I can see my serial number and it ends in 5. Does that mean my Time Capsule is a 5th Generation Time Capsule? If not, how can I determine which generation my Time Capsule is?
Airport Time Capsule 802.11ac
Open your airport utility on a Mac.
Hold down the Option Key and double click the icon.. this will bring up the full summary page. The top line will identify the model.
On the base of the router there is a number.. eg A1408 Extreme which is model I am using here.. Gen 5.
It is written on the paper label.
This is from the Time Capsule..
And even older ones it is molded into the rubber.
If you have tall one.. just say tall.. we know the model.. It is written on the base in 4pt type black on black.. so without going blind and in my jewellers head set I can read it.. if the light is good and you hold it to the East with strong west wind... tilted at 35deg to the earth axis
The older ones are flat.. newer one is vertical.. very obvious to see the difference.
Does the fact that my device is 4' Square and 6 3/4" tall make it a 5th Gen.?
Technically no....because Apple stopped using "Generation" naming when they introduced the "AirPort Time Capsule 802.11ac" or "tower" version of the Time Capsule in 2013.
But, since the 802.11ac version came after the 4th Generation Time Capsule, some users have informally called the current version of the Time Capsule a 5th Generation model.
So, you can call your Time Capsule a 5th Generation if you want (and most folks will know what model you have), but if you try to look up information on a "5th Generation Time Capsule", you won't find anything.
Take a look at Apple's information about the AirPort Time Capsule 802.11ac, and you will not see any mention of "5th Generation"......because Apple calls this model the AirPort Time Capsule 802.11ac.
Mac - AirPort Time Capsule - Apple
More info here:
See the following previous discussion: How to identify Time Capsule generation?
My Time Capsule is 6 3/4" tall. I cannot read the dark print on the bottom, but I do not have that summary page in Disk Utility when I complete the steps you suggested. Also you say your capsule is A 1408, but the number you picture is A 1409. I'm assuming you just typed the wrong number. Since I do not have that summary page in your picture, the top line on my base station page says the name of my wireless network. The model number does not appear anywhere on the first page. The serial number is all that appears. I think I need more up to date info. My device was purchased in mid 2016. Does the fact that my device is 4' Square and 6 3/4" tall make it a 5th Gen.? I have noticed mine running a bit hot sometimes. It also collects dust in the opening. Now that I know about the dust, I have been checking and removing the dust more frequently. Can't always see that kind of nuisance.
How can I tell which generation my Time Capsule is?
