Setup my AirPort Time Capsule to work with Spectrum modem in 2025

I used to use my AirPort Time Capsule with a modem from Spectrum many years ago. Then their rates went up a lot for internet service so I switched to a modem from AT&T for many years but now their rates went up a lot and Spectrum is offering low monthly rates so I am trying to switch to a modem from Spectrum again.


This time, when I switch my AirPort Time Capsule LAN wire from the AT&T modem to the Spectrum modem, the green light on my AirPort Time Capsule never comes on. The amber light just blinks on and off. I have turned everything off and back on and that did not work. I called Spectrum for support and they say they can see their modem and my AirPort Time Capsule they called a router and they said I should have an Internet connection but I do not. They said I should call Apple for support and Apple says they no longer make the AirPort Time Capsule and they no longer support it. They sent a link to this community and so far nothing I have read or tried works.


Does anyone have any ideas about this or am I just out of luck? Spectrum tells me they can lease me a WiFi modem for $10 a month. I would prefer not to do that because I would like to keep backing up our Apple devices to the AirPort Time Capsule using Apples Time Machine software via WiFi that has served us well for a very long time.


I would appreciate any replies from people who have had this problem switching to Spectrum using an AirPort Time Capsule if they have gotten it to work. Specific details about how I should do this would really help and if I need to use the WiFi Settings or the Airport Utility, please be specific as to how I should change these and navigate to where I need to go to make this work.


If it is not possible to get these devices to work together then it would be nice to know how I can connect our Apple AirPort Time Capsule to a Spectrum WiFi router should I have to go in that direction because I would like to keep using the Time Capsule for Time Machine backups. I cannot afford to pay the high service prices for iCloud storage as I have 1 TB on one device and 2 TB on other devices. Perhaps it is time I start to think about switching from Apple to Alphabet Chrome devices. I made the switch from Microsoft devices in 2007 to Apple devices and they have served me well for all that time but the cost of those devices and the cost to operate them it becoming too much for my budget with these internet service providers jacking up their prices and using equipment that is not universally compatible. I suppose I am expecting too much from all of these so called magnificent companies that think so highly of themselves and so lowly about us customers out here. C'est la vie, such is life.


Thanks in advance for any help anyone has to offer.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Time Capsule

Posted on Jan 30, 2025 8:04 AM

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Jan 30, 2025 10:15 AM in response to AppleCustomer9

Did Spectrum supply you with a "modem"? If yes, a modem has only one Ethernet port on the device.


Or, did Spectrum supply you with a "modem/router" or "gateway" that is both a modem and a router in one package? The giveaway to know if you have a modem/router or gateway is that it will have 4 or more Ethernet ports.


The correct setup of the Time Capsule is different depending on whether you have a modem or a modem/router or gateway.


It would really help if you could provide the make and model number of the device that you are calling a "modem", so we can avoid guesswork going forward and provide the correct instructions that you need.

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Jan 30, 2025 10:49 AM in response to AppleCustomer9

AT&T does not offer a modem, so your Time Capsule was configured to work with an AT&T modem/router or gateway device.


The Time Capsule will not work correctly with the Spectrum modem unless you perform a Hard Reset to erase the current network settings and then set up the Time Capsule again.


Although the Hard Reset will erase the network settings on the Time Capsule, it will not erase any data that might be stored on the Time Capsule hard drive.


If you want to proceed with setting up the Time Capsule again.....here are the important steps to follow:


Disconnect the Ethernet cable from the modem that connects to the Time Capsule

Power up the Time Capsule and let it run for a minute

Hold in the reset button on the back of the Time Capsule for 8-10 seconds and then release

Allow a full minute for the Time Capsule to restart to a slow blinking amber light status

Power off the Time Capsule


Power off the modem if it is on

Connect the Ethernet cable from the modem to the WAN "O" port on the back of the Time Capsule

Power up the modem and let it run for a minute

Power up the Time and let it run for a minute


Open AirPort Utility on your Mac Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility

Click on the Other Wi-Fi Devices button

Click on Time Capsule xxxxxxx


AirPort Utility will take a minute to display the correct setup for the Time Capsule

Follow the prompts

You can use the same Time Capsule name, Wi-Fi Network Name and password that you used before

When the setup of the Time Capsule is complete, a green light will appear on the Time Capsule


If a slow blinking amber light appears, open AirPort Utility again and click on the picture of the Time Capsule

A small window will information about the Time Capsule will appear

Click on the amber dot next to Status and report on the message that you see there


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Feb 20, 2025 9:31 AM in response to sawkillside

Open AirPort Utility, click on the Time Capsule, then click Edit in the small window that appears.


