HT201510: Setting up Time Capsule for the first time

Learn about Setting up Time Capsule for the first time
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biggirl90
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Time capsule is hooked up, but Airport Utility doesn't see it

I have been working on this for a while now. Have the time capsule hooked up to my router with an eithernet cable, everything is plugged in, but the yellow light is flashing, and Airpor Utility doesn't see it. Not sure what I am doing wrong.

iMac (27-inch, Late 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Jun 7, 2013 1:39 PM

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biggirl90

Q: Time capsule is hooked up, but Airport Utility doesn't see it

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  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Jun 7, 2013 1:45 PM in response to biggirl90
    Level 10 (271,811 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 7, 2013 1:45 PM in response to biggirl90

    Try disconnecting your router and using the Time Capsule as the router. If that's not possible then be sure you run the Ethernet cable from your router's LAN port to a LAN port on the Time Capsule. Your router's WAN port should be connected to your cable/DSL modem's Ethernet port.

     

    When you configure the Time Capsule in Airport Utility be sure you set it up to Join an Existing Network and provide the name of your network and the access password.

     

    AirPort Utility 5.1 Help- Setting up your base station as a bridge

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Jun 7, 2013 1:45 PM in response to biggirl90
    Level 9 (52,991 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 7, 2013 1:45 PM in response to biggirl90

    Plug the TC directly into the Mac by ethernet.. don't need a network setup.. for the meantime you just do the setup in isolation.

     

    If the TC is plugged into a modem router use it in bridge mode. If it is a pure modem use it in router mode.. you need to tell us a bit more if you need help on the setup side.

     

    If the airport utility doesn't find the TC plugged in by ethernet, just press the reset button for 10sec until the front led flashes rapidly.. or do a full factory reset by holding in reset before power on.. hold in for 10sec after power on, at least until front led flashes rapidly.

     

    This usually gets you into the TC.. it will not delete files on the hard disk, only the TC router side setup.

     

    Now redo that setup. Do the wireless setup. Use short name/s with no spaces and pure alphanumeric.

     

    Make sure you setup with all names TC and wireless and hard disk share name all following that standard.

     

    Once you finished setup.. use update, to write the changes to the TC and then place it back in the network.

  • by biggirl90,

    biggirl90 biggirl90 Jun 7, 2013 1:51 PM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 7, 2013 1:51 PM in response to LaPastenague

    I will give that a try. I am unable to do anything so far, because airport utility doesn't see it. I will try a reset.

  • by biggirl90,

    biggirl90 biggirl90 Jun 7, 2013 2:01 PM in response to biggirl90
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 7, 2013 2:01 PM in response to biggirl90

    OK. Let me see if I can explain more. I have a verizon routerThe cable plugs into it, and the TV is hooked up to it in the LAN 1 slot. There are 3 other LAN slots, and a WAN slot. Which should I use? And which slot should I use on th TC?

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Jun 7, 2013 2:23 PM in response to biggirl90
    Level 9 (52,991 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 7, 2013 2:23 PM in response to biggirl90

    On the TC in bridge.. all ports are LAN.. but by convention we use WAN port.. ie the sunburst one next to USB.

     

    On the verizon router use a LAN port.

     

    It is much easier to do the setup in isolation before you plug the TC into the network.

  • by biggirl90,

    biggirl90 biggirl90 Jun 7, 2013 2:31 PM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 7, 2013 2:31 PM in response to LaPastenague

    I moved the TC back to my computer and connected it with the Eithernet cabel, and it see's it, but it wants me to connect the TC to the router now. It's on a different floor of the house, so I can't really do that. Any suggestions?

  • by biggirl90,

    biggirl90 biggirl90 Jun 7, 2013 2:32 PM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 7, 2013 2:32 PM in response to LaPastenague

    I am trying to do that now LaPastenague, but I keep getting an unexpected error occurred. Try again.

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Jun 7, 2013 2:37 PM in response to biggirl90
    Level 9 (52,991 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 7, 2013 2:37 PM in response to biggirl90

    Darn stupid 6.2 airport utility.. are you doing it via edit. Do not use the automatic setup.

     

    Otherwise install 5.6 utility on your mac.. you will be glad you did.

     

    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.

    http://www.timdoug.com/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.

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4668746?tstart=0