Can a Time Capsule extend the range of a FiOS wireless router WITHOUT using Ethernet between them? Other options?

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Can a Time Capsule extend the range of a FiOS wireless router WITHOUT using Ethernet between them? Other options?

After months (years, really) of frustration with poor service from Comcast, I finally switched to FiOS yesterday. I have an MBP Retina, my wife has a MBA. I bought the latest Time Capsule in August (when I bought the MBPR). I never even opened the box; too busy with work and internet problems. (The damage from Hurricane Sandy had me without any internet connection from a month AND I work from home; I was running my iPad as a 4G hotspot during the outage -- kind of expensive).

We have a long house and signal strength from one end to the other has been a problem in the past. The FiOS modem with wireless router seems to have decent range, but there are still a few spots where it's pretty weak.

My question: is it possible to use the TC as a bridge without running Ethernet between it and the FiOS modem/router?

I would like to be able to place the TC at about the midpoint of our house (the FiOS router is at one extreme end, closest to my office so as to maximize signal when I'm working). I would like to avoid having to do a wall fish and not have to pull 40 feet of Ethernet. Can the TC find the signal of the FiOS modem/router WIRELESSLY in bridge mode? OR would I better returning the TC and putting the money towards something like a Netgear WiFi Booster or Extender and then getting a cheaper drive for backups? It doesn't seem to make much sense to keep the TC if I'm going to have it sitting so close to the FiOS box that it's not extending my signal range. But, because of the nature of our house, pulling a long run of cable is something I'd prefer to avoid.

Does the TC need to be attached with Ethernet or not?

I would like to keep my setup as simple as possible.

To add to the complexity, I also have an old Airport (about 12 years old) that served us well as a router of a non-wireless modem when we had Comcast. Can that old Airport be used another wireless bridge? I'm aware that I'll need to configure the old Airport using an old Mac running an old OS. Is this old Airport worth the hassle to set up?

Time Capsule 802.11n (4th Gen), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Dec 3, 2012 6:02 PM

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Answer 1

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Bob Timmons

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Dec 3, 2012 6:25 PM in response to RobFilm

My question: is it possible to use the TC as a bridge without running Ethernet between it and the FiOS modem/router?

Not with any Verizon or FIOS products....( or any other manufacturers' products).... that I have ever used. Unfortunately, Apple uses proprietary "extend" settings for their products, which are designed to only work with other Apple routers. There may be a compatible device out there somewhere, but we have yet to find it in 5+ years of looking.

OR would I better returning the TC and putting the money towards something like a Netgear WiFi Booster or Extender and then getting a cheaper drive for backups?

Netgear claims to have some "universal" extenders, but the ones that I tested were not "universal" enough to work with Apple routers, so it might be a good idea to understand the store's return policy before you buy.

Does the TC need to be attached with Ethernet or not?

Yes, in my opinion. In some rare cases it might be possible to connect the TC using wireless, but it will not "extend" or provide any more wireless coverage when it is setup this way. And backups will take FOREVER because the wireless signal must make a double hop to get to the TC. Definitely not recommended.

I would like to keep my setup as simple as possible.

Trying to connect the TC using wireless would not meet that goal.

As far as the old AirPort, I doubt that it would be worth the effort....my opinion.

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Answer 2

RobFilm Author

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Dec 3, 2012 6:30 PM in response to Bob Timmons

So, Bob, would you suggest that I use the longest run of Ethernet practical (given the limitations of my home) to hook the TC to the FiOS box AND THEN if needed add a current Airport as a bridge/extender IF I'm still not getting the range I need? OR is there a better solution? Better here meaning EASY, NOT MORE EXPENSIVE and FUNCTIONAL.

BestBuy has always been pretty good about letting me return devices that don't solve my issues, so I'm not terribly worried about a $39 extender, though I'm not surprised the proprietary issues might make this non-functional.

Nothing you wrote surprises me. I was hoping for something that might not be possible, I'm afraid (too good to be true....). The old Airport especially seemed like a stretch. I think I got my money's worth out of it (though maybe it'll go to eBay next).

