Time Capsule won't join existing network

Hello,
I recently bought a new Time Capsule to use with Time Machine over my existing network. The problem that I'm having is that it isn't connecting to the network. When I do it on the Mac, I select More Options > Join existing network but it just takes me right back to the "Create new network" screen. When I do it on iOS, it just says that an error has occurred. What is going on?
Thanks,
Jacob Saunders

The existing wireless network could be incompatible.
It is a super poor way to run the TC.. the following things happen.
The TC will become super slow.. all access to the TC will be via the existing wireless network.
The TC ethernet ports will be shut off.
The TC wireless will work as a simple client of the current network. So you will lose all value in buying an AC wireless router.
I strongly recommend you plug the TC into the existing router by ethernet. If that is not possible there is alternative of using a wireless bridge to the TC.. and maintaining its usefulness..

Similar Messages

Time capsule won't extend my network, no matter what I try

I have tried everything I can think of, but I just can't seem to get my TC to extend my existing wireless network. I have read the Time capsule "manual" but it's no help, and I have tried a few possible solutions available through Google - but to no avail. Is there anyway possible to get it to do this?

No "official" list that I'm aware of, but the following are the only ones I'm aware of that are potentially compatible:
o Linksys WRT54G or WRT54GS (not v5)
o Belkin F5D7230-4 and F5D7231
o BT Voyager 2091
o Netgear WGR614 v6
o Buffalo WGR-G54
As you can see the TRENDnet is not amongst those so I would seriously doubt that you will have any success in doing so. Sorry!

Time Capsule as router for existing network?

I am off to university in September, and was planning on getting and using a Time Capsule to make my printer wireless, and for wireless backups. Also- the internet connection in the halls is wired through an ethernet cable- so I was planning on plugging the cable into the TC and having wireless internet.
I decided to email the uni to check if this would be allowed- and he brought up some interesting points. Below is part of the email
+"Our halls network uses 802.1x authentication for all devices connected to+
+it. In addition to this, the MAC address of each device you wish to+
+connect must also be registered with us. Although 802.1x is listed as an+
+authentication method on the product description page of the time capsule+
+it looks to me like it is only supporting it for its own authentication.+
+This would mean that it does not support 802.1x to authenticate itself+
+against another network.+
+The Time Capsule will need to support 802.1x authentication on the+
+ethernet WAN to be able to connect to our network before it can access the+
+internet. I have never come accross a home router that can do this before.+
+If the Time Capsule does support this then it may work.+
+Also, the time capsule will need to behave like a router and not like a+
+hub or a switch. This is because each device that connects directly to our+
+network needs to authenticate itself using 802.1x and only one+
+authenticated device is supported at a time."+
Could someone please let me know if the TC would work as a router- as I dont want to buy it to find out if it will work. I am basically trying to extend the existing university network- from a wired network to a wireless network in my room.
Thanks for any responses!

RustyUK1, Welcome to the discussion area!
Could someone please let me know if the TC would work as a router...
Yes the Time Capsule is a router.

Time Capsule won't connect to network after factory reset

Hello
I have reset my time capsule back to factory settings, After this was completed the time capsule will no longer connect to my network.
When airport utility is launched the app will search for the time capsule. Then when the app is gathering information at the reading previous settings stage air port utility quits unexpectedly (There is a report, this can be attached if any one needs it)
The light on the time capsule is flashing amber.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Im running a mac book pro with lion 10.7.3
Cheers Dan

If you reset the Time Capsule back to Factory Default Settings, the Time Capsule is now broadcasing a default wireless signal with a name like Apple Network xxxxxxx.
Click the AirPort icon at the top of your Mac's screen and make sure that you are logged onto that network....no password is required.
Then, open AirPort Utility.
You should see the xxxxxx number displayed in the upper left hand corner of the window when you click on Other AirPort Base Stations
Or, if you do not want to connect using wireless for the configuration, temporarily connect an Ethernet cable from your Mac to one of the three LAN <-> ports on the back of the Time Capsule and then open AirPort Utility.
If you still experience issues, check to make sure that you are following Apple's instructions for the default reset in this support document:
Resetting an AirPort Base Station or Time Capsule FAQ
We have also seen reports from users about difficulties with the new version of AirPort Utility.
Download and install the full feature version of AirPort Utility 5.6 for Mac OS X Lion to see if that will work.

