Hi! New mba, new time capsule. Trying to connect tc to existing wireless network. Can't find 'manual setup' or 'join wireless network', only 'extend wireless network', which results in the tc disappearing from my list of networks altogether. Help!
MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)
A TC is really not designed to join a wireless network and it is a really poor way to run it. It has always been a hidden option.. and now it is even harder to find.
For manual setup it is much easier to simply install 5.6 utility and then you can find and use TC any way you want. But please note the speed will be extraordinarily slow.. all packets will have to travel via the main router that supplies wifi.. to the TC.. you will lose all direct connection.
How to load 5.6 into ML.
1. Download 5.6 for Lion.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482
Click to open the dmg but do not attempt to install the pkg.. it won't work anyway.
2. Download and install unpkg.
Run unpkg on the desktop.. it is very simple.. drag the AirPortUtility56.pkg file over to unpkg.. and it will create a new directory of the same name on the desktop.. drill down.. applications utilities .. there lo and behold is Airport utility 5.6 .. drag it to your main utilities directory or just run it from current location.
You cannot uninstall 6.1 (now 6.2 if you updated) so don't try.. and you cannot or should not run them both at the same time.. so just ignore the toyland version.. the plastic hammer.. and start using 5.6.. a real tool.
For screen shots see this post.
Thanks! Done. I wish I didn't have to do it this way, but I live on a boat, so my internet connection comes from a myfi device, so no ethernet. Seems this is my only option.....
No, it isn't.
But you are not going to particularly like the alternatives..
1. Air has no ethernet.. so buy the dongle.. usb to ethernet or better but uber expensive.. thunderbolt to ethernet.
Use the TC in second isolated network. Faster more reliable.. but in the end you could have done that with a USB drive direct.
2. Use a secondary wireless. Wireless has one big limitation.. it cannot be the client of two different WAP at the same time. (Ethernet btw can be clients to two different routers). But you can get minature wireless USB sticks.. they are now so compact it is not like some great dongle handing off your neat small laptop. Having a second wireless allows you to set up a secondary network. And directly link to the TC.
I have given the basics of the setup for either of these setups here.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4817218?tstart=30
3. Use a wireless bridge in front of the TC.
Here is the differentiation of products.. although neither a TC nor an Extreme can work in "join a wireless network" with ethernet active and express can. (You can of course choose any other wireless bridge device.. although you need to find ones that do universal wireless bridge because you will no access to the wifi or because the device is not built for bridging). You can then plug the Express in front of the TC.. you effectively capture the wireless, convert to ethernet.. so the TC can convert back to wireless.
4. If you own the myfi device.. throw it over the side, after you recover the sim, and buy a proper 3G or 4G wireless router with ethernet. This is IMHO the best option if it is available to you.
Edit..if the myfi device is your iphone you don't need to take the throwing over the side literally. Only if it is one of those cheap and nasty .. usually HuaWei supplied hotspot thingos.. Use a separate data account for 3G. If you are using wifi supplied by marina, then ask them what they would recommend as a matching device for ethernet connection.
5. You can also use a 3G modem dongle direct in the laptop. Some of the cheap ultrabooks are now being sold with 3G modem inside which is a great idea. Just slip in a SIM. Apple limit any kind of add on of course.. no hatches to make life easy.
Hey! Really, thanks for your time. I think I'll get a 3G/4G router. This one looks decent http://www.onyougo.com/d-link-dwr-921-routers_pi1963970 but can't find any reviews. Must be new. Do you know of any good ones that won't break the bank? That one is around £150, pretty cheap it seems. Thanks!
That one is around £150, pretty cheap it seems. Thanks!
Dlink.. hmmm.. I do have a dlink.. but generally recommend their avoidance.. I do have a 3G dlink router.. you can buy some models for $2 in Australia.. they don't work. Make great wireless AP units. For routers they are horrible... and for 3g useless.
3G/4G routers are not hard to find now.. I would do a quick search on ebay.. 3g router
See what comes up. Many people dispose of the bad ones .. so lots of new models.. that is a bad sign.
Or they simply get rid of them due to moving onto new and cheaper services.. everything is cheaper than wireless.
You already have a decent router with good wireless in the TC.. all you really want is 3G router that gives you ethernet.. the less services it has the better if you intend to still use the TC.
Look at edimax for cheap ones. I find a lot of 3G routers sold under many brands are actually edimax.. with a different firmware. The edimax itself has very simple options but that maybe all you need.
trying to make time capsule connect to a wireless network. How?
