Time Capsule is a Network?

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Time Capsule is a Network?

I recieved my Time Capsule today. So I went about reading the instructions. After this I went about setting it up. I have done as the instructions say and connected the TC to my modem (which is a wireless netgear modem), then I plugged it in and it started up. I accessed Airport from my PC (As my MB Air is in for a service) only to notice that my Time Capsule is being recognised by Airport as a network ("Apple Network ab05b0"). Any ideas!?! Because I'm really not happy, and this ahas taken 4 hours to get to this point, via multiple re-readings of the manual.

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jun 5, 2009 4:45 PM

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Answer 1

Tesserax

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Jun 5, 2009 4:57 PM in response to BowezyNo1

Hello BowezyNo1. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!

Yes, somewhat similar to your Netgear modem, the Time Capsule (TC) is an wireless Internet router ... so, in essence, you now have two wireless routers in your network configuration.

Typically you would reconfigure the downstream router, in this case the TC, as a bridge to allow the upstream router (Netgear) to continue to provide both NAT & DHCP services for the entire network.

How would you like to use your new TC? For example, for just being a target for Time Machine backups? Will the TC be connected directly to the Netgear via Ethernet or do you plan on just accessing it wirelessly?

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Answer 2

BowezyNo1 Author

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Jun 5, 2009 5:12 PM in response to Tesserax

Well I wanted it so I can just access it via my Macbook Air and my PC, I don't really need for it to be connected to the router. But I disconnected it from my Netgear router and Airport Utility continues to pick it up as a network!! And its really confusing me now as to why!

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Answer 3

Tesserax

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148,619 points

Jun 5, 2009 10:10 PM in response to BowezyNo1

But I disconnected it from my Netgear router and Airport Utility continues to pick it up as a network!! And its really confusing me now as to why!

Again, the default configuration for the TC is a wireless router. Even if you disconnect it from the Netgear router, it will broadcast its own wireless network. The default name is "Apple Network XXXXXX" where the Xs are the last six digits of the TC's AirPort ID.

So, in this configuration, you would have to "switch" wireless networks between accessing the Internet (Netgear) or accessing the TC.

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Answer 4

BowezyNo1 Author

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Jun 6, 2009 12:40 AM in response to Tesserax

So the best thing to do would be disconnect my Netgear router and just use the TC?

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Answer 5

BowezyNo1 Author

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Jun 6, 2009 2:17 AM in response to BowezyNo1

Another thing is that when it finds the "Apple Network" as its been restored to default settings, the network has not got the right name.
Network Name: Apple Network ab05b0
Airport ID: 00:24:36:AB:05:AF
I thought the letters and numbers in the network name had to be the last 6 digits of the AirPort ID?!

Also when AirPort finds the network and I click continue, it tries to connect to the network and then it says "Detecting Apple Wireless Devices". Once it gets to the end of that an error message appears.

"An error occurred while trying to access the Apple wireless device. Make sure your network connection is valid and try again."

I've had this message nearly every time I try and start the set up process.

Message was edited by: BowezyNo1

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Answer 6

Tesserax

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148,619 points

Jun 6, 2009 9:07 AM in response to BowezyNo1

Since you really haven't defined your network requirements I can only assume that you would like to be able to access the Internet and the TC simultaneously without having to switch wireless networks.

If that is correct, you would need to do the following:
o Connect the TC directly to the Netgear router via Ethernet.
o Reconfigure the TC as a bridge.
o Rename the default Network Name on the TC to the same one used by the Netgear.
o Configure the TC to use the same wireless encryption used by the Netgear.
o Change the radio channel on the TC to at least 3-5 channels away from the Netgear's to prevent interference.

In this configuration, wireless clients can access both the Internet and the TC through the Netgear's wireless network.

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Answer 7

BowezyNo1 Author

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Jun 6, 2009 12:43 PM in response to Tesserax

Sorry, but yes thats what I would like to do! But in that is where my problems lie, as the TC will not let me configure it to do anything! I find it on AirPort Utility as a Network and it trys to connect to that network then tries to find Apple Wireless Devices and that where I get the error message I mentioned before. And it carries on in this horrible circle every time!

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Answer 8

Tesserax

Level 10

148,619 points

Jun 6, 2009 1:06 PM in response to BowezyNo1

No problem. Ok, let's start by getting the AirPort Utility to "see" the TC properly.

Please try the following:
o Power-down the Netgear, TC, and MBA. Order is not critical.
o If currently connected by Ethernet, disconnect the TC from the Netgear.
o Perform a "hard" reset on the TC.
o With power still off, reconnect the TC to the Netgear connecting an Ethernet cable between any of Netgear's available LAN ports and the WAN (circle-of-dots) port on the TC.
o Power-on the Netgear; wait at least 10-15 minutes.
o Plug-in the TC; wait at least 5-10 minutes.
o Power-on the MBA.
o From the MBA, run the AirPort Utility, and then, select the TC. (Note: The Netgear should NOT show up in the AirPort Utility list of available routers.) With your MBA connected wirelessly to the Netgear and the TC connected by Ethernet to the Netgear, the TC should show up in the AirPort Utility.

Let me know if the AirPort Utility can now "see" the TC.

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