Slow internet connection with 2tb time capsule

I have been having the same issue as well on my Apple Time Capsule 2TB(3rd Gen). My network setup is modem(comcast) connected to TC. TC has been timing out the internet connection intermittently causing disconnects. I have checked with Comcast to confirm that their modem is working properly and is in "Full Bridge Mode" allowing the TC to act as a router(setting DHCP and NAT). I have also introducing placing the TC in optimum location in house, replaced ethernet wiring, changing coxial cabling. I have changed channels due to interference from other wifi sources to optimized channel for 2.4Ghz. Disabled 5Ghz all together due to all device cannot run on that specific network. I have updated TC to latest software update, Factory reset to confirm issues with fresh configuration. TC continues to repeat same issues. For test have connected my old Apple TC 1TB(2nd Gen) for replacement in network and had no issues for the past several days. Also speed test confirm over 100% difference in download and upload speeds going from 4.9Mbps to 14.5Mbps. I have made a reservation at the nearest apple store to gather more information and to diagnosis if its software or hardware issues. Many people I have noticed have had the same issues pertaining to their (3rd Gen). I will update when i gather more info.

These are frustrating problems..

The RCA modem is fairly old one if my memory serves.. (doubtful)

There are definite issues between certain modems and the TC. Some of the problems are really difficult to ascertain.

I have a heap of suggestions I have made in a few threads.. but I think I might take these one at a time.

A couple of basics though.

All names should be short, no spaces and pure alphanumeric. Please do not use apple recommended names.

Stick to SMB names, since you are running windows machines and Mavericks now also defaults to SMB network.. (don't worry if all that means nothing to you)

SMB names are SHORT.. Keep to 10 characters if you can.. say 20 max.

SMB names have NO SPACES.

SMB names do use Apostrophe.. Stick to PURE ALPHANUMERIC.

If your TC name or wireless is something like,

Jeremy Blog's Airport Time Capsule123abc

It breaks all the rules, it is too long, it has spaces and it has apostrophe.

Please change to match SMB naming.. JBATC or more simply TCgen5

Please change wireless to TCwifi

Use only WPA2 Personal wireless security with pure alphanumeric password of 8-20 characters.

That is just the warm up.

Now I want you to move the IP of the TC to 192.168.1.x instead of 10.0.1.1

Comcast and most cable companies use 10.x.x.x network for background network checking and I have recently thought a lot of the issues people are having is that IP is somehow interfering.. could be wrong but worth a go.

Changing IP on the TC is kind of crazy.. you go to the Network Options and change the DHCP..

The TC will always take the first IP address.. so if you choose 192.168.1 then TC is 192.168.1.1

If you have no luck with that.. please do tell me.

The other thing is to use a crossover cable or small switch between the TC and the cable modem.. as I think the wan could actually be dropping out.

MasterGyrus wrote:

I have been having the same issue as well on my Apple Time Capsule 2TB(3rd Gen). My network setup is modem(comcast) connected to TC. TC has been timing out the internet connection intermittently causing disconnects.

What modem exactly do you have?

I have changed channels due to interference from other wifi sources to optimized channel for 2.4Ghz. Disabled 5Ghz all together due to all device cannot run on that specific network.

It is not important but you cannot disable 5ghz on a TC.. it is always working.. you cannot disable either wireless band. You can change its name that is all.

I also want you to change the IP range of the TC.

In your case though I also would like you to set the WAN port speed lower. This is possible using v5 airport utility.. it is not possible on Gen5 TC but is on Gen1-4.

You haven't stated what AU version you are running but if you have any computer running up to Mountain Lion you can easily install the older utility.

This will not work on Mavericks.

How to load 5.6 into later Lion & 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.

Leave the package open on the desktop so you can see the file. AirportUtility56.pkg

2. Download and install unpkg.

http://www.timdoug.com/unpkg/

Run unpkg on the desktop.. If your Mac refuses to run the software, because it wasn’t downloaded from the Apple store, go to security in preferences and allow other software to work.. this is limitation of trade methinks. You can set back later if you like.

Now drag the AirPortUtility56.pkg file over to unpkg.. and it will create a new directory of the same name on the desktop.. in finder, open the new directory, 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 version 6 (now 6.3 if you updated) so don't try.. and you cannot or should not run them both at the same time.. although I have had no problems when doing so.

In v5 utility

Change it to 100mbit full duplex.

The 7.6.4 firmware seems to be part of the problem.. I would go back to 7.6.1.

The same issue with names applies so please change to SMB names.

1)Modem: Arris CM820A TouchStone Cable Modem.

2) Macbook Pro runs under Mavericks so i am not looking to downgrade just to use an older Airport Utility.

3) I do use a simple Alphanumeric wifi id.

4)I wasn't concluding that the radio for 5Ghz is off, just hidden.

5) The 3rd Gen TC is running 7.7.3, 2nd Gen is running 7.6.1. Like i said in the my response the 2nd Gen is working great and network performance is excellent. So i conclude its the 3rd Gen TC whether its Hardware or Software oriented issue. Its more likely software orientated.

6) I have changed the DHCP IP addresses in the past before and that did not seem to solve the issue. The 2nd Gen TC is using default 10.0.0.1 addresses and it works fine.

Thank you for the advice but i wanted to create a response so that others would know what i can find out at Apple Retail.