Time Capsule won't connect to a Linksys wireless network

I made the same mistake as everyone else with 7.3.1. The main problem I had was that after the update the TC wouldn't connect to my wireless network anymore. I put in the network name and password, which worked with version 7.3, and it wouldn't connect as an 'extend network' option.
I've rolled back to version 7.3 and now I'm having the same problem. I can't make it join my existing wireless network...? Any ideas? This thing's been nothing but problems since I bought it. Now I'm reading that TC's can't be used to join existing networks if it's not an Apple base station. I use a Linksys WRT54GS and I know that's not true because it worked before.
Help?! I'm on the edge with this one!

At first I had the same problem with being unable to connect a time capsule using airport utility 5.3.1 to a linksys wrt54g. I was finally able to when I followed the software's recommendation to use the encryption type: *WPA2 PERSONAL*.
So I connected an ethernet cable from my MacBook to the Linksys and changed the type of encryption from wep to wpa 2 personal and then I reset the Time Capsule and reinstalled/reconfigured it with the general setting "WPA / WPA2 Personal" in the encryption area.
Now it is working as a part of the linksys network, but I have not yet been successful at using it to "extend" the network like it should, and like I was told it could by a sales rep at the Apple Store. I'll be calling customer support tomorrow to solve this issue.
I hadn't configured the linksys in a while, so in case you don't know off the top of your head as I did not, to do so:
1. connect the cable to the linksys and use your browser to go http://192.168.1.1
(unless you changed this).
2. just type "admin" in the password field (unless you changed this)
3. go to the "wireless" tab, and then finally the "wireless" sub-tab.
4. after choosing the WPA2 Personal encryption type, I left the other settings alone: "AES" as the type of " WPA Algorithms", and "3600 seconds" for the "Group Key Renewal"
(if you changed the login settings on the linksys there's a reset button on the back)
Hope this helps...

HT3728 My Time Capsule won't allow me to access my home network each day (intermittently) between about 1000-1800. My modem is working properly, and I can get on-line by hooking my computer straight to my modem, so I know it's the Time Capsule at fault. I

My Time Capsule won't allow me to access my home wireless network for several hours each day -- usually between 1000-1830 or so. My modem is working correctly and I can still get on-line by going straight from my computer (MacBook Pro) to the Ethernet port. It must be the Time Capsule -- any ideas?

Any ideas?
Wireless Interference
Might be caused by a cordless phone in the vicinity. To give you an example, my neighbor.....across the street...used to be able to literally crash my wireless network if he was in his front yard talking on his cordless phone.
I discovered this by accident one day after spending weeks trying figure out why my network would crash at random times.
Other possibilities include a wireless security/camera system near you
Still other things might be an amateur ham radio operator....which should not interfere....but again from experience, I know that this can occur.
Yet another possibility is another wireless network near you that is being turned on and off at random times. Some users power up their modem/router only when they want to do so and leave it off otherwise.
Some general rules to help avoid interference:
Move any cordless phones that you might have as far away as possible from the Time Capsule and/or your computer(s)
Avoid placing other electronic devices....computer, television, amplifier, satellite receiver, etc. near the Time Capsule and/or your computer(s)
Avoid metal surfaces near the Time Capsule and/or your computers
Elevate the Time Capsule as much as possible. Think of it as a water sprinkler....you want to get the room as wet as possible
Experiment with different wireless channels on the Time Capsule. To do this:
Open AirPort Utility
Click on the Time Capsule
Click Edit
Click the Wireless tab
Click Wireless Options
Start with Channel 11 on the 2.4 GHz band and work your way down
It is unlikely that you are picking up interference on the 5 GHz band since there are.....for now at least.....far fewer networks using this frequency.

Do you have to disable your Wifi on your existing Reuter if using time capsule to Create a new network

Does one need to disable the wifi on ones reuter if using a time capsule to create a new network what happens if you don't and what are the benefits of doing so

No but you may experience a bag of hurt from cross channel interference. You may have to reset the Subset Mask of one of the routers along with separating the broadcast channels.
Further if you then have one device a PC perhaps on one network and your Mac on another you may not be able to share files/ITunes etc.... with any ease.
So switching off the Wifi on the router/modem and hanging an Ethernet cable to the Time Capsule and setting that up as your WiFi router distributing the IP addresses over DHCP really is the least problematical approach.
IF you have cable Internet with a decoder with Ethernet output ditch your old router completely !

