Shaft80

Q: Time Capsule 2TB

Hi All,

 

Firstly, please forgive me... I'm not very techy at all!

 

I've just purchased a Time Capsule for my new iMac, I have the Time Capsule plugged into my Sky router and my iMac and a home-plug plugged into my Sky router - first question, should I transfer my iMac and home-plug ethernet cables from my router to the Time Capsule?

 

Secondly, the Time Capsule is giving me great speeds on my iPhone in my study, where it's located, however, when I move the iPhone to my living room it keeps dropping connection and reverting to 3G/4G... I've never had this when my phone is connected to my Sky router and I thought the Time Capsule was supposed to be better.  I have the latest firmware update, is there anything else you good people can recommend... is it a setting?

 

Any help will be gratefully received.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Stephen

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015), iOS 9.3.2

Posted on Jun 19, 2016 9:51 AM

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Q: Time Capsule 2TB

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  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Jun 19, 2016 11:44 AM in response to Shaft80
    Level 9 (54,452 points)
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    Jun 19, 2016 11:44 AM in response to Shaft80

    I've just purchased a Time Capsule for my new iMac, I have the Time Capsule plugged into my Sky router and my iMac and a home-plug plugged into my Sky router - first question, should I transfer my iMac and home-plug ethernet cables from my router to the Time Capsule?

    First by "home-plug" are you referring to the HomePlug powerline adapters? Second, what is the exact make & model of your Sky router? Finally, if I understand you correctly, you have both the new Time Capsule (TC) and the HomePlug adapter connected directly to the Sky router ... correct?

  • by Shaft80,

    Shaft80 Shaft80 Jun 19, 2016 12:05 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 19, 2016 12:05 PM in response to Tesserax

    Hi, thanks for the response.

     

    I have a Billion home-plug which one end is connected to my Sky router (in my study) and the other plug (in my living room) is connected to my PS4.  I also have the iMac connected direct to the Sky router.  You are correct, I also have the Time Capsule connected directly to the Sky router... not sure if I have too many things plugged into the router or if I should have the iMac and home-plug connected to the TC?

     

    The Sky router I have is the black one - model SR102... not sure if that's enough information?  If not, do you know where I can find what you're asking for?

     

    Kind regards,

     

    Stephen

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Jun 19, 2016 12:37 PM in response to Shaft80
    Level 9 (54,452 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 19, 2016 12:37 PM in response to Shaft80

    Thanks for the updated info. Your Sky Hub SR102 is a combination modem and wireless gateway device. One issue is if you plan on leaving the TC near the Sky Hub you may have Wi-Fi interference issues doing so.

     

    What I suggest is that you move the TC to the room where you have the other home-plug adapter and PS4 located. Connect the Ethernet cable coming from the home-plug to the WAN (circle-of-dots) port on the TC. You an then connect another Ethernet cable between one of the available LAN (opposing arrows) port on the TC to the Ethernet port on the PS4.

     

    You also have a few more choices to make:

    • With the TC connected by Ethernet (via the home-plug adapters), it will be in a "Double NAT" condition with the Sky Hub. This is not an efficient way to operate your network. To resolve this we just need to reconfigure the TC as a bridge.
    • The other choice is re configuring the TC and the Sky Hub into a roaming network setup. With this type of set up, any wireless network client can connect to either wireless router and still be on the same network. This network would also require that the TC be in bridge mode, so it would solve both issues.

    Let us know if you wish to pursue this and we can assist you with the set up.

  • by Shaft80,

    Shaft80 Shaft80 Jun 19, 2016 2:03 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 19, 2016 2:03 PM in response to Tesserax

    Firstly, thank you so much for taking the time to help me Tesserax.

     

    I'll be perfectly honest, I'm not 100% sure what is the best option, nor do I fully understand what you've said (I really am not very techy at all)

     

    I'll happily follow your advice... whatever you think is the best option?  I basically just want the best connection I can get... I haven't had any huge problems with my Sky Hub, and whilst I did buy the TC to back up data on my Mac, I also bought it because I read it can give better WiFi connection... my Sky Hub only provides 2ghz I believe, whereas the the TC provides 5ghz which I understand to be a better connection with my Apple products.  So, basically, whatever I can do to get the best possible connection.

