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Helpful answers
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Sep 12, 2016 9:25 AM in response to Greyseanby Tesserax,What exact model is your "older" Time Capsule?
However, you should be aware that there have been numerous posts here at the Apple Support Communities related to the Arris/Motorola SB61XX-series of modems with the 802.11n or 802.11ac AirPort base stations. Neither are bad in themselves, but they don't seem to "play nice" together. The most common symptoms reported are slow data transfer rates and inconsistent Internet connectivity.
If this be the case for you, the basic option is to replace one or the other. Depending on how old your Time Capsule is, it may be due for a replacement.
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Sep 12, 2016 9:28 AM in response to Tesseraxby Greysean,Thank you for responding. I bought the current one in the spring of 2012. Ugh! The Arris I bought end of February/begining of March - not cheap, it was on Comcast's list and the guy at Best Buy thought it would be the best one to last a while. Wow, seems like the modums should list if they have issues with apple products. That isn't good.
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Sep 12, 2016 9:40 AM in response to Greyseanby Greysean,The problem I have is the appoved modums for Comcast and very hard to find here so this seemed to be the best option. Comcast brought one of their modums and it wouldn't connect with the time capsuel as all. So that wasn't an option. Now don't know what to do.
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Sep 12, 2016 9:47 AM in response to Greyseanby Tesserax,Ok, thanks. That would make your Time Capsule a 4th generation model. These came out in June 2011 and were discontinued two year later. Apple still considers these as "Supported." However, it would be out of the AppleCare time frame.
FWIW, typical consumer-grade networking hardware have a useful life of around 5 years. That assumes that the device is operated 24x7, which would be normal. As you can see, yours is still (barely) in that time frame.
The Arris may be on Comcast's supported list, but most (if not all) ISPs, do not offer support beyond their provided equipment. That typically means anything connected to the modem or gateway that they provide ... so the likelihood of them notifying you that the Arris 61XX-series may be a problem with Apple hardware is just not going to happen.
If you want to consider replacing the modem instead, you shouldn't go wrong with either Cisco DPC3008 or Zoom 5341J models. Both should also be supported by Comcast.
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Sep 12, 2016 9:51 AM in response to Tesseraxby Greysean,Thank you!! So I think you are saying to definiately replace the modum (actually meant Arris should mention may not be compatible with Apple not Comcast - but know neither will do that) but that the Time Capsule is due to be replaced as well?
Is there a reason it was discontuned after only two years? I have a new macbook so I have apple care on it. Would I have to buy it again for the time capsule as well, you may not know this but thought I'd ask.
Thank you very much!
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Sep 12, 2016 10:15 AM in response to Greyseanby Tesserax,So I think you are saying to definiately replace the modum (actually meant Arris should mention may not be compatible with Apple not Comcast - but know neither will do that) but that the Time Capsule is due to be replaced as well?
My advice would be for you to consider the following:
- Replace the modem. If you are renting it from Comcast, just have them come out and replace it.
- As long as your TC is working and you want to stay with Apple routers, I would recommend that you hold off from replacing it for now. The reason is the the latest 802.11ac model came out over 3 years ago and is falling (technology-wise) with its competitors. I can't say if and when Apple will offer a new version, but again, I would wait. Your call, of course.
Is there a reason it was discontuned after only two years?
Apple has typically released new models every couple of years, so you shouldn't be concerned that they do. They also do not announce newer models until just before they make them available for purchase so none of us fellow Apple-product users either know or can say.
I have a new macbook so I have apple care on it. Would I have to buy it again for the time capsule as well, you may not know this but thought I'd ask.
Apple will replace defective base stations for up to one year from purchase. That increases to three years if you purchase a qualifying Apple product along with it.
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Sep 12, 2016 10:59 AM in response to Tesseraxby Greysean,Again, Thank you so much. No Comcast brought one of their new modums last March but it wouldn't work with the Time Capsule so I had just purchased the Arris 6190 in March.
Yes! That does make sense to wait on replacing the Time Capsule. Wow, I didn't know that competitors were doing better with a router/backup system. I will check that out as well. Thank you very much for your time and all your patient help. This has been an ongoing problem with what you described and it never occured to me to check here about the modum not being compatiable. Makes sense I've had such internet issues from 2012 when I got the Time capsule and must not have worked properly with modums. What a mess - I can't tell you how bad it has been but nice to finally get some answers! Thanks again.
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Sep 12, 2016 3:43 PM in response to Greyseanby Greysean,★HelpfulSorry one more question - when you talk about the 802.11 or 802.11AC is that in reference to the TC or the air ports that I also use? I'm asking cause it seems like if I use TC as my main router and the airports to extend the range then they all should be apple products. Just trying to clarify. Thank you!
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Sep 12, 2016 3:43 PM in response to Greyseanby LaPastenague,★HelpfulI didn't know that competitors were doing better with a router/backup system
The product cycle for AC wireless is speeding up. I would have to say from an Apple point of view the routers from Asus or Netgear etc are fine but the Time Machine backup included is less than great.
FWIW, typical consumer-grade networking hardware have a useful life of around 5 years.
