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how to set up the Time Capsule as an access point

Hi there,

I have home office and am having wifi-connectivity issues due to the layout of my home.


I'm getting the electrician to set up ethernet outlets in various rooms in my house so that I can get wired connections in several rooms. What I want to do is connect my Time Capsule to one of those ethernet ports (see the diagram below) so that I can still broadcast a wi-fi signal in my house while having wired connections elsewhere.


|->Lan Port 1

Home Office (Laptop)

|
|->Lan Port 2Living Room (TV)
Modem->Wired Router|
|->Lan Port 32nd Bedroom (Xbox)
|
|->Lan Port 4Dining Room (Time Capsule)


In my research in how to set this up, I've come across documentation that shows how to convert an old Netgear/Linksys wifi router to an access point. Here's an example of the documentation I've run across: http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-basics/30338-how-to-convert-a-w ireless-router-into-an-access-point. What I haven't encountered is how to do this with a Time Capsule.


Here are my questions:

  1. Do I just follow these instructions and substitute "Time Capsule" where the author references "AP"?
  2. I currently have my network set up through the Time Capsule. Here are some of the things that I currently have set up and corresponding questions:
    • all computers can access the printer via wifi - under the above setup, will all computers (connected to the new network via wired OR wireless access) still have access to the printer?
    • I have my macbook set up as a media center for my xbox and PS3. The Xbox and PS3 connect to my macbook and access the movie files that I have saved on my Time Capsule and a 2nd HDD that is connected to the Time Capsule via USB - under the above setup, will I still be able to access those movies with my PS3 and Xbox via the macbook media center software?


Thanks a ton for any help or advice. It's much appreciated.

Time Capsule-OTHER

Posted on Nov 9, 2012 8:44 AM

Reply
1 reply

Nov 9, 2012 12:24 PM in response to Balufudus

Excellent.. great to see people doing the job properly and wiring ethernet.


Here are my questions:

Do I just follow these instructions and substitute "Time Capsule" where the author references "AP"?



Apple system is slightly different.. although the AP method would work the TC has a programmed state for placing it in AP mode.


And Apple even documented it.


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4260


The difference in your system, is you are not using an Apple primary router (I presume) but otherwise the same.


Any router setup as WAP, you bridge the router part.. and you use Same wireless name.. same security setting (WPA2 Personal is WPA2 AES and the only one suitable). Same passkey..


I would add one difference to the apple insstructions.. they depend on auto wireless channels working. IMHO, auto anything in wireless is akin to voodoo black arts and has more to do with beads and rattles than science. It works fine in some case.. terrible in others.. lock it down. Set the wireless yourself.. at 2.4ghz there are only 3 non overlapping channels.. 1, 6, 11 .. if you use 300mbit N on the main router, it will use 2 of those channels.. choose the third for the TC.

Of course the TC can also use 5ghz.. and I lock it down as well but that is more my control freak nature.. and strong skeptism of anything auto in the wireless world.




I currently have my network set up through the Time Capsule. Here are some of the things that I currently have set up and corresponding questions:

  • all computers can access the printer via wifi - under the above setup, will all computers (connected to the new network via wired OR wireless access) still have access to the printer?
  • I have my macbook set up as a media center for my xbox and PS3. The Xbox and PS3 connect to my macbook and access the movie files that I have saved on my Time Capsule and a 2nd HDD that is connected to the Time Capsule via USB - under the above setup, will I still be able to access those movies with my PS3 and Xbox via the macbook media center software?



Your number auto changed.. fun isn't it when i edit it shows correctly but when I post it changes the format.

On the new setup the printer will still be available to all clients .. whether wireless or wired.


And to second part, yes, all file access is not going to change.. well I don't predict any.. IP of the system might change around but overall you are creating a single flat network. And that will work fine.

how to set up the Time Capsule as an access point

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