Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Time Capsule

I'm thinking of buying a time capsule but was wanting to make sure it would work okay in my setup.

At the moment our internet connection/dhcp leases/port forwarding is provided by the router/modem given to us by our ISP. I want to leave that where it is. I have a Linksys WRT54G (running Tomato firmware) connected to that via ethernet. Connected to the WRT54G by ethernet are my PC and Xbox 360. Connected to the WRT54G by wireless are my Macbook Pro, PS3, Wii, iPod touch and my flatmates windows laptop. The WRT54G just acts as a dumb switch and wireless access point basically. This week the wireless on the WRT54G has gone a bit wonky and isn't working quite right so I'd like to replace it with a Time Capsule (I've been wanting one anyway for wireless storage but now my plans are a bit accelerated).

Would it just be a case of swapping the TC into the place of the WRT54G and connecting everything the same? Can the TC just act as a dumb switch and Wireless Access Point?
 
3 macs??

How does it work backing up 3 different macs?? Will it allow 3 time machines to run at the same time? also how is it able to back up 3 different macs and tell the difference between the 3 ???? Anyone have it running on 3 different Macs???
 
Connect LACIE 500GB Drive to Time Capsule

Would I be able to connect the LACIE drive to the capsule and see and use it over the air?
 
dalvin200 said:
well, i finally received my Time Capsule yesterday..

i must say, the box is fairly large

overall it reminds me of a glorified iPod box (ie, 3G ipod)

to set up, i ripped my linksys wrt54g out and replaced with TC..

at first i got a bit confused as the configure routers you normally go via a admin web page address..
no such thing with the time capsule..

i honestly couldn't believe how simple it was..

a few clicks and the TC rebooted itself and I had a green light.

opened safari and google.com worked straight away.. brilliant!!

setting up airport was also a breeze and my iphone and macbook worked over wifi instantly.

as for network speeds.. well.. i transferred 2.2gb from my imac (802.11g) to my macbook (802.11g) and it took 14 minutes.. SPEEDY!!!

the linksys would take much longer than that!!

i dont have any 802.11n equip (except the TC), so can't test that out.

i haven't yet done any time machine backups (didn't have the time).. but will set it up tonight for an overnight run over ethernet (as recommended by apple)

so far, i am very impressed.. lets hope it keeps the uptime!!
Click to expand...

You may want to keep the Linksys. Apple support had me keep my Netgear for g and use the TC for n. He said the TC would down shift to g if any g equipment used it depriving the n speed to my iMac, MBP and MB. The setup was easy, with his help. Now I have two wifi ports in the home.
 
Does the Time Capsule carry a large NAT Table like the Zyxel X550? I am trying to decide if I want to replace my current router, or just use the TC as a switch.
 
vansouza said:
You may want to keep the Linksys. Apple support had me keep my Netgear for g and use the TC for n. He said the TC would down shift to g if any g equipment used it depriving the n speed to my iMac, MBP and MB. The setup was easy, with his help. Now I have two wifi ports in the home.
Click to expand...

Yup, this is what i do, works really well, have Apple TV, MBA and Time Capsule all sitting on an 'n' network, and run all the other stuff that isn't n on a seperate b/g network.

Really helps keep my main 'n' network speedy.
 
Malcster said:
Yup, this is what i do, works really well, have Apple TV, MBA and Time Capsule all sitting on an 'n' network, and run all the other stuff that isn't n on a seperate b/g network.

Really helps keep my main 'n' network speedy.
Click to expand...

Do you mind if I ask how you set that up? I have a 802.11g wireless router that came with Fios. I would like to leave that as the DHCP server and for the g devices. I would like the TC to serve the n devices but I would like both APs to be on the same subnet. In my current setup I have no control over which device connects to which AP as the TC inherited the settings from the Fios router and I only see one name in the wireless network dropdown. Thanks.
 
vansouza said:
You may want to keep the Linksys. Apple support had me keep my Netgear for g and use the TC for n. He said the TC would down shift to g if any g equipment used it depriving the n speed to my iMac, MBP and MB. The setup was easy, with his help. Now I have two wifi ports in the home.
Click to expand...

