Will Time Capsule or Airport Express resolve my WiFi problem?

Hi
I have a regular 2.4 GHz WiFi router which i am using currently. The problem is there are too many WiFi users around me and it seems my WiFi keeps turning off due to interference. I have tried chaning channels but all in vain. Initially I thought it was a router issue but now I have turned off WiFi completely and using internet on ethernet cable and it has been working fine without any disconnection. So definitely it is the WiFi interference problem. I really want to use WiFi as i want the mobility. Do you think using a time capsule or Airport Express resolve this problem?

It is troublesome. Use ethernet instead of wireless.
Reset the whole network to factory and start again.
Yosemite can see nothing that it does not setup itself it seems.
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.

Similar Messages

Do I need a cable connecting my Time Capsule to Airport Express if I want to use the AE to extend my wifi network range?

I'm a bit confused by conflicting advice given by my local Apple shop and my internet provider.
My cable modem is plugged into a Time Capsule which I use to access the net wirelessly almost all over the house. The one spot the wireless doesn't quite reach is (of course) where I now need my office and iMac to be.
I thought I could just plug in an Airport Express somewhere in the middle to extend the network's range but the guy at my local Apple shop said the Airport Express would need to be connected not just to power but to the Time Capsule, via a cable. That's fiddly and would involve cables running under the floor or along walls and ceilings, not something I can or really want to do. It's not really practical to try and move the cable connection point either.
My internet provider suggested a netgear wireless extender and said that would only need to be plugged into power. The reviews of the netgear product I found comparing it to Airport Express suggest that the Express doesn't need to be connected to anything other than power either to extend a network range (which was what I originally thought).
So I'm wondering which advice is correct? I've also read that the netgear product isn't all that easy to set up so I'd rather stick with. Apple if it will do what I want.
Thanks for any help out there

I thought I could just plug in an Airport Express somewhere in the middle to extend the network's range but the guy at my local Apple shop said the Airport Express would need to be connected not just to power but to the Time Capsule, via a cable.
I'm sure that the guy at the Apple shop means well, but he is not correct.
While it would be preferable to connect the Time Capsule and AirPort Express using a wired Ethernet connection, the Express can connect wirelessly and extend the wireless signal the same way....IF...it is located where it can receive a good wireless signal.

Apple TV Inference with Time Capsule and Airport express?

I have recently bought an Apple TV 2, which seem to be working fine, however since installing it on my wireless network both my Time Capsule and Airport Express can't be found. Following some fault finding it seems that when I unplug the Apple TV I can reconfingure the TC and AE.
The TC and AE are configured to join my existing network....and have happy sat there for a few years.
I would really welcome any ideas.
Thanks
R

Welcome to the discussions!
It sounds like you have the basic configuration covered correctly.
You might want to check some settings on the TC:
Wireless Mode would be create a wireless network
"Allow this network to be extended" should be checked
The AX should be set to "extend a wireless network"
The "allow wireless clients" box should be checked
In this configuration, the ethernet port on the AX is active so things should work.
A minor point...Although the TC is a dual band device, the AirPort Express is not. Can you make sure that that the Express is connecting to the "main" network on your TC? The "guest" network cannot be "extended".
If you place your laptop close to the Express and hold down the option key while you click on the AirPort icon, some connection information will be displayed. The MAC address of the device that the laptop is connecting to will be indicated. Make sure that that this is the MAC address of the AX, and not the TC.
Another note...If you have not changed the default "main" network, the radio mode is broadcasting 802.11n only at 5 GHz. These higher frequencies are absorbed by walls, ceilings and any obstructions much more quickly than 2.4 GHz signals. So, if you AX is some distance away, you may not be receiving a strong signal for the device at that location.
If you have a signal strength utility on your laptop (the "bars" at the top of the screen are not a very good indicator of actual signal strength), turn off the AX and take a reading to see what kind of signal the Express is receiving where it is located.
Please post back with your results.

