Owais Crawford
The Airport Extreme Time Capsule is a network router and wireless backup device by Apple. It was first released in 2008 and saw several updates until its discontinuation in 2021. The device features a built-in hard drive and an internal power supply, allowing for direct connection to a power outlet. The Airport Extreme Time Capsule supports dual-band wireless routing and is equipped with multiple Ethernet and USB ports.
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What You'll Learn
Airport Time Capsule's history and discontinuation
The AirPort Time Capsule, originally named Time Capsule, is a wireless router sold by Apple Inc. It was first introduced on 15 January 2008 and released on 29 February 2008. The device has been upgraded several times, with the latest model introduced in 2013.
The Time Capsule is a fully equipped 802.11ac network router, similar in form and function to Apple's AirPort Extreme. However, it includes an additional piece of hardware – an integrated hard disk drive – that can be used to back up the computers on your network. The internal hard drive can also be used for network file sharing.
The Time Capsule has been through several generations of upgrades since its release. In early 2009, Apple released the second-generation Time Capsule, which offered simultaneous 802.11n dual-band operation, allowing older devices to use slower wireless speeds without affecting the performance of devices using higher 802.11n speeds. The hard disk storage space of each model was also doubled, with capacities of 1 TB and 2 TB.
In June 2013, Apple released the fifth-generation Time Capsule, which included a name change to AirPort Time Capsule and a redesign with new dimensions. This model features a fully featured 802.11ac Wi-Fi access point, including simultaneous dual-band operation, and supports the Sleep Proxy Service.
Despite the success of the AirPort Time Capsule, Apple disbanded its wireless router development team in 2016 and formally discontinued the product in 2018, exiting the router market. While Apple did not provide a specific reason for discontinuing the AirPort Time Capsule, Bloomberg News noted that "Apple rarely discontinues product categories," suggesting that the decision was unexpected.
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Time Capsule's hardware and specifications
The AirPort Time Capsule is a wireless router sold by Apple Inc., featuring network-attached storage (NAS) and a residential gateway router. It is essentially a version of the AirPort Extreme with an internal hard drive. The device was first introduced on January 15, 2008, and released on February 29, 2008.
The earliest versions supported 802.11n wireless and came with a 500 GB hard drive in the base model. The first generation included a full AirPort Extreme Base Station with one Ethernet WAN port, three Ethernet LAN ports, and one USB port. The USB port could be used for an external hard drive or a printer to be shared over the network, or both, by using a third-party USB hub.
In early 2009, Apple released the second-generation Time Capsule, which offered simultaneous 802.11n dual-band operation. This allowed older devices to use slower wireless speeds without affecting the performance of devices that could use higher 802.11n speeds. The second-generation model also included Guest Networking, a feature that allows the creation of a separate wireless network for guests. The hard disk storage space of each model was doubled to 1 TB and 2 TB, while the prices remained unchanged.
The fifth-generation Time Capsule was released in June 2013 alongside the sixth-generation AirPort Extreme. This generation saw a name change to AirPort Time Capsule and a taller form factor. 802.11ac support was added with this generation, and the device now featured a 3 TB hard drive. The 2 TB model was priced at $299, while the 3 TB model was priced at $399. The fifth-generation Time Capsule includes a fully featured 802.11ac Wi-Fi access point, including simultaneous dual-band operation.
The Time Capsule supports the Sleep Proxy Service, a technology that allows clients to partially shut down to conserve energy while remaining responsive to network traffic. The hardware interfaces on the Time Capsule include four Gigabit Ethernet ports (3 LAN ports and 1 WAN port) and a USB interface for external peripheral device sharing.
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Time Capsule vs. AirPort Express
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 introduced on January 15, 2008, and released on February 29, 2008. The device has been upgraded several times, with the latest model, introduced in 2013, featuring 802.11ac and a 3 TB hard drive.
The AirPort Express, on the other hand, is a smaller and more portable wireless router also sold by Apple Inc. It is designed to be easy to set up and use, and can be used to extend the range of an existing Wi-Fi network.
One key difference between the Time Capsule and the AirPort Express is the amount of storage they offer. The Time Capsule has a larger hard drive, making it ideal for backing up large amounts of data. It is often used as a backup appliance, working in tandem with the Time Machine backup software utility. The AirPort Express, while it does not have the same internal storage capacity, can also be used as a backup device, although it may require an external hard drive to be connected.
Another difference is in the number of Ethernet ports each device offers. The Time Capsule includes four Gigabit Ethernet ports (3 LAN ports and 1 WAN port), while the AirPort Express has only one WAN port. This means that the Time Capsule can support more wired connections to devices.
