Time Capsule Intermittently Will Not Connect to the Cable Modem

Question

Time Capsule Intermittently Will Not Connect to the Cable Modem

Bought Time Capsule a few weeks ago. Had trouble setting it up. TC would not recognize the cable modem. Used these forums to get help. Followed the specific set up sequence with long delays between steps and the modem and TC. This all worked for about a month. Now about once per day the TC works but no internet wireless or ethernet thru the TC. If I unplug the TC and let it reboot and initialize internet connection returns. During internet outages I have ethernet and wireless connection to TC, the printers and drives on the network as well as the Time Capsule back up drive and data. So I never lose ethernet and wireless connection to the TC. Also, the modem works fine. If I cut out the TC and connect ethernet to the cable modem I have internet access.

Thank you. You all were a huge help last time.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.5), Airport Time Capsule

Posted on Dec 1, 2015 6:32 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Dec 2, 2015 5:31 AM in response to Smooth Trail Rider

If this is still the same modem.......an Arris SB6141......there have been a number of reports of difficulty with this product with Apple routers. We did not mention this in your first post a month ago, because we wanted to see if a proper modem reset would get things working well for you. I have had the same experience as well with the exact same modem that you have.

The SB6141 is a good product, and the Time Capsule is as well. But, for some users, these two products just don't work that well together. If you call the support folks for the modem, they will of course point to the Time Capsule as the issue. If you call Apple, they will have a different opinion about things. The bottom line when you are talking to one support group......it's always the other guy's fault that you are having issues.

At this point, the only real solution might be to decide whether you want to try another brand and model of modem and keep the Time Capsule, or keep the modem and try another brand of router, and then connect the Time Capsule to the router.

In my case, I replaced the SB6141 (I tried 3 different SB6141s previously because the ISP admitted to having difficulties with this modem and some routers) with a Zoom 5341J, and have not had one single Internet connection drop since I installed the Zoom over a year ago. If your Internet Service Provider indicates that the Zoom is a compatible product with their service, you might want to give that modem a try.

But unfortunately, there are no assurances that the "solution" that worked for me will be the solution that works for you. Such is the nature of the beast when you are working with products from two different suppliers.

Reply

Answer 2

Dec 2, 2015 5:34 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks. Bought the SB modem from Best Buy versus through Cox Communications. Might buy next one through Cox. It is just weird that the SB6141 worked fine with my Airport Extreme but not with the TC.

Should I pull out the Airport Extreme and place it between the SB modem and the TC? Would that solve my problem? A lot of wires but if it improves my network stability then it might be the right answer.

Thanks again.

Reply

Answer 3

Dec 2, 2015 6:18 AM in response to Smooth Trail Rider

Should I pull out the Airport Extreme and place it between the SB modem and the TC?

It's worth a try if the AirPort Extreme is one of the "flat" or "square" versions and the TC is a newer "tower" version. It is the newer "tower" versions of the Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme that seem to be having more difficulties with the SB modems than the older versions of the AirPorts.

Cable companies are also making changes and updates to their systems that they rarely ever mention, so a connection that worked great for a year might suddenly start to have issues because of an update or change.

We've had several SB modem issues posted on the forums in the last few days, and most of them mention that things have been working fine, then all of a sudden, there are intermittent connection issues.

If the problems continue, you may have to make a choice between keeping the SB modem and using another brand of router, or keeping the AirPorts and trying another brand of modem.

Reply