Fritz!Box in combination with Apple Airport Time Capsule

Question

Level 1

4 points

Fritz!Box in combination with Apple Airport Time Capsule

Hello,

On different forums I read different stories about the combination of a Fritz!Box and an Apple Airport Time Capsule.

I like to make use of the Fritz!Box as the main router with an Apple Airport Time Capsule (bridge mode) via LAN as access point that sets up WLAN home network and a WLAN Guest network. My WLAN home network and WLAN guest network are extended by an Apple Airport Extreme (bridge mode) via LAN as a second access point.

I have an Apple TV that I use to stream via AirPlay, a printer with AirPrint support, Besides I have a Synology NAS on which my music, video and photos with AFP support

In this configuration I have some problems.

1) Time Machine does not work anymore from my MacBook Pro with OS X El Capitan

2) Sometimes I am not able to connect from devices connected via WLAN to internet

Both might have to do with the Fritz!Box which does not support multicastDNS, AFP, Bonjour, Airplay and AirPrint out of the box.

AVM the manufacturer of the Fritz!Box writes in an article "Fritz!Box in combination with Apple Time Capsule" that these devices do not work together and send you to Apple support.

http://nl.avm.de/service/fritzbox/fritzbox-7490/knowledge-base/publication/show/ 1065_Met-FRITZ-Box-verbonden-opslag-NAS-gebruiken-in-combinatie-met-Apple-Time-M achine/

On Apple support FAQ or forums I can not find a good answer about this.

I only find discussions about Apple Airport router to have an user-friendly configuration software for easy home network configurations but are very poor for more advanced home network configurations.

I found a nice post from frank.in to support multicastDNS on the Fritz!Box

https://frankl.in/code/tweak-fritzbox-for-airplay-across-ethernet-and-wifi

Does someone know where to find more information on how to get a Fritz!box working with an Apple Time Capsule.

I also tried a configuration where I put my Fritz!Box in bridge mode and my Apple Airport Time Capsule as main router and extension of my WLAN network with an Apple Airport Extreme via LAN as access point (bridge mode).

In that configuration I have trouble with

a) VOIP DECT telephony that should work via the Fritz!Box and

b) setting up a VPN tunnel for backup my Synology to another Sinology over Internet.

Thanks in advance.

Apple Airport Time Capsule-OTHER, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3), null

Posted on Jan 29, 2016 3:27 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 29, 2016 12:39 PM in response to WinchKing

Apple routers do not support guest wireless in bridge.

I think you are going to struggle to get this setup working. because you effectively need both Frtizbox and the TC in router mode.

You can try a few things.

See how double NAT works with the Fritzbox putting the apple into DMZ.

Another similar solution is to setup the Fritzbox to do NAT + NAPT

I am just not aware of what options the Frtizbox offers you.

I also tried a configuration where I put my Fritz!Box in bridge mode and my Apple Airport Time Capsule as main router and extension of my WLAN network with an Apple Airport Extreme via LAN as access point (bridge mode).

In that configuration I have trouble with

a) VOIP DECT telephony that should work via the Fritz!Box and

b) setting up a VPN tunnel for backup my Synology to another Sinology over Internet.

Depending on model of the Frtizbox and the type of broadband you have.. neither of which you mention.

Eg if this is adsl or vdsl. buy a cheap modem and bridge it.. put the TC in as the main router.. then plug the Frtizbox into the Airport in ewan mode. Most of the fritzyboys have a WAN port .. the voip will still work fine.

Setup the VPN tunnel from the synology where it is built in.. you will have to handle the port forwarding yourself.

No matter which way around you go.. you are going to have issues if Frtizbox is not prepared to deal with Apple protocols.

There are plenty of alternatives to the Fritz .. you can buy Gigaset DECT voip phones.

You can buy VPN routers which can be used behind the airports or indeed swapped to being the main router.. other routers deal just fine with apple protocols.

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Answer 2

Jaap74

Level 2

170 points

Mar 1, 2016 12:45 PM in response to WinchKing

I Use a fritzbox 7490 in combination with a time capsule without any problem. I got the fritzbox from my internet provider (xs4all) and I believe I need to use it as the main router in order to get internet/voip/tv through viber.

I've connected the TC though ethernet cable and set the TC in bridgemode. I turned the wifi mode off on the fritzbox and only use the TC as a wifi access point. The only issue is that you cannot activate a guest network in bridge mode, so that is a feature that you cannot use. Time machine backups work perfectly. On your fritzbox you need to activate upnp.

i would prefer to use my TC as my main router and put the fritzbox in bridge mode. However I think voip and tv might not work that way.

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