Tomdbl

Q: Using airport base station ONLY as a backup, but don't have a router

Hi, I have a simple question that I can't find an answer to. I want to use my airport base station only as a time capsule, not as a wifi base station. I am in a wfi environment that doesn't involve any router, my wifi just comes from joining a wireless network in my office environment. Previously I worked in an office where I ran a DHCP cable into my airport base station and then joined it with wifi. Now I just want to use the airport as a backup. All the answers to this question involve disabling the airport wifi and running an ethernet cable from the router into the airport base staion. I don't have a router. So is there some way I can have the airport device doing wireless backups, while at the same time being connected to another wireless network? I'm guessing the answer is no.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), 2.8ghz, 16 gb ram

Posted on Sep 12, 2016 9:42 AM

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Q: Using airport base station ONLY as a backup, but don't have a router

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  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 12, 2016 11:31 AM in response to Tomdbl
    Level 10 (105,055 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 12, 2016 11:31 AM in response to Tomdbl

    Unfortunately, your guess of "no" is correct.

     

    However, you could configure the Airport Time Capsule (ATC) to create a wireless network (without Internet access) and back up over the Time Capsule wireless.

     

    Of course, in order to do this, when you want to back up, you will need to log off of your "normal" wireless network and log onto the wireless provided by the ATC.  Once the backup is complete, then you will need log off of the ATC wireless and log back onto your normal wireless.

     

    All things considered, it would be much easier to invest in a low priced USB drive and connect the drive directly to your Mac. That way, you could stay connected to your normal wireless and backups would occur automatically.