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.

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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 want to connect an Airport Express via WiFi to my internet connection and then connect its LAN port to the WAN port of a Time Capsule. Will then any device connected to the time capsule wirelessly be also connected to the internet?

Background is I can't hook up my time capsule directly to my internet connection via network cable. I tried to extend the network via Wifi, but that did not work. At the moment I have two wireless networks, one with internet connection and another one with my time capsule. So to use time machine I have to change my network all the time.
Can I buy an Airport Express, use is as a client to my internet connection wifi and provide that connection via network cable to my time capsule and all it's wifi clients?

The AirPort Express will connect to your existing wireless network if the network is using WPA2 Personal or WPA/WPA2 Personal wireless security settings.
So, it can join the network as a client and then provide an Ethernet signal to your Time Capsule.
Be sure to configure the Time Capsule to operate in Bridge Mode so that it will be operating on the same network.

Advice to extend range from Time Capsule - wireless and ethernet with Airport Express and Airport Extreme

Current wireless network is Time Capsule (connected to a Cisco router, 1GB switch to servers and printer 1) to Airport Express (wireless) and to Airport Extreme (wireless). Distance means poor signal at the Extreme which has 2 printers (ethernet cables) and an iMac (wireless)
Solution is to connect the Extreme to the Time Capsule via Cat 6 ethernet cable
How do I configure the TC and the Extreme?
I will keep the Express for a wireless extension to the TC

Wired Ethernet from the TC to the AirPort Extreme will result in much better performance. It sounds as if you are not configuring the AirPort Extreme correctly.
Please try the following steps carefully:
Unplug the Ethernet cable from the AirPort Exteme if it is not already unplugged. With the AirPort Extreme powered on, hold in the reset button on the Extreme for 10 seconds and release. Allow a full minute for the Extreme to restart
Connect the Ethernet cable to the WAN "O" port on the Extreme.
Click the AirPort icon at the top of the Mac's screen and wait a few seconds for a listing of New AirPort Base Station to appear. Just below that, click on AirPort Extreme.
The example below displays an AirPort Express. You will see AirPort Extreme.
AirPort Setup will open up automatically and take a minute to analyze the network, then announce that the Extreme will be configured to extend the Time Capsule network.
Enter a device name that you want to use for the Exterme and click Next
Wait a minute while AirPort Setup configures everything for you. When you see the message of Setup Complete, click Done.
That's it. Pretty simple. Things should be working fine now.

Time Capsule: wireless or ethernet?

I've got a Time Capsule on my desk, backing up from my MBP wirelessly. It occurred to me that although I like having one less wire, I could connect the two with an ethernet cable.
My question is: will there be an appreciable difference in speed? My MBP does slow not noticeably sometimes during Time Machine backups, so if an ethernet cable sped that up a lot, it might be worth it. Any advice?

There is nothing slower than wireless.
Ethernet would be a great improvement.

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.

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 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.

Mac connects but PC won't connect to internet via TIme Capsule wireless net

I have my personal Mac and work PC at home. I'm switching from a wireless network using my airport extreme base station to a new time capsule. Had no problems earlier, but now with my new wireless network I have the following problem:
- Both Mac and PC are able to connect to my home wireless network created through Time Capsule
- Only Mac can access the internet via the Time Capsule wireless network
- PC connects fine to the wireless network, but the settings indicate the internet cannot be accessed
I've tried fiddling with configurations etc. but cannot seem to get the PC to connect through to the internet using my Time Capsule.
The PC will connect directly to the net if I plug in the ethernet from my cable modem....What's the problem? Any ideas?

Welcome to the discussions forum AZR-DC.
The PC will connect directly to the net if I plug in the ethernet from my cable modem...
Make it a habit to power down your modem whenever you connect something different to it. Merely detaching the AEBS and attaching your Time Capsule or your computer directly will confuse most modems, so leave it powered down for a few moments. Power down your other equipment while you're at it.
Then, power up all the equipment as follows:
Modem... wait a few moments for it to complete its startup sequence.
Time Capsule. Wait a few moments again.
Computers.
Be sure your PC and your Mac are getting their addresses "via DHCP".