     

    One final question, do I definitely have to move my TC... I'd prefer to have it in the study if possible, i.e. is there no way I can stop the Sky Hub from interfering with it?  No problems if not, I'll move it tomorrow if that's my only choice.

     

    Thanks again for your continued help.

  • by Tesserax,Helpful

    Tesserax Tesserax Jun 20, 2016 12:19 AM in response to Shaft80
    Level 9 (54,452 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 20, 2016 12:19 AM in response to Shaft80

    No problem, glad to help.

     

    Ok, my suggestion to move the TC is, just that, a suggestion. The other option is to leave it connected directly to the Sky Hub. Instead we will just need to disable the Sky Hub's wireless radio to prevent the two from interfering with each other.

     

    In order to do so, you will need to get a hold of the user's guide for this device. Here is a link for future reference. It also looks like you can download user guides from here. Worst case, you can contact your ISP and tell them you need to disable the Sky Hub's wireless radio and ask them for the step-by-step instructions to do so.

     

    Once the Sky Hub's radio has been disabled, we still need to reconfigure the TC as a bridge.

     

    To do so, you will need to use the AirPort Utility, as follows:

    • Run the AirPort Utility.
    • Select the TC, and then, select Edit.
    • Select the Network tab.
    • Change Router Mode to: Off (Bridge Mode).
    • Click on OK, and allow the TC to restart.
  • by Shaft80,

    Shaft80 Shaft80 Jun 20, 2016 12:36 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 20, 2016 12:36 AM in response to Tesserax

    Thanks for this... I'll have a look into trying your suggestion tonight.

     

    Some questions though, I'm afraid... hope you have the time:

     

    1)  I have a Sky TV box as well, and it communicates via WiFi to my Sky Hub - if I turn the wireless radio off of my Sky Hub then presumably the Sky Box will not be able to communicate via WiFi? (as I doubt it will use the TC... or am I wrong?)

    2)  I have a BT Duel Band WiFi Extender 600 on my top floor, will I be able to connect this to the TC (or is this something I'd have to consult there literature on)

    3)  Should I connect my other ethernet's (i.e. iMac and Home Plug) directly to the TC... or does it not matter if I'm only disabling the wireless radio of the Sky Hub?

     

    I presume the answers above will lead me to moving the TC to my living room... if I follow the guide from your previous message does this mean that I would have one network and that devices would switch between both my TC and Sky Hub as required without me having to manually select which network they should use?  Not sure if I'm making sense, but ultimately would my Sky TV box still communicate with my Sky Hub, but my iPhone use either the Sky Hub or the TC depending on what device gives the best signal?

     

    Sorry for all the stupid questions... this really is completely alien to me.  Thanks again for your ongoing support.

     

    Kind regards,

     

    Stephen 

  • by Tesserax,Helpful

    Tesserax Tesserax Jun 20, 2016 12:58 PM in response to Shaft80
    Level 9 (54,452 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 20, 2016 12:58 PM in response to Shaft80

    1)  I have a Sky TV box as well, and it communicates via WiFi to my Sky Hub - if I turn the wireless radio off of my Sky Hub then presumably the Sky Box will not be able to communicate via WiFi? (as I doubt it will use the TC... or am I wrong?)

    If your Sky TV box only requires a Wi-Fi connection then is shouldn't matter which wireless router you use to connect it to. However, you would have to reconfigure the box to connect to the proper Wi-Fi network.

    2)  I have a BT Duel Band WiFi Extender 600 on my top floor, will I be able to connect this to the TC (or is this something I'd have to consult there literature on)

    Most likely, the BT extender will NOT work with the TC if the connection between them will be wireless. This is typically because each manufacturer use their own propriety methods to extend their own network's wireless networks.

     

    What is will come down to is exactly what is(are) your networking goal(s) for the TC and then understand the limitations that are imposed by implementing a mixed-vendor network.

    3)  Should I connect my other ethernet's (i.e. iMac and Home Plug) directly to the TC... or does it not matter if I'm only disabling the wireless radio of the Sky Hub?

    It shouldn't matter. I am assuming that the Sky Hub uses 1 Gbps Ethernet ports as the TC does.

    I presume the answers above will lead me to moving the TC to my living room... if I follow the guide from your previous message does this mean that I would have one network and that devices would switch between both my TC and Sky Hub as required without me having to manually select which network they should use?

