Adding time capsule to existing network?

Alright, so I was considering buying a Time Capsule for my parents and I to backup to install of sharing a portable hard drive and having to plug-in and un-plug all the time.

My question is, I have a main router in my house followed by (at least at the moment) 4 more routers that are used as access points. The reason for this is we have a very, very large 150year old brick house(remodeled though) and every thing I've ever tried for a simple setup failed, and this has worked out great since I have implemented it.


Anyways my question is hopefully to someone who has a Time Capsule or has experience with them....can I integrate the Time Capsule into my current home network?

Yes. There are at least a couple of us here with something similar. Although, I only have one other router.

I ran a 100' ethernet cable across the attic and put in wall jacks at both end locations. The primary router is connected to the modem and supplies all DHCP services. It's connected to my Win machines in the office. It has a combo g/n network for those devices that are g only in the house.

The TC is set up in bridge mode. It provides ethernet access to my primary entertainment center: Win 7 HTPC, satellite, Roku, Blu-Ray... and provides a 'n' only wifi access point. Both of our Macs back up to this TC via TM.

I've had this set up for maybe 3 yrs now and has worked brilliantly. It also gives me easy switching as we move around inside/outside with any of our devices to the network with the best signal.

I did also test back when I first got it, just extending the existing network and was able to accomplish that.

I've measured speeds over 900 Mbps transfer rates between the TC and my D-Link when moving data between the HTPC and my Windows Home Server.

I just bought 3,000ft of Cat-6 solid-core from Monoprice and I have all the keystone wall-jacks/plates and a 96-port patch panel to run everything to.



So then the TC, can I just use the ethernet and disable the wifi?

Yes. That is easily done within the Airport Utility software included with the TC. After launching the software choose Manual Setup. There is a tab which says Wireless. In the first option is a drop down that gives you the option of having the wireless, create a network, extend a network or be off entirely.

BTW that's a heck of a gear collection Bob. If you are ever in an extremely charitable mode I would "volunteer" to be the recipient of your generosity. It's a sacrifice I know but one I am willing to make.

As sly indicated, yes, you can disable the wifi on the TC. That should work great if all your Macs are going to be connected via ethernet or via your existing wifi network.

Sly: One of these days, we should get together if I ever make it back over that way. It's been a few years now, but I really loved Prejean's in Lafayette.

Looks like I could take a few lessons from ThePope with what he's setting up.

I'm setting this up for my parents before I leave for Pennsylvania for school(I'm only 19). I'm setting up a home server and a nice media-streaming ecosystem. Once it's all done, my mom will be able to control her whole-house audio via Airplay, and control every Apple TV in the house for streaming via wifi and her ipod touch. That's why I went with cat-6 instead of cat-5, just because I'm sure once it's all said and done, they'll be streaming quite a bit.

What are you going to use for the server?

Haven't decided yet. Suggestions?

Don't use a Windows Home Server if you're not setting up Win boxes.

I've been trying to figure out a new way to go here and thinking I'd like to go with an ethernet capable Drobo, but money is tight and haven't been able to convince myself to go for it.

Have no idea how that would work in conjunction with ATV though. I haven't yet found a solution short of a Win7 machine that has satisfied my personal requirements as a HTPC.

Well see, here's my dilema. They don't have integration for iTunes and OSX Server really(or windows for that matter) and I want to upgrade our current in-house audio to be completely air-play compatible, so everything has to run off of her itunes account. what I was thinking of doing was just getting her to buy a desktop(probably an iMac) and adding a few TB's of storage right there via firewire that way I don't have to mess with a server too much. But if you have a suggestion then I'm all ears.

That sounds like a good plan if they need a new desktop (that's always on) and maybe pick up a RAID device directly attached to it. I'd probably just be looking at OWC for those.

I'm only using notebooks for my primary computing any longer, but if I still had a need for a desktop, that's probably the route I'd go.

Have not done anything at all with Airplay as my HTPC is directly connected to my audio receiver. Plus, with the kids gone for many years, we've downsized to the point that a single location for speaker setup for music is good enough these days.

I think I'll always have some desktop because sometimes I just like the idea of something stationary(probably because I never am lol) but for them I think it'd work out just perfect. Also, they already have a whole-house audio system and I plan on working something out to convert all the speakers to air-play and sell off the rest of the equipment.