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jhill835 Author

Level 1

13 points

Time Capsule as Router

Do I need to use Time Capsule as a router to connect to an ATT modem or can I directly link with an ethernet cable from the modem to my MacBook Pro?

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Sep 19, 2020 1:19 PM

Top-ranking reply

Bob Timmons

Community+ 2024

Level 10

168,758 points

Posted on Sep 19, 2020 2:17 PM

Let's first clarify on whether the device that you call an ATT "modem" is really a simple modem. Chances are, it's not.

A modem will have only one Ethernet port. If your "modem" has more than one Ethernet port, it is a modem/router, also called a gateway. This is a device that combines both a modem and a router in one physical package.

So, if your ATT "modem" is really a modem/router or gateway, then you can connect your MacBook Pro directly to the device using an Ethernet cable connection. Be sure to turn off the WiFi on the Mac, to make sure that the connection will be over Ethernet rather than WiFi.

If you are planning to use the Time Capsule for Time Machine backups from your Mac, the Time Capsule will also need to connect to the modem/router or gateway using an Ethernet cable connection.

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Time Capsule as Router

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