Airport Time Capsule: Necessary Travel Companion?

The AirPort Time Capsule is a wireless router sold by Apple Inc. that features network-attached storage (NAS) and a residential gateway router. It is designed to work with the Time Machine backup software utility, allowing users to back up their Mac computers wirelessly and automatically. While the AirPort Time Capsule offers convenience and functionality, it is important to note that Apple discontinued this product line in 2018, which may impact future support and compatibility.

What is an Airport Time Capsule?

The AirPort Time Capsule is a wireless router sold by Apple Inc. that features network-attached storage (NAS) and a residential gateway router. It is essentially a version of the AirPort Extreme with an internal hard drive. Apple describes it as a "Backup Appliance", designed to work in tandem with the Time Machine backup software utility introduced in Mac OS X 10.5.

The AirPort Time Capsule was introduced on January 15, 2008, and released on February 29, 2008. The device has been upgraded several times, matching upgrades in the Extreme series routers. The earliest versions supported 802.11n wireless and came with a 500 GB hard drive in the base model, while the latest model, introduced in 2013, features 802.11ac and a 3 TB hard drive.

All models include four Gigabit Ethernet ports (3 LAN ports, 1 WAN port) and a single USB port. The USB port can be used for external peripheral devices to be shared over the network, such as external hard drives or printers. The NAS functionality utilizes a built-in "server-grade" hard drive.

One of the key features of the AirPort Time Capsule is the ability to back up a system and files wirelessly and automatically, eliminating the need to attach an external backup drive. This feature requires OS X 10.5.2 Leopard or greater on the client computers. The backup software is Apple's Time Machine, which, by default, makes hourly images of the files that are being changed, and condenses backup images as they become older, to save space.

In 2016, Apple disbanded its wireless router development team, and in 2018 the entire AirPort line of products was discontinued without replacement.

How to set up an Airport Time Capsule as a Wi-Fi router

The AirPort Time Capsule is a wireless router sold by Apple Inc. It features network-attached storage (NAS) and a residential gateway router. It was discontinued in 2018 without a replacement.

• Connect an Ethernet cable to the Time Capsule and your broadband modem or router.
• Plug the Time Capsule into a power outlet using the AC adapter. Ensure that you have a free outlet near your broadband modem to connect your Time Capsule.
• On your Mac, open Finder and go to Applications. Double-click the Utilities folder.
• Double-click Airport Utility to open the app.
• Click "Other Wireless Devices." Select "AirPort Time Capsule."
• Select "Create New Network." Click "Next." Follow the prompts to name your network.
• Create a password and restart your modem. Your network setup is now complete.

Optional steps:

• Create a guest network by checking the checkbox next to "Enable guest network." Type a name for the guest network.
• Enable diagnostics and usage data to be sent to Apple by clicking the radial button next to "Send diagnostics and usage data to Apple."

Note: It is recommended to plug the Time Capsule into a surge protector to prevent any damage in case of an electrical surge.

How to connect an Airport Time Capsule to a Mac

The AirPort Time Capsule is a wireless router sold by Apple Inc., featuring network-attached storage (NAS) and a residential gateway router. It acts as a Wi-Fi router and an external hard drive, automatically backing up all the computers on your wireless network.

Setting Up Your Airport Time Capsule as a Wi-Fi Router:

• Connect an Ethernet cable to the Time Capsule and your broadband modem or router.
• Plug the Time Capsule into a power outlet using the AC adapter. Ensure that you plug the Time Capsule into a surge protector to prevent any damage in the event of an electrical surge.
• On your Mac, open Finder and go to Applications. Double-click the Utilities folder.
• Double-click Airport Utility to open the app.
• Click on "Other Wireless Devices" and select "AirPort Time Capsule."
• Select "Create New Network," then follow the prompts to name your network and create a password.
• Restart your modem.

Connecting to the Modem:

• Connect an Ethernet cable to the WAN port on the Time Capsule.
• Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to your broadband modem or router.

