Jet787

Q: How to connect my Time Capsule to a WiFi network?

I am happily using a Time Capsule for years as a WiFi router connected as a bridge to the router delivered by my provider.

I am now moving to a place where internet is already provided by an access point in my new apartment and included in the monthly cost of that village facilities. The access point is hidden behind the ceiling of my apartment and does not have any ethernet port except the only one used to get the internet. The WiFi that will be available to me is set up by an administrator with the name of my apartment.

 

My TC needs internet which is coming from the ethernet and I am wondering what I could do to bypass this issue. I do not see any option in TC settings in order to connect to an existing WiFi.

 

While waiting to move to the new apartment, I made a test by trying to create a similar scenario at home, i.e. using my provider wifi router to create a wifi network A, then using a WiFi network extender which is connected to WiFi A, and connecting my TC via an ethernet plugged into the WiFi extender, setting up my TC as a bridge and creating a WiFi B with my TC that I can use again with my devices. This is working fine, but I am wondering if there is something which I am missing or a better solution or possible issues related to this setup.

 

Tnxs.

Time Capsule

Posted on Sep 8, 2016 7:42 AM

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Q: How to connect my Time Capsule to a WiFi network?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 8, 2016 8:01 AM in response to Jet787
    Level 10 (104,993 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 8, 2016 8:01 AM in response to Jet787
    My TC needs internet which is coming from the ethernet and I am wondering what I could do to bypass this issue.

    In a word, nothing. The TC must connect to a network using a wired Ethernet cable connection. The only exception to this would be a set up where you already have one Apple router providing a wireless signal, in which case the TC could connect wirelessly to "extend" the network.

     

    While waiting to move to the new apartment, I made a test by trying to create a similar scenario at home, i.e. using my provider wifi router to create a wifi network A, then using a WiFi network extender which is connected to WiFi A, and connecting my TC via an ethernet plugged into the WiFi extender, setting up my TC as a bridge and creating a WiFi B with my TC that I can use again with my devices. This is working fine, but I am wondering if there is something which I am missing or a better solution or possible issues related to this setup.

    This is how the TC will need to be connected to the apartment network. If your extender does not work with the apartment network, an AirPort Express could be used to "join" the apartment wireless network, then provide an Ethernet connection to the TC.

  • by Jet787,

    Jet787 Jet787 Sep 8, 2016 8:04 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (31 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 8, 2016 8:04 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Good idea tnxs. I was think about a network extender but I have the previous version of Airport Express as-well and I missed the obvious and efficient set-up of using it to connect to the existing WiFi and its ethernet to use my TC.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 8, 2016 3:54 PM in response to Jet787
    Level 10 (104,993 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 8, 2016 3:54 PM in response to Jet787

    With either an extender or AirPort Express providing an Ethernet feed to the TC, your next decision will be whether to set up the TC to operate in Bridge Mode, as it has been before......or......whether to try setting up the TC as a router in a router behind a router setup.

     

    As with any networking decision, there are upsides and downsides to each approach.  If you are not familiar with the options in this regard, post back for more info.

  • by Jet787,

    Jet787 Jet787 Sep 9, 2016 2:20 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (31 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 9, 2016 2:20 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    I always used the bridge mode. I tried once to change setup but it did not work and I am not familiar with that.

    I don't know yet what will be the general setup of the main network in the new apartment I am going to move in (it will happen in the next months, maybe beginning 2017), but I do not think that the village network administrator will change main settings for me. For example I don't think I will be able to open special ports to use IP camera as I am doing now. I will need to use domestic devices that work via a server, like home kit stuff, philips hue and so on.

     

    Obviously, as somebody is already doing, I could still purchase a standard internet service as an extra but I would like to see if I can go on without this step as I will be already paying for the WiFi service which is already included in the standard facilities of those apartments.

     

    So, if you do not mind I will post back in the future when I will test it, however if you have a general guidelines with upsides and downsides of each approach... it would be appreciated Tnxs

  • by Bob Timmons,Helpful

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 9, 2016 6:37 AM in response to Jet787
    Level 10 (104,993 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 9, 2016 6:37 AM in response to Jet787

    Bridge Mode is technically the correct setting to use. This will require the "main" router at the apartment to issue IP addresses to all of the devices on your Time Capsule wireless network.

     

    So, the first question to ask is whether the apartment complex will only issue one IP address per apartment, or whether it is set up to allow a given apartment to receive multiple IP addresses.

     

    Since the Time Capsule will be on the shared apartment network, you will very likely "see" a number of other devices of other users under the Shared heading in a Finder window on your Mac.  And.....other users will "see" the Time Capsule and your devices on their computers as well, just as if you were on the shared network at the coffee shop or on a hotel network. Not much "security" with this type of setup.

     

    Although other users will be on the same shared network with you, they will not be able to get on your computer or Time Capsule unless they have the password for that device.

     

    So, you might want to try setting up the Time Capsule as a DHCP and NAT router. That will allow the TC to connect to the apartment network for an Internet connection, but all of your other devices will be on your own "private" network. So, other users will not be able to "see" your devices, and you won't be able to "see" theirs.

     

    When you set up the TC as a router behind another router, you will receive a Double NAT notice in AirPort Utility and the Time Capsule indicator light will slowly blink amber. Apple does provide an option for you to "ignore" the Double NAT message so the TC will display a green light.

     

    The downside to Double NAT is that it can sometimes produce some unpredictable results on your network. Browsing might possibly be noticeably slower. You may not be able to access some websites.  Port Mapping won't work well through a Double NAT.  The bottom line......you won't know how....or if....Double NAT affects your network until you try it out on your network.

     

    So, I'm not necessarily recommending a Double NAT setup, but I am suggesting that it might work for you, and would be worth a try. The chances are good that your network will work just fine with the Double NAT setup.....and if it does, the benefits of a "private" network over a shared network are pretty easy to understand.

  • by Jet787,

    Jet787 Jet787 Sep 9, 2016 6:45 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (31 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 9, 2016 6:45 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    All understood and noted thanks.

    I will use this as a reminder when time will come.

     

    As regarding the privacy issue associated with the bridge solution in case of a shared WiFi, I was already having these thoughts and doubts... actually I am also wondering if a user accessing the shared WiFi with an iPhone (maybe from one of the garden or the park) will be able to see my Apple TV in its Airplay menu? In that case I will need to set up a password for it as-well in order to avoid him to turn on my LCD or Home Theatre...

     

    Finally, what benefits would I have in case a dedicated IP was assigned to my apartment? Would other users from other apartments still be able to see my devices as-well? Or maybe I would have other upsides?

     

    Thanks.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 9, 2016 7:09 AM in response to Jet787
    Level 10 (104,993 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 9, 2016 7:09 AM in response to Jet787

    I am also wondering if a user accessing the shared WiFi with an iPhone (maybe from one of the garden or the park) will be able to see my Apple TV in its Airplay menu?

    In theory, yes.

     

    what benefits would I have in case a dedicated IP was assigned to my apartment?

    In theory, the connection would be a bit more reliable, since the Time Capsule would always get the same IP address from the apartment router.

     

    But, you are still going to need to set up the TC as a router.....not a bridge.....if you want a more private and secure network.