time capsule wireless speed / time machine usage

defjamblaster wrote:

1. hello, i have 2 questions

i have model A1470 time capsule and a Pace 5268AC modem. currently, my network is configured with the time capsule in bridge mode, providing my wireless signal on a 5ghz network and also the other slower speed wireless network (i don't remember number exactly). it is plugged into an ethernet port on the Pace modem. am i getting the best speed possible by using my time capsule for wireless, or should i be using the Pace's built in wireless or even a better 3rd party modem that has built in wireless? is the time capsule outdated speed wise?

2.if i should use the Pace or better 3rd party modem with built in wireless, which external nas drive should i use to be able to continue using time machine software for backups?

To a large extent the answers are impossible without you doing your own tests.

First test.

Plug a computer in by ethernet to the PACE modem router. Turn off the wireless in the PACE and turn off the TC. Do a speed test. This will be your best possible speed on that connection.. This is your ground zero test.. and if time of day matters you should do peak and off-peak so you can see what difference it makes.

Second test.

With a computer (most recent one with AC wireless) having disconnected the ethernet from previous test and using just the computer.. everything else turned off, get a speed from PACE modem router.

Third test.

With the same computer now turn on the airport and do the same speed test.

Record that number.

If the wireless speed is well below the ethernet speed and same on both the PACE and the TC, then it is likely the PACE could/should be replaced with a faster and better modem router. If you get the say 10% less speed by wireless than ethernet that is expected. No changes are necessary. If you wish to keep the PACE and get rid of the TC then you can just buy a new AC or AX wireless router. Plenty around but I recommend the Asus and Synology.

Time Machine backups.

If the TC is otherwise OK continue to use it for Time Machine just turn off the wireless.

At some point you will need to replace it.

A synology NAS works well.

You can also plug a USB3 hard disk into either the Asus or Synology routers and use that for Time Machine.

Albeit I would strongly recommend a swap to Carbon Copy Cloner for any network backup. Time Machine is just too unreliable with Network drives. OK for local drive plugged directly to the computer.

Simple answer is YES.

Most currently available computers or devices still use an AC wireless client card.

The tower model TC is AC wireless with 3x3 .. that means it can do up to 1300Mbps link speed. Actual throughput is about half that in best case scenario.

More complex answer is maybe or no.

First factor.. range. The TC is a 7 year old design. It was introduced in 2013 using standard previous designs.. ie it was never a bleeding edge product. It hit the market as yet another AC router which were around for a few years before Apple joined the picnic LATE.

The big improvement in later products is not so much speed but range.

So the TC is just as fast as other wireless routers if you get up close and personal. After that a better wireless router will streak ahead.

Second factor.. age. How old is your TC? Emphasis here is how long has it had power applied to it, as all routers die.. but they get sick and slow before they go. We find Airport routers do suffer speed and range issues as they exceed 3 years. Time Capsules worse as they draw more power and run hotter.

As with any product there are good ones and not so good ones. My early purchases of Time Capsules came up with a dead out of the box, and a poor wireless range out of the box. It barely reached the next room. The third one I got was OK. But they were never power house wifi devices. As much as you might hate external antennas they work. Apple built it too compact and the antennas are too close together and too small.

Third factor.

Mesh vs wireless extend. Apple used a standard wireless extend setup, albeit, unique to them.

If you want really good wireless coverage without ethernet mesh is head and shoulders above airport extend wireless.

Mesh is now one of the most popular choices and even Apple sell the Linksys Velop system (with zero support) in their stores. As wireless becomes more important the Apple limitations with number of devices sharing and the problems to do with Apple controls.. means they are less viable than before.

Mesh greatly improves roaming so you get good signal and connection as you walk around the house with iphone or iPad. Not perfect but improved.

Other things will doubtless come to mind..

I still like the TC and I still run a couple of them.. much modified. But the time to change over is rapidly approaching and all our knowhow for Apple routers will become as valuable as running film development.