    That is correct.

    Not sure if I'm making sense, but ultimately would my Sky TV box still communicate with my Sky Hub, but my iPhone use either the Sky Hub or the TC depending on what device gives the best signal?

    Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the inner workings of the relationship between these two Sky products. If the TV box requires connectivity to the Sky Hub (and not to just any other wireless router), it should continue to work with this roaming style network by connecting to the Hub ... but that will depend on where it is located with respect to that Hub. Make sense?

  • by Shaft80,

    Shaft80 Shaft80 Jun 20, 2016 12:57 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 20, 2016 12:57 PM in response to Tesserax

    Hi Tesserax,

     

    With your help, I've finally identified what the issue is.  I removed the WiFi settings from my Sky Hub and turned off my BT extender (as there was no need to keep it on with the Sky Hub off) and I found that my network was still crashing off of the TC network in my living room.  So, thinking the issue cannot be interference, I turned the WiFi back on with my Sky Hub, however, at this point I found that the internet was still crashing in my living room.  I couldn't for the life of me figure out why until I realised that the BT extender was still off, I ran to the top floor (it's a 3 storey house) and turned on the BT extender and as a result I once again get good signal in my living room.  This explains why it was never working with the TC, as this doesn't utilise the BT extender!

     

    So, I guess I'm faced with either using my TC in the living room as part of my network in conjunction with my Sky Hub and BT extender or not using the new network from my TC at all.  I presume, if I move my TC to the living room then I probably won't need the BT extender.

     

    I guess one last question from me would be, if I move the TC to the living room, should I change the setting from Bridge to Extend Network in the Airport Utility?

     

    Anyway, thanks for your patience and perseverance, it's a relief to know that nothing is wrong with my TC, there must be just something that blocks the WiFi signal between rooms but not ceilings in my house

     

    Kind regards,

     

    Stephen

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Jun 20, 2016 4:32 PM in response to Shaft80
    Level 9 (54,452 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 20, 2016 4:32 PM in response to Shaft80

    If all you really need the TC for is to be the destination for Time Machine backups, for a file server, or even a print server, then the simplest solution would be to leave the TC directly connected to the Sky Hub. Then just reconfigure the TC as a bridge and disable its Wi-Fi radios.

     

    You already know how to configure it as a bridge, so the following are the steps to disable its radios:

    • Run the AirPort Utility, select the TC, and then, select Edit.
    • Select the Wireless tab.
    • Change Network Mode to: Off
    • Select Update and allow the TC to restart.

     

    Note: One thing I want to mention just so you are aware of it. Some others on this forum claim that Apple does not recommend Time Machine backups to the TC with wireless disabled. I haven't fully investigated this to verify this. However, in my experience, I have never found this to be an issue with Time Machine backups and have been doing so since my first TC (a third generation 802.11n model). Just wanted to let you know.

  • by Shaft80,

    Shaft80 Shaft80 Jun 24, 2016 3:26 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 24, 2016 3:26 PM in response to Tesserax

    Thanks Tesserax and sorry for the delay in my reply, I've been away.

     

    I do actually want to use all features of the TC as such I'm going to follow your original suggestion, i.e. move the TC to my living room and and connect it to my home plug via an ethernet, and then I presume I'll change the setting on my AirPort Utility to 'extend my network'.

     

    Hopefully this will give me better WiFi around my house, I guess it just means back-ups to the TC may take longer than they would if I had a direct ethernet link from my iMac to the TC.

     

    Anyway, thanks again for your support - it's great to meet people on these forums who take the time to help other less clued up

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Jun 25, 2016 8:53 AM in response to Shaft80
    Level 9 (54,452 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 25, 2016 8:53 AM in response to Shaft80

    I do actually want to use all features of the TC as such I'm going to follow your original suggestion, i.e. move the TC to my living room and and connect it to my home plug via an ethernet, and then I presume I'll change the setting on my AirPort Utility to 'extend my network'.

     

    No, in this case you want to configure the TC for "Create a wireless network" to be used in a roaming network configuration with your Sky Hub. The "Extend a wireless network" setting would only be used for when: 1) The connection between devices will be wireless, and 2) The other devices is another AirPort base station.