Thanks

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Answer 3

Dec 3, 2012 6:50 PM in response to RobFilm

Well, you can run CAT5e or CAT6 Ethernet cabling up to 100 meters or about 330 feet, so that would cover just about any requirement in a normal home.

If the TC does not provide enough of a wireless signal, you could add an AirPort Express to extend using wireless only.

A modest investment to have an IT guy come out and survey the home and offer some suggestions would be a very wise move....likely saving a lot of headaches later on. If you are going to have a cable pulled, it is usually not much more expensive to have additional runs installed as well.

Better to know upfront what the network will and will not do than try to cope with unforeseen complicated issues later on. Good luck.

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Answer 4

RobFilm Author

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Dec 4, 2012 7:59 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob, I was reading a response you wrote to someone else on a related topic.

Would an Ethernet powerline adapter solve my problem of not wanting to use a long run of Ethernet cable. In other words, could I use a power line adapter to give the TC access to the FiOS modem/router, plugging the TC into the adapter? If so, would I need one or two powerline adapters? Is this solution doable? Reliable? Compatible?

If this would work, it's probably easier and less costly than have wall fishes done to pull Ethernet from one end of the house to the other. Your thoughts?

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Answer 5

Dec 4, 2012 10:32 AM in response to RobFilm

Would an Ethernet powerline adapter solve my problem of not wanting to use a long run of Ethernet cable

Powerline is "iffy". You cannot know if it will work until you actually try it in your home.

I used to recommend powerline stuff a few years ago because it was a lot more reliable then than it is now.

If it works, the "Ethernet" signal will be much slower than a signal moving through an Ethernet cable.

You need two Powerline adapters. The guys at Best Buy will have some suggestions for you if you want to try this.

Personally, I would never consider doing this as a permanent setup in my home, but some users seem to be able to make it work for their purposes.

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Answer 6

RobFilm Author

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Dec 4, 2012 10:51 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob, your advice seems good. It's reality that's disappointing to me.

Unless you have other suggestions, it would seem that your best advice is:

*Keep the TC.

*Hardwire the TC to the FiOS box via Ethernet.

*Try to stretch the distance between the FiOS and TC by using a longer run of cable (cat 5e).

*If I still need more range, consider adding another Airport device -- an Express Base station.

Have I got that all correct?

If so, it sounds like my added expenses at worst should be:

*a run of Ethernet cable ... I can go up to 100M (I won't need that much)

*either my DIY time to pull it through wall OR money to IT/cabling guy to pull it for me.

*possibly an additional Airport Express.

Any options I'm missing?

From what you've said in my thread and elsewhere (you seem to have earned every one of those 49,825 points) it would seem this is the least complicated and most reliable solution -- right?

THANKS!

PS, perhaps it's time to crawl around my attic looking for entry points for that cabling.

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Answer 7

Dec 4, 2012 10:53 AM in response to RobFilm

Your summary is correct. Good luck!

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Answer 8

RobFilm Author

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Dec 15, 2012 2:20 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob, thanks for all your help. I ended up adding an Airport Express and getting some help from Apple Care.

The TC is attached now to the Verizon device by Ethernet. It's set up as a second network. The Express is connected wirelessly to the TC network. Works great.

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Answer 9

Dec 15, 2012 2:58 PM in response to RobFilm

Sounds like a nice setup.

There is some likelihood of wireless interference occurring between two routers in close proximity, so if you start to notice some "weird" wireless issues crop up, it would be a good idea to turn off the wireless function on the FIOS gateway if you do not really need two wireless networks.

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Answer 10

RobFilm Author

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Dec 15, 2012 7:05 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Yeah, I expected to hear that. My longer term plan is to relocate the TC a bit farther away both to reduce the interference and the stretch my range. I'm debating whether I can wall fish some Ethernet myself or it's a fool's errand to not hire a pro.

FYI, it was the Apple Care guy who suggested running two networks. I thought he'd say what you did. Anyway, for now it works. So, again, a big thanks to you.

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