Time Capsule wireless deactivation

My Time Capsule to Modem (ethernet) connection no longer functions. I have had to install a replacement wireless router.
I have connected the TC to my Mac using ab ethernet cable to have access to my data. This works!
I want to shut-down the TC wireless feature so that the TC network does not always showup on the Airport network list.
Is this possible, and how do I do it?

Simply select off for wireless mode.

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.

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.

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 Base via ethernet to an Airport Extreme to extend Wireless

I have set up a new Time Capsule dual band (TCBStn) as a base station (connected to the internet). I want to connect a new Airport Extreme dual band in a family room far away from the base via Ethernet. This family room has an Apple TV to which I want to stream video. I am not able to connect the AE via the Airport Utility as the Airport Utility does nor recognize the AE.

My recommendation is to configure your two base station as a "roaming" network. This will allow wired/wireless clients to connect to either and still be able to "see" each other for sharing.
Please start by powering-down all of your network components as follows:
o Power-down the modem, Time Capsule (TC), AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS), Apple TV (ATV), and the iMac. Note: The power-down order is not critical.
o With all of these components powered down, disconnect both the TC & AEBSn from the network, and then, perform a "factory default" reset on both to get them back to their "out-of-the-box" configuration.
o After both have been reset, remove them from power, and then, reconnect them as follows: modem > \[WAN port] > TC > \[LAN port] > \[WAN port] AEBSn, where ">" represents an Ethernet connection.
o Power-on the modem; wait at least 10-15 minutes.
o Power-on the TC; wait at least 5-10 minutes.
o Power-on the AEBSn; wait at least 5-10 minutes.
o Power-on the iMac.
o For now, leave the ATV powered-off.
In this configuration, both routers will be transmitting their own wireless network, each having a Network Name of something like: Apple Network NNNNNN, where the Ns represent the last six digits of their respective AirPort IDs.
Now, from the iMac, use the AirPort Utility (in Manual Setup) to access the TC to make the following configuration changes:
o Time Capsule > Base Station > Time Capsule Name = TC
o Time Capsule > Wireless > Wireless Mode = Create a wireless network
o Time Capsule > Wireless > Wireless Network Name = <enter the desired Network Name>
o Time Capsule > Wireless > Radio Channel Selection = Automatic
o Internet > Internet Connection > Connect Sharing = Share a public IP address
o Leave all the other default settings (for now).
o Click on Update to write the new configuration to the TC.
While still in the AirPort Utility, select the AEBSn, and then, make the following changes:
o AirPort > Base Station > AirPort Extreme Name = AEBSn
o AirPort > Wireless > Wireless Mode = Create a wireless network
o AirPort > Wireless > Wireless Network Name = <use the same Network Name that you created for the TC>
o AirPort > Wireless > Radio Channel Selection = Automatic
o Internet > Internet Connection > Connect Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)
o Leave all the other default settings (for now).
o Click on Update to write the new configuration to the AEBSn.
You should now have a basic roaming network. Verify that your iMac can access the Internet while connected to either base station by wire or wireless. Please post back your results.

Time capsule wireless internet connection

Does the New Time Capsule have to be connected to the router by ethernet cable all the time? as i have a wireless router/modem,I dont want to have them in the same place!!. i would like to extend my current wireless Network.

If you have a modem/router now, the Time Capsule needs to be connected by Ethernet, just as the Setup Guide illustrates.
AirPort Time Capsule 802.11ac - Setup Guide
You can run an Ethernet cable up to 330 feet or 100 meters with virtually no loss, so you can locate the Time Capsule anywhere that you can run the Ethernet cable.
Configure the Time Capsule to create a wireless network using the same wireless network name, same wireless network security settings and same wireless network password that your modem/router is using.
Make sure that the Time Capsule is configured to operate in Bridge Mode as the last configuration step.
Now you will have an "extended" wireless network with much greater coverage, and you can also use the Time Capsule to back up your Macs, or store other data.
The only exception to the Ethernet connection rule above is if you happen to have another Apple router providing your wireless network. In that case, the Time Capsule can be configured to "extend" the network wirelessly.

Time Capsule - wireless vs ethernet connection?

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