That will display the main settings for the Time Capsule.

Click on the Network tab

Change the setting for Router Mode to read "Off (Bridge Mode)" and Update to save the new settings and you should see a green light in about 30 seconds


Bridge Mode....(Apple calls it "Off (Bridge Mode)" just to be different.....is the correct setting for the Time Capsule when it connects to another router.


If you still see an Ethernet unplugged indication, try another Ethernet cable.

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Jan 30, 2025 10:26 AM in response to Bob Timmons

The modem has only one Ethernet port on the back of the device.

model E31T2V1

DOCSIS 3.1 eMTA

I do not see a model number.

There is a label on it that says PC1.5 and there is a

CM MAC address and a

MTA MAC address and a

SN that is probably a serial number and a

TCH P/N: that is probably a part number

Date of manufacture 12/18

Factory ID: F2

HW:1.0

Made in China

I hope this information helps you help me.

Thank you.

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Jan 30, 2025 10:31 AM in response to Bob Timmons

The modem has only one Ethernet port on the back of the device.

model E31T2V1

DOCSIS 3.1 eMTA

I do not see a model number.

There is a label on it that says PC1.5 and there is a

CM MAC address and a

MTA MAC address and a

SN that is probably a serial number and a

TCH P/N: that is probably a part number

Date of manufacture 12/18

Factory ID: F2

HW:1.0

Made in China

I hope this information helps you help me.

Thank you.

I think I posted the reply in the wrong place. I am new to this community stuff. Please be patient. Thank you.

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Jan 30, 2025 11:32 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thank you so very much Bob. I have a green light, am connected to the internet through my old WiFi router and the new Spectrum modem replying to your reply and instructions.


The Click on the Other Wi-Fi Devices button did not work for me in the AirPort Utility.

What did work for me was to click on the WiFi icon at the top of the screen where I saw AirPort Time Capsule listed.

I selected to connect to that and then an AirPort Utility window displayed where I put in my old AirPort network name and base system name and password entered twice and after that updated the utility said Done and I selected that and had a green light on my Time Capsule WiFi Router and then I tested my browser and it connected to the internet so thanks again. I plan to use this for a day to make sure there are no glitches and I will recycle everything to verify that as well and then I should be able to cancel my internet service with AT&T until Spectrum gets greedy and jacks up their prices and I'll have to do the same thing all over again in a year or if I am lucky, perhaps several years. Too bad these huge companies with all their riches & wealth don't adopt a high volume low margin business model to lower prices for the rest of US. C'est la vie. Such is life. Thanks again.

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Feb 20, 2025 7:40 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Please clarify for me as my situation is somewhat similar. Have used Apple Airport as router/Time Machine backup for a long time. Recently had Spectrum replace with new modem (one ethernet port) and Spectrum Wifi router (multiple ports). What do I have to do to continue using the Airport for Time Machine backups? Does the (reconfigured/reset?) Airport plug into the one modem ethernet port and the Spectrum router then plugs into the Airport (and, if yes, into which port?)? Or does the Airport plug into one of the several ports on the back of the Spectrum router?

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Feb 20, 2025 7:57 AM in response to sawkillside

Since you will be connecting to a new router, we can likely avoid the process of having to start all over again to reconfigure the AirPort.


I'm not clear on whether you are planning to continue to use the Wi-Fi on the AirPort or the new router....or both.


The AirPort connects to one of the LAN <--> Ethernet ports on the new router. Pick any one that you want.


IF......you see a flashing amber light on the AirPort.......


Open AirPort Utility on your Mac......Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility

Click on the AirPort and another smaller window will appear

Look for the Status setting

Does it say "Double NAT"?



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Feb 20, 2025 8:16 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Plan to use Airport as Time Machine backup only and the new router as the only router. Plugging Airport into Spectrum router from the bottom Airport port (dotted round circle) yielded a blinking amber light and "device not found" message on Utility. Going LAN port to LAN port also yielded blinking amber and both "Double NAT" and "Ethernet Unplugged" under status.

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Setup my AirPort Time Capsule to work with Spectrum modem in 2025

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