Setting Up the Wireless Network:

• On your Mac, open Finder and click on Applications in the sidebar.
• Double-click the Utilities folder.
• Double-click AirPort Utility.
• Click on "Other wireless devices" in the upper-left corner and select "AirPort Time Capsule."
• Select "Create New Network" and click "Next."
• Name your network and base station.
• Create a password for your network and, if desired, a separate password for the Time Capsule.
• Click "Next" and restart your modem.
• If desired, create a guest network by checking the box next to "Enable guest network" and naming the guest network.
• Click "Next" and choose whether to enable diagnostics & usage data to be sent to Apple.
• Click "Next" and then "Done." Your network setup is now complete.

Accessing the Data:

• Click on the Apple icon in the menu bar and select "System Preferences."
• Open Time Machine and check the box for "Back Up Automatically."
• Click "Select Backup Disk" and choose the Time Capsule as your backup disk.

How to use an Airport Time Capsule as a backup device only

The AirPort Time Capsule is a wireless router sold by Apple Inc. that features network-attached storage (NAS) and a residential gateway router. It is essentially a version of the AirPort Extreme with an internal hard drive.

Step 1: Disable the Wi-Fi Part of the Airport Time Capsule

If you already have a Wi-Fi network, you will need to disable the Wi-Fi part of the Airport Time Capsule to avoid any network conflicts. This can be done by putting the device in "Bridge" mode.

Step 2: Connect the Airport Time Capsule to Your Computer

Use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to the Airport Time Capsule. The same cable will then be used to connect the Airport Time Capsule to your Wi-Fi base station unit. Ensure that your Wi-Fi base station and Airport Time Capsule are physically close to each other, as you may need a longer Ethernet cord if they are not.

Step 3: Install Any Necessary Firmware Updates

Using the Airport Utility, check for any firmware updates and install them if necessary.

Step 4: Erase Any Old Data on the Airport Time Capsule

If you have any old or obsolete data on your Airport Time Capsule, you can choose to erase it using the Airport Utility. This process can take a significant amount of time, ranging from hours to days, depending on the security level of the formatting you choose.

Step 5: Set Up Time Machine

Once your Airport Time Capsule disk is ready, open the Time Machine app on your computer. The app should guide you through the process of setting up a disk for Time Machine and give you the option to use your Time Capsule drive to store backups.

Step 6: Enable Automatic Backups (Optional)

To ensure your computer is backed up automatically, you can enable automatic backups by checking the "Back Up Automatically" checkbox in the Time Machine app.

By following these steps, you can use your Airport Time Capsule as a backup device only, without utilizing its Wi-Fi routing capabilities.

How to keep using an Airport Time Capsule when Apple discontinued the product

The Airport Time Capsule was a wireless router sold by Apple Inc. that featured network-attached storage (NAS) and a residential gateway router. It was designed to work in tandem with the Time Machine backup software utility.

If you want to keep using your Airport Time Capsule, you can do the following:

• Replace your router with one from your service provider: All Internet providers give their customers a modem and a wireless router, or rent them out to customers. It is recommended to rent this equipment from your provider as it makes troubleshooting and repairing problems easier for them.
• Use a wireless external hard drive: If your Apple Port is failing, you can switch to a standard wired or wireless network drive. Wireless hard drives from companies like Western Digital and Seagate allow you to save information from any of your devices. You can use backup software like Windows File Manager, Time Machine, or the software that comes with the drive. However, one limitation of external drives is that they cannot be expanded, so if you exceed their storage capacity, you will need to purchase a larger drive.
• Use a NAS (Network-Attached Storage) Drive: A NAS allows you to store large amounts of data and connect almost any device to it. You can configure a NAS so that your information is accessible from anywhere, like having your own personal cloud service. Synology and Western Digital NAS systems are recommended and should work for both Windows and Mac, although Synology works better for Apple products. Additionally, you can expand your storage on a NAS drive, so you don't have to worry about running out of space.

If you want to keep your Airport Time Capsule as a backup device only, follow these steps:

• Open AirPort Utility on your Mac (Finder > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility).
• Click on the picture of the Time Capsule.
• Click "Edit" in the smaller window that appears.
• Click on the "Network" tab next to the "Wireless" tab.
• Set the "Router Mode" to "Off (Bridge Mode)" to turn off the routing function.
• Click "Update" and allow the Time Capsule to restart.

If your Airport Time Capsule is functioning without any issues, you can continue using it. However, if you are experiencing slow internet, seeing a flashing amber light, or receiving failure notifications, it is recommended to switch to one of the alternative options mentioned above.

Frequently asked questions