5) The 3rd Gen TC is running 7.7.3, 2nd Gen is running 7.6.1. Like i said in the my response the 2nd Gen is working great and network performance is excellent. So i conclude its the 3rd Gen TC whether its Hardware or Software oriented issue. Its more likely software orientated.

The TC running 7.7.3 is a Gen5 AC model not Gen3. Sorry but that confused me.

Did you do a full factory reset after the upgrade to 7.7.3??

People have definitely had issues with the WAN connection to the cable modem on these. Sometimes a crossover cable or small 10/100 switch between the TC and cable modem can fix it.

I apologize for the misconception i went ahead and verified yes its a 5th Generation TC and the older one is a 3rd Generation TC.

I did complete a full factory reset after the upgrade to 7.7.3. I have also heard about the crossover cable between the modem and TC. I will need to verify once i get off of work.

I did just verify that I have been using a crossover cable between modem and TC. Comcast must have put that type of cable in during installation.

Just for update purposes: The issue I currently have is still unresolved. I have made plans today to go to reservation today for further assistance. I will let you know once I get back.

jrtking73 wrote:

Hello.

I did the steps outlined in your post Lapastenague, thanks very much. Interesting things occurred. First thing, I am not sure if I have a crossover cable or switch between cable modem and TC. What I do have as a connection is a ethernet cable connecting the two, is that what you mean?

Crossover cables were required in the olden days but have long since dropped out for using standard ethernet cables with the electronics in the ethernet ports working out which is the send and which is the receive.. but Apple seem to have made some issues on the latest AC model that causes issues which a crossover can occasionally help. Especially if you are running a cable modem the TC has issues with.

I gather from your post you are using the new AC version TC.

I downloaded an app which tests internet speed and it says I am getting 35 MBps download and about 10 MBps upload speed. It feels intuitively to me that there is a problem with the TC talking to the cable modem but that is just a feeling my (inexpert) brain has.

I also changed the IP address this AM before I came to work and so far I don't think that has changed anything. It was a slightly different process than you outlined (not to pick at you, just letting you know) probably changed with firmware update?

OK I think that covers what I have done so far, thanks for your help, I actually kind of like working on this its interesting.

Look forward to next step thanks!!!

Jeremy

You download and upload speed are fine so it does sound like there is some other issue happening.

Can you please post a screenshot or two of the current setup of the TC.

Exactly like the ones I posted.. that is the real advantage of this forum as it gives us the ability to post pics without using a service outside. I do need to see what is going on.

Hmm just had an interesting conversation with an IT gentleman at my work. Before he had to run away he suggested it could be an issue with the browser software and a matter of adding some DNS or server lines to the web browser preferences.

You do need to make sure the DNS is resolving correctly but I doubt that is the issue for such slow page loading. I think he is referring to ISP that use proxy address but again I doubt that is your problem.

Testing most of these things is fairly easy.

Open terminal and do a traceroute to a website you are having issues with.

The command is simple

traceroute www.apple.com say

traceroute www.apple.com

traceroute to e3191.dscc.akamaiedge.net (184.31.205.15), 64 hops max, 52 byte packets

1 10.0.1.1 (10.0.1.1) 0.533 ms 0.348 ms 0.264 ms

2 192.168.2.1 (192.168.2.1) 0.569 ms 0.574 ms 0.399 ms

3 adsl1.mel02.eftel.com (203.123.69.176) 18.662 ms 17.687 ms 17.586 ms

4 te0-0-0-306.core0.mel02.eftel.com (203.123.72.65) 18.743 ms 18.712 ms 17.891 ms

5 203.123.69.134 (203.123.69.134) 19.275 ms 19.146 ms 19.230 ms

6 bundle-ether11.win24.melbourne.telstra.net (165.228.21.137) 20.170 ms 26.255 ms 23.792 ms

7 bundle-ether2.***76.melbourne.telstra.net (203.50.11.60) 20.465 ms 26.523 ms 24.384 ms

8 akamai2.lnk.telstra.net (120.151.255.150) 18.941 ms 18.943 ms 19.091 ms

9 * * *

10 * * *

It may not complete and you can stop it with control + c keys.

But it should resolve the address and begin testing each hop quickly. You are looking for slow down in the first hop or at some later point if this is your ISP issue.

I would btw still like you to move the TC to 192.168.x.x address range if you did not manage that.

You can see my double NAT here.. which is just a test setup.. but is a problem.. you can see I have to different IP ranges.

Sorry I forget when people are using PC the limitations.

You can do screenshots from the airport utility on the ipad.

Just google how to do ipad screenshots.. I have done it and it is pretty easy.

Basically the utility in the PC is too old for your AC model TC.. if I have the layout correct.. Apple have not updated to v6 utility for windows but the stated requirement for AC model airports is v6 utility.

Traceroute is available as a command prompt program in the command window.

Only the command is tracert

It will do the same thing.

I do not use safari on my Mac.. I still use google chrome as it is fastest I have tried.. I doubt all browsers in your network would be running prefetch.. and although that is one answer on a 35Mbps internet link.. I would be very surprised that a page takes 30sec to load.

Easy trick.. test. Plug the computer straight into the cable modem.. Power cycle the cable modem.. make sure you have internet.. if the problems go away.. then the issue is nothing to do with your computer .. it is 100% the TC..

I would btw not buy a TC for a network without a Mac.. it is really far from the greatest router for the money if you don't want time machine backups to it.