Time Capsule(s) & Time Machine = No connection

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Level 1

14 points

Time Capsule(s) & Time Machine = No connection

I'm a confused individual at the moment, so bear with me:

I've used a Time Capsule (TC) as my back-up drive (not as a router) for 4+ years without a hitch.

Yesterday I got a message from Time Machine (TM) that there was not enough space on my 500GB TC for a back-up. After excluding some folders for back-up, I told TM to do a back-up. The ensuing back-up proceeded but quickly became glacially slow, and then didn't finish backing up. I don't recall the error message(s).

So I did a soft reset, then a hard reset, and then a factory reset. Now the amber light flashes slowly, and Airport Utility can't find the TC.

Knowing I'd need a larger back-up drive eventually anyway, today I bought a new 3TB Time Capsule. Plug it in, Airport Utility can't find it, and its amber light flashes slowly. 😕

It shouldn't matter that I'm not using the Time Capsule(s) as a router, right? They're just AC plugged in, no other wired connections.

Where do I start to troubleshoot this? Is it possible there's some problem with my iMac?

Mac OS X (10.7.5), 3.06 4GB 1TB; 2.53 4GB 250GB;

Posted on May 25, 2014 12:08 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

K Shaffer

Level 7

34,960 points

May 25, 2014 12:15 PM in response to Penman61

You likely will have to configure the Time Capsule to work, as it does use wireless. There is a fairly good section in Support about the AirPort base and Time Capsule, troubleshooting, setup, etc.

Instructions that came with it, or those you could locate via Help viewer in your Mac OS X, should be adequate.

•AirPort + Wi-Fi - Apple Support:

http://www.apple.com/support/airport/

•Resetting an AirPort base station FAQ

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3728

There are some start points.

Good luck!😐

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Answer 2

Penman61 Author

Level 1

14 points

May 25, 2014 12:20 PM in response to K Shaffer

Thanks! I'd already read both of those sections linked when troubleshooting the old TC yesterday.

I guess I'm confused about something basic: Does the Time Capsule need to have a WIRED connection to be set up for wireless, i.e., do I have to plug in an Ethernet cable from my modem to the TC to set it up for wireless, even if the TC us going to be used ONLY ja backup drive, not a wireless router?

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Answer 3

K Shaffer

Level 7

34,960 points

May 25, 2014 12:41 PM in response to Penman61

To set up the new device to work wireless, you need to configure it.

Once it is seen set up, then it would not need wires. You could use

a wireless portable computer or any other, it will backup your files

via Time Machine, and also go online for web access.

It is designed to work as wi-fi router for the internet, so if it is to be a

primary access point and gateway to the internet as well as backup

then it would need to be wired. Unless it could be set up as a repeater.

Some models of AirPort Extreme can be used as repeaters, too. Yet

a link between the cable or ISP box and this device on setup is an

Ethernet cable. As a primary unit, it should be left that way.

For security purposes, one may need to consider how these are set

up, and a wired connection to the Time Capsule may be better if it

is to be a center of backup and internet access, or shared wireless

between several Macs, devices, and the internet.

Once the new device is set up and it backs up for the first time, you

have to be sure it will be seen by any computer or iDevice using it.

This is where you'd find out if it was set up correctly. It should work.

You may have seen the setup info here, so that's one way to see

if it can work, then check any other options; or change settings.

Given the new unit also features faster connection speeds and options

plus also is a closer match to recent OS X system updates, it would

be a natural to connect it as primary internet point, too. As described:

•Setting up TC for the first time: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1178

•AirPort Time Capsule - Support database:

http://www.apple.com/support/airport/timecapsule/

Sorry about the lack of info on how-to, I tend to do backups manually

and hope to do full backup (boot capable) clones as time permits...!

Good luck!😐

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Answer 4

Penman61 Author

Level 1

14 points

May 25, 2014 1:12 PM in response to K Shaffer

Thanks, K. I decided to go ahead and use the new Time Capsule as my wireless router, so it's all wired up and now backing up via Time Machine--and the new TC provides a faster Internet connection than my old Belkin router. Win-win. 🙂

P. S. I just noticed that you're in the Kenai Mountains. I grew up for awhile in Anchorage, and in summers (the 1970s) we'd go down every weekend to the Kenai Peninsula to camp and fish (Deep Creek, Skilak Lake, Kenai River...). Beautiful. Sorry to hear y'all have been having some serious fires near Soldotna recently. Hope all is well. 🙂

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