Connecting Time Capsule to Linksys router

My first idea was to simply use the Linksys as a router and connect my Time Capsule to it for the Time Machine backups.

This would be the correct way to set things up. I do not know why the Linksys router is unable to connect to the Internet in this type of setup when it should.

Using this configuration, will my iMac and Macbook be able to connect wirelessly to the TC for the Time Machine backups?   

No, if I am understanding your setup correctly, since the Linksys router is producing a separate network using a different subnet from the Time Capsule network. So, while you might be able to access the Internet from devices that are on the Linksys network, devices on the Linksys network will not be able to "see" devices on the Time Capsule network.

You can check to see if this is the case very easily by connecting your Mac to the Linksys WiFi and testing to see whether it is possible for you to run a backup from your Mac to the Time Capsule. What happens if you try this?

If not, should I connect the TC and the Linksys with another Ethernet cable? Or the USB ports?

No, this will hot help solve the issue of separate networks.

Should I disconnect the wifi on the TC since I’m no longer using it?

You can do this if you find that you actually can connect to the Linksys WiFi and back up to the Time Capsule. But as I said, if I am understanding your current setup correctly, I would be very surprised if this works. Chances are, if you want to back up to the TC using WiFi, you need to connect your Mac(s) to the TC wireless network for that service.

Show me a screenshot from airport utility showing the summary page.. in a Mac just click on the icon and give me the summary.

From that we should be able to work out what is going on.. I suspect you have double NAT or something similar.

Does the VPN work?

If you plug the linksys into the TC can you establish a vpn out.. I kind of suspect even that might be blocked.

Or you can try it with a computer.

Plug a computer directly to the ethernet port at the top set to DHCP.. and tell me a screenshot showing what address you get. Please give it to me in full.. if it is public we will get mod here to delete the post once I see it. But I need to see what it is giving you along with gateway and DNS.. you can easily get all that info from the computer.

From the computer you can try establishing the vpn directly to whatever service you wish to use.

I suspect the reason the Apple TC works and the Linksys does not is kind of simple. You are on a private IP arrangement and it is clashing with the Linksys IP.

But for some very strange reason, the Linksys router can’t seem to connect to the ISP here. So I’m forced to continue using my Time Capsule to connect to the ISP.

You will do better figuring out the problem..

Most ISP do not allow a rapid swap of routers.. ie the public IP is captured by the first device to connect. This is very dependent on where you are in the world and actual type of internet you have.

There are three ways around the problem. The simplest is to wait long enough for the lease to expire. This is often set to around 15min. So turn off the modem for 15min.. then perhaps try 30min and then overnight.

When you start up the modem make sure the first device connected is the Linksys router.. that will give it the best chance of capturing the IP.. and you can then setup the vpn service and hopefully access what you want.

Second is to ring the ISP and ask for a port reset because you are changing routers.

Third method.

You can sometimes do the same thing using MAC address spoofing.

The wan address of the TC can be replicated in the Linksys configuration.. as far as the ISP is then concerned you have simply powered your router off and on again.. and they are none the wiser.

MAC address can be seen if you look at the airport utility.. hold option key and double click on the TC..

You will then get the full summary page.

MAC address is the ethernet address as you can see.

24:A2:E1:E9:10:F4

can't switch off the modem - it's just a cable that comes out of the wall.

Previously, you had said that.......Right now, my modem cable is connected to the WAN port in the TC......so LaPastenague and I took that at face value.

I can't call the ISP... they don't speak English!

If you are saying that your TC connects directly to an Ethernet wall port, then the TC is connecting to another router......a completely different setup than connecting to a modem.

With some additional troubleshooting, the Linksys can likely connect directly to the Ethernet wall port and function correctly. Stay tuned for some more feedback from LaPastenague since he will now have a clearer picture of your current setup.

The cable coming from the wall is connected to some type of electric box that looks like a modem (it also has some telephone wires connected to it).

What is the manufacturer name and model number of the electric box that looks like a modem? If you could take a few pictures and post some screenshots of the device that would really help.

Yes, just email me direct. rayhav@gmail.com

this I don't understand but it's very convenient. However to access files on the TC, I have to switch networks...

Ok..

“Curiouser and curiouser!” Cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English).”

Talk to me direct and I will get you to do some other tests.. but there is no way that Time Machine should work.. and then to multiply the confusion you cannot access the TC.