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I've just received a router with my new internet access. This router is wireless only and therefore has no ports except for power.

How can I connect my Time Capsule to this router now that I can no longer connect it directly through a network cable?

Using the AirPort Utility, I've tried to choose the Wireless Network Mode: Extend a wireless network. Even though I provided the correct settings for the existing wireless network my Time Capsule doesn't extend it and there's no wireless connection to my wireless router. It just keeps blinking orange...

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2 Answers 2

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I'm afraid you can't.
Extending networks only works between Apple products and the Time Capsule does not have a "client mode", as the Airport Express. You could buy a router that can connect wirelessly to your ISP Modem - Router, and connect the TC by an ethernet cable to it, in order to keep using it as a Time Machine destination. You would have to put the TC in bridge mode. An Airport Express will be able to fulfill this role.

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  • Since I have an airbook, could I then use thunderbolt to ethernet adapter, Then connect the TC directly to my mac and then use it both for back up and as a regular harddisc? I know this would make the automatic back up not work, but would it be a simple solution if the primary purpose for my TC is to make back up's once in a while plus work as an external harddisc?
    – Magnus
    Jul 27, 2015 at 18:12
  • Connecting by ethernet to a "WAN-less" TC and to a different wireless network may or may not work, depending on the configuration of the Time Capsule and luck, and will probably interfere with your internet use. Can't you call your ISP and ask them for a different kind of router? I was once on a situation where they left me with a USB only modem which was useless for me, and called them for a replacement, else I would've been forced to switch provider; they resisted a little but finally replaced it with an ethernet modem.
    – Jaime Santa Cruz
    Jul 27, 2015 at 18:23
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I've got a Time Capsule (AirPort Time Capsule 802.11ac, Model Number: A1470) and had the same problem. Additionally, I also wanted to continue to have automatic Time Machine backups using wireless networking.

Here's my solution if Jaime Santa Cruz's answer doesn't help you.

My Problem

I live in an apartment which includes and provides Internet access only through a wireless access point which isn't under my control. (So, there's no WAN Ethernet cable to connect my Time Capsule to).

I don't have any other Apple wireless devices like an Airport Express. (So the Time Capsule's and Apple's proprietary "Extend a wireless network" feature cannot be used).

I want a simple, inexpensive solution. (So buying an extra wireless router or a Raspberry PI isn't something I want to do).

Solution idea

"Replace the Time Capsule's WAN Ethernet cable with a wireless bridge or WiFi Bridge".

My solution

I found this wireless bridge which I successfully hooked up to my Time Capsule: Vonets VAP11N-300 Wireless Mini WiFi Bridge/Repeater.

Time Capsule with Vonets VAP11N-300 Wifi Bridge

Final thoughts

This solution is simple and inexpensive. Time Machine backups from my notebook to the Time Capsule work using the apartment's existing wireless network.

No additional power supply is needed as this wireless bridge can be powered through the Time Capsule's USB port.

The wireless bridge requires a few configuration steps but it's doable.

Using this wireless bridge the Time Capsule is now available on my apartment's wireless network which isn't under my control. (The Time Capsule's wireless access point functionality is turned off).

Alternatively, this solution would also allow to use the Time Capsule as the (private) wireless access point for my apartment and having all devices connect to it ("better security") instead of using the apartment's wireless network. As such the apartment's wireless network would then only provide the (wireless) Internet connection to my Time Capsule and nothing else.

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