Time Capsule to Airport Express extension

I have recently set up a Time Capsule and Airport Express, the latter as an extension, without trouble. Needed further extension and purchased another AE. Although I get a green light on the second AE there is no extension of the WiFi to the area where the second AE is placed. I have re-set up all the components multiple times without success. Using Airport Utility 5.5.1 on a 27" late 2009 IMac, system 10.6.4. In advance thank you for any help.

Ok, here is the basic steps to configure your base stations into a static WDS:
(Note: To facilitate the WDS set up, temporarily connect the remote & relay base stations to the TC by Ethernet during the set up phase, and then, relocate them to the desired locations when complete. Also, jot down the AirPort IDs (wireless MAC addresses) for each of the base stations to be used in the WDS. The AirPort ID and is printed on the label on the bottom/side of the base station.)
Main Base Station Setup - TC
o Click the AirPort status menu in the menu bar and choose the wireless network created by the base station you want to set up as the main base station.
o Open AirPort Utility (located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a Macintosh computer, or in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows).
o Select the main base station, and then, choose Manual Setup from the Base
Station menu.
o Enter the base station password if necessary. If the base station is using the default password of public, you will not be prompted for a password.
o Click Wireless in the toolbar, and then, choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu. Note: You will need to hold down the Option key in order to get this option on the AEBSn, 802.11n AirPort Express Base Station (AXn), or Time Capsule (TC).
o Click WDS and then, choose “WDS main” from the WDS Mode pop-up menu.
o Select the “Allow wireless clients” checkbox if you want client computer to connect to this base station.
o Click the Add "+" button and enter the AirPort ID of the base station you want to connect to this base station.
o Click Update to send the new settings to the base stations in the WDS.
Remote Base Station Setup - AX#2
o Open AirPort Utility; select the remote base station, and then, choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
o Enter the base station password, if necessary.
o Enter the same network password as the main base station, if necessary.
o Click AirPort in the toolbar, and then, click Wireless. Choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and then, choose the same channel as the main base station from the Channel pop-up menu.
o Click WDS and choose “WDS remote” from the pop-up menu.
o Enter the AirPort ID of the main base station in the WDS Main field.
o Click Update to transfer the settings to the base station.
Relay Base Station Setup - AX#1
o Open AirPort Utility; select the relay base station, and then, choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
o Enter the same network password as the main base station, if necessary.
o Click AirPort in the toolbar, and then, click Wireless. Choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and then, choose the same channel as the main base station from the Channel pop-up menu.
o Click WDS and choose “WDS relay” from the WDS Mode pop-up menu.
o Enter the AirPort ID of the main base station in the Main AirPort ID field.
o Click the Add "+" button and enter the AirPort ID of the remote base station this relay base station will connect to.
o Click Update to transfer the new WDS settings to the relay and remote base stations.
(ref: Pages 42-46 of "Designing AirPort Networks.)

Extending a time capsule with airport express twice

Hi,
I have been trying to extend my existing wireless network recently but it never ended up how I wished...
I have one 4th generation Time Capsule (A1409) and two Airport Express 802.11n (1st generation A1264).
All currently have MAC Address base authentication and no security in place for was of testing (security not relevant at this point in time).
When I extend my Time Capsule with either Airport Express this works like a charm, the LEDs are all green and connection works for client devices.
When I extend my Time Capsule with both Airport Express the same applies, everything works.
However what I have found not to works it extending my Time Capsule with one Airport Express and then extending this Airport Express with the second Airport Express. While all LEDs are green and the second Airport is seen in the Airport Utility, I find no client are ever able to connect to it and alway either connect to the first Airport Express or to the Time Capsule. This is an issue I the area I want to cover is pretty big and I need the second Airport Express for the additional reach.
I haven't found anything against this setup, it however appears you can't connect to the second Airport. The Airport Utility would even accurately depict the situation with Airport Express one dotted line to Time Capsule, and Airport Express two dotted line to Airport Express one.
However no connection seam possible to Airport Express two.
I have swapped Airport Express one and two, and in this case Airport Express gets the clients and Airport Express one now extending Airport Express two gets none.
Is this an expected behavior, i.e. should I give up or is there anything I can do about this ?

