Unable to Create Guest Network with Time Capsule

We will assume that your Time Capsule is not one of the 1st Generation models, which did not have Guest Network capability.

But, if your Time Capsule is a few years old, or you purchased it from another user....you may have a single band version of the product....which cannot offer the Guest Network option.

If your Time Capsule has the capability....here is how to set up the Guest Network

• Open AirPort Utility and click on the Time Capsule icon that appears
• Click Edit in the next window that appears
• Click the Wireless tab at the top of the window
• Enter a check mark next to Enable Guest Network
• Edit the name of the network as you wish
• Select Wireless Security...either WPA2 Personal or WPA/WPA2 Personal would be good
• Enter a password for the Guest Network and verify
• Click Update at the lower right

Same here.

I can create a guest network on the original set up; however if I try to add a guest network to an existing network, the option isn't there.

This suggests my 1 TB (7.6.1) can support guest networks, but won't let one be added after initial set up (also suggesting that Bob's answer may not be appropriate in all circumstances).

Guest network is only for when the TC is working as the main router.. it will not work if the TC is bridged..

Also if you are using Lion you need 5.6 utility to do anything more than scratch your rear end.

Thanks very much - that makes sense!

(also suggesting that Bob's answer may not be appropriate in all circumstances).

The answer was not meant to be appropriate in all circumstances, as I was answering the specific original question about use with an Ambit cable modem.

As to whether you will be able to setup a Guest Network.....that all depends on your modem. If the TC is configured in Bridge Mode....as LaPastenague mentions above...the the Guest Network feature cannot be enabled.

This explains my problem. I was following the instructions to set up a Guest Network but that is not a choice on the "Wireless" tab. I only have "Create" or "Extend" a wireless network. I read the above answers and checked my TC configuration and I see that my new 2 terrabyte TC is configured in bridge mode. That seems to have happened automatically at setup. I did not have to make that choice. If I try to change that to DHCP and NAT, I get a "double NAT" message. Does this mean that I can't set up a Guest Network? (Using MacBook Air with Lion and Airport Utility 6.0).

LaPastenague says that Guest Network is only for when the TC is working as the main reouter. It will not work if the TC is bridged. I think it is working as the main router. There's something I don't understand here. Can someone please clarify?

Thanks

Additional information: I read Bob T's answer in a thread entitled "guest network" and I now understand the "double NAT" message, I think. My modem is also a router and it was provided by my ISP (Telus). It's a Siemens Gigaset SE567 (a "Wireless ADSL Gateway"). So that explains the "double NAT" and I guess I can't set up a Guest Network using that device. I use the TM as a router, bypassing the Siemens router. What can/should I get to replace it -- I mean a modem without the router? Wouldn't that be the best combination with TM? I am not knowledgeable about setting up a modem and it's been at least four years since I did it, which was because I had a new TM. That one has now died, hence the new 2TB one. Maybe I should just leave everything alone and forget about the Guest Network, although I found that an attractive feature. Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Patita

You can use the existing siemens wireless modem as your guest network.. since you have both active.

The way around the problem is to bridge the modem..

This may or may not be possible as it will then depend on how your ISP authenticates.. bridging only works for pppoe .. if you use pppoa which is common in Europe or other method you might be able to do things like half-bridge but are more trouble and not as reliable.. you can continue to double NAT.. it works fine until you try to do interactive stuff, eg gameplay, voip things like that.

If the modem offers a DMZ that can overcome a lot of worst points of double NAT.. check the manual and see.

Maybe I should just leave everything alone and forget about the Guest Network, although I found that an attractive feature

This would be much easier than trying to find a new modem that might work and then having to mess around with more configuration settings.

The Guest Network splits the available bandwidth on the Time Capsule, so in effect you are halving the performance of the "main" network when you enable the Guest network. That might be another reason to leave well enough alone.

I understand the "lure" of a Guest Network feature, but few users who do have this functionality really use it much at all.

If you really need a Guest Network, maybe you could use the wireless on your other gateway?

Thank you, Bob and LaPastenague, for your advice. I think I'll just leave this alone. It seems that I would be creating a headache for myself for something that I probably wouldn't use that often.

Cheers

Patita