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Level 1

7 points

New Airport Time Capsule Dropping Wifi/Internet with 7.7.1

Last week I bought a new Airport 2TB Time Capsule and had everything up and running within minutes. However, less than 24 hours later, the wifi signal started dropping devices all around the house. It started with the AppleTV, and eventually dropped our iPhones and iPad as well. The problem is one I've seen on these forums before (however, not with this new model).

I since exchanged it, and the new model is having the identical issues.

Basically, the problem is 1 of 3 things:

1. You'll look down at your iPhone (or whatever device that is wirelessly connected), and see a full wifi signal. However, you'll have lost access to the Internet. Using the AirPort app won't find the Airport Time Capsule. Sometimes turning off wifi on the iPhone and turning it back on fixes the issue, sometimes the Airport Time Capsule needs to be restarted.

2. The AirPort Time Capsule stops broadcasting SSID at random intervals. Even when standing right next to it, there is no way to join the network.

3. The Internet connection drops in the middle of a browsing session (usually while using an iPhone).

On both devices (the original new one, and the replacement exchange), I immediately ran the firmware update. So, I'm thinking this could be a firmware issue.

This router replaces a Linksys e3000 that was working flawlessly. It's connected to a Cox Cable Cisco DOCSIS 3.0 modem (modem only, no router). The AirPort Time Capsule runs in WPA2 protected mode. It's running DHCP and NAT, and 2.4 and 5ghz are currently running the same network name (although I've tried separating them to no effect).

I am at my wits end. I find it hard to believe that both of these routers are defective. And I also find it hard to believe that I'm doing something wrong in the setup of this simple device, considering I've been working with all kinds of very complicated routers for over a decade without this kind of problem.

So I come to you, community, for help!

Thank you in advance!

Posted on Jun 30, 2013 7:08 PM

Best reply

LaPastenague

Level 9

67,226 points

Posted on Jun 30, 2013 7:52 PM

I don't have one.. but your testing is conclusive.. the TC is not stable on this firmware.. Apple will no doubt fix it .. I think their secrecy in marketing leads to less than adequate testing.. you are expecting to buy a mature product.. remember this is a ground breaker.. this is the first all new design since Gen1 TC.. all previous models used Maxell processor and chipset.. albeit with various wireless cards.. now it is broadcom.. processor and wireless.. this also runs apple written firmware.

Broadcom OEM firmware.(linux and hence open source) supplied to all manufacturers of products based on the chipset.. well that would be just wrong for apple... it has to be done in NETBSD,, so it is not open source.. the very thought.. open source.. . that would give everyone access to controls apple don't want you to have.. http setup even.. couldn't allow that.. so apple have to write the firmware from scratch and to match all those apple protocols. Hence where they are now now.

And your role is beta tester.. didn't you know. 😝

Return it and stick with your Linksys (broadcom, Linux open source) until Gen 6 TC comes out. 😉

Unless you like the bleeding edge.

View in context

128 replies

Aug 20, 2013 8:10 PM in response to atxtra

I have the same situation. Has their been a fix for this issue?

Aug 22, 2013 6:34 AM in response to CongressDJ

I just received my new Time Capsule yesterday. I've been using Apple products for a long time, and I was worried after reading the reviews for the new one that I might have the same issue that others are having. Then I thought "what are the chances?" Well, I'm having the same issue that others are having. The initial setup was quick, and painless; I got all of my devices connected right away, and all were successful; and the speeds seemed to be much faster than my Netgear router. I was extremely satisfied. However, later in the evening my wife and I were trying to watch Netflix on the TV, and it wasn't connecting. None of our devices would. I thought maybe it was because the backups for our computers were still running. Once those finished, still nothing. I reset my modem, and the router a few times, but nothing. Then I disconnected everything from my modem, and connected it directly to one of my computers. Nothing. It made me think there was an issue with the modem, which I still do. After over 12 hours I still get nothing connected directly to the modem. I called my ISP, and they said they aren't having any issues. It made me think that the TC messed up my modem, which I really don't believe.

I hope that Apple comes up with a fix soon. I love my Apple products, and will stand by them, but it upsets me that a Netgear router worked flawlessly for 3 years, and in less than a few hours my Apple TC seemed to cause more problems than it should have.

nycjdc1

Level 1

7 points

Aug 22, 2013 3:25 PM in response to kaceyfromia

Hi.

Have the same issues w/ the new TC w/ a 3TB drive. Works fine for a bit and then stops or grinds to a hault on passing data on the wireless network. Can be as bad as grinding internets speeds down from 50mb/s to 0.21mb/s. Renders the iOS Remote app useless. I cycle power and all works fine for a bit of time. I drop in my two-year old time capsule and it works without issues.

Please fix this ugly problem.

Aug 24, 2013 7:11 AM in response to CongressDJ

same exact issue. Hopefully apple fixes this, very frustrating to have spent $400 on a 3TB timecapsule and it doesn't work as well as the $99 linksys i had before. really want this to stop dropping my devices!