However what I have found not to works it extending my Time Capsule with one Airport Express and then extending this Airport Express with the second Airport Express.
Apple's "extend a wireless network" feature will only allow you to extend the signal one level, not two. It's possible to have more than one device extending the signal, but each extender must connect directly to the main base station.....not to another device that is already extending the signal.
The Airport Utility would even accurately depict the situation with Airport Express one dotted line to Time Capsule, and Airport Express two dotted line to Airport Express one.
This is an illusion. AirPort Express is "joining" the wireless network.....not extending it. When the Express "joins" a network, it can be used for AirPlay, or a remote printer could be connected to the USB port, but the Express will not provide any additional wireless signal coverage when it joins a network.
Is this an expected behavior
Yes. I can try to look up Apple's support document that explains this if you want more information, but you may likely already have all the information that you need. Let us know.

Question about Time Capsule and Airport Express co-existence

I have a new 3TB ME182LL/A Time Capsule attached to my wired home LAN, in bridge mode. It works fine both as an access point on the upper floors of my home and as a Time Machine device. I also have an Airport Express, whose function in my network is solely to control my whole-house audio system from ITunes. I don't need, want, or use the wireless networking features of the Airport Express. I just have an audio cable running from it to my stereo, and an Ethernet patch cable connects it to my wired LAN. The network mode in the Airport Express is set to "off". Historically, the Airport Express has worked fine in this wired lan mode. However, I unplugged it at some point while having some initial trouble deploying the new Time Capsule and only turned it back on today. After turning it back on I observed something strange. My speedy wireless connection upstairs via the Time Capsule became slow. And when I launched Airport Utility, it drew a network diagram which showed my Time Capsule as a CLIENT of the Airport Express. In other words, the network diagram showed Internet at the top, then a vertical line down the the Airport Express, then the Time Capsule below that. The correct / desired diagram would be the Time Capsule and Airport express as peers. I connected to the Airport Express and verified that network mode was set to "off" but the incorrect network diagram persisted (as did poor wireless performance) until I unplugged the Airport Express. After I did that, the Airport Utility drew the network correctly, although of course it showed a yellow caution sign next to the Airport Express, since it was down. And my wireless speed / reliability returned to normal. What is going on here?

The automatic setup in the airport utility has changed something.
Is the line down to the TC from the express dotted.. in other words is wireless??
Funny stuff happens.
Please post the screenshots of the 3 pages from the airport utility setup for both airport express and TC..
Make sure wireless is set to off in the express.
Both should be set to dhcp on the internet tab and both set to off bridge mode on the network tab.
So for example the bridge on the network tab.
The summary page can also be a help.
There is a half summary page when you click the item in the airport utility.
There is also a fully summary page, when you hold option key and double click the TC icon for example.

How can I set up a guest WiFi network using Time Capsule and Airport Express extension?

How can I set up a guest WiFi network using Time Capsule and Airport Express extension?

Sorry, but it is not possible to "extend" the Guest Network using either wireless or an Ethernet connection.

Extending g wireless from Time Capsule using Airport Express...

Hi,
My Time Machine is working well and I have two old Airport Express units that I'd like to use as wireless extenders.
The Airport Expresses are the older type (i.e. only do 'g' wireless) and, according to the AirPort utility, they can't see the Time Capsule. My iPhone can connect OK so the 'g' network must be working.
Am I doing something wrong? Can I use my Airport Expresses to do this?
Thanks!

