Editing ISP Details In Apple Router For New Broadband Service

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Editing ISP Details In Apple Router For New Broadband Service

For years my home broadband set-up has been a basic D-Link ADSL modem connected to my 3TB Time Capsule which was my router. This set-up worked very well with no problems.

I’ve recently changed my ISP and upgraded my set-up to a VDSL (fibre) service.

My new ISP have sent me a snazzy Fritzbox! VDSL home router which I currently have connected up, providing my wireless home network and working fine.

I now want to ditch the Fritzbox! and have a similar set-up to the one I had before i.e. a modem providing the wired signal to my Time Capsule which will be my wireless router.

I’ve recently purchased a Draytek (Vigor 130) VDSL modem to do the job. I have gone through the modem set-up process and activated bridge mode. I’ve connected the modem up to my MBP via ethernet to test if I am getting the internet and I am. That too is working fine.

Now my question is what are the next steps with regard to connecting the modem to my Time Capsule to get it (the TC) to act as my wireless router once more?

When the new Fritzbox! router arrived 10 days ago I unplugged the Time Capsule and haven’t touched it since. It is still sitting there with all my previous internet and home network SSID settings and passwords still in it. I am very happy for those home network settings to not be changed.

I’m hoping that all I need to do to get my TC up and running again is to connect the modem to it (via ethernet), and then access Airport Utility and just replace the user name and password with the ones my new ISP has given me. And then hopefully it (wireless internet) should work straight away. Can you tell me if this is correct or are there any additional tasks that I will need to carry out.

I would like to not have to go through the full process of resetting the Time Capsule and entering all my network settings etc again from scratch if it can be avoided.

By the way, I’m not interested in keeping the Fritzbox! running and using that as a bridge although I know I can. I’d just like the VDSL modem and Time Capsule set-up as detailed above.

I’m using a Macbook Pro on 10.14.6 (Mojave) and I access Airport Utility on my Mac (not on iOS).

Any help you can give would be much appreciated.

Posted on Nov 14, 2019 7:11 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Bob Timmons

Community+ 2025

Level 10

184,772 points

Nov 14, 2019 9:51 AM in response to nicpalm

I thought that once a connection between the modem and TC was established it was just a case of entering the ISP's user name and password (and new static I.P address) to get the router up and running.

This would be the case.....IF....the TC has been reset back to its default settings, so that it will pick up the new settings that it needs from the new ISP and modem.

But, if you do not reset the TC and try to connect the TC to the new modem, the TC is going to use the "old" settings that it used to connect to your old modem and ISP.

Chances are, you won't be able to even see the settings on the TC to try to change them manually, even if your new ISP has provided a list of requirements to manually connect to their service.

There is no harm in trying to work with the TC "as is", but it will be much more complicated to try this approach. If things don't work, you will still have to reset the TC and start over again. We can't tell you what settings your ISP would need to provide to you to try changing things manually.......you would need to get that information from your ISP.

It's years since I've delved into router settings and the thought of it makes me cringe although I'm okay with general computer use.

When you start from a factory default condition on the TC Apple's setup software is supposed to detect the new modem and ISP details and automatically configure the TC to work correctly on a basic connection. You will still have to name the wireless network and setup a password, etc during the setup though.

By the way, resetting the TC will not affect any of the stored data on the TC hard drive. Only the network settings are affected when the TC is reset.

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Answer 2

Nov 14, 2019 7:36 AM in response to nicpalm

I would like to not have to go through the full process of resetting the Time Capsule and entering all my network settings etc again from scratch if it can be avoided.

You have changed both the ISP and "modem". It is extremely unlikely that the Time Capsule would be able to pick up the new settings that it needs from your new ISP and modem unless you reset the Time Capsule and then set it up again.

If you do not want to reset the Time Capsule, then it will retain the old settings that it used to connect to your "old" ISP and modem.....and you will be faced with having to guess at what settings to change and which to leave alone.

I suppose it is possible that your ISP would be able to provide you with the exact settings that would be required for a router to connect to their service and also tell you which settings to leave alone on the Time Capsule, but is also unlikely that they will be willing to do this.

It is up to you to decide how you want to proceed.

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Answer 3

Nov 14, 2019 10:18 AM in response to nicpalm

I am assuming that the TC is already powered on. To reset the TC, you would simply hold in the reset button on the back of the device for 7-8 seconds and release.

Allow a full minute for the TC to restart back to a slow, blinking amber light status. The TC has been reset.

Connect the Ethernet cable from the modem to the WAN "O" port on the TC.

Post back if you need a few more tips on using Apple's AirPort Utility setup "wizard" to reconfigure the TC.

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Answer 4

nicpalm Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 14, 2019 8:24 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Okay thanks for that. I thought that once a connection between the modem and TC was established it was just a case of entering the ISP's user name and password (and new static I.P address) to get the router up and running. But I guess it must be more complicated than that.

It's years since I've delved into router settings and the thought of it makes me cringe although I'm okay with general computer use. Generally a router will sit in a corner doing it's stuff year after year without a problem, but when it comes to changing something with the settings all the basic router knowledge acquired years ago is forgotten again. Well it is by me anyway.

I guess it's time to take the plunge, reset the Time Capsule and get delving into the How To pages.

Thanks again

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Answer 5

nicpalm Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 14, 2019 10:04 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks for your advice. That is really helpful. A Time Capsule reset it shall be.

I'm still chuffed with myself for being able to configure the modem to get an internet signal out of it over ethernet.

I'm sure that a TC reset will be comparatively more straight forward. I'm making more notes and screen and video grabs this time so that if I ever need to reconfigure my setup all the info is at hand.

Good to know that my Time Machine backups won't be affected by a reset too.

I'm feeling less stressed already :-)

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Editing ISP Details In Apple Router For New Broadband Service

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