User profile for user: Terry Plowman
Terry Plowman Author
User level: Level 1
43 points

Time Capsule working OK as wireless router, but not via ethernet

Need help getting Internet from Time Capsule to my old iMac running OS 10.4.11. Here's my current set-up:

* modem to Time Capsule -- working fine
* Time Capsule connected to Mac G5 via ethernet -- working fine
* Time Capsule sending Internet wirelessly to MacBook Pro and iPod Touch -- working fine
* Time Capsule connected to old iMac via ethernet -- NO SIGNAL

Tried different ethernet cables to see if defective cable is the problem, but still no signal with different cables, all firmly clicked into jacks. I don't understand how an ethernet cable is working from Time Capsule to the G5, but isn't working in the same way with the iMac. Any advice?

Mac G5, Mac OS X (10.5.8), MacBook Pro

Posted on Jul 16, 2010 1:54 PM

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6 replies
User profile for user: Bob Timmons
Bob Timmons
User level: Level 10
185,114 points

Jul 16, 2010 6:10 PM in response to Terry Plowman

Welcome to the discussions!

There's probably a bad port involved. The only question at this point may be whether it is on the Time Capsule or the iMac.

Try switching cables around on the LAN ports of the Time Capsule.

If the iMac still won't work, there's a bad ethernet port on the device, or the ethernet card is not working.

If a device that was working before suddenly stops working when you switch the cable to a different port on the Time Capsule, and that port is the one that also was not working with the iMac, then you have a bad port on the Time Capsule.

Let us know what you find.
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User profile for user: Terry Plowman
Terry Plowman Author
User level: Level 1
43 points

Jul 18, 2010 1:23 PM in response to Bob Timmons

OK, I switched the working ethernet cable from my G5 to different ports, and found that they all worked, all sent signal to the G5. Then I tried a different cable the same way to determine that the cable definitely works.

Then I took that tested cable and connected from a tested port on the Time Capsule to the iMac, where Safari still says, "You are not connected to the Internet." I guess this suggests a bad ethernet port on the iMac, but what is puzzling is that this loss of Internet occurred only after I replaced my router with a Time Capsule. It just seems too coincidental to dismiss the lack of Internet on the iMac to a bad port -- could it be some configuration error on the iMac? Is it not seeing the Time Capsule as a router? (My MacBook Pro IS getting the wireless Internet signal from the Time Capsule.)

The iMac tells me that it doesn't appear to be connected to a modem or router, even though it is, using a tested cable and using the same port that was working before I replaced my router with the Time Capsule. Puzzling!

Any other way to get the signal to the iMac? Expensive to fit it with a wireless receiver? What about using the Time Capsule's USB port?
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User profile for user: Bob Timmons
Bob Timmons
User level: Level 10
185,114 points

Jul 18, 2010 1:50 PM in response to Terry Plowman

On the iMac, open System Preferences (gear icon) on the dock and then open Network.

Click on Ethernet to highlight it, then click the - (minus) button at the bottom of the connection list.

Then click the + (plus) button on the bottom of the list and choose a new Ethernet connection.

Restart the Imac and see if the new connection will work.

If not, you'll need to have the ethernet port and/or ethernet card checked out at the repair shop. (USB on the Time Capsule only supports printing and hard drive functions)
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Time Capsule working OK as wireless router, but not via ethernet

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