Thanks for the info. Your iPhone is connecting to the Time Capsule, not either of the AirPort Express devices.
In order to configure the AirPort Express devices to extend the wireless network, your Time Capsule Wireless Mode would need to be set to "Participate in a WDS network". You probably did not see this choice because it is "hidden". Hold down the "option" key on your computer while you click on the selection box to see if it appears.
I'm not necessarily suggesting that you try the WDS setup. It's an older technology that places a heavy bandwidth penalty on your wireless network in return for greater wireless coverage. The first Airport Express that you configure will cut the bandwidth of your network in half. The second will cut the bandwidth in half again. In other words, you are down to 50% of the original bandwidth with the first Express and down to only 25% with the second.
If you are getting acceptable wireless performance with the Time Capsule now, I would be tempted to leave well enough alone until you could add an AirPort Express "n" version, which would allow you to use the "extend a wireless network" setting. This is a much better performing arrangement and much easier to configure.
The WDS configuration is quite complex and frankly difficult for many users. To get an idea of the process, read over pages 42-44 in the Designing AirPort Networks Guide.
If you want to try this anyway, you will need reconfigure your Time Capsule and both Express devices to work in the WDS setup.

TIme capsule replaces Airport Express - method for success

I just got a 1TB timecapsule to replace an airport-express as our home wireless internet router - as well as keeping data backed up.
a couple of questions for those who may have successfully done this:
what is the best process to swap out airport express function with Time Capsule?
- (the apple manual assumes too many things go well and provides little detail on actual steps).
- if both devices are on to copy info from AP Express to Time Capsule, I end up with an IP conflict (each wanting to be 10.0.1.1) and I only see one at a time -- one on my home network, the other on the Time Capsule's default MAC-id based network.
- also, the Time Capsule tells me that I should update the firmware. except, since it's not hooked to the internet yet (not configured) it can't actually complete this step....how's that supposed to work?
suggestions, links to the right article in the apple site?
thanks

Hi
I never had very good luck with saving configurations and re-importing on my current Airport menagerie -- so I hadn't gone this route (also figured the two things would be incompatible).
However, I did just as you suggested and the Time Capsule imported the Express configuration readily, and aside from having to change a couple of security settings, rebooted fine.
For some reason, then the Time Capsule started working just like the Air Port Express. But, when I changed the name of the TC from Express back to something 'Time Capsule' and restarted - it was back to the old unresponsive way it was.
- so I went through this re-importing exercise several times.
When things finally stabilized, I noticed that the TC had some ups and downs with my ISP in getting an IP assigned. THis could have been from the ISP acting up the last week or so...or maybe the software?
But in the end - Time Capsule is up running and backing me up wirelessly.
Next trick is to add the Airport Express back into the network so we can stream some iTunes.
Thanks for the idea.
Oh - I guess this might also be of note - I hardwired the TC up to the iMac so I could continue the Time Machine back ups while I figured out the networking issues -- and it went ahead and updated it's firmware. Not sure if that helped or hindered so far - but it's running 7.4.2 now and I'm writing this reply via the TC.
Dave

One Time Capsule & Two Airport Express for Range Extension but will my time capsule hard drive be accessible to all the user on network ?

I am planning to buy 2TB time capsule which is [2TB hard drive + Airport Extreme] and two Airport Express to extend the range of my wifi network. we have a large family & because of that we have 1 macbook, 2 laptops , 2 desktops, 4 iphones, 2 ipads, 3 android phones, 2 apple tvs, 2 ps3's. all of these devices are on my Wifi network but some of them are off usually ps3, apple tv and desktops computers r off but still their is alot of traffic. Now i am buying this 2TB time capsule instead of Airport Extreme so that i can save money by getting 2TB hard drive for me only & not the whole family so i want to know if i can keep the hard drive private & at the same time i want to share my internet connection with all of these devices which belongs to my family members, will this be okay ? and they wont be able to access my hard drive ? & will i be able to access my hard drive if i m connected to any of those two airport express & not the main time capsule. indirectly i will be connected to time capsule by using airport expresses in client mode correct me if i am wrong

You can use TC with whatever wireless you currently have.. if it works you should not need to buy a pair of express as well. The best method is to bridge the TC and plug it into the main router.
You can certainly keep it private for your own access only.. simply set a disk password only you know. Easy.
As long as you have a single network, then wherever you connect in the network will be able to access the TC.. but also note file speeds to the TC with multiple wireless hops will be terrible slow.
Also note all security on the TC is an illusion. It is a home device.. press reset and anybody can then access it. You can even get past disk password. If you want security keep the device off the network.. use an external hard disk plugged directly into the computer.

