Time Capsule as a network extender

Welcome to the discussion area, Fish out of water!

I assume that you are looking to extend using wireless only, correct?

Unfortunately, The Time Capsule will only be able to "extend a wireless network" if the network has been created by another Apple "n" router. The "extend" feature is not compatible with the products from other manufacturers.

If you are able to connect the Time Capsule to your wireless router using an ethernet connection, you could then configure the TC as a "bridge" and set it up to provide a wireless network with the same name, security and password as your main network. That, in effect would extend your wireless network.

I am also looking to use the time capsule as a bridge---can I connect to the DSL router via ethernet but to an access point or does the TC need to be directly connected to the router?

am also looking to use the time capsule as a bridge---can I connect to the DSL router via ethernet but to an access point or does the TC need to be directly connected to the router?

I'm not clear on what you are asking here. If you are trying to connect to a non-Apple device, you'll need to connect the TC to the other router using an ethernet cable.

If you do this, then you will need to configure the TC as a "bridge". If you want, you can also configure the TC to provide a wireless network. If you configure it to provide a wireless network with exactly the same wireless network name, security settings and password as your main router, you will in effect have a much larger wireless network.

The tricky part about this is that you must know the exact type of security setting that your main router is using to provide the TC with the correct information. If the settings do not match up exactly, you'll have two different wireless networks that will each require you to log on separately.

If you elect to use the ethernet connection method and want some step by step help, we'll need to know the exact type of security that your wireless router is using now. You'll probably need to get into the configuration page for the wireless router to see this information.

Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

1. can I connect to the router through a switch? (my router is on the second floor and I planned on placing the TC on the ground floor) (my home is wired with wall outlets that connect back to a patch panel on the second floor)
2. the router is a Dlink router DIR-615 and I am using wireless security wpa2_psk.

1. can I connect to the router through a switch?

Yes, as long as you have the switch connected to one of the LAN <-> ports on your D-Link router.

and I am using wireless security wpa2_psk

Here is how to connect the Time Capsule to effectively extend your current wireless network

Connect the ethernet cable from the switch to the WAN (circle icon) port on the Time Capsule. Open AirPort Utility - click Manual Setup. Look for the AirPort ID and jot that down.

*Click the Time Capsule tab below the row of icons*

Time Capsule Name = Your choice
Time Capsule Password = Your choice. (Write this down)
Enter a check mark next to Set Time Automatically
Time Zone = Adjust as needed

*Click the Wireless tab next to the Time Capsule tab*

Wireless Mode = Create a wireless network
Wireless Network Name = Exact name of your D-Link wireless network
Radio Mode = Autommatic
Channel = Automatic
Wireless Security = Try WPA/WPA2 Personal first. Your WPA2 - PSK setting can be either AES or TKIP, so it's a guess. If WPA/WPA2 Personal does not work, try WPA2 Personal.
Wireless Password = Exact same password as your D-Link network
Confirm Password

*Click the Internet icon*

Connect Using = Ethernet
Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)

Update at lower right to save settings and the TC will restart in about 30 seconds. If you have the right security setting, you'll be able to move your laptop near the TC and connect to the TC wireless.

To confirm, hold down the option key on your Mac as you click on the fan shaped Airport icon at the top of the computer screen. Look for the BSSID. That should match the AirPort ID that you wrote down previously.

If it does not, change the security setting on the TC and test again.

Please post back on your results.

Thank you very much for the instructions; TC is working.
1. option key + airport fan gives me the BSSID of the Dlink server---perhaps its because I checked on the wireless tab in the TC "allow this network to b extended"---I think this is correct?
2. a few more questions on the TC ---the data area---can this be used for Time Machine and for NAS storage concurrently? I have set it up for TM back up and it worked fine---but I wanted to create a Back up folder for the back up so that I could organize the disk for NAS as well(mostly data storage for my PC files). In the time machine set up the only option is to set up a disk---no specific file folder on the disk.
3. Also can one back up more than one mac on the TC using the TM on each computer?

