Q: I already have an internal network.  Can I still use time capsule to back up with time machine.

Yes, you just bridge the TC to the existing router. .you can turn off the wireless if you prefer or you can set it to reinforce the existing wireless or as completely separate.. any of those options are fine.

But you are paying more for a device that does less.. you can get an external drive if it suits and have faster, cheaper, more reliable backups.

Hi LaPastenague

I just read your interesting aswer with regards to using the TC to extend an existing network. My current setup is that I use the Airport Extreme as router/accespoint and have the TC wireless connected to the AE and currently only use the TC for backup (it is hidden in a closet). Now I want to both use the TC as wireless backup and as an extender so that my network gets a better/wider network coverage i my house. Perhaps you know how the settings should be in the AE and TC? I would really appreciate some guidance.

Best wishes,

Charlottenlund

. Now I want to both use the TC as wireless backup and as an extender so that my network gets a better/wider network coverage i my house. Perhaps you know how the settings should be in the AE and TC? I would really appreciate some guidance.

 

If you already have the TC setup as wireless connection to the TC, how have you done that?

In the normal extend the TC will already be extending the wireless. The setup of the AE is simple.. just check the allow this wireless to be extended. In the TC setup wireless to extend the existing wireless. It is actually very simple setup.

If you look through the posts here Bob Timmons has given instructions to do it time and again.

But for backing up over wireless, using a roaming network is a far better method. That is using ethernet between the AE and the TC, so both have fast connection to the internet and network and then both independently can do wireless to reinforce each other, rather than repeat signal which is slow.

Here is the apple document on the setup.

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

One difference I would make is to fix channels.. but some people find auto work ok.

I will look around for a wireless extend post that has the info.

Tell us what OS you run so we know which airport utility to provide screenshots for. There is a fairly large difference between v5 and v6 and the Apple documents still are based around v5 so it makes it difficult.

You aks how I have connected the TC to the AE wrielessly. Well the setup is the following

The AE is configured this way:

The TC in configured almost the same way however the "network function" is configured to "extend the wireless network":

I do not want the AE and the TC to be connected via cable. I want the TC to be hidden in a closet with only a wireless connection to the AE and then extend the wireless network via the TC:

At this webpage there is a guide on how to do it:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259?viewlocale=en_US

But the issue is that in step 8 it refers to a checkbox ("Select the “Allow this network to be extended” checkbox") this checkbox does not appear in my Airport tool/ the menu in the AE setup.