Time Capsule keeps losing connection in Finder

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Level 1

13 points

Time Capsule keeps losing connection in Finder

I have a 2013 model Time Capsule. I store files on the drive and use it with Time Machine on my Macbook Air and an older MacBook. At least once or twice a week I get an error that says "There was a problem connecting to the server "[my TC name]". The server may not exist or it is unavailable at this time. Check the server name or IP address, check your network connection, and then try again". The only fix I've found for this is to restart the Time Capsule and then remount the drive. When I get this error, Time Machine fails and I can't connect to the drive via Finder. Internet still works perfectly, so I know the TC is still up and running.

Anybody else have this issue? I noticed this in Mountain Lion, but it seems to be happening more and more these days in Mavericks.

Time Capsule-OTHER

Posted on Dec 16, 2013 10:07 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

LaPastenague

Level 9

67,202 points

Dec 16, 2013 11:26 PM in response to whootang12

It has been around since Lion and gotten worse in ML and worse again in Mavericks.. Apple have never fixed it.

I think the disk name is lost and due to Mavericks going to SMB by default it is much worse.

I suggest the following but nothing my cure the bug.

Factory reset the TC.

Give it all new names, ie TC name, wireless name/s and hard disk should be ok as Data.. but make sure.

Short, no spaces and pure alphanumeric.

Mount the disk in Finder manually..

Use Go, Connect to server.

AFP://TCname or perhaps if the TC is router and has static IP use the IP address.. this is by default.. AFP://10.0.1.1

You will be asked for the password.. type public or whatever disk password you used.

See if that gives any improvement.

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Answer 2

OS X fan

Level 1

14 points

Dec 17, 2013 4:08 AM in response to whootang12

Left click on the Finder icon from the Dock and click "Connect to server...", go to recent server and click on your Airport Time Capsule.

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Answer 3

whootang12 Author

Level 1

13 points

Dec 17, 2013 9:26 PM in response to OS X fan

Thank you both for your answers. I'm unable to connect as "AFP://TCname". Instead, the only way I can connect is as this afp://TCname._afpovertcp._tcp.local. My TC had originally been named with a space, but a month ago I removed the space in an attempt to troubleshoot. When the TC is working fine, the "connect to server..." works great, but as soon as this problem arises that no longer works and my only option is to reboot the TC.

I guess my next attempt will be to wipe the entire TC and start over with a brand new name. Frustrating that I spent this much money on a glorified router/hard drive under the impression that it "just worked", and yet here I am....

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Answer 4

Dec 17, 2013 10:23 PM in response to whootang12

I would try using IP:.. often that is more reliable as the issue could well be DNS.

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Answer 5

whootang12 Author

Level 1

13 points

Dec 17, 2013 10:39 PM in response to LaPastenague

I'll have to give it a shot, thanks for the tip!

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Answer 6

phillyry

Level 1

14 points

Jan 8, 2014 8:00 PM in response to OS X fan

OS X fan

This helpedmeRe: Time Capsule keeps losing connection in Finder

Dec 17, 2013 4:08 AM ( in response to whootang12)

Left click on the Finder icon from the Dock and click "Connect to server...", go to recent server and click on your Airport Time Capsule.

THANK YOU!!!!

This solved it for me!

😁

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Answer 7

whootang12 Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 8, 2014 8:31 PM in response to LaPastenague

It's been a few weeks now, and the IP address trick seems to have helped a lot. Thanks!

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Answer 8

whootang12 Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 8, 2014 9:14 PM in response to whootang12

Actually, I totally jinxed myself. Sent my earlier message on my phone, an hour later I went onto my computer and discovered my Time Capsule was missing again.

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Answer 9

Jan 8, 2014 9:51 PM in response to whootang12

I would still expect it to fail on a weekly basis since that has been an ongoing issues since Lion.. Apple have never fixed it.. but a once a week reboot is pretty standard for domestic grade routers.. Not what we expect from Apple but they are now a consumer electronics company.

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Answer 10

whootang12 Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 8, 2014 10:01 PM in response to LaPastenague

Well that sure is a dissapointing answer, but thanks LaPastenague for the help. The router is rock solid, never have issues with it. It's only the attached hard drive that craps out. When the hard drive gets lost, the internet still works fine and everything "appears" green in the Airport Utility. Oh well, such is life I guess.

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Answer 11

Jan 29, 2014 8:12 PM in response to whootang12

what's messed up on my end, is I have had zero issues with this until a few weeks after the time capsule firmware update recently. Great for months, now I have to restart my (new model) time capsule every other day -_-

Manually selecting channel (vs auto) on the wireless via AirPort Utility restored connectivity, but probably only because it restarts the TC. But at least I can do it remotely.

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Answer 12

Feb 3, 2014 12:23 PM in response to KrisMcKenna

I wonder if it's related to static IP address. Does your MAC that is connecting to Time Machine use Static IP address or DHCP to get an IP address? I'm having the same problem, and I'm thinking this may be the cause. I'll try it and let you know.

I had this issue with my printer, which was using DHCP and when it would cycle out and change IP address nothing would print to it.

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Answer 13

Feb 3, 2014 12:55 PM in response to buymymonkey

knock on wood (plastic?) but it hasn't happened since changing the wireless to a manual channel vs letting it pick automatically.

The iMac and MBA were connecting via DHCP iirc, I'll look into that, too, if it starts happening again. I also wonder if it has something to do with the FitBit Aria I also got connected to my network recently. My understanding is that it only connects to the router when you weigh yourself, so it could be wreaking havoc with IP addresses or something.

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Answer 14

Feb 12, 2014 8:59 PM in response to KrisMcKenna

Happened again, just when I thought it was over it. At least it went longer between screw ups this time -_-

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