference pane and delete the TC from the list of backup destinations. You may have to unlock the settings by clicking the lock icon in order to do this. Then add it back.

  • How big a Time Capsule do i need, I'm totally new to Mac!

    Hi, how big a Time Capsule do I need in order for it to work as my backup? Let say if I bought an Imac with 2 TB HDD + 256 GB SSD and with that, bought a 2 TB Time Capsule for backup, would that be enough or would I need to buy a 3 TB Time Capsule? Thanx!

    But if I buy the Imac I wrote about in my previous question (2 TB HDD + 256 GB SSD), would I then need to buy two, 2TB Time capsuls,
    If you plan to fill up most of  the space on the iMac right from the start, then you might need more space. Few users ever use more than about 75-80% of the space on their computers. I was figuring you would fill up about 75% of the drive....around 1.5 TB or so.  3 TB backup would be about right.
    If I buy 1 TB HDD + 256 GB SSD, then 2 TB Time Capsule will be enough, right?
    Correct.

  • I have an AirPort Extreme time capsule . I need to extend my wifi network range. Which devise is better ?? Airport express or AirPort Extreme ??

    I have an AirPort Extreme time capsule . I need to extend my wifi network range. Which devise is better ?? Airport express or AirPort Extreme ??

    Since you have the new Time Capsule, then you will need a new AirPort Extreme to match the performance capabilities of the Time Capsule.
    If best quality is preferred, you will need to connect the Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme using a wired Ethernet connection between the devices. The advantage of doing it this way is that you can locate the AirPort Extreme exactly where it is needed...and there will be no loss of signal through the Ethernet cable.
    A wireless connection will result in a significant drop in performance, but it might be OK for your uses, if you want to try it that way first to see if the performance is acceptable.
    It is really important that the AirPort Extreme be located where it can receive a strong wireless signal from the Time Capsule.
    A line-of-sight relationship between the Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme would be the goal, with the AirPort Extreme located about half way between the Time Capsule and the general area where you need more wireless signal coverage.

  • Airport Time capsule  internal drive need repair

    Airport Time capsule  "internal drive needs repair". brand new out of the box.
    ModelA1470 Running  one newish mac mini mountan lion. Airport utility 6.3
    Also I can not enter the serial number into web site so I can't get help

    Take it straight back to the store for replacement. It is faulty.. there is no fix you can do from outside. Even if there was, I would still say it is Apple's problem.. and a disk should never go bad in that length of time..
    You would think after the debacle with Seagate drives in the imacs they would never touch them again.

Maybe you are looking for