Using a Wify-to-LAN bridge to wire my time capsule into the network

conlcusion is that the time capsule will not connect to the wifi network and act as a router/network hub at the same time.

That would be correct.

I have thought of using a Wifi-to-lan bridge such as, for instance, thishttp://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Universal-Ethernet-Adapter-WNCE2001/product-review s/B003KPBRRW.

I have no idea whether this will work.

However, if you configure an AirPort Express to "join" the Wi-Fi network, you can then connect an Ethernet cable from the AirPort Express to the Time Capsule and configure the Time Capsule as a normal router to set up your own private network for wired and wireless devices.

In effect, the Airport Express acts as a "modem" for your network in this type of setup, even though the terminology is not exactly correct.

the AirPort Express can do what the time capsule can't: act as a wifi-to-ethernet bridge, right?

That is correct. The Express is unique in this regard. Neither the AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule can do this.

I came to think that was not possible with any of apple's devices.

For many years, I traveled with two AirPort Express devices. When I got to a hotel that only provided wireless, I used one Express to "join" the wireless network and that Express fed the second Express which was set up as a wireless router for multiple wireless devices. Wired would work as well with the "new" Express.

Would that require any special configuration of the AirPort Express to operate in that mode?

The Ethernet port is automatically enabled when the Express is configured to "join" a wireless network. The newer versions of AirPort Utility call this "Add" to a network. It's the same setup that anyone would use when they want to get an Express to join any wireless network for use with AirTunes.

For web based log in, the normal procedure was/is this:

Setup the Express to join the wireless network using an Ethernet connection from my Mac to the Express

Open a brower, log in, agree to terms etc.

As soon as I get an online Internet connection, I disconnect the Mac and connect the Ethernet cable to the second Express which is already "pre-configured" as a router

The hotel network only picks up the MAC Address of the "joining" AirPort Express, so I only pay for one connection, yet I can have multiple wireless or wired connections at the second Express and the hotel never knows.

Good luck!

Buy from an Apple Store or online and you have 14 days to return the product no questions asked if things do not work for some reason.

Unless the wireless uses some very unusual log in, things will be fine.

Keep in mind that your "network" is only going to run at the speed that the "main" wireless connection allows. Unless you are lucky enough to have a very good wireless signal there, this will not be anything like connecting to a modem or other router.

Great, glad that this worked for you!