Use time capsule to extend wifi range

If I buy an Airport Extreme an use that as my main router, would it be possible to extend the wifi range with my older TC and still use the TC for Time Machine Backups?

Yes. The older TC will only be able to "extend" one band of two provided by the AirPort Extreme....probably the 2.4 GHz band...since it is almost always the stronger signal of the two.

If the TC is now a wifi extender, can I still use the ethernet ports?

Yes, you can. The signal will be as fast as the wireless connection allows.

Hi Bob,

I have the exact same situation. I just purchased an Airport Extreme to take advantage of the "ac" capability and so that my son's old Ipad will work in his room, but want to keep the backup capability of my time capsule. I have some questions.

1. I have read it is best to keep a wifi network as simply as possible. So if the new Airport Extreme covers all my wifi needs should I bother trying to incorporate the time capsule as an extender.

2. If I don't use the Time Capsule as an extender, can I still include it in my new wifi network to do wirless backups with adversly affecting the system?

3. If if does affect the system can I hardwire the Time Capule to my macbook pro and mac mini to do occasional manual backups?

Thanks.

1. I have read it is best to keep a wifi network as simply as possible. So if the new Airport Extreme covers all my wifi needs should I bother trying to incorporate the time capsule as an extender.

Yes, if you plan to connect the Time Capsule to the AirPort Extreme using a permanent, wired Ethernet cable connection. No, if the AirPort Extreme will provide adequate coverage, and you were planning to try to use wireless to connect the Time Capsule and have it extend that way.

2. If I don't use the Time Capsule as an extender, can I still include it in my new wifi network to do wirless backups with adversly affecting the system?

If you do not use the Time Capsule as an extender, then it needs to connect to the AirPort Extreme using a short Ethernet cable. Turn off the wireless function on the Time Capsule, since it will not be needed in this setup. If you want to locate the Time Capsule in another place, you can put it anywhere that an Ethernet cable will reach.

3. If if does affect the system can I hardwire the Time Capule to my macbook pro and mac mini to do occasional manual backups?

Install the TC using either 1) or 2) above and you have the option to back up using wireless, or connect the Mac directly to one of the Ethernet ports on the back of the TC.

Thanks Bob. So it looks like the Airport Extreme provides enough coverage on its own. I have connected the old TC to the Extreme with an ethernet cable. Now am I lost as to how to re-configure the TC. It does not show up in Finder and the amber light is blinking. By the way this is the first time I have used the support forum so thanks for your patience. Also, how do I give you your proper kudos?

Check to make sure that the Ethernet cable connects from one of the three LAN <--> ports on the AirPort Extreme to the WAN "O" port on the Time Capsule.

I assume that you are using a recent operating system on your Mac like Mountain Lion, Mavericks, or Yosemite.

We wil try a shortcut first, in an attempt to avoid having to reset the Time Capsule back to factory default settings and then start over again from scratch.

Open AirPort Utility on the Mac

If the Time Capsule appears, click on it, then click Edit in the smaller window that appears and continue with the steps below. If the Time Capsule does not appear in AirPort Utility, then we'll have to start over again and set it up.

Click the Network tab at the top of the next window

Make sure that the setting for Router Mode is set to Off (Bridge Mode)

Then, click the Wireless tab

Change the setting for Network Mode to Off to turn off the wireless function on the Time Capsule

Click Update at the lower right and give the the Time Capsule a full minute to restart and display a green light. Now you can back up to the Time Capsule over the AirPort Extreme wireless, or connect your Mac directly to one of the LAN <--> ports for a faster connection.

I believe that you have to be the original poster to mark another post as "helpful", "solved", etc....not sure how the rules work in that regard.

That seemed to work. I assume I need to use the Time Machine Utility to set up the backups?

That's correct. Once you have Time Machine Preferences open.....

Click Add or Remove Disks

Click on any Disks that might be listed under Backup Disks, then click Remove Disk

Then, click Add or Remove Disks and select the Time Capsule drive.....named Data unless you have changed the name....and then click Use Disk

A backup should begin in a few minutes

Then do the same for any other Macs that you want to have backing up.

Thanks Bob. This setup seems to be working fine, but I am now intrigued by your comment about using the time capsule as an extender using a hard ethernet cable connection. I assume from you comment that using a permanent cable is the best way to use the tc as an extender. I have a fairly long cable and it would be great if I could use a laptop outside. How would I configure the tc as an extender with the permanent cable. Thanks again.