Why would Apple support tell you to do that?

And why would I want to do that?

What's the benefit of having 2 routers?? or 2 wifi ports as you put it?

Confused now...
 
1 TB Storage . . . Useful?

I have several hard drives connected to my computer. One for music, one for video, and then my computer's hard drive for personal documents and such. I purchased the Time Capsule in order to have one central place to keep all of my files, in addition to being able to back them up.

What I don't know, now that I have the Time Capsule, is how to "use it as an external hard drive." I just want to be able to access it like a hard drive, and keep my iTunes library on it.

Does anyone know if I can even do this, and if so, how?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
stoughnow said:
I have several hard drives connected to my computer. One for music, one for video, and then my computer's hard drive for personal documents and such. I purchased the Time Capsule in order to have one central place to keep all of my files, in addition to being able to back them up.

What I don't know, now that I have the Time Capsule, is how to "use it as an external hard drive." I just want to be able to access it like a hard drive, and keep my iTunes library on it.

Does anyone know if I can even do this, and if so, how?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Is this for a Mac or PC? Procedure is not that different either way. Use Airport Utility to set it up, following the instructions in the manual.

After that, it should just show up for you as another drive in Finder (Mac) or in Computer (PC). You may need to reboot but nothing fancy.

Works just like any other drive (edit: with the caveat you are connected via network or wireless so your transfer speeds will be limited).
 
stoughnow said:
I have several hard drives connected to my computer. One for music, one for video, and then my computer's hard drive for personal documents and such. I purchased the Time Capsule in order to have one central place to keep all of my files, in addition to being able to back them up.

What I don't know, now that I have the Time Capsule, is how to "use it as an external hard drive." I just want to be able to access it like a hard drive, and keep my iTunes library on it.

Does anyone know if I can even do this, and if so, how?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Hi.. It won't show up as a drive on your screen but if you open finder you will find it there. Then you just open it and copy whatever you want to where ever you want.
 
dalvin200 said:
Why would Apple support tell you to do that?

And why would I want to do that?

What's the benefit of having 2 routers?? or 2 wifi ports as you put it?

Confused now...
Click to expand...

Lots of benefits...

In my case the 2.4 spectrum is pretty full with some 15 or so networks showing up from my livingroom, whereas the 5Ghz spectrum is clear. Having both means my iPhone (g only) has something to connect to but at the same time my other devices can stay on the 5 Ghz (MPB) network for speed.
 
OK, slightly frustrating...

So, I have a 1TB Time Capsule hooked up via Ethernet to my iMac and wirelessly to my MacBook. Every time I shut down one of the machines, every time I power it back up it doesn't automatically find the Time Capsule and start backing up again -- instead I have to go into Time Machine preferences and select the Time Capsule disk. Each time. WTF, I thought this was supposed to be one click and forget about it?
 
NewtypeCJ said:
OK, slightly frustrating...

So, I have a 1TB Time Capsule hooked up via Ethernet to my iMac and wirelessly to my MacBook. Every time I shut down one of the machines, every time I power it back up it doesn't automatically find the Time Capsule and start backing up again -- instead I have to go into Time Machine preferences and select the Time Capsule disk. Each time. WTF, I thought this was supposed to be one click and forget about it?
Click to expand...

Why suffer, do what I did and call Apple Support.
 
NewtypeCJ said:
Were you having the same problem I am? It's not terribly upsetting, and my last experience with Apple Support was not too pleasant so I'm not going to call it in just yet.
Click to expand...

No different, but annoying nonetheless. I called support and it got fixed and the nice support person set me up with two wifi hotspots; the old one for g and the new TC for n. I absolutely love it now.
 
Well, here is my experience with the time capsule. My model is 500gig btw. Once I set mine as a wireless router for my MBA, I simply went into finder and clicked what I had named it under "shared" and then clicked on the "data" folder. Then you will click on "parsebundle" file it has created. This will mount the unit has a hard drive on your desktop in which I named mine "time capsule". I then created a folder called i-Tunes and pointed i-tunes to that library. Then simply copied all of my music and movies to the newly formed folder under the hard drive. Sorry if thats all a little complicated but it works.