Update to my last post:
Restarted my Mac and it could not connect to the TC. Turned off the airport and back on and it connected to the TC and on pressing the option key and fan I now get the BSSID for the TC and the channel changed to 149 (5ghz) and can see the data folder.

1. option key + airport fan gives me the BSSID of the Dlink server---perhaps its because I checked on the wireless tab in the TC "allow this network to b extended"---I think this is correct?

This would not apply in your case. If the TC were your "main" router and you wanted to use another Apple device to extend your network, you would check the box. It won't hurt to leave the box checked, but it won't help either.

a few more questions on the TC ---the data area---can this be used for Time Machine and for NAS storage concurrently?

Yes, but not recommended to mix Time Machine backups and other data, especially if more than one Mac will be backing up.

but I wanted to create a Back up folder for the back up so that I could organize the disk for NAS as well(mostly data storage for my PC files).

The TC is formatted for Mac. Windows files will probably not be able to be stored on the TC disk.

In the time machine set up the only option is to set up a disk---no specific file folder on the disk.

You can create as many folders as you want on the TC disk. But as mentioned above, it is recommended that you only use the TC disk for Time Machine backups. If you want to create folders, post back for instructions...but, we're not responsible if you do this.

Also can one back up more than one mac on the TC using the TM on each computer?

Yes, providing that the Mac is running the Leopard or Snow Leopard operating system, which includes Time Machine.

Ok--I will use TC for TM back up only. for future reference what is the procedure to restore a file that is lost or deleted?

for future reference what is the procedure to restore a file that is lost or deleted?

Open Time Machine on the dock
Wait for the "Star Wars" interface to open
Use the scale at the right of the screen to select a date when the file was still on your computer
Navigate using the Finder interface to find your file
Click Restore

If you use iPhoto, the procedure is a bit different. Post back if you need info on that.

Would recommend that you check the Time Capsule main forum page and download Pondini's excellent guide for Using Time Machine with a Time Capsule. It is the best resource on the web.

Pondini's guide recommends PGP WDE as file valut does not work well with the TC/TM combination---cannot access individual files and must restore entire drive or back up set to restore one lost or missing file. I think I am clear but want to make sure that the PGP WDE product will secure one's data but also allows access to individual files and back up sets(dates) in the TM software with the TC HD. is there a special way to configure this? Is it difficult to configure? Looks like the TC can also be set with WDE? Finally if you transfer a file (from home to office) is the file encrypted or is it accessible on the second computer which may not have the WDE. Just trying to understand how it works.

Prior to purchasing the TC I used a usb attached HD. this has my previous TM back ups which I no longer need.....can I erase the back ups and use the drive for storage---is there a procedure to erase the back ups and reformat if necessary(the drive is a WD passport formatted for mac originally).
Thanks.

We need Pondini to comment on your WDE as this is his area of expertise.

Suggest that you start a new thread for this with a subject like the following:

*Question for Pondini....TC with WDE?*

He may not see this current thread.

this has my previous TM back ups which I no longer need.....can I erase the back ups and use the drive for storage---is there a procedure to erase the back ups and reformat if necessary(the drive is a WD passport formatted for mac originally).

Sure, just reformat the drive again in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and it will be erased.

Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

Few more questions re data backup:
1. In addition to TC with TM I want to have mobile backup (for data files and photos not for system and program files) (redundant of course) and would like to use a clone or duplicate backup routine (such as NTI shadow 5 backup) (saves having to restore) (understand mobile me has backup which seems ok but have to restore)----would this conflict with TM/TC?
2. As an alternative I could use the back up available with Western Digital's my essential portable HD which has its own backup software---this would be mobile as well.

We're drifting quite a bit from the thread topic of +Time Capsule as a network extender+ and I am not the person to ask about backup solutions, so you'll do much better to start a new thread.