Time Capsule won't back up, privilege message error HELP!

Time Capsule used to work, now it doesn't.
1) I go to System Preferences > Time Machine
2) I click on Change Disk...
3) Window drops down and I select my Time Capsule, then click on Use for Backup
4) Window pops up saying "Enter your user name and password so Time Machine can access the file server "name of my Time Capsule". No field for user name, just Password - so I enter this and click on Connect.
5) Drop down window appears saying: "The specified user does not have read, write and append privileges on this network volume. Please connect as a different user or contact your network administrator."
Thing is - I am the admin.
Can't figure out how to rectify this. Have already tried restoring factory settings to Time Capsule but run into same problem.
Any ideas?

Exact same problem. In addition, Time Capsule won't let me create new folders in the root (/data) folder anymore, although I can still read and write files in already existing folders.
I thought it was because I upgraded to Snow Leopard, so I did a clean install of Leopard OS on my Mac Pro with erasing the HDD, but still no luck.

Getting Time Capsule to work with current network help?

Hey, I wanted to get my apple routers to work with my current fios router without replacing the fios router. I need to get ethernet available in my upstairs office so I plugged my airport express into the fios router in the WAN port and made the time capsule join the network and it won't work at all. any ideas on how I could accomplish this? I need DHCP to work as well, I am using a arduino dev board and need a ethernet port and a working dhcp on all routers to assign it an ip

If the AiPort Express is setup to "create a wireless network", then the Time Capsule must be setup to "extend a wireless network".
The Ethernet ports are enabled on the Time Capsule when it "extends"......but they are disabled if the Time Capsule is configured to "join" a wireless network.
So....Ethernet cable from the Fios router LAN <--> port to the WAN "O" port on the AirPort Express.
Configure the Express to "create a wireless network". This must be either the A1264 or A1392 version of the Express.
Configure the Time Capsule to "extend a wireless network". The Time Capsule must be located where it can receive a very good wireless signal from the AirPort Express.

Time Capsule won't setup?

I just bought a 2TB Time Capsule, primarily so I can wirelessly transfer my data from my old Macbook to my new Macbook Pro. I keep trying to set up the Time Capsule using Airport Utility, but for some reason the Time Capsule just won't connect to my Macbook.
This is what keeps happening:
1) I start using Airport Utility and it can't detect my Time Capsule (which is literally right beside my Macbook). Only after about 5 or 6 "re-scans" does my laptop finally detect the Time Capsule.
2) After detecting the Time Capsule I click "Continue" to set it up.
3) Because I've had to reset it, a menu then comes up saying, "This Time Capsule has been reset," with options to either "restore the previous settings" or "use default settings and save previous settings as a profile." I then click the "restore" option.
4) A bunch of pages come up about what I want to name my Time Capsule and passwords and stuff, which all looks fine.
5) Then a page comes up saying, "This Time Capsule is set up to join a wireless network," which is what I want, so I continue.
6) The final page says, "Time Capsule will use these settings below. Make sure they are correct." It has the network my Time Capsule will be joining and all of the correct information so I click "Update."
7) Then a page comes up saying, "This device and its network services will be temporarily unavailable. Are you sure you want to continue?" So I continue.
8) The next page says, "The settings for this Time Capsule have been successfully updated. You can close this window or wait for Time Capsule to restart." At the bottom of the screen it says, "Waiting for Time Capsule to restart..." For about 20 seconds the light turns solid amber, and after that it switches back to the flashing amber state.
9) After several minutes of waiting for the Time Capsule to restart, this message comes up: "Airport Utility was unable to find your AirPort wireless device after restarting. The settings for this AirPort device have been successfully updated, but there was a problem re-joining the wireless network or finding the AirPort wireless device. You may need to select your network from the Wi-Fi menu and try again."
10) After this I need to re-join my network and my Time Capsule is still not set up.
Just as additional information:
- The Time Capsule's light is always flashing amber - before, during and after "setup"
- The network connection in my house is great and I've never had issues wirelessly connecting to devices before.
Do you have any idea what the problem might be?
Thanks for any help.