I would like to set up a media server on time capsule using airport express and an ipad as a remote for dance studio

I am wanting to set up a network for my business and was hoping if someone could tell me how to do this and if it will indeed work. Or if you have any better ideas.
I want to transfer all music to Airport Time Capsule. I want to plug in the aiport express to my sound system. I want to access music through the ipad off the timecapsule to play it without downlaoding it on the ipad.
We currently use Icloud, but there is too much music and too many devices accessing for it to work effectively. I am running a dance studio so we need more music than what could ever be stored on an ipad/ipod.
As an extention to this, can we use multiple Airport expresses plugged into mutiple sound systems to simultaneously access different music from the same time capsule?
Any ideas would be so great!

The answer is not if you use iTunes.
The TC is NOT an iTunes server.. it is not a media device at all. It is a backup location for Time Machine.
You need a computer in the network which stores the iTunes library and you can then play it via the ipad.
A mini with a large USB drive plugged in will work fine.. it doesn't need to be new.. a couple of years old mini will work just as well.
As an extention to this, can we use multiple Airport expresses plugged into mutiple sound systems to simultaneously access different music from the same time capsule?
I am not sure.. there will be network limitations to this.
Look up how to use itunes in a network.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4620
You would do better perhaps posting the question in iTunes section.. if as I guess you are actually using iTunes.

My network, based on modem, wifi router (Airport Extreme),Time Capsule and Airport Express simply disconnects with all the lights green on the modem and Extreme, but the other components offline, 5 or so times per day. I suspect the Extreme.

I have a Cisco System3 modem, feeding an Airport Extreme, which connects wirelessly a Timecapsules and an Airport Express both of which extend the network, ie send out more WiFi signal. The system worked well for a long time, say a year and a half and then it started dropping out. All the lights on the modem and airport Extreme stay green, but the other two components are blinking yellow. I've tried limiting the channels, but there are few sources in my neighborhood. I have tried resetting the Extreme which worked for a week and now it's back to its random disconnect behavior. I have read some of these blogs and no one seems to know what to do, especially not Apple. Do I just get another router or what? What do I lose if I use a non Apple router and what would you suggest?

Welcome to the discussion area, Junkcanoe!
I don't have a setup like yours, but might be able to offer some assistance.
Basically I have two jacks, a TC and an AE and I'd like to create a roaming network. Both of them are set to bridge mode with the same SSID, WPA2 security, same password, etc.
This would be the normal way to set up a roaming network, but the wild card here is that we don't know anything about how the main router that supplies the ethernet connections (valid IP addresses) to the condos might be configured.
For example, most apartments, hotels, etc that provide ethernet jacks usually limit the number of devices that can connect to each jack. Hotels tend to limit this to one or two devices. I counted six devices that you say will work properly plus a few more. Since you have two separate ethernet jacks, you may be looking at a situation where each jack is allocated a total of 4 devices, or valid IP addresses.
The bottom line here is that we won't be able to make much progress until we know more how the main router there has been configured. Is it possible for you to ask the complex manager (who will probably need to ask the IT guy) how many devices are allowed to connect per ethernet jack? Another way to ask the same question is how may valid IP addresses will each ethernet jack allow?
If you can, could I ask you to perform an experiment? Rather than have both the AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule each connect to a separate ethernet jack, can you temporarily move one device near the other and connect them together using an ethernet cable? (Or, use a long ethernet cable if you don't want to move either device) LAN <-> port on one to LAN <-> port on the other. In other words, you'll only be using one of the ethernet ports in the condo for this experiment.
Any difference in performance or number of devices allowed to connect?
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

Time Capsule with Airport Express how does it know 802.11 b g or n?

