HT203159: USB printer troubleshooting for AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule

Learn about USB printer troubleshooting for AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule
selevkid

Q: I am connected to internet through  modem. How can I use Time Capsule as a wreless harddrive and connection to USB printer

Can I use a Time Capsule as a part of my network> I am connected to internet through modem and want to use Time capsule as  a wireless harddrive and wireless connection to usb printer. How can I do that? Please help

time capsule, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Aug 26, 2013 5:47 PM

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Q: I am connected to internet through  modem. How can I use Time Capsule as a wreless harddrive and connection to USB printer

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  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Aug 26, 2013 6:04 PM in response to selevkid
    Level 10 (105,067 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 26, 2013 6:04 PM in response to selevkid

    This type of setup is not officially supported by Apple.

     

    It might be possible to configure the Time Capsule this way, but please take a minute to consider a few things that you may not have thought about, as this is...frankly....the worst possible way that you could configure the Time Capsule.

     

    Wireless backups will take twice as long as normal wireless.  Why? The signal must make a "double hop".

     

    Hop "one" would be from your Mac to the wireless router, then the signal must make hop "two" to get back to the Time Capsule.

     

    In addition to doubling the time for backups to occur, this doubles the chances for an error to occur during a backup.

     

    The Ethernet ports are not enabled at all on the Time Capsule when it is configured this way, so backup over much faster Ethernet is not possible.

     

    The USB port is enabled, so assuming that the printer is compatible, it could be configured to connect that way. Keep in mind that only printing is supported. If you have an All-in-One device, advanced functions like scan, copy, maintenenance will not be supported.

     

    So, do you really want to try this?  There are no guarantees here that things will work at all.