Using Time Machine with an external HD connected to Airport Express via USB? Is it possible?

Question

Level 1

13 points

Using Time Machine with an external HD connected to Airport Express via USB? Is it possible?

I would like to know if anyone has been able to connect an external HD to an Airport Express which is part of a LAN. Since WFH implemented in March I need to upgrade my wireless router to support some work applications that my old trusty Apple Base Station was unable to (too old and WiFi signal too weak). My plan was to try and configure my AE to connect to the new wireless router and then plug in my external HD to the AE. Has anyone tried this? Is this possible? My first attempt were not successful. The AE seems to connect with the Netgear router but I am not able to to see the HD. I did a factory reset on the AE and plan to go through a new set up and see if that works. If anyone has done this successfully and can guide me through it, that would be great! Thank you.

The NETGEAR product is C7100V cable modem/router combo. The two USB ports on the back of the NETGEAR product apparently don't work. Believe me, I've tried. NETGEAR tech support said this model does not support their "readyshare" feature even though the product manual says it does. This is another issue that I've taken up with NETGEAR.

Posted on Oct 27, 2020 4:50 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Oct 27, 2020 5:19 PM in response to SC_Stigmata

The express is unsuitable even if it did support hard disks.. The design is primarily an N wireless extender for which it is not great.. too small and not sufficiently powerful.. being designed in 2011 for release in 2012.. and for airplay which it does really well.

If you want Time Machine backup over network with computer running Catalina.. my recommendation is Synology NAS.. you don't need to buy new.. a second hand 2 bay on sale that someone is upgrading to 4 bay model will suit just fine.. Say anything from 2016 onwards. New better model will obviously give you a longer lifespan but is expensive.

The Time Capsule is OK. At least for short term as they are getting older and finding second hand living breathing ones harder. If you are prepared to change to Carbon Copy Cloner as backup software.. which is much more reliable than Time Machine and have some DIY ability you may be able to extend the lifespan.

Apple seem to be caught between giving up the old.. Airports stopped production in 2018.. and not yet ready to do everything in cloud.. because Macs are not quite running iOS.

Reply

Answer 2

SC_Stigmata Author

Level 1

13 points

Oct 27, 2020 5:36 PM in response to LaPastenague

I actually have a 2TB HD that I partitioned for each Mac in the family. It actually worked very well with the Apple Extreme base station router when I was using it for my WiFi router. But this new NetGear isn't cooperating (actually on the phone with their TS as I type). I will do a web search on the Synology NS and and learn a about it. Thank you for the reply and recommendation.

Reply

Answer 3

Oct 27, 2020 5:40 PM in response to SC_Stigmata

I actually have a 2TB HD that I partitioned for each Mac in the family. It actually worked very well with the Apple Extreme base station router when I was using it for my WiFi router

Just to clarify, the AirPort Extreme will support a USB drive. The AirPort Express won't.

Reply

Answer 4

SC_Stigmata Author

Level 1

13 points

Oct 27, 2020 7:28 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Yep, that was my set-up. But I had to retire my old (2008 vintage) AirPort Extreme. It just couldn't keep up with the WFH load. To much demand on the outdated WiFi. I would have bought another Apple router if they were still in the business.....

Reply