Here is my setup:
Time Capsule 1 TB 802.11 b, g or n
Airport Express 802.11b or g
MacBook Pro 802.11 g
Powerbook G4 802.11 g
My question is: I have the Airport Express acting as a bridge to pass or repeat the signal to the upper floor of my home. If I use my MacBook Pro this is capable of achieving 802.11 g access will it either try and just connect directly to the TC and maintain that (N) connection or will it be forced to go where the signal is the strongest and go to the AE and automatically default to the max rate of 802.11 (g) of the airport express.
My Probook actually as no issue with full signal access to the TC which is on the first floor but for some reason the older PB G4 only can achieve at most three bars out of 4 but typically just two bars, thus the need for the bridge use of the Airport Express.
Thanks for the help.

Most of us are still trying to figure out how to add our Expresses and Airports as WDS bridges to TC, so consider yourself lucky. I think that adding a "g" device to an "n" network typically brings the whole network down to g speeds.

Time Capsule vs Airport Express & Sky Broadband

Hi,
I currently have a MacBook Pro 13'' 4GB i5. I also have a wifi 16GB iPad 3rd Gen, an iPhone 6, and an iPhone 5S and 5 in my household.
I have never back up my MacBook which I am concerned about as a friend of mine just lost their entire hard drive to a malfunction, I know this is rare but I don't want to take the chance of losing everything.
Also my Internet with Sky, more the router, is having trouble giving a a good signal to my flat, mainly the living room. It is a basement flat with very thick walls, which I guess is the problem. My Sky router is currently in the office, the other end of the flat, going through 2 brick walls and a partition wall. I was wondering whether a Time Capsule (2GB) would help me with signal issues, or would I have to get an Airport Express and place this closer to the living room?
Also do I have to use the ethernet cable to connect the Time Capsule? Or can I set it up wirelessly, negating the need for an Airport Express as I can place the Time Capsule closer to the living room?
Cheers
Huw118

If possible, I would recommend that you connect the Time Capsule directly to the Sky router using an Ethernet connection, then use an AirPort Extreme or AirPort Express to extend the Time Capsule wireless signal.
Performance wise, it is much better to "extend" by connecting the AirPort Extreme or Express to the Time Capsule using a wired Ethernet connection if at all possible, since wireless extension will always result in a drop of about half of the potential speed on the entire network.
Try to keep the Time Capsule at least 6-8 feet or a few meters away from the Sky router to help minimize the chances of wireless interference occurring between the two devices. Later on, if you discover that having two wireless access points is creating interference issues, you will need to look at turning off the wireless function on either the Sky router or Time Capsule.

How can I get my time capsule and airport express (as a network extension) working properly together?

Hi,
I bought a time capsule a while back and connected it to my modem, and it seems to be backing up my hard drives but I can't tell if I'm getting my wireless signal from my time capsule or from the modem itself, which used to before I bought the time capsule.
It's bugging me because I'm trying to get my airport express to work as an extension to my network, and airport utility half the time can't pick up the express. I heard that it will only work of the time capsule is working as the base station,and I'm not 100% sure this is the case.
Also, how far can the airport express be from my time capsule for it to be picked up? I tried resetting it which helped to start with, but when I was setting it up to extend my network it just told me that there was an error and to try again, which I did with the same result.
Any advice would be much appreciated!
Cheers

Always do setups with ethernet.. setting up wireless via wireless is like cutting off the branch you are sitting on.
You do not need the TC in the network to do the setup.
Plug it by itself into the computer. Same with AE. But do each separately.
Give the TC a different wireless name.. like TC.. then you will know the TC wireless is separate and different to the main modem router. Simply allow it to be extended.
Plug it back into the main modem.
Now do the AE.. set it to extend the wireless of the TC.
When you do this check the signal level. The airport utility v5 has a full diagnostic of wireless client levels.. do not use v6 utility.. it is useless. The AE is placed somewhere in between the TC and the clients you want to connect.. it has to get decent signal itself to extend wireless. And there is no way we can tell you how far apart.. pick the half way point.. around about and suck and see. If it doesn't work move closer to the TC.
Count the walls the signal is going through.. about 15% signal loss for each one.. if angle is acute 20%.. floors are worse.. they might be 20-25%..

Will Time Capsule or Airport Express resolve my WiFi problem?

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