Time Capsule - Idiots setup guide - Wifi

Unfortunately, the steps that you list are incorrect and out of sequence.

What is the make and model number of the router to which the TC will connect?

Where will the TC be located in relation to the router? Close by? Or, a few rooms away? If a few rooms away, do have an Ethernet cable that it long enough to connect the router and TC together?

Are you suggesting a permanent wired solution?

Apple dictates that the TC must connect to a modem or router using a wired Ethernet connection, just as you see in the Time Capsule Setup Guide.

The only exception to this would be if you already have another Apple router that is providing a wireless network. In that case only, the TC can connect using a wireless connection.

I was hoping to avoid that and take advantage of the wireless aspect.

Unfortunately, a TC cannot connect to a third party router using a wireless connection.

My next query is about its supposed ability to extend an existing network,

The TC can effectively extend your current network if it connects using a wired Ethernet connection back to your main router. The TC would be configured to create a wireless network using the exact same name and password that your current router is using.

If you cannot run the Ethernet cable to the TC at its remote location, then a pair of Ethernet Over Powerline (EOP) adapters might be able to send the Ethernet signal over the existing AC powerlines in your home. The theory with these devices is that you already have the wiring in place, you just need the adapters.

In practice, things do not always work as well as the theory might suggest, so if you decide to try a pair of EOP adapters, it would be a good idea to understand the store's return policy in advance, since you cannot know how well things will work......or, even IF they will work.....until you try them out in your home.

As you might imagine, the wired Ethernet cable is the best choice by far in a setup like you propose.

You would use the setup "wizard" built into AirPort Utility to configure the Time Capsule once you decide how you want to install the device in your home. You can start the wizard either from your Mac or from an iPhone or iPad.

You must first reset the Time Capsule back to default settings, so the setup wizard can suggest the correct setup for you.

With the Time Capsule powered on for a few minutes, hold in the reset button on the back of the Time Capsule for 8-10 seconds and release. Allow a full minute for the Time Capsule to restart to a slow blinking amber light.

Verify that the Ethernet cable connects from one of the LAN <--> ports on your wireless router to the WAN "O" port on the Time Capsule.

On your Mac, click the WiFi icon at the top of the screen and look for a listing of New AirPort Base Station. Just below that, click on Time Capsule. The illustration below shows an AirPort Extreme, but you will see Time Capsule on your screen.

If you are using an iPhone or iPad, tap Settings on the home screen, then tap WiFi. Look for a listing of Setup a New Base Station and just below that tap on Time Capsule.

Whichever way to choose, that will start the setup wizard. It will run a minute, then suggest a setup that will look like this, except that you will see a picture of the Time Capsule on your screen.

Network Name......Type is a short, simple name for the wireless network that the Time Capsule will create. IF.....you have decided to locate that Time Capsule a few rooms away from the main router....and....you want the Time Capsule to extend the network......then enter the exact same name that the router is using for the wireless network. If the Time Capsule will be close to the router, then type in a different wireless network name. You can use the same name as you used before on the Time Capsule if you wish

Base Station Name.....You can call the Time Capsule the same device name that it had before, if you wish

Password......Type in the password that will be used for the wireless network and Base Station. If the Time Capsule is located a few rooms away from the router and you want the Time Capsule to extend the network as mentioned above, then you would use the same password that router is using. If the Time Capsule will be close to the router, and it will have a different wireless network name, then type is a password that you want to use.

Verify.......Verify the password again

Click Next.....and the wizard will set up everything for you automatically. When you see the message of Setup Complete, click Done.

Now you should be able to connect to the Time Capsule using the wireless network that you selected and password.

The backups on the Time Capsule will not be affected by this, but you will need to reset Time Machine to select the Time Capsule as the target disk for backups, to get Time Machine going again. Backups will resume where you left off before.

as soon as i disconnect the Cable

Please review what I said above in my first reply. Note that I never included a step about disconnecting the Ethernet cable.

Apple dictates that the TC must connect to a modem or router using a wired Ethernet connection, just as you see in the Time Capsule Setup Guide.

and.....

Unfortunately, a TC cannot connect to a third party router using a wireless connection.

This would mean that you cannot disconnect the Ethernet cable.

You have another option above if you cannot run the Ethernet cable from one room to another.

If you cannot run the Ethernet cable to the TC at its remote location, then a pair of Ethernet Over Powerline (EOP) adapters might be able to send the Ethernet signal over the existing AC powerlines in your home. The theory with these devices is that you already have the wiring in place, you just need the adapters.

In practice, things do not always work as well as the theory might suggest, so if you decide to try a pair of EOP adapters, it would be a good idea to understand the store's return policy in advance, since you cannot know how well things will work......or, even IF they will work.....until you try them out in your home.

As you might imagine, the wired Ethernet cable is the best choice by far in a setup like you propose.

An adapter simply plugs into the AC wall socket.....looks like a power supply. Hard to believe that a landlord would object.

You are using a different version of AirPort Utility now than you used when you originally set up the Time Capsule.

Apple has removed some options in the newer version of AirPort Utility.....one of them being the ability to have the Time Capsule connect to a third party wireless network.

If you have a Mac running the Leopard (10.5.x) or Snow Leopard (10.6.x) operating systems, then it might be worth a try to see if the Time Capsule can be set up the way that you want.

Otherwise, we are running out of options.

For about the same cost as a pair of EOP adapters, you could add an AirPort Express, locate it near your current router and and set up the Express to provide a wireless network.

Then, the Time Capsule could connect to the network using wireless.

So, you have two options:

Connect the TC using the EOP adapters and back up using the wireless network, file share, etc that way

or

Add the AirPort Express to your current router and connect the Time Capsule using wireless, back up using wireless, file share, etc that way. You will have to reset the TC if you choose this option and set it up again, similar to the way that you did before, but without an Ethernet cable connection.

I strongly prefer a wired connection between routers, so cannot say if the AirPort Express option will work to your satisfaction.

I am going to limit this thread to just a few more posts, so it is time to wrap things up.