Time Machine is not being supported by Western Digital or Netgear anymore.

It's happened to me again. Late last year, Western Digital stopped supporting the Apple File Protocol (AFP) that was needed for me to use Time Machine with my WD MyCloud PR2100 NAS. So I switched to a WD USB 3.0 external hard disk connected to my Netgear router (RAX200) to act as the disc for backing up with Time Machine. It worked great up to the end of April.

Last month, Netgear issued a new firmware update that removes support for AFP making Time Machine unusable with my router. So now the only way I can use Time Machine is to downgrade my router firmware to the one that supports Time Machine (then I can no longer upgrade it to get new security updates) -or- attached a USB drive directly to my Macbook and iMac when I want to back up (very inconvenient, especially when traveling).

Why are these companies stopping support for AFP? Is there any other way besides AFP to make Time Machine work with my NAS or router extended hard discs? When I try SMB paths, Time Machine won't recognize the drives.

I really like the convenience of Time Machine and the automated back-up capability. But I'm being squeezed into using other back-up software like Good Sync or to keep a external hard drive connected directly (not practical). I would appreciate any ideas or advice the community might have on this.