Patch lead is a short and flexible ethernet cable.. you use to patch computers to routers etc
Don't even look like you don't understand.. walk into the computer shop..
Say.. "I want a 2M (6' in US) cat 6 patch cable please.. hmmm what colour do you have available??"
Change length according to taste.
Apple have restrictions on iTunes which are basically licensed to a single user.. they designed the system to prevent people simply copying it to somebody else.
Read the instructions on iTunes or post in the itunes area what you want to achieve.. it is specific to itunes..
You can copy your documents files.. That should be trivial exercise..
You already have a network.. you simply have never used it for anything except internet. Sorry I cannot give you a tutorial on Mac networking.. Google is your friend.. there are plenty of great tuts around the place.
Or go to a class and learn the specifics of networking.

Time Capsule won't mount after upgrade to iTunes 9

See my full post in the Time Capsule support section ("Help! Time Capsule won't mount after installing iTunes 9"). My music library is on my Time Capsule, but after installing iTunes 9, it won't mount on my iMac G5. I can use the internet, but the disk won't mount. My Powerbook hasn't been updated yet and the Time Capsule mounts fine.

To make it easier, here's the post:
"My music library is on my 500 Gb Time Capsule. I just installed iTunes 9 on my iMac. It updated my library and synced my iPhone. Now, the TC won't mount. I still have internet connectivity, but I can't access my media or print to my printer connected to the TC. I can use the computer and everything, but if I hover my mouse over the TC disks menu bar icon, I get the spinning beach ball there. If I try to connect using my Network icon in the sidebar, it allows me to log in and get to the screen to select the volume I want to mount, then stops responding. In the Activity Monitor, AFP Client & AirPort Base Station Agent are not responding. I also have a Powerbook G4 w/Leopard (10.5.8) which hasn't been updated to iTunes 9 yet. The Time Capsule mounted fine on it."

Having trouble with time capsule, won't find backups

having trouble with time capsule, won't find backups

Usually a simple reboot will work.. Reboot the TC..
If that is not enough.. Restart the whole network from off.
Mountain Lion and to a lesser extent Lion.. have network issues and lose track of the TC.

Will the wifi function of time capsule interfere with my existing router?

Will the wifi function of time capsule interfere with my existing home network via my Cisco router?

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
The routers will only interfere if they are working with the same channel. Time Capsule sets up automatically the channel, so you shouldn't have any problem with both routers

Time Capsule set up and wifi network OK but MacBook doesn't see capsule as airport device. Do I need to do a hard reset and start again?

I recently bought a Time Capsule and sucessfully set it up in accordance with the instruction book. The home network and guest network seem to work fine but my MacBook cannot find the Time Capsule wirelessley.
Initially I set up the time capsule connected to the MacBook with an ethernet cable. The Time Machine got 30GB way through a 60GB initial back up and then stopped for no obvious reason. Since then the capsule has not been visible to the MacBook. I have tried to reconfigure through Airport Utility but even after reperated rescans the capsule remains invisible.
Any help would be extremely welcome.

1. i would restore the express to factory defaut by holding the reset button on the unit with a paperclip while you are powering it on
2. if it restored, you should be able to see it in your wifi icon at top of screen as "airport express"
or you can see it in airport utility
3. then if you want to connect it wirelessly to your time capsule, you would choose "extend network" and put in relevant security and password....this would make the express a wireless access point, fed by your time capsule(main router)
if you chose to do it wired which is a better way if you have access to ethernet port at wall, you would choose "create a wireless network" and then under the "network" tab you would choose "Bridge Mode".....this would make the express a wired access point, fed by your time capsule(main router)

Time Capsule won't connect to BT Home Hub

I have just moved house and have set up a new BT Home hub today.
The internet is working as is the wireless printer but I want to be able to connect the Time Capsule to the BT internet network in order to make back ups.
I have gone through Airport Utility and downloaded the 6.0 software but it is still not connecting.
Any ideas on where I am going wrong? Do I have to create a new netowrk?
Any advice is appreciated.
Thank you

Connect to the homehub directly so you can download the utility.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482
Once you have it downloaded.. plug the TC directly into the iMac by ethernet.. No other connections.. no wireless on the imac. Turn it off so the only active network is ethernet.
Press and hold the reset for 10sec. When the TC restarts it should come up on the iMac at default settings..
Start the manual setup on the 5.6 utility.
Go to internet tab.
Go to connection sharing.. select off bridged mode. Update the TC.
Then plug the TC back into the home hub.. it should now be accessible by ethernet or wireless from the imac.
Post the details of homehub IP and TC ip if it doesn't work.

Time Capsule won't join existing network

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