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,251 points

Aug 25, 2013 3:45 PM in response to michaelpjones

Zero issues with my new 3 TB TC, so per usual it isn't a universal issue. 😕

Aug 25, 2013 4:36 PM in response to Dogcow-Moof

William- maybe you got a new model? Give it time... There has to be an up date soon.

Aug 25, 2013 5:26 PM in response to CongressDJ

I have a 30-day old 3 TB ATC and had two wifi connectivity issues which are now resolved, and the fixes may be useful to y'all:

First my (working) config:

- Comcast DSL IP (Colorado)

- Arris TG862 modem (TV/Internet/Phone)

- DHCP connection to ATC

- ATC Network Router Mode OFF (Bridge Mode)

- 7.7.1 ATC firmware

- ATV connected via ethernet cable (see D. below)

A. After purchase I connected using box instructions and ATC auto-detect software and all went OK.

B. A few days later I followed Apple Support online steps to bridge Comcast-Arris modem to my ATC, so that my ATC router could control connections. Comcast tech support sent signal which bridged OK. All worked fine for a few days and then I lost internet connectivity completely off ATC, and only ethernet cable connect off Arris worked. Several hours on the phone with both Comcast and Apple support, multiple reboots of all devices, nothing worked. One Apple tech suggested to send ATC back in for replacement, then his supervisor kept debugging. Nothing worked. Finally I decided to hard reset Arris and get off bridge mode. This followed by reset of ATC using rear button got me back online using ATC. Now I can't use the ATC router functions, but at least I am back online.

C. But then a day or so later I was unable to get AirPort Utility to "find" the ATC via wifi when signing on in the morning. However at least I had an internet connection via the ATC, just couldn't look at any ATC "Edit" info. Unplugging power on the ATC and then replugging fixed this -- but just until the next morning (s), when APU couldn't "find" the ATC again. But always my internet worked.

D. Then I read one of the early responses to the original post which suggested the ATV might be the problem. So I unplugged the ATV ethernet connection from the ATC and plugged it into the Arris instead. Everything works! Every day so far (about a week) I have no problems with either internet connectivity or APU "finding" the ATC. I guess that overnight ATV-ATC connections must be gumming up the works, possibly abetted by Arris overnight activities.

This shouldn't be so hard....Apple's firmware should automatically detect what it is connected to, and make the appropriate settings adjustments. And bridging off of an ISP modem should not be unstable. Looking forward to some effective firmware updates!

Aug 25, 2013 5:21 PM in response to toddfromtx

Guess it could be the Apple TV. I have two of them connected wirelessly. I'll try unplugging the power and see if the issue resolves.

Sep 10, 2013 6:42 PM in response to CongressDJ

This is still an issue in my setup. I have AT&T UVerse and it only impacts my iPhone 5. All other IOS devices and laptops function fine. No Issues with my Apple TV. I have even tried turning it off and trying again, I still have the issue on the iPhone 5. Is this issue just isolated to the iPhone 5?

All connected to TC 3TB (2013)

iPhone 5 = works at first then drops completly

iPhone 4S = works fine no issues

iPad 3 = works fine no issues

MacBook Air 13 (2012 version) = works fine no issues

MacBook Air 11 (2013 version) = works fine no issues

MacMini (2009 version) = works fine no issues (hardwired)

The only device that does not work is the iPhone 5.

Perhaps IOS7 will help this issue.

Sep 19, 2013 2:56 PM in response to CongressDJ

Having exactly the same issue - my mac book pro works for couple of hours then the wifi hangs.

Sep 19, 2013 2:59 PM in response to CongressDJ

It turns out my issue with my MB Pro losing it's internet connection must have been the wifi card going bad. I bought a cheap usb one and ever since my connection has remained stable.

Never had any issues with my iphone on Time Capsule.

Sep 19, 2013 3:17 PM in response to Truffles100

I think ios7 might have fixed it? I've had it running on my iphone for the last week or so and haven't had any issues since then.

Sep 23, 2013 6:13 AM in response to Truffles100

My issue turned out to be the modem from my ISP. I reset everything multiple times, and tried everything in different outlets throughout the house, and nothing worked. My ISP came out, replaced the modem, and everything has worked perfect since. No dropped connections, and faster than my previous router.

bcw-1217

Level 1

0 points

Oct 11, 2013 10:10 AM in response to kaceyfromia

I'm running APTC on Comcast version 6.9 of firmware having this problem.

Upgraded to 7.6 and seems much better so far.

Oct 17, 2013 1:36 PM in response to CongressDJ

Same issue.

I also beleive this to be a conflict with Apple TV.

Bought and set up a new 2TB Time Capsule (v. 7.7.1) yesterday morning. Smoking speeds, all devices connected without issues and everything was working like a champ. Woke up this morning and noticed some dropping out. It got worse. And worse. All day long. So bad I could barely get the 3rd page of this thread loaded.

Finally decided to unplug the power from my Apple TV. So far, ZERO drops since I did that.

Maybe an Apple TV software update will fix it.

New Airport Time Capsule Dropping Wifi/Internet with 7.7.1