One major side not, I have my Apple synced to my MBA which in turn reads all the music from the "time capsule". So everything is on my time capsule. The only downside to this is everytime the time machine finishes backing up it will "unmount" my external drive. It also does this when you reboot. Also, if it unmounts make sure itunes isnt open or active. Because afterwards it wont recognize your Apple TV. At least it wont mine. I know this sounds hard and complicated but once its up and running its not that difficult. Its actually the way I want it. Its backing everything up and not taking one bit of space on any of my MBA's HHD. I am fixing to add a Mac Mini to the mix also.

Well, thats my experience. If it doesn't make sense, feel free to ask me anything. But again, my i-Tunes or iPhoto library will never use any of my HDD space on my MBA or forthcoming mini. Oh last but certainly not least. When you make this external hard drive on the desktop or "mount" it. The time capsule knows that and excludes it from backup so it doesn't double over itself with the same music.
 
iphonetravel said:
Lots of benefits...

In my case the 2.4 spectrum is pretty full with some 15 or so networks showing up from my livingroom, whereas the 5Ghz spectrum is clear. Having both means my iPhone (g only) has something to connect to but at the same time my other devices can stay on the 5 Ghz (MPB) network for speed.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure we can't use it at 5GHz in UK (maybe europe too).. only at 2.4GHz, so maybe this will not be an issue for me
 
dalvin200 said:
I'm pretty sure we can't use it at 5GHz in UK (maybe europe too).. only at 2.4GHz, so maybe this will not be an issue for me
Click to expand...

5 Ghz is legally allowed in both the UK as well as the rest of Europe.

Otherwise all those big corporates with their 802.11a networks would be breaking the law.
 
TB Time Capsule

I just purchased my 1TB Time Capsule today. I love the fact that you can connect an external hard drive wirelessly. This thing is great. I'm loving my Apple products lately. Just got an Apple TV last week and I've been hooked on Take 2!
 
orfeas said:
I would like the TC to serve the n devices but I would like both APs to be on the same subnet.
Click to expand...

This is exactly how my setup works, Im not home at the moment so i can't check.. but from memory..

The TC is connected by ethernet to my other b/g wireless router (BT Home Hub), in the apple wizard i created a new network (5Ghz n only) but instead of making it the DHCP server i put it into 'Bridge mode' (which mean the TC lets my other router handle the DHCP) and it all works a treat.. took 5 mins to setup, ill check my config when i get home friday and post back any updates.

If your Time Capsule doesnt find out the IP of your DHCP server (the other router) automatically you might need to look it up and enter it manually but my Time Capsule worked it out by itself.
 
Chad H said:
Well, here is my experience with the time capsule. My model is 500gig btw. Once I set mine as a wireless router for my MBA, I simply went into finder and clicked what I had named it under "shared" and then clicked on the "data" folder. Then you will click on "parsebundle" file it has created. This will mount the unit has a hard drive on your desktop in which I named mine "time capsule". I then created a folder called i-Tunes and pointed i-tunes to that library. Then simply copied all of my music and movies to the newly formed folder under the hard drive. Sorry if thats all a little complicated but it works.

One major side not, I have my Apple synced to my MBA which in turn reads all the music from the "time capsule". So everything is on my time capsule. The only downside to this is everytime the time machine finishes backing up it will "unmount" my external drive. It also does this when you reboot. Also, if it unmounts make sure itunes isnt open or active. Because afterwards it wont recognize your Apple TV.
Click to expand...

I wrote an Automator script that handles TC reconnection on reboot etc (save it as an Application and drop it in your Login items) i can post it if your interested when i get home later this week.
 
Malcster said:
I wrote an Automator script that handles TC reconnection on reboot etc (save it as an Application and drop it in your Login items) i can post it if your interested when i get home later this week.
Click to expand...

That would be great... thanks.
 
Yes, that would be awesome! Also, does anybody's TC's fan run alot? Mine seems to be running a whole lot here lately.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back