The airport extreme lasts a lot longer than the Time Capsule which has a much harder life. Using an inbuilt hard disk adds to heat and load.. and honestly 3 years is our rule of thumb. The Gen4 TC has a nasty fault where it can suddenly fail due to poor board soldering.. it is fixable for the real DIYer.. but if yours is going well stick to it. BUT be ready for failure.. and that might mean buying a USB drive for backups and storing any files you have on the TC.
Makes sense I've had such internet issues from 2012 when I got the Time capsule
The Gen4 was less problematic with ethernet port on the cable modems than later AC version.. but definitely got worse with later firmware.. Let me recommend you at least try a factory reset and downgrade firmware to 7.6.1.
Redo the setup and use the following rules.
New version of TC reset.
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.
Setup the TC again.
Then redo the setup from the computer you want to use for TM using Airport Utility.
1. Use very short names.. NOT APPLE RECOMMENDED names. No spaces and pure alphanumerics.
eg TCgen5 for basestation and TCwifi wireless name.
If the wireless is still a problem set wireless names like TC24ghz and set the 5ghz to different name.. eg.TC5ghz
2. Use all passwords that also comply with 1. but can be a bit longer. ie 8-20 characters mixed case and numbers.. no non-alphanumerics.
**3. If the TC is main router you can skip this point. This is only an issue when the TC is bridged.
Ensure the TC always takes the same IP address.. you will need to do this on the main router using dhcp reservation.. or a bit more complex setup using static IP in the TC.
Ignore this point if you don't understand it .. post back if you have drop out issues.
4. Make sure IPv6 is set correctly in the computer. ie link-local only for ethernet and/or wireless depending on which you use. Auto is not good enough.
On a cable modem you will have it setup as router so point 3 can be ignored.
However it is important to realise if you have extended wireless that can be a major problem.
it seems like if I use TC as my main router and the airports to extend the range then they all should be apple products.
Yes, wireless extend on apple products works only between apple routers..
That does not mean you cannot setup a different main router and still use multiple apple routers as Wireless Access Points.
I am stuck on adsl for now and Apple router cannot handle PPPOE properly (every other router does). So I have
Bridged modem--TP-Link C5 router--Apple Time Capsule AC -- Apple Extreme Gen5 - - - - - Apple Extreme Gen5.
-- are wired connections - - - - is wireless extend.
I do have a few other bits turned off at the moment. None of this is hard as long as you link everything with ethernet.
Use wireless extend only for those difficult to reach places.
One more note.. I have moved to using a Synology NAS as a target for time machine.. (as well as the Gen5 TC which died recently and needed an overhaul.. engine and transmission rebuild.. you get the idea.) That was less than 2 years old. It is also the third one in 3 years.. the first one was dead inside a week.. the second one had poor wireless. They are far from a solid product.
I was much happier with the Gen3 or Gen4 models whatever their faults.
One more comment.
Time Machine is less and less reliable..
I am strongly recommending people to at least add another type of backup. I use Carbon Copy Cloner to a USB drive plugged directly to the computer and set to bootable clone. That way I can boot a computer immediately after the backup and know it works.
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Sep 12, 2016 3:43 PM in response to LaPastenagueby Greysean,Wow, that is a lot of information for a non-technical person but I can understand most of it. It looks like you are using your old TC just as a router now that you have the new one even though it seems to have a lot of problems. I also understand you are saying even though my TC hasn't ever had a problem, it won't last much longer. But that I can try and do the factory reset if I have someone else to help me but it won't delete all my information, correct?
The airports are both hardwired to the TC and the TC to the modem.
I called Arris to see if they had any suggestions before while figuring out what I need to buy. They were extremely nice over the phone and of course everything was working perfectly but he told me some things to try the next time it gets intermittent or slow and have a case number to call in with results.
I do like the TC ability to back up without giving it a thought. But really hate the thought of losing all the data when it fails. I'm not sure what a Synology NAS is but I'm thinking that is your thought to replace a TC? Will have to look that up. Thank you very much for your help. I will try and reset it once I have someone to help me and look up some of the other things you mentioned.
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Sep 12, 2016 4:04 PM in response to Greyseanby LaPastenague,But that I can try and do the factory reset if I have someone else to help me but it won't delete all my information, correct?
You only delete the files on the TC by deliberate action .. ie using erase in airport utility or delete in Finder.
No reset of any sort will delete files on a TC disk.
I do like the TC ability to back up without giving it a thought. But really hate the thought of losing all the data when it fails. I'm not sure what a Synology NAS is but I'm thinking that is your thought to replace a TC? Will have to look that up.
The data on the TC should just be backups and are probably not that relevant .. if you have copied files to the TC directly and deleted them from your computer then you MUST backup the TC.. NOW. Buy a USB drive of 2TB or greater.. plug it into the TC and select archive from the disk tab.
Archive disk will copy all files on the TC to the USB drive.
A synology NAS is a network file server.. they cost from $200-over $1000.. but you don't need to buy the top model.
You can mix the network with an airport extreme rather than a Time Capsule.. if you want to stick to apple products.
One further note.. you can save the current configuration of the TC.
Click on the TC icon and then open the File Menu.. Select Export Configuration.. if you ever need to return to the exact current configuration use Import configuration file.. do it.. do it NOW>


