Use Time Capsule as NAS only

We'll repeat again that the TC was designed to store backups of a Mac using Time Machine. If your boss does not plan to use the TC this way, and thinks that it will perform like a NAS, we are not going to be able to accomplish that goal.

The TC is not going to "join" the Bell WiFi network no matter what you might try to do.

Why? the TC can only "join" another WiFi network that has been created by another Apple AirPort router. It cannot "join" the WiFi network provided by a 3rd party router. In other words, "join" is a setting that would assume that the TC connects to the Bell network using a wireless connection. It cannot do that.

What the TC can do with a 3rd party router is connect using a permanent, wired Ethernet cable connection. The TC can be located wherever the Ethernet cable will reach, but I will repeat again that the Ethernet cable must be left in place. It cannot be disconnected.

The TC will provide a WiFi network when you do this, but that function can be turned off later if another WiFi network is not needed, so Time Machine backups will occur over the Bell WiFi network.

Note...... If the administrator password is required by the Bell router for the TC to connect his way using Ethernet, then we are stuck, and will not be able to proceed until the Bell router can be set up to allow this type of connection.

Sounds like the Bell router has been set up to not allow new device connections without administrator approval.

If you want to try to dig into this further, we need to know the exact step where you are getting stuck in the set up process and the text of any error message that appears at the time.

It is possible.....but a lot more complicated......to set up the Time Capsule using a completely manual setup process, but this won't work if the Bell router will not allow a new Ethernet connection to the network.

I assume that you have tried a different Ethernet cable to rule out the possibility of a bad cable.

When things are this difficult on what is normally a very simple and quick set up, I agree that it is best to let someone else try to figure things out.

I notice when you turn off WiFi and set network to bridge mode. Before you save settings, if you go to storage tab the option to share the hard drive over WAN disappears.

Exactly as it should. There is no such thing as WAN in Bridge Mode. Even if there was, you would not need to enable this setting to allow the TC to connect to a local network.

It appears that you are trying to set up things manually or make manual changes, when the AirPort Utility setup "helper" or "wizard" will automatically configure the TC correctly to work with the other router. Don't worry about the extra WiFi network for now.....that can be turned off later if another WiFi network for guests or the kids is not needed.

The important thing is to get the TC working as a backup device first.......then, we'll make any changes after that has been accomplished.

By the way, the TC was not designed to be a NAS......it is a router with a built in hard drive........with no brains......that was designed to store Time Machine backups and possibly act as a simple file server. A NAS it is not.

What make and model of router will the TC connect to?

Are you using a Mac, PC, or iPhone / iPad to set up the TC?

Are you good at following instructions, even if they might involve using a setting that you might feel is incorrect?

Power up the TC for a minute or two if it is not already on

Hold in the reset button on the back of the TC for 7-8 seconds and then release

Allow a full minute for the TC to restart to a slow, blinking amber light status

Connect an Ethernet cable......that you have tested, to make sure that it is working correctly.......from one of the LAN <--> ports on the main router to the WAN "O" port on the TC. This connection must be maintained at all times.

Click on the WiFi menu at the top of the Mac's screen

Look for a listing of New AirPort Base Station

Click directly on AirPort Time Capsule

When you click on AirPort Time Capsule, that will start up the AirPort Utility setup "helper" or "wizard". The wizard will take a few seconds to analyze the network and then display a screen that looks like the example below, except that you will see a Time Capsule pictured instead of an AirPort Express

Network Name........Type in a short simple name for a wireless network that will be used temporarily during the process

Base Station Name......Type in a short simple name for the Time Capsule

Password.......Type in a password that will be used for the WiFi network and also as a device password for the TC

Verify......Type in the same password again to confirm

Click Next

The setup wizard will configure the TC with the settings that it needs, so you don't have to worry about Bridge Mode or other boring stuff like that.

If the setup is successful, you will see a message showing Setup Complete. Click Done.

At this point, the TC should be displaying a green light. But......this might change to a slow blinking amber light if AirPort Utility detects that the TC needs a firmware update. For now, don't worry about updating the firmware yet.

Power off the TC

Power off the main router

Power on the main router

Restart the Mac and log onto the main WiFi network that the router is normally providing....not the TC WiFi network that you set up for temporary use

Power on the TC

Open AirPort Utility, click on the TC image, and a small window should appear next to the TC

Does it?

If not, click on the Other WiFi Devices button in the upper left corner of the AirPort Utility screen. If WiFi is checked, then change that so that there is a check mark next to Ethernet. If Ethernet is checked, change that to WiFi.

At this point, all that we want to do is make sure that the TC is displayed in AirPort Utility when the Mac is connected to the main router's WiFi network and that a smaller window appears with information about the TC when you click on the TC. There are some more checks to perform.

Post back on your progress. Please......do not make any other changes at this time or try to set up Time Machine yet, because a wrong choice at the wrong time will mess things up, and you will have to start all over again.