In terms of Wi-Fi performance, both devices support the 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard, offering high-speed wireless connectivity. The Time Capsule, however, operates simultaneously on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, allowing multiband devices to automatically use the best available band. The AirPort Express can also extend the wireless network when configured to "extend a wireless network".
Finally, in terms of pricing, the Time Capsule has typically been positioned as a higher-end option, with the AirPort Express being more affordable.
In summary, the AirPort Time Capsule and AirPort Express are both wireless routers offered by Apple. The Time Capsule offers more storage, Ethernet ports, and advanced Wi-Fi performance, making it ideal for backing up data and supporting multiple wired connections. The AirPort Express, meanwhile, is more portable, affordable, and easier to set up, making it suitable for extending the range of an existing Wi-Fi network.
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Setting up and troubleshooting
Setting up an Apple Airport Extreme Time Capsule is a straightforward process. The device is both a modem and a hard drive, and it will attempt to create a wifi network when plugged in. If you already have a wifi network, you will need to disable the wifi functionality on the Airport device and put it in "Bridge" mode, so it functions as a network-enabled hard drive.
To set up the device, first, unplug all Ethernet cables from your existing network. Then, connect your laptop to the Time Capsule using an Ethernet cable plugged into one of the Airport's LAN ports. Ensure your computer is only connected to the Airport device and not to another router or modem. It is recommended to turn off Wi-Fi to ensure a direct connection to the Airport device. Launch the Airport Utility app and select the Airport Time Capsule from the window, then press edit.
Once you have made your desired changes, press 'Update'. The Time Capsule will reboot and save your changes. You can then disconnect your laptop, re-enable Wi-Fi, and connect to your Wi-Fi network. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the Time Capsule to your network's WAN port. Your network will then assign the Time Capsule its own IP address, and the Airport hard drive should appear on any connected device.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter issues with your Time Capsule, there are a few basic steps you can take to try and resolve them. These include:
- Performing a hard reset by holding down the reset button until the light flashes amber, then setting up a new configuration.
- Restoring network settings or performing a factory reset.
- Checking for any updates to the Airport Utility app and ensuring you have the latest version.
- Ensuring your device is relatively close to your router or modem, or using a longer Ethernet cord if necessary.
- Checking your computer has an Ethernet port, and if not, using an adapter.
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Alternative devices and replacements
Apple discontinued the AirPort Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Express Base Stations. However, there are several alternative devices and replacements available on the market.
Firstly, any external hard disk can be used as a backup with a USB cable connected to a Mac and the built-in Time Machine app. This is a simple solution, but it may not offer the same wireless functionality as the AirPort Time Capsule.
Secondly, there are several routers that can be used as a replacement for the AirPort Extreme and can also work with a Time Capsule. The Netgear router is one such option, and it specifically supports HFS+. Another option is the ASUS AC1900 router, which is known to work well with multiple MACs, PCs, and iPhones, and supports USB print servers and Time Machine. The Linksys Max-Stream EA7500 Wireless Router is another alternative, although it does not support OS X EL Capitan or above for USB print serve and Time Machine functions.
Thirdly, there are Networked Attached Storage (NAS) products, which are miniature, multipurpose servers that attach to a network. While these can be more complex to set up, Synology is a standout product in this category and is a favourite among consultants. The Synology DS119j NAS, in particular, can be used for backups through Time Machine.
Finally, the My Cloud Home is another alternative, especially if you are invested in your history of Time Machine backups. It offers an automatically mirrored second drive for redundancy, so if one drive fails, you can replace it without losing any data. However, it does require creating an account with Western Digital, and it lacks a USB port for backing up.
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Frequently asked questions
Airport Extreme Time Capsule is a network router and wireless backup device. It is a piece of hardware that works with Apple's Time Machine software to back up the computers on your network.
The Airport Extreme Time Capsule includes four Gigabit Ethernet ports (three LAN ports and one WAN port) and a USB interface for connecting peripheral devices like printers and external hard drives. The 2013 model features an 802.11ac antenna, which makes it up to 3x faster than the previous Airport Express model.
The Airport Extreme Time Capsule was first introduced in 2008 and has gone through several generations since then. The second generation, released in early 2009, offered simultaneous 802.11n dual-band operation. The fifth generation, released in June 2013, included a name change to Airport Time Capsule and added support for 802.11ac. This generation also saw a redesign with a taller form factor.
The Airport Extreme Time Capsule is larger than the Airport Express due to the inclusion of an internal power supply and the 802.11ac antenna. It is faster and offers greater reception than the Express. Both devices have a USB port for connecting printers and external hard drives, but the Extreme can also make a USB external hard drive accessible on the network.
Apple has discontinued the Airport Time Capsule, but it is still available for sale while supplies last. Some users have reported that the Airport Time Capsule can slow down internet speeds, so it may be worth considering newer alternatives to take full advantage of your internet provider's speeds.
