HT201510: Setting up Time Capsule for the first time

Learn about Setting up Time Capsule for the first time
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diulay

Q: Why did Apple not inform me that you cannot use Airport Utility v6.0 to set up a time capsule??? I have just wasted about 3 hours struggling to set up my new time capsule. I finally succeeded by downloading Airport Utility 5.6 and using that to set up.

When I tried to set up my new time capsule as a wireless network I naturally used the Airport Utility (v6.0) in OSX 10.7. I had major difficulties trying to set up the network and spent about three hours going around in circles. I finally trialled the older version of Airport Utility v5.6 and set up the network within about 5 minutes.

Posted on Apr 14, 2012 6:21 AM

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Q: Why did Apple not inform me that you cannot use Airport Utility v6.0 to set up a time capsule??? I have just wasted about 3 hours ... more

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  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Apr 14, 2012 6:58 AM in response to diulay
    Level 10 (105,438 points)
    Wireless
    Apr 14, 2012 6:58 AM in response to diulay

    AirPort Utility 6.0 works just fine as far as setting up a new device. You likely were doing something that you thought was right, but was not.

     

    Things appear differently in 6.0...or it's possible that the program did not fully install when you downloaded the Lion update.

     

    I've set up new devices, including the Time Capsule probably a dozen times as a test using 6.0. No problems. If there were a major problem with 6.0, the forums would be flooded with post from users having problems. They are not. In fact,

     

    I don't care for the reduced feature package in 6.0 and normally use the full function 5.6 in day to day use.  You will likely do the same.

     

    BTW, AirPort Utility 5.6 is not an "older version". It was released on the same day as 6.0. I'm guessing that you must have missed that info.

  • by diulay,

    diulay diulay Apr 14, 2012 7:09 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 14, 2012 7:09 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks for the feedback, I had Lion as the preinstalled OS on my new iMac so I am assuming the Airpot utility was complete and fully installed.

     

    I had significant issues with Airport Utility v6.0 recognising my cable modem and assigning an IP address and router address and there was no obvious way of assigning these manually, the instruction manual made no reference to this and online the only advice from apple was to use Airport Utility version 5.3 or later. In fact v6.0 would assign these and then remove them, with brief periods of access to the internet despite an amber flashing light on the time capsule. Were you installing a time capsule or were the dozen new devices all airport express/extreme?

     

    Also I refer to v5.6 as the older version only as it appears to be an update based on the earlier versions of Airport Utility with a similar interface, whereas v6.0 appears to be where apple is headed with their applications/design, as opposed to the release date of the program. v6.0 is included with Lion whereas v5.6 is not.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Apr 14, 2012 7:14 AM in response to diulay
    Level 10 (105,438 points)
    Wireless
    Apr 14, 2012 7:14 AM in response to diulay

    Sorry that you were having problems. As I noted, one of the devices that I tested 6.0 with was a new Time Capsule that arrived here a few weeks ago. I had no issues getting it set up for use with a DSL modem, but did not check with a cable modem since I don't have that type of service.

     

    Lot's of users have cable modems, and if there were a particular issue with cable modems, I'm sure the forums would have numerous posts about this. I see nothing out of the ordinary on the boards.

     

    I'm not defending 6.0. I think that...other than a nice looking application that matches the version for mobile devices....it is a major downgrade for Apple users. Maybe the next update will recapture all the features that were left out of the first release.

     

    Interestingly, if you check the Downloads page, which lists updates in order of the most recent, you will see that AirPort Utility 5.6 is listed ahead of 6.0.

  • by diulay,

    diulay diulay Apr 14, 2012 7:29 AM in response to Bob Timmons
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    Apr 14, 2012 7:29 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    I guess an interesting question is, why have both v6.0 and 5.6 as current versions for Lion? If it is to provide support for earlier versions of 802.11 then why not just incorporate that into v6.0?

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Apr 14, 2012 7:34 AM in response to diulay
    Level 10 (105,438 points)
    Wireless
    Apr 14, 2012 7:34 AM in response to diulay

    All